#WriterWednesday All Eyes on Me: Virtual Book Tour

Let’s break it down a bit for those who don’t know about Virtual Book Tours. A virtual book tour is when an author visits blogs, radio shows, writes guest post, etc. to share their latest work with readers during a specific period of time. The length is up to you–one week, two weeks, a month.

This your can take place before the release of your book, when the book is released, or after the release of your book. 

Options

You have two options–hire someone to organize your tour for you or organize it yourself. Every virtual book tour I’ve been on I organized myself because at the time I didn’t have the budget. 

DYI Tips
Organize, organize, organize. If you’re not well connected in the publishing world or know a bunch of bloggers and radio show host then you’re going to have get organized, well in advance. Most bloggers schedule posts in advance and they are not going to break their timeline for you.You need to start arranging the tour six months in advance. If you don’t know many bloggers or want to step outside of your comfort zone visit Book Blogger Directory to find bloggers in your genre.

Also, be prepared to be rejected. Some bloggers will not want you, your content, or book. If you’re not going to be spending money on this tour you better be prepared to spend time putting this tour together.

• Beware of sites in which you have to pay to be featured on their website. Yes, this a promo tour and sometimes you have to pay for promotion, but paying to be featured on a blog is a little sketchy unless that blogger has a huge audience with some guaranteed results.
• Some radio shows charge for guests. Don’t be afraid to ask for stats and demographics. If they can’t prove they have a diverse listening audience that includes you ideal reader. Keep your coins and move on to the next one. 
• Create graphics for free using Canva, Pic Monkey, Be Funky, or Ribbet
• Select several different excerpts so that your fans, followers, and friends can have a rich experience while following the tour. 
• Try to do guest post with content connected to the book and of interest to the blog audience. Those posts usually generate lots of hits. 

Know your purpose. A blog tour is to create awareness and announce your presence. Don’t go crazy if after you’ve organized this phenomenal tour the only person who buys a copy of your book is your grandmother in Toledo. People cannot purchase something that they don’t know about. A Virtual Book Tour is your introduction to them. 

Have you organized your own virtual book tour before? Share your experiences in the comments. If you haven’t tried one yet make sure you come back and let me know how it goes.

Character Chatter with Grace King of Seasoned with Grace

The Neophyte Author is so pleased to have the one and only Grace King drop by for a little chatter. Grace King is the protagonist of the soon to be released novel, Seasoned with Grace.

 Available for Pre-order on:

Amazon: http://bit.ly/SeasonedwithGrace

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/B_NSWG

Books-a-Million: http://bit.ly/booksSWG

 

Grace, I want to welcome you and thank you for stopping by The Neophyte Author. What brings you here today?

You know the saying can’t nobody tell it like you can. With the upcoming release of the book, Seasoned with Grace in which I am the star I wanted to make sure I get ahead of this thing and let everyone know who I am.

Who are you Grace King?

I’m a fabulous and fierce supermodel with a slight criminal history.

Slight? Is that accurate? When I checked you record–

Slight. I said slight, I’ve been arrested less times than DMX so, I consider my record to be slight. Do we really want to dig up skeltons? I’m sure you’ve got a few to share. You’re not the only one with research skills.

Grace the last place I want to be is on your bad side, I’ve heard you don’t play around. Why is that?

I’ve been on my own since I was sixteen and the streets of New York are much like the jungle–it’s kill or be killed, eat or be eaten. Although, most would say I’ve ascended far beyond my days on the street there are some things that you just can’t let go of. I just don’t know how to not defend myself and when I sense someone is on the attack I’d rather be the aggressor instead of the victim.

Some say that you’ve been a victim before and that’s why you’re overly aggressive. Is there any truth to that rumor?

I have been taken advantage of in my lifetime by people that I was supposed to be able to trust–some church folks. Y’all always doing dirt when you’re supposed to be serving God, but that’s neither here nor there. What’s really important is the release of Seasoned with Grace. All of my fans and new supporters will have the opportunity to see inside of my home, my heart, and my struggles in a way that others have not.

What should readers expect from this book?

