A Book Tour Done From Home - Is She Crazy?

I may be crazy, but not about this :)

Any author can do a book tour from the comfort of their home. Even if there are two feet of snow in your driveway, you can still have a book tour. It is critical that you have a computer, an internet connection and electricity - but it can definitely be done.

One of the authors that will tour with me in February is even going to be traveling for one week during the month, but she will still be promoting her book.

We've all had book signings where very few people attended. Sadly, book signings with authors aren't the big attraction that they used to be. It can be very expensive and disheartening to plan to book signing and to have only a handful of people attend.

But, there is another way. I suggest that you have a virtual book tour. These are also called virtual blog tours. There are a number of ways to conduct these tours. You can visit a bunch of different blogs throughout the month and encourage potential readers to chase you around. Or, there is a brand new option that I'm very excited about.

With a friend, I just launched a new and different virtual book tour website. I like new, unusual and creative promotional activities because they are more fun and more memorable. That's one of the reasons I'm excited about this new site and a new way to hold a virtual book tour. Another reason is because this program gives the author control of their tour. Now, if you're an author who doesn't want any control, that's fine. Our authors have the choice to control their tour personally or to have me coordinate each aspect of the tour for them. The possibilities will increase over time and I'd be happy to discuss any ideas with you to customize the tour for you.

Definition of a Virtual Blog or Book Tour

1. Simply, a virtual blog tour is a cyber “tour” of various blogs and websites. These blogs and websites usually have themes that are within the book that is being promoted on the tour. This “tour” allows authors to reach many people as they travel through the blogosphere.

2. A tour contains a set of blog, website interviews, reviews or guest posts that are posted on a series of blogs during a set amount of time. Various blog owners host you and many ask you interview questions about your book or they may request that you write a piece about a specific part or element of your book.

3. Virtual blog tours are a wonderful alternative to a “live” bookstore tour. A bookstore tour can be very expensive, consume a lot of your time, take you away from your family and job and there is no guarantee that it will be successful. A blog tour can be done from home and in your pajamas if that’s what you prefer.

TTThe Virtual Book Tour Website

I invite each person to visit the new site. The address is www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion. This is a site that was created exclusively to promote author book tours and to make it easy for potential readers to learn more about a wide variety of books and authors.

Each touring author is given a section of the website to promote their books. For a couple of examples, feel free to visit - http://inspiredauthor.com/promotion/february-authors-2008. This page links you to each author that is touring in February and I will create a similar page for touring authors each month. In February, we have three authors touring at this point and I'm talking with several more. For more information about the February authors, visit that page and click on their name. These authors include: Earl Ofari Hutchinson, Steven Clark Bradley and Virginia Vassallo.

This page takes you to Earl Ofari Hutchinson's information http://inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Earl+Hutchinson+-+Feb+2008 and all information throughout the month will be in this same location. In addition, the various posts will remain in our archives for people to view even after the tours are over. The site is designed in a way that attracts the search engines and that will generate links to your information.

I'm writing a short e-book for each of our touring authors to help them learn to use the site, how to create a variety of items to post during their tour and ways to make the most of their tour. I'm also available to help with questions and to offer suggestions of ways to make the most of your tour. Another great advantage is that each author can benefit from the traffic generated for the other touring authors on the site.

The site also offers the chance for website, newsletter and blog owners to promote their sites to visitors. These are site "sponsors". All I ask is that the blog and website owners post a simple promotional message once a week. I'll supply a message for the sponsors to use. This is one of the ways the touring authors will be promoted around the internet. If you're a blog or website owner, feel free to contact me for more information. I can be reached at nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com. I would love to talk to you about the options to promote your book.

Nikki Leigh - Author of the Book Promo 101 series
Visit www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm for more information
Tours on the virtual book tour website begin at only $105 for a full month.

NaNo - Day Seventeen

The month is passing and I missed a few days of NaNo. On Wednesday the weather was beautiful and it seemed like a great day to run errands. However, I spent too much time outside evidently. On Thursday morning I woke about 5 am with the worst migraine I'm had in over a year. Our weather changed radically overnight along with rain - that will set my sinuses off every time. The day was very unproductive - to say the least :) Friday I buckled down and got 10 articles done for a client so that I could get back to NaNo today. The result????

