Interview with Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, Author of THE TRUTH: I'M TEN, I'M SMART AND I KNOW EVERYTHING

We have a special guest today at Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion! Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, author of the self-help book, THE TRUTH: I’M TEN, I’M SMART AND I KNOW EVERYTHING is here with us today to tell us how she pumps up her online book promotion!

PUYOBP: Welcome to Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion, Barbara! Can you tell us a little about yourself and your book, THE TRUTH: I’M TEN, I’M SMART AND I KNOW EVERYTHING?

Barbara: Sure, I'd be delighted to share with you! I'm a Positive Psychologist in private practice in New Jersey. I've been in practice for 25 years and I emphasize with my clients what is right about themselves rather than focusing on what is wrong. We, of course, attend to the issues that brought them to see me. But I believe it is important for my clients to better understand their talents, strengths, coping skills and potential.

I've been writing books for ten years. My first book was THE ENCHANTED SELF, A Positive Therapy. This book, which I'm so proud of, is a brand new way to help women and girls focus on what is right and heroic and wonderful about themselves.

What if we could carry THE TRUTH from girlhood to adulthood? That priceless ‘truth’ that we all recognize as kids? How do we walk over that bridge into growing up, carrying the Truth? How do we recognize THE TRUTH in our children and help them carry their most precious selves into adulthood?

What if we could pass the gift of our early wisdom and brilliance along to our children, giving them permission to hold on to their most precious jewels?

My new book, THE TRUTH, I'm Ten, I'm Smart and I Know Everything, is a delightful, humorous secret diary, written by a girl who is 10-11 years of age. She is wise and yet so innocent. She makes us cry and laugh and remember ourselves. Behind this very easy read is the psychological message to the women reading THE TRUTH that they can and must recapture the fire and passion of their girlhoods not only for themselves to flourish and be happy, but for the next generation to also have the gifts of good emotional and spiritual health.

PUYOBP: THE TRUTH is a self-help book for women AND young girls. Can you explain this?

BARBARA: I truly believe that we are connected in one big circle. As girls we know certain things and have an energy that is pure and easily available. As women and mother's we have other things on our minds and utilize other energies. There is a tendency in the hustle and bustle of life to forget as adult women our earlier capacities for wisdom, fun, happiness and insight. And girls get caught where they don't know how to really get answers to their questions from their moms or teacher and also don't always understand what they see in us grown-up women. So, I decided that this book of wisdom and truth simply had to be for women and girls.
It turns out that women love the book and so do girls-even up to age 17. Women find it a pure delight-a hot fudge sundae with a secret message inside and no weight gain, while girls recognize themselves and finally feel totally understood!

PUYOBP: In regards to promoting your book, what have you been doing to promote online?

Barbara: I've been doing several things-of course I am involved in the Virtual Book Tour. Also, I have a webiste and a blog, My website is http://www.enchantedself.com/ and my blog is The Enchanted Self on http://www.typepad.com/. You can also enter the blog via my website, http://www.enchantedself.com/. On both my website and my blog I talk about my book, share excerpts, and of course on my site the book is for sale. I also have a video of me talking about my book on my website and a podcast of me discussing THE TRUTH, I'm Ten, I'm Smart and I Know Everything! on both my website and my blog. You can find links to both the podcast and the video show at http://www.enchantedself.com/tvandvideo.html.

I have also posted press releases about my new book on various press release sites and had several people host either an interview or a write-up about my book on their sites. For example, take a look at: ReligionAndSpirituality.com - Goddess & Nature Commentaries where Anita Ryan-Ravel writes a column and focused on my new book in her article, Reclaiming Your Inner Know-It-All. Another important thing I have done is to increase my web presence as a positive psychologist which is of course absolutely central to all my writings. To do this I have started a small series of video shows on http://www.goodnewsbroadcast.com/. You can view my show at GOOD NEWS.

PUYOBP: Of all the promotional (bookmarks, press kits, etc.) items you’ve used to promote your book, can you tell us which ones were the most beneficial?

