IWSG - don't be dull

So IWSG friends, this month I will discuss why I am afraid to jump into the publishing pool - blog tours!

I am so excited for all the authors putting books out lately! There's been a flux of cover reveals, interviews, giveaways and blog tours! So much to shout about!

Though I'm very happy for everyone, I am concerned that blog tours are becoming saturated. I think we need new, energized ways to promote and advertise our upcoming books! I don't want to bother people with another book launch...coincidentally I found a couple of articles addressing the same thing with helpful info, just in the nick of time!

Here is a post by the savvy Creepy Query Girl she has fresh ideas on what to do to keep blog tours from becoming a stale avenue.

Here is a whole new site, the Blog Tour Exchange put together by Sharon Bayliss to help new authors with the whole blog tour process! There's contests and prizes and promotion!

Another group of helpful writers is getting together with the aim of boosting book sales, Stephen Tremp, C M Brown, M Pax, and Christine Rains. They are announcing their project, Writers for Writers on December 6th. Tune in then for more details - it should be BIG!!!

In the new year, I am hosting a few blog tour stops here and I want to do them right and want advice for mine too! Stina, whose blog always has wonderful advice and great writing links, wrote a post about spicing up blog tours and other suggestions to display new books in their best light. Here are a few highlights from her post:

• Covers are important. make sure you send one of high resolution

• Use Goodreads wisely. 

• Word of mouth is your best promotion. Not long ago, a blogging friend mentionedEasy by Tammara Webber on her blog. We started talking about the book. Because of that, I bought it and read it right away (even though my TBR pile is out of control). I then told my CP, who also read it even though her TBR pile is as bad as mine. We both love the book and have told others about it.  

• Be selective with your blog tours. You are better off having your book reviewed on a major book blog (if possible) than swamp your blogging circle with a blog tour. 

• Keep your promotion small, unless you can spread it around so it’s not hitting the same people again and again. Every so often, subtly remind us about your book. I might not buy it right away, but the reminder later on might be all I need to pick the book up. This is more effective than over promotion, which tends to turn some people off a book. 

• If you’re going to do an interview, KEEP IT SHORT. 

And speaking of word of mouth...I nominate M J Fifield to do a regular review vlog! You heard me, woman! She reads books quick and is honest and witty schmitty! She's the total entertainment package! Or maybe a regular review post - M J, people would send you ARCs just to have you review them on your blog! They'd have to book her in advance for their blog tour! She's that good!

And finally, for Sensational Haiku Wednesday, some encouragement and fun - anything but DULL.

All writing, all day
cramps the hand and dulls the brain
take breaks to recharge!

The light is on but
no one is home, the mind needs
exercise to write

Sad faces and yawns
indicators of party
that needs tequila livening!