I reached 42,000. I enter my word counts each time I finish another section and 42,000 seemed like a great place to stop for tonight :) Hopefully I will reach 45,000 tomorrow - that could depend on how bad the Redskin - Cowboys game goes :) I'm off to update the books that are featured on my promotional blogs. If you would like to know more about the blogs, take a look at the info in the left margin of this blog - there are a bunch of promotional opportunities for authors :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com

Maureen Fisher Visits Inspired Author

Friday Nov 16 on the blog tour trail – Maureen Fisher visits with me today on the Inspired Author Self Promotion web pages to tell us more about her books and ways that she promotes her books. Click here for more information -

http://www.inspiredauthor.com/v3/author-promotional-interviews

While you’re on the Inspired Author website, I invite you to take a look at the Self Promotion section. There are over 60 promotional articles and interviews that I want to share with you. The link is - http://www.inspiredauthor.com/v3/node/12

Nikki Leigh
http://www.nikkileigh.com
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - http://www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm
Book Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -http://www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

Nano Update

I lost a post or two, so I'll catch everyone up. NaNo is going great. My word count is just over 36,000. I took off today and ran errands and hung out with family for a little while. This seemed like a good errand day since this is the last day the temperature will be in the 60's and 70's. A storm and a cold front are on the way, so I'm hoping tomorrow will be a good writing day. This weekend I need to research and write 10 articles for a client and I got the print galleys for Book Promo 101 last night --- so I need to find time to work on all that stuff :) Thank goodness I'm ahead on NaNo :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com

Christee Gabour Atwood Talks With Ginger Simpson

Join Christee on the blog trail on Wednesday Nov 14 –

Christee Gabour Atwood continues her tour today to promote her book – Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis.

Visit today with Christee Gabour Atwood as she talks with humor and romance writer, Ginger Simpson. Click here for more information -

http://mizging.blogspot.com

Christee shares a thought for the day with you – “I haven’t laughed that hard since Geraldo had a chair on his nose.”

Nikki Leigh
http://www.nikkileigh.com
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - http://www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm
Book Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -http://www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

Christee Gabour Atwood Talks With Elena Dorothy Bowman

Tuesday Nov 13 on the blog tour trail –

Christee Gabour Atwood continues her tour today to promote her book – Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis.

Visit today with Christee Gabour Atwood as she talks with Science Fiction author Elena Dorothy Bowman. Elena asks questions to learn more about Christee.

Click here for more information - http://elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com/

A thought for the day from Christee – “This year when I am in traffic jams, instead of feeling stressed, I will pretend I'm in a parade and wave at everyone”.

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm
Book Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

Advance Info for My Blog Readers

I switched gears for a little while today and I worked on some book promotion. The biggest gift giving season is almost here - so I'm holding a big book sale. All of my Nikki Leigh novels are on sale. I'm offering special discounts on my books - if you buy multiple books, the price is lower and special prices on shipping. In addition, I'm offering to wrap the book(s) and mail them directly to your friends and family. For all the details, visit - http://www.nikkileigh.com/gift_2007.htm

If you have friends of family that like suspense, mystery, lighthouses, strong women, historic, contemporary, evil villains, and much more - I have a book they would like. We should talk :)

Any questions, let me know and I'd love to hear comments about this. The idea just hit me last night and I worked on the sale page, creating and distributing a press release about my sale a good part of the day. I was going to attend a local craft show, but the fee is over $80 and I figured that I would rather save the $80 have a sale. Why not pass along the savings :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com

NaNo - Day Nine & Ten

How is everyone's weekend? Yesterday I had to work on freelance articles for a client, but I got back to the book today. 5800 words today and I'm just over 27,100 total. That's over halfway for NaNo :) Its no where close to half of the book - but its a nice start.