Barbara: I would say the jury is still out! I honestly don't know what is most effective. Sometimes I don't know if something I do has any impact. I can only hope!

PUYOBP: Do you feel that the Internet has opened doors for authors who never dreamed they’d ever see a publishing contract and how has it influenced you in regards to your own publishing journey?

Barbara: I think the internet is a wonderful way to get yourself out there into the universe and to literally get out of yourself. You don't have to wait for anyone else to come to you. You can write to people and introduce yourself via e-mail, and blogs. You can also put up press releases that will be out there for anyone around the world to find. You can send articles to article sites and then see your articles posted all over the internet. It is a wonderland of opportunity.
The internet has pushed me to develop an early dream of mine-to have pen pals around the world and to connect to people I would never have a chance to meet. That has been great. On the other hand I've spent a lot of money on my website over the years and certainly not recouped that money so far in sales.

I've learned the internet is complex and not to fool myself. But still I'm excited to be part of this marvelous invention!

PUYOBP: If you were in the middle of Manhattan (or any busy thoroughfare) and you wanted to call attention to your book, what would you do?

Barbara: Wow-good question. I would get myself a satchel that has on it, THE TRUTH, I'm Ten, I'm Smart and I Know Everything! Now why didn't I think of doing that until you asked me that question?

PUYOBP: If you could trade places with any author just for a day, who would it be?

Barbara: I would love to trade places with Judy Blume. She has written successfully for both women and girls and has included important messages in her books.

PUYOBP: Lastly, how do you determine your book’s success?

Barbara: I'm not sure yet. I would like to see the book in many libraries and get lots of e-mail from women and girls who are reading and enjoying the book. Also, I would like to participate with women in their Book Clubs as they discuss the book. All of the above would be part of what I'll need to determine where success really is with this book. Ultimate success will be the film and play versions which I have already begun to draft!

PUYOBP: Thank you for coming, Barbara and good luck on the rest of your virtual book tour!

Barbara: Thanks so much, Dorothy. This was great and really made me think!

Tags: Pump Up Your Book Promotion, virtual book tour, author publicity, book promotion, online book promotion, author interview

Interview with CJ Maxx, Author of IN THE ARMS OF A WARRIOR

We have a very special guest today at Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion! Welcome CJ Maxx, author of the erotic romance, IN THE ARMS OF A WARRIOR! CJ is here with us today to tell us how he pumps up his own online book promotion!

PUYOBP: Welcome to Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion, CJ! Can we begin by having you tell us what IN THE ARMS OF A WARRIOR is all about and why you wrote it?

CJ: In the Arms of a Warrior is about Susan Ambrose, a twenty-something divorcee from a military family who works as a technical writer. She's watched her father and her brother go off to war. She knows about being a military wife. She wants no part of it. When she falls in love with lead engineer David Wilson she believes he's the answer to her prayers. They both work on the same defense program keeping them in close proximity to each other, no matter what happens. She has her reasons for wanting to work on this project but doesn't realize until it's too late, that what she wants to work so badly will put her lover in danger when it has to be field tested.

I wanted to write a romance novel. It's a contemporary novel against the background of the war with Radical Islam.

PUYOBP: IN THE ARMS OF A WARRIOR is an erotic romance. Why did you choose this genre to write? Did you choose it or did it choose you?

CJ: Although the publisher has listed it as erotic romance I would say that it's highly sensual. The difference being in the language that used to describe the romance scenes.

Now to answer your question. When I first starting reading romance novels a few years ago I was surprised by their explicitness. So when I got to the romance scenes in this book, I just described the action--in detail.

PUYOBP: In regards to promotion, what have you been doing to promote your book online?

CJ: I am a rookie at marketing, as you well know. Obviously, I've engaged your services. Besides that I have a myspace site; a homepage, cjmaxx.net; an authorsden.com site; a blogspot.com site for this book title and another. I've posted on numerous groups and used signatures to push the book.

PUYOBP: Of all the promotional items (bookmarks, press kits, etc…) you have used to promote your book, which one was used most effectively?

