Monday, June 1, 2020

Meet Mason Canyon of MC Book Tours

TODAY 
June 9th 
the WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Patricia Anne Garcia WON the One Week Tour

&

Marla Bradeen/Paige Sleuth WON the Three Day Book Blast!

&

Remember anyone who mentions the blog post will get a discount!

Thank you,  Mason Canyon






I'm thrilled to be hosting Mason Canyon of MC Book Tours. She offers a wonderful resource for writers looking for exposure for their books. Today she's here to discuss her services and answer your questions.  


Meet Mason...


Yolanda, thank you so much for this opportunity to talk about MC Book Tours, an activity I enjoy so much – finding interesting books, awesome authors, and sharing both with other readers like myself.  I'm thrilled to be featured here. You have given me many, many sleepless nights thanks to the activities of Stowy Jenkins.

1.   I keep hearing that about Stowy. My apologies, but we're here to learn all about you. Tell us who are you, how did you get started providing book tours?

I started my blog, Thoughts in Progress, in 2009 to feature my book reviews and talk about books. Throughout the years, I began participating in more and more book tours. Several years ago, I became disenchanted with a tour and got the crazy idea I could provide book tours to bloggers because, being a blogger, I understand their needs, so MC Book Tours began.

2.   What is the benefit of a virtual book tour?

There are many benefits to a virtual tour. The author saves on travel and hotel expenses. They don't have the problems of scheduling meetings and making appointments. Virtual tours give global exposure to authors and their books. It's a quick and easy way for authors to interact with their readers all over the world without leaving their homes. Virtual tours allow authors to be exposed to readers who might not otherwise go out to an author's event. Virtual tours also offer readers the opportunity to find out about an author after the tour is over. With buy and social media links included in tours, an author's virtual tour goes on forever out in the wonderful world of blogging. I must point out one major disadvantage to a virtual tour. Neither the tour organizer nor the author controls whether a blogger posts during the tour. A blogger can sign up, be given all the tour material, and then not post due to a variety of reasons. The blogger can become sick, have family/work issues come up, internet/computer problems, simply forget, or decide for whatever reason they don't want to post. Sometimes you know why and sometimes you never know no matter how many times the organizer tries to contact the blogger. Just one aspect authors need to be aware of.

3.   Who are the bloggers that provide the exposure? Are they other authors, readers, or booksellers?

Bloggers that participate in tours are a great bunch of people. They are made up of a diverse group that does include authors, librarians, booksellers, publishers, and book lovers. They all are book readers though many may not have the time to read as much as they'd like.

4.   Authors want the blogger to be a reader that attracts other readers, do you designate those tours based on genre?

When I promote a book, I try to target bloggers that enjoy the genre that the book represents. For example, if I'm promoting a murder mystery, I look for bloggers that enjoy that genre. However, I also check with bloggers that cover other genres. It's good to expose an author to readers who aren't familiar with their work or not necessary a huge fan of the genre. It's an excellent way to expand an author's fan base. Sometimes a synopsis draws a blogger in that otherwise wouldn't have looked at the book.

5.   What about the giveaways, does the author need them to attract more readers, or are they a waste of time?

Giveaways, unfortunately, are a good way to attract readers to a post. The giveaways get readers' attention (who doesn't love winning something) and then organize it where they learn more about the book before they can enter. Sometimes that little bit intrigues a reader to learn more about the book and author, hopefully leading to a new fan.

6.    Do you give the email addresses of the participants to the author for their own mailing list?

Yes, if an author wants the emails of those entering a giveaway, I provide those for them. I do not share the emails with anyone else or even use them myself. The emails are collected for that author as part of their tour, so they are entitled to them if they wish.

7.   How often should a person have a book tour? Is it only for a book launch, or can it revive interest in an older book?

A book tour is a great way to get exposure for a new release. But I think it's also a great way to renew interest in a book that's been out for a while. The blog world is always changing, so there's going to be readers out there that weren't there say two or three years ago when a book was first published. A book tour is especially useful if you do a new cover for a reprint of an older edition.

8.   How do you recruit your bloggers?

Recruiting bloggers takes time. I have a list of bloggers who have participated in past tours I conducted. I also look for bloggers that participate in other tours and contact them directly when I have a tour, I think they might be interested in. In addition, I have a section on MC Book Tours where bloggers can sign up to be notified of tours. I also ask the author if they have a list of bloggers that would like contacted for their tour.

