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.

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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.