Readers should expect a  fierce and fabulous ride with the one and only Grace King. They’ll have V.I.P. access to all of my shenanigans and of course there’s quite a bit eye candy in book. They’ll get to meet, Ethan Summerville my dedicated, extremely bright, and handsome lawyer; Pastor David, the pastor of Mount Carmel Community Church, and Horace Brown, my chocolate drop. Ladies, let me warn you know, don’t get too many ideas when you meet him. The only one who is going to taste that chocolate will be me once he stops playing hard to get. Seasoned with Grace is will tackle some touchy stuff that I have dealt with in my life like addiction, rape, and abortion. Things I couldn’t openly discuss until you wrote this book. Thank you for that, Nigeria. 

It was my pleasure Grace. Why did you allow me to be the author of your tale?

I’m a harsh, abrasive Harlemite and you know how to make the grit of life look and sound good. I trusted to you to honor my story and I believe you did. 

Before I let you go, Grace King, one last question–I can’t let you go without getting some fashion tips from you. What are your recommendations for this spring and summer?

Floral is in. I recommend buying a floral print pantsuit and a few pastel shirts and jeans. You can easily mix and match and work the trend. For the woman on the go and in need of a day to night look I’d recommend a figure flattering floral print dress with pumps in the day and a neutral shoe with fringes at night. For the daring sisters, sheer blouses are the go to item, but make sure your undergarments are the same color as the blouse. This summer jumpers are a must. I know the naturals are ruling the scene, but I have a feeling that short hair will make a comeback this year and even if it doesn’t I’m still going to be rocking this short cut. For more of my style tips please visit the Seasoned with Grace board on Pinterest that I help Nigeria curate. Thanks for having me on for Character Chatter. I’m going to try and get the rest of my buddies to sit down with you. To all those reading please one-click Seasoned with Grace today. You’re going to enjoy this ride. 

 

 

Chat with the Neophyte Author

This week I’ll be doing a few interviews. Have a question for me about writing, Born at Dawn, faith, or anything else tune in and/ call in to chat with the Neophyte Author.

 

Saturday, July 5, 2014 at 5 PM EST/4 PM CST:  The Author Chat Show with Lynda D. Brown Call In: (424) 675-8262

Monday, July 7, 2014 at 12 PM EST/ 11 AM CST:   Divas Literary World Call In: (914)  338-1494

 

Please LIKE, SHARE, and TUNE IN!

 

I Want You–bloggers, book reviewers, radio hosts, and social media influencers!

The Neophyte Author is preparing a virtual book tour to promote her debut novel, Born at Dawn and she is currently booking stops for her two week tour. If you would like to support the Neophyte Author, Nigeria Lockley click here to sign up.

Born at Dawn Synopsis:

Thirty-four year old Cynthia Barclay knows that marriage is supposed to be for better or for worse. Unfortunately, for the last ten years of her marriage Cynthia has experienced the worst that marriage has to offer at the hands of her abusive husband Marvin Barclay. With the hope of saving herself and her family she turns to the Lord. Expecting to see God manifest himself greatly in her life sooner than later Cynthia is not content just waiting. She wants out.

 Abandoning her hope, her husband, and her two young sons Cynthia boards a bus from New York City to Richmond, Virginia. She begins a new life armed with six thousand dollars on a prepaid credit card, a sketchy plan for success, and a promise to return for her sons. That is until she meets Cheo, a photojournalist with enough connections to take her where she wants to be and forget where she came from.

 After six years in Richmond Cynthia’s dark past resurfaces. At the risk of losing it all—her past and her present Cynthia returns home to right her wrongs. Has Cynthia chosen the right time to return home or is it too late for God to restore everything she has broken?

 

Thank you for your support and participation! Born at Dawn Virtual Book Tour Sign Up

SisterGirlFriends: Nikki Thompson, Nigeria Lockley, Cherylrese Lynette

This Tuesday the Neophyte Author had the opportunity and privilege to appear on a segment, “SisterGirlfriends” on the Sharvette Mitchell Radio Show, During the show we discussed why I write fiction for the renewed mind and the characters in Born at Dawn. 

Two other awesome soul sisters, Nikki Thompson and Cherylrese Lynette, shared how they’re spreading the gospel and worshiping God with their gifts as well.

If you missed it please take listen by clicking on the link below. Post your comments and questions here and remember to support these other women of God as they spread the word of God.  

SisterGirlFriends: Nikki Thompson, Nigeria Lockley, Cherylrese Lynette