9.   Is a virtual book tour more beneficial for the self-published author or the traditionally published author?

At one time, I would have said virtual tours benefitted self-published authors more. They traditionally don't have the funds backing them to do all the promoting publishers do for their authors. However, as the publishing world changes, virtual book tours also help traditionally published authors. Publishers are more and more doing virtual tours for their authors. The pandemic we're experiencing is a great example of how virtual tours benefit both types of authors. I think it has a lot to do with global exposure as well as more cost-effective.

In wrapping up, I realize authors have hectic lives. I want to take as much stress off them when doing a tour as I can. It's entirely up to the author as to how much I do for them. I deal with all the bloggers, so they don't have to. I create the graphics and get the material to the bloggers. The authors only need to write the guest post and answer Q&As. During the tour, I make a point to visit each stop as authors are sometimes unable to do so. I also promote each stop on social media. I serve as the middleman (middlewoman), if you will, between author and blogger. I become the author's personal media assistance for the tour.

FYI: My Pricing List - Just click to follow the LINK!


Thank you again, Yolanda. It's been a pleasure being here. I'll be away from my computer for a few hours today, but I'm happy to answer any questions you or your readers have.


Website  

WIN A TOUR!

          Today, Mason is offering a free one-week book tour and a free three-day book blast to anyone who comments with the title of the book they’d love to advertise.

         Also, if someone doesn't want to enter the contest but contacts MC about a tour and mentions this blog post, she’ll offer them a discount.


Outstanding!

Thank you, Mason!

Well, there you are, a marvelous chance to win a tour and ask Mason any question you want!


Contest ends Midnight of June 7th.
Winners announced shortly after.

41 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

Thank you very much.
As an obsessional reader Mason has frequently (so very often) waved temptation my way. I often succumb and it is lovely to learn a little bit more about her.
I have participated (often by accident) in several of her tours and it is inspiring to see the support she offers to authors (and readers).

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Yolande and Mason - excellent to learn more about your approach to one of your tours: I'd often wondered the hows and whys ... and see many of your tours when blogging friends' books are being promoted.

I wondered if you'd done a book tour that covers a year ... i.e. more drip feeding rather than 'a run' of guests and posts ...?

Thanks - this will be really interesting to many of us - take care - Hilary

Mason Canyon said...

Yolanda, thanks so much for having me here today. It's an honor and a delight to be featured on your site.

Mason Canyon said...

E.C., thank you for the kind words. It's always a pleasure to tempt you with a new book for your TBR pile. Honestly, I'm happy to know someone is as tempted as I am when it comes to not being able to resist books.

Mason Canyon said...

Hilary, I had never thought about a year-long tour. That is definitely something to ponder, so many ways it could be handled. Thanks for the thought.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Mason does a great job.
I'd like to enter my next book whenever it comes out.

Mason Canyon said...

Alex, thanks so much. It's always a pleasure working with you. Good luck on the giveaway.

Yolanda Renée said...

Mason, you're welcome. I'm happy to be able to give back. You do a beautiful job! Thank you!

Jemi Fraser said...

Love learning more about Mason - she is fabulous to work with and I was thrilled with the tour she did for Dancing With Dementia!
I'd love to have a chance to work with Mason again - my upcoming books are coming out too soon for that to happen this time around, but maybe in the fall with Reaching For Balance :)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

She's done tours for several of our authors and does a great job. I'd love a free tour for Sherry Ellis' next Bubba and Squirt book but I think Mason is already doing one for her. We do have two other books this summer though.

Mason Canyon said...

Jemi, thank you for the kind words. It was a delight working with you and Dancing with Dementia is a wonderful book. Good luck in the giveaway, I'm looking forward to Reaching For Balance.

Mason Canyon said...

Diane, thanks so much. I've enjoyed working with your authors. Yes, Sherry does have a tour with me for Bubba and Squirt's next book. Her tour will run Sept. 14 through Oct. 14. Putting the finishing touches on her tour page this week. Good luck in the giveaway for the two other books this summer.

Yolanda Renée said...

I love that idea, and think, why not! I do it that way myself, or at least I try to!

Nilanjana Bose said...

Thanks so much for this exhaustive post on book tours. With the pandemic, online activities will be playing a much greater role in all spheres of life for quite sometime. Virtual is the way to go.

Mason Canyon said...

Nilanjana, I agree virtual is the way to go especially during this difficult time.