I learned a few years ago that its nice to set goals along the way to 50,000 and to buy a simple treat that I can have when I reach those goals. This year, I chose cherry limeade. Nothing fancy, but its cold and refreshing. So, I bought 3 half gallons - one to drink when I started NaNo, one to have when I get to the middle and one to drink when I hit 50,000. Tomorrow, I can open the 2nd half gallon. Its also really good mixed with passion fruit mixer and any of my flavored vodka or rum :)

I'm taking the rest of the evening off and putting my feet up. Might even read a few pages of someone else's book :) And, tomorrow is pro football day :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com

NaNo - Day Seven and Eight

I'm so behind with my posts. Day Eight, I got about 3200 words on paper and today, I got about 2500. That puts me over 21,000 total. Not bad :) Problem is that I need to research and write 10 articles this weekend, so I'll research them tonight and tomorrow and then write them on Saturday. In between, I'll work on Book Promo 201.

Oh, I got some neat news --- Book Promo 101 was posted on Fictionwise on Monday and today it was #7 on the reference section. Sounds good :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm

November 9th on the Blog Trail

Friday Nov 9 on the blog tour trail –

Christee Gabour Atwood continues her tour today to promote her book – Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis.

Visit today with Christee Gabour Atwood as she talks about her writing, her book and much more. Click here to read more - http://detailwithnikkileigh.blogspot.com/ She even tells my favorite rubber chicken story today – guess you’ll have to visit to find out more.

Darrell Bain is my guest today as he talks with us about his books and how he promotes - http://www.inspiredauthor.com/v3/author-promotional-interviews

While you’re on the Inspired Author website, I invite you to take a look at the Self Promotion section. There are over 60 promotional articles and interviews that I want to share with you. The link is - http://www.inspiredauthor.com/v3/node/12

I have an article posted at Romance Sirens about the difference between romance and women’s fiction. If you would like to take a look, visit - http://www.romancesirens.com/main/2007/11/8/womens-fiction-vs-romance-by-nikki-leigh.html

A thought for the day from Christee – “This year I will stop thinking of that "fur" on my ceiling fan as an artistic statement”.

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htmBook Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

November 7th of the Blog Trail

Wednesday Nov 7 on the blog tour trail –

Christee Gabour Atwood continues her tour today to promote her book – Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis.

Visit today with Christee Gabour Atwood as she shares the opening chapter of her book. Get a taste of how Christee approached her “mid life crisis”. Click here to read more -

http://www.startatbeginning.blogspot.com/

A thought for the day from Christee – “ It’s difficult, but not impossible, to kill a mosquito with a toilet brush.”

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htmBook Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

NaNo - Day Six

I worked for a client today and got another repair on my laptop today. My brother, dad and I also went to dinner -- so all around, no writing, but I got other important stuff done. But, tomorrow I'm back to work on Amazon info. I think that I also got a few contributions lined up for the book :)

Nikki Leigh

NaNo - Day Five

The day went pretty well and the Amazon section of the book is shaping up :) Tomorrow I have another appointment to have some work done to my laptop and my monthly billing client needs bills sent, so Tuesday will have a few distractions. But, I topped 15,000 today - so its going well.

By the way, I also got word this morning that my Non Commercial Food Service book won a USA Best Book 2007 for the Business Reference category :) Always nice to hear about a contest win on a Monday morning :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com/book.htm

NaNo - Day Four

Today wasn't too bad. I slept late to get a little break and of course I had to watch a bit of football :)

I've done quite a bit of research the last couple of days and I'm reworking the info I found. But, I got about 2000 words on paper today and have a total of 13,127 for the month so far. At one point I thought I had lost 500 words, but I found the problem. I saved one version of a chapter and printed out another version of the chapter. So, I got the info untangled and I found the words :)

Tomorrow is Monday and we'll see how it goes :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com

NaNo - Day Three

Today went pretty well. I finished the ten articles for my client and got a couple of things done around the house. By this evening I had 11,032 total words on paper and I got some great Amazon research done today. I was searching for some details I needed and once I stumbled on the info, I had to keep researching :) So, about 3,000 words of Amazon stuff is pieced together and I'll get to that soon.

Tomorrow I plan to get back to social networking. There are a few different ways I want to go with that information and a small bit of it is together, but plenty of info to add :) Its coming along very nice and I've already gotten a few contributions from authors that will be added to the book. How great is that :)

More tomorrow.....

