Category Archives: Blog Book Tour

Blog Hops, Book Tours and Book Reviews, Part Deux

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You know how a picture’s worth a thousand words? It occurred to me that maybe a link or two, directing you to a blog hop or a book blog tour or a book review, might be a good way to show you how everything works. So let’s follow Cathy-on-a-Stick up those ooky cave stairs to…

THE COFFIN HOP HORROR WEB TOUR!!!

Here we have a themed blog hop, where a bunch of horror writers (97, to be exact) are waiting for you to drop in this week and get the bejeebers scared out of you. (There are some scary writers out there, my friends, writers who make you pray that you will NOT run into them on a dark and creepy night. Alone. In the woods. With their laptops in tow.)

Anyway, notice how each writer gets a chance to promote his/her books or stories or poetry, and you get a chance to perhaps find a new favorite writer–and win a prize or two while you’re at it. Bet you’ll also notice that some writers have done a great marketing job, from getting followers, to promoting their work, to offering fun contests. (You’ll want to be one of those writers if you participate in a blog hop.)

Okay, now we’ll hop into our time machine so we can visit the WOW!BLOG TOUR with Linda Hubelek’s book, Trail of Thread, here at the Hall of Fame back in May of this year.

You’ll notice that I talked a little about Linda and gave a short synopsis of her book. Often, authors will prepare ten to twelve posts on different topics and blog hosts can choose a topic. So I asked Linda to share a little about writing for our descendants. And I ended the blog book tour with a giveaway of her e-book, which Linda provided. Now here’s a little something from behind the scene. Though I didn’t get a ton of visitors commenting that day for a chance to win Linda’s book, I did get a ton of visitors to the blog. And I still get hits on that post. So as a host, I attracted readers who might not have come to the Hall of Fame (and some of them signed on as followers and return). For the author, the promotion stays out there forever, possibly drawing new readers every day.

Finally, let’s sneak a peek at some of my favorite spots to catch a BOOK REVIEW!

Sometimes, I’ll review a book just because I like the book. My friend (and a swell writer herself), Sally Apokedak, often reviews Young Adult and Middle Grade novels just because she wants to. If I want an in-depth and thoughtful discussion of a book, I’ll read Sally’s reviews. But don’t expect her to give away her books. (She might let you borrow one or two, if you know her.)

Any time you drop into Jodi Webb’s blog, you’re likely to find a book review. She reviews just about everything, from adult to kidlit. I like how Jodi gives a short synopsis, then follows it with her review, and then gives her readers a chance to win the book. Jodi is usually provided books by publishers; if you review a few books at your blog, don’t be surprised if you’re contacted by publishers, asking you to review their books. I rarely review books when contacted by a publisher, but I will do so if a. I LOVE the author and have already read other books by him/her or b. I REALLY, really love the author (in a writing kind of way).

So, I hope those links painted a better picture than all my blah-blah-blahing about blog hops and blog book tours and book reviews. Honestly, I’m wore out. (And Cathy-on-a-Stick’s getting a tad peckish, too.)

Blog Book Tour, Book Review, Blog Hop: What’s the Dif?

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So, you see that your author friend is doing a blog book tour and you wonder what the heck is that? Or you see that another writer friend is doing a blog hop and you figure that must be the same thing. And then you decide that really, they’re both just a way to get a book reviewed. Why make it all so confusing?

Because it kind of is confusing. Your friend’s book may be making the rounds on a blog book tour, but may not be reviewed at every blog. And a blog hop can include a book review, or giveaways, or just a bit of promotion. Perhaps we need to take a closer look…

Blog Book Tour: When a book goes on a blog tour, the book’s author usually submits a post of some sort to the blogger. Often, the post will be in an interview format, and sometimes, the author will make him or herself available for questions from blog readers. The post may also be a topic discussion related to the subject of the book or the author. Say, for example, a fiction book about the Salem witches is on tour. You might read about “How To Research for Historical Fiction” or “How I Got My Book Contract.” In a blog book tour, you’ll find a summary of the book and oftentimes, you’ll find a book giveaway at each stop. And sometimes, you might find a short book review, mostly in the form of a recommendation. So, if you’re interested in a newly released book, search the author’s website for a Blog Book Tour. Somewhere along the 20 stops or so, you’ll win that book. And if you have a book coming out, contact blogger friends and schedule a blog book tour. Or use professionals (you’ll pay a fee) to help you target blogs with the right readership for your book.

Blog Hop: A blog hop is a fun way to get a ton of blogs involved in a common purpose; it is NOT a book tour. It is, however, a great way to get promotion if you have a book. Blog hops are usually centered around a theme…scary reads, foodie books, romance. All the participating blogs plan a post and usually some kind of giveaway (a great opportunity to talk about your book!). Honestly, it’s the prizes that draw readers to a blog hop. And here is where promotion for a book comes in. An author may offer a free download of the first chapter of his or her book to every commenter, or will sponsor a contest giveaway for the book. And don’t forget that getting folks to the blog is the first step in getting them to return! So a blog hop is also about encouraging readers to join as a follower, or sign up for Twitter or Facebook. The key word in a blog hop is fun, so if you’re thinking of participating, think outside the box. And keep in mind that blog hops usually last for a set period…say a week. Have your post prepared to go from the first day, and keep it up all week. You don’t know when readers will be hopping to your blog!

Book Review: A book review is pretty cut and dried. A publisher sends a book to a blogger and the blogger gives a review. Often, the blogger will give the book away. Some bloggers know how to write reviews, and others not so much. If there’s a genre you love (and write!), there’s likely a ton of bloggers who review it. Find a blogger you respect and you can keep up with what’s being written in your genre. But as an author, you need to know that a blogger’s book review may or may not be favorable. Often, it’s the publishers (or their representatives) who contact bloggers to do a book review (rather than the authors).

Now, that’s about it. Or maybe not. No, that’s it. Um…let’s just close the book on the subject for now, okay?

Monday Morning Winning

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First, I’d like to thank everyone who dropped by for Linda Hubalek’s blog book tour, Trail of Thread. What an intrepid group of journalers you are!
I’ve never had much success with journaling…my journals start with a bang (of super awesome events) and end with a whimper (of what we had for dinner that night). But perhaps, I shall take up pen once again. Some future Hall may be fascinated by my description of hot dogs topped with cole slaw and onions.
Oh! I forgot to name the winner of the ebook! It’s Sally Apokedak! Which seems only fitting since she’s a mad journaler herself!
(Um, I mean super awesome journaler, Sally. Not crazy as a bedbug/angsty angry journaler. You knew that, right?)