CJ: The only promotional item I've used is a business card size advertisement of my first two books showing my website, mardigraspublishing.com and fictionwise.com.

PUYOBP: Do you feel that the Internet has opened doors for authors who never dreamed they’d ever see a publishing contract and how has it influenced you in regards to your own publishing journey?

CJ: I agree about the Internet making it possible for authors to be published who probably wouldn't get a look from the mainstream publishers. You get the opportunity to have it e-published and perhaps Print on Demand. After that it's up to you to market your product. If you have a good product, you can be successful.

My first book, titled The Second American Republic, was with a small independent publisher that went out of business literally the day before my book was to be released. Heartbreak city here. The finances did him in. I have a second novel, The Red Dragon, that two publishers were interested in. Neither published it because they lacked the financial backing. Neither published another book. Now The Red Dragon is with an online publisher, Whisky Creek Press, and will be released next April electronically and POD. I have a lot more faith in the online publishers. Their expenses are less and with a bit of luck and picking the right books, they'll stay in business.

PUYOBP: If you were in the middle of Manhattan (or any busy thoroughfare) and you wanted to call attention to your book, what would you do and what would you say?

CJ: Hmm. I was in Manhattan in May. I guess I would want to advertise on the side on the buses, like columnist Carrie Bradshaw did in Sex in the City. If I was advertising my erotic novellas, I'd just put "Ramp up the state of arousal, Read C.J. Maxx" with an alluring picture in the background. That wouldn't work with this novel although the sex is hot, it's not the driving force here. I think I'd put a picture of the cover up and say, "Read what your neighbors are reading, C.J. Maxx's In the Arms of a Warrior."

PUYOBP: If you could trade places with any author just for a day, who would it be and why?

CJ: I'm pretty satisfied with my life. I don't know if I would want that, but I think that Michael Crichton's life is probably very interesting.

PUYOBP: Lastly, how do you determine your book’s success?

CJ: Every budding author believes they'll be rich and famous. I think that's unlikely. I love to write, that's my motivation. If I can write something that readers like, I'm satisfied.

PUYOBP: Thank you for coming, CJ! Can you tell us where everyone can pick up a copy of IN THE ARMS OF A WARRIOR?

CJ: The print version can be ordered from amazon.com or any other online bookseller and can be ordered from your neighborhood bookstore. The electronic version can be purchased from mardigraspublishing.com, fictionwise.com and other online e-bookstores.

Tags: Pump Up Your Book Promotion, virtual book tour, author publicity, book promotion, online book promotion

The Real World of Virtual Book Touring

As CEO and founder of Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours (plug, plug), I know how much work goes into setting up a tour and monitoring it the entire month one of my clients is on one. It’s so much work that I’m sure you – the innocent reader or even the seasoned pro – have no idea just how much work it involves putting a virtual book tour together for many authors at one time. Even if you have set one up for yourself, multiply that by about seven or so more and you’ll see just how much work it really is.

As tour coordinator, I spend 81 hours a week on these tours. I am fielding incoming inquiries and sending out applications on top of answering whatever questions they may have. I’m taking each client and evaluating which blogs they should appear on and querying blog hosts and setting up dates for them. I’m keeping a spreadsheet on each one and keeping their tour schedule updated as well as keeping everyone on a calendar so that I can see at an easy glance just who is going where on what day.

Not to mention helping my clients set up blogs, learn about tags and how to promote their blogs as well as updating my own blogs where they have their own tour pages and doing weekly updates so that they can see at a glance where they are going to be that upcoming week.

And the list goes on.

But, even though I am the one to lay out the groundwork, the work is still not done. For every stop, the authors must either answer interviews or write guest posts for these approximately twenty blog stops. Then, they must advertise their stops and keep their blogs updated as their tour goes along. It’s not as easy as it appears as you’ll find out, but it's all part of the package.

I asked my present and past clients if they realized it would be so much work even when someone else sets their tour up for them. Their answers will surprise you, and hopefully, help you to understand the real world of virtual book touring so that you’ll go into it with your eyes open.