Denise Covey said...

As someone who has hosted book tours for bloggers I know and books I've read, I thought this was a great way of providing exposure to MC Book tours even though many say the days of the 'tour' are over. Also I found it intriguing... 'to do all the promoting publishers do for their authors.' Sadly, I no longer think this is the case except for a select few authors.

Denise Covey said...

I think a drip feed approach is great. One of the downsides of book tours is that bloggers tire of reading about the same author/book on every post they go to.

Mason Canyon said...

Denise, I have to agree with you about publishers not promoting all authors as much as they once did. I think that fact will help virtual tours remain even though they may not be as popular as they once were either.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi Mason, Hi Yolanda,
First, great interview. MC Book Tours is the only agency I work with when I am reviewing a book outside of my reading list where I voluntary blog about a book. You do an excellent job. I have personally enjoyed working with you. I hope to have a book contract for my book A Time to Love by the end of this year or early next year and would love to be considered for the giveaway.

Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

Mason Canyon said...

Pat, thank you for those kind words. It's always a delight working with you. I'm looking forward to reading your upcoming release. Good luck on winning the giveaway.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks for this insight into book tours and all that you do, Mason! I would love to have a book tour for either: Lift Off, Book One for the Rayatana series, my upcoming SF novella series, or for I, You, Us: A Close Study of First and Second POV - a non-fiction title.

Chrys Fey said...

Mason is amazing! I always love seeing the tours she does for others, and I've participated in a few, too. I'd love to do a tour for Frozen Crimes. The release date isn't known yet, but it's in the finishing stages with my publisher.

Much love to both of you!

cleemckenzie said...

It was great to read Mason's answers here today. She'd a wonderful tour director.

Mason Canyon said...

Tyrean, thanks and good luck in the giveaway.

Mason Canyon said...

Chrys, it's always a pleasure working with you. Good luck in the giveaway and congrats on the upcoming book.

Mason Canyon said...

Lee, thanks for the kind words.

Pat Hatt said...

Great insights indeed. Like the idea of doing it for a already published book too.

Mason Canyon said...

Pat, it's a great way to renew interest in a book that has been published for awhile, especially if you're reprinting the book with a new cover or didn't do a tour when the book first came out.

Marla Bradeen/Paige Sleuth, Mystery Author said...

It has been a while since I've done a blog tour. They definitely can be a lot of work for the organizer, but it's also fun to interact with readers who take the time to comment. I expect to be publishing a multi-author holiday anthology this fall. The title hasn't been finalized yet, but I appreciate the chance to win a tour for this book!

Sandra Cox said...

Great interview and good to know more about Mason. My book pick would be Mateo's Law.

Mason Canyon said...

Maria/Paige, tours can be a great way to interact with readers. It gives them a chance to ask questions of their favorite authors, as well as find new authors to add to their favorite list. Good luck in the giveaway.

Mason Canyon said...

Sandra, your book Mateo's Law sounds intriguing. Good luck in the giveaway.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

On the blogger end of things, I appreciate how organized Mason is with her tours: she gives bloggers all the information they need so that participating as a blog stop is easy.

Sherry Ellis said...

I'm getting ready to do my second tour with Mason Canyon Book Tours, and I'd have to say, the process is so easy. It's a great way to reach a lot of people! She does a great job organizing them!

Mason Canyon said...

Elizabeth, thanks so much for the kind words. Had it not been for you and Cleo (Coyle) I would have never started blogging in the first place and would have never known what a virtual book tour was.

Mason Canyon said...

Sherry, thanks so much for the kind words. It's always a pleasure working with you on a tour. BTW everyone, Sherry's tour will be Sept. 14th through Oct. 14th. Stop by mcbooktours.com to sign up as a tour host. Join the fun and see what Bubba and Squirt are up to.

Toi Thomas said...

Great post and contest. If I won I’d promote my quarantine picture book, Joe and Chip in Quarantine.

Mason Canyon said...

Toi, sounds like an intriguing book. Good luck in the giveaway.

Juneta key said...

Great interview. I have always wondered how you got into doing book tours. Thanks for all the great information.

Mason Canyon said...

Juneta, meeting authors like you is one of the best benefits of doing the tours. It’s always a pleasure working with you on a tour.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Mason ... I'm glad my thought has some 'credence' ... yes - I get tired of seeing the 'same old' - so I hope it may work ... keeping the momentum up - all the best - Hilary