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com

NaNo - Day Two

Well today wasn't as productive as yesterday, but I got my laptop fixed (YEAH :) and that means I could get the Readers Station newsletter posted online (http://www.readersstation.com/nov_2007.htm) and I got about 1000 words on paper too. In addition, I figured out a couple of things about where certain content should go and that is always helpful :) I forgot, I also finished writing 10 articles for a client and I'll proofread them tomorrow and then back to Book Promo 201 :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm

NaNo Day One

What an incredibly productive day. I totally expect to get some cyber smacks over this, but I'm so thrilled with my work today that I just don't think I care :)

I got started a little late this morning, but I worked much of the day. Although I actually took an hour for lunch and took another break for about 2 hours this evening. But, when all the work for the day is tabulated -- I have 7125 words for day one. YEAHHHHH ! ! ! Sorry, just a little excited about that. My hands and fingers are hurting, but otherwise the day went good. Its also good that I made good headway today because the Dell technician is supposed to come to town to fix my laptop tomorrow -- YEAHHH ! ! ! I miss the flexibility of having my laptop working :)

I'm going to take a hot bath and soak my hands to prepare for tomorrow. Book Promo 201 is off to a great start and its sounding good so far :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm

Join Christee Atwood for Day Two of Her Blog Tour

Friday Nov 2 on the blog tour trail –

Christee Gabour Atwood continues her tour today to promote her book – Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis.

Visit today with Christee Gabour Atwood as she talks to us about the book cover for her book. Click here to read more - http://www.judgebookbycover.blogspot.com/

A thought for the day from Christee – “My pets are smarter than me. If not, they would be going to work everyday, balancing the checkbook on weekends, and cleaning out the litterbox, while I sat on the couch and scratched myself”.

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm
Book Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

Christee Gabour Atwood's November Blog Tour Begins

Thursday Nov 1 on the blog tour trail –

This is the first day for November author virtual book tours. Christee Gabour Atwood begins her tour today to promote her book – Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis. Today is the first day of National Novel Writing Month – otherwise known as NaNo. Christee is participating in NaNo again this year and she tells us about her NaNo experience at:

http://inspiredauthor.com/v3/current-events-and-your-book-promotion-0

While you’re on the Inspired Author website, I invite you to take a look at the Self Promotion section. There are over 60 promotional articles and interviews that I want to share with you. The link is - http://inspiredauthor.com/v3/node/12

A thought for the day from Christee – “If I laugh at myself first, then the rest of the world is laughing with me, not at me”.

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm
Book Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

Final Day of The Latino Challenge Book Tour

Wednesday October 31 – The final day on the October blog tour trail –

Earl Ofari Hutchinson talks about his book - The Latino Challenge to Black America: Towards a Conversation Between African-Americans and Hispanics. Today he is featured at Latino Politics – www.Latinopoliticsblog.com.

A bit more information about The Latino Challenge –

The Census Bureau made it official in 2002! Latinos are now the top minority in the U.S. The news hit black America like a thunderbolt. Many blacks complained that they would be shoved even further to the economic and political margin among minorities in the country. The Census report also showed Latinos were widening their population growth gap on blacks.

But, it's not just the numbers. Latinos demand political and social issues no longer be framed solely in black and white. That presents another challenge to black America. At times that challenge has been intensified and conflicted by the wildly divergent agendas of African-Americans and Latinos on immigration, political empowerment, bilingual education, and jobs. These are complex and engaging issues.

The Latino Challenge to Black America: Towards a Conversation Between African-Americans and Hispanics examines the hot button issues and problems that conflict and unite blacks and Latinos. It looks at how both groups interpret and see those issues and problems through the prism of their experiences. It’s highly readable, fast paced, cutting edge book that blends the personal and analytical, and ultimately can serve as a guide to navigate race and ethnic relations through 21st Century America. The book will be published jointly in Spanish and English.

Update - Mr Hutchinson has a new book which is being released in January. Its titled The Ethnic Presidency and it offers insights into what part race will play in the upcoming presidential election. The debates are already heating up with the Democrats and the Republicans, as the race progresses, it will only be hotter and more complicated. The Ethnic Presidency will help you understand the part that minorities and race will play in this unusual and critical election.

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Book Promo 101 - www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm - E-book AVAILABLE