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.
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!
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.
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.
Well, there you are, a marvelous chance to win a tour and ask Mason any question you want!
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.
Winners announced shortly after.