“To be honest, the answer to the question is no,” says Elena Bowman, who toured in July ’07 for her book GATEKEEPER’S REALM. “I didn't think it would entail that much work. Frankly, I didn't know what to expect myself, Pump Up Your Books, or of the tour. I wasn't even sure when I received all those questions if I could answer them sufficiently and when I did, were they interesting enough. I don't know why I thought the questions would be the same for each and every blog, but I found out quick enough that it wasn't. I also didn't realize that because of the tour I would be setting up my own blog. My only problem is what to put up on it. But I am learning and I must admit it is kind of a fun thing to do.”

Vicki M. Taylor was one of the authors in the second month of Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours. I was still green, learning the ropes, and we ran into a problem or two, but none that couldn’t be corrected. When I asked her if they were what she expected, she said, “Dorothy, when I first considered a virtual book tour, I thought it would be each blog host putting together a page of my information or interview questions/answers and I’d “show up” to each page on the right day. It is that. And a whole lot more. Keeping the schedule up to date is a big issue, as well as keeping everyone’s interview questions separated and answered appropriately and on time. I know that for everything I did on my end, you did double or triple the work. And, I only had my schedule to worry about. You had many more to handle. The hard work continued with making sure I blasted my blog schedule all over the Internet every day to let everyone know where I would be so they could join in the discussion if they wanted. It was difficult to keep thinking of new ways to promote so I didn’t get tired of it and everyone else didn’t get tired of it either. And, finally, adding information to my blog about each stop on the tour every day. Luckily, I had tried to clear my schedule as much as possible before my VBT. I recommend that to anyone who is considering one. You’ll be busy. Clear your schedule. You’ll be happy you did. Would I do it again? Sure I would.”

Kim Baccellia is on tour this month (August ’07) for her book, EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA. She says, “No, I didn’t. I don’t think people realize how much work it is to promote your book. Jeez, writing the book is the easy part!!! I really thank Dorothy for putting my virtual book tour together. I’ve had a few other writers ask me if I did this. My writing mentor was very impressed. But I told them I wouldn’t have even known where to start. Sure you can ask a few friends to host you, but how to get the schedule together without going crazy? There’s no way I could have done the tour by myself.”

Marilyn Celeste Morris, who toured in April ‘07 for her book ONCE A BRAT and again in July ‘07 for THE WOMEN OF CAMP SOBINGO says, “Yes, it's a lot of work, but worth it. I think maybe getting more organized on my part would help it not be so hectic. I have made folders (real folders, not virtual) and printed off my answers to the questions the blog hosts ask me. Then I put the date on it in pen/pencil when the post is going to appear and the date it was sent. I know it's a lot of paper, but sometimes having a hard copy somewhere on your littered desk is truly comforting, knowing you did answer the questions someone had sent. I also find it interesting to see the different kinds of questions some people can ask.”

Dwayne G. Anderson who is busily answering questions and writing guest posts for his tour in September ’07 for his book PARTIALLY HUMAN says, “Yes, I knew I would have to pitch in and do my part; although, at least they do the hardest work for me.”

“I had no idea the virtual book tour would be so much work for you!” says Judi Moreo, author of YOU ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH: EVERY WOMAN’S GUIDE TO PURPOSE, PASSION, AND POWER” who is touring this month. “It was only after we got into it and I saw the amount of time it took for me to answer all the questions, did it dawn on me that you had done even more work setting it up. This tour has been great for me as it has made me really think about my answers and now that I am doing a lot of interviews in person, I feel as though I have already written out my answers and practiced them, so my in person interviews are going much better than they would have without your virtual book tour. I’ve told everyone that you’ve done more for me than the publicist I hired for a great deal more money. Your work has certainly been effective. Thanks for everything!”

Marilyn Meredith, author of JUDGMENT FIRE, who is also touring this month, says, “First and foremost, the blog tour has been fun. I’ve enjoyed answering all the interview questions and trying to come up with different information so if anyone actually followed every blog, it wouldn’t be boring. What is time consuming is promoting the blogs – a very important part of the whole process. If you don’t promote, no one is going to read what you took the time to write. Whether or not it will be worth it, I’m not sure. How I’ll be able to tell is if people head to my website or the publisher’s website or a bookstore and order JUDGMENT FIRE, the book I promoted on my virtual book tour. Most of the work and time fell on Dorothy Thompson and her crew to find places for me to visit. Frankly, I enjoyed the experience.”

