1. Why a blog tour? Tell me what led you to decide to plan a BlogTour to promote Magic, Mensa and Mayhem?

I’ve done blog tours to promote my books for years. They are fun, relatively easy, and best of all inexpensive. I send out a request to bloggers, podcasters and Internet Radio hosts–anyone with a web presence and followers who might be interested in my stuff. I ask to be interviewed or have something about my book posted, or offer to do a guest blog or send them a copy of the book for review. Everyone tells me what day they will post, and I get the schedule out. In all, it takes about 2 hours a stop to arrange, and it’s spread out over months. I started organizing the Magic, Mensa and Mayhem tour in February, although the tour itself takes place in April.
I enjoy book tours because the hosts always have great questions. I learn a lot about myself and my work by answering them. I also get a lot of publicity for very little monetary investment and as a stay-home mom of four, I appreciate that–and my husband does, too!

2. How is the tour structured? How many stops and what are you doing on those stops?

I don’t have a specific structure. I prefer the host pick their day to post, and I have enough contacts that I usually spread it out over a month. I do try to hit all the virtual angles–blogs, websites, newsletters, live chats and now Second Life. I’ll also be Tweeting different things–snippets, quotes, the day’s schedule… not sure what exactly yet.

I’m willing to do just about anything the host wants. I’ve had requests for interviews, for my main character to do an interview, podcasts, and live chats. I’m also doing some guest blogs. Not all are directly about the book, either; I’m talking about worldbuilding and marketing, this time. In the past, folks have asked about my fitting writing into the everyday life of raising four kids and working with my husband (we co-edited two anthologies).

3. How did you find blogs to host you?

Networking and Google. I am a member of a lot of social groups/listserves, so I put out a call there. Then I Google for blogs, podcasts, etc. that interest my target audience. I check them out and send a letter to the host. It doesn’t always work, but it adds to my repertoire.

4. How are you promoting the tour? And are you doing other things to promote your book?

I’ll post the schedule on my websites and announce it in my groups and social sites. I also plan to Tweet the schedule. In addition, I have live events scheduled–a local TV show, book signings, press releases… I have a terrific website for Vern, my dragon detective: http://www.dragoneyepi.net/. Check it out, and if you like it, register on the site. In April, I’m giving away a DragonEye, PI story, “Amateurs,” to all the members on the website. This is an earlier adventure by Vern and Sister Grace, where they take on the Egyptian goddess Sehkmet and two warring tribes of pixies in order to save the universes. The story is indirectly responsible for my getting the contract for Magic, Mensa and Mayhem.

5. Finally, what advice would you give other authors hoping to organise a blog tour?

If you want to learn more about virtual book tours, go to http://www.fabianspace.com/ and download the FREE Virtual Book Tour Primer in the FOR AUTHORS menu. I’ll also be holding a class starting April 20. At the end of the class, you’ll have scheduled your own virtual book tour. (I do charge $30 for the class. You can register here.)