“The amount of work was an unknown to me but your explanation and instructions indicated that I would be busy,” says CJ Maxx, author of IN THE ARMS OF A WARRIOR, who is touring this month and will be touring next month, also. “It’s quite a bit of work, especially when you have to juggle your normal day to day activities. It’s interesting work though. It makes me look at my novel from different perspectives, depending on the questions I get. The answer to the question is yes. But, it’s not drudgery; it’s interesting and beneficial work.”
www.cjmaxx.com

PG Forte, author of WAITING FOR THE BIG ONE, and who is also touring this month, says, “I think I probably would have been surprised by it when I first started out, but a few years of promoting myself has left me with a healthy respect for the amount of work writers have to do after the book is written. Yes, these last few weeks have been more intense than my usual promotional efforts but they’ve also been more focused and the time I’ve spent has been much more productive. All in all, I have to say the whole process has been a joy. I honestly think the work Dorothy has put into it has been much, much harder and I truly appreciate that! Coordinating all those details for so many authors – I can’t imagine where she finds the time to do it all. All I had to do was answer a lot of intriguing questions and talk about my book. And while that’s something else that seemed daunting when I was first starting out, now…well, I guess I’ve gotten used to it. I could do it all day!”

“The blog tour did involve a fair amount of work since each of the guest visits required preparation, whether in the form of an interview or some thoughts on the book and/or writing process,” says returning client Caridad Pineiro, author of SOUTH BEACH CHICAS CATCH THEIR MAN, toured last May and will be touring again in September. “However, the pace of preparing that work was not frantic and the amount of work could be done within a reasonable amount of time. Comparing the work to the promotional opportunity, I can say that it was definitely a worthwhile tradeoff.”

Karen Magill, author of LET US PLAY: A ROCK ‘N ROLL LOVE STORY, toured with Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours in June. “I didn’t find it to be too much work on my part. Trying to find different ways to answer the same questions wasn’t easy though!”

“It was and wasn’t a lot of work,” says NY Times bestselling author Jane Green, author of SECOND CHANCE, who toured in July. “Most of the questions from the bloggers were similar or the same, so it was easy to regurgitate your answers. The challenges came in writing essays, which were more time-consuming than I anticipated, but entirely worthwhile.”

“I expected the tour to be work; how could it not be,” says Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, author of THE TRUTH, I’M TEN, I’M SMART AND I KNOW EVERYTHING! who is on tour this month and next month. “How could I answer questions about my book without thought and time? However, the fun has outweighed the work. I love being on tour. I’m hoping to meet lots of new people and get inspired on so many levels. Who knows I may meet a film producer who wants to make a movie out of THE TRUTH, I’M TEN, I’M SMART AND I KNOW EVERYTHING! After all, now I have a book trailer – that is close to a mini movie. Truthfully, I just want this tour to go on and on. I signed up for a two month tour and Dorothy is willing I’d like to keep going. It is so great to be connected to other people’s blogs and to see how many blogs, and directories my new baby, THE TRUTH, is being connected into. I’m thrilled. Thanks for being there, Dorothy!”

And we come to one more response which so happened to be the inspiration for this article and sums virtual book tours up rather well. Robin Jay, author of THE ART OF THE BUSINESS LUNCH, informed me I was a slave driver. She knows me well. ;o)

She says, “Dorothy, you are a slave driver. I had no idea this would be so much work! I have been writing about 5,000 words a day for you, plus everything else I am working on…wow ~ how could anyone think they could do this alone? At least you are wonderful to work with. You keep me laughing all the way as I work my little fingers to the bone! These blog posts take a little longer than I imagined they would. While so many of the questions are similar, they are never the same, so it’s not just a simple “cut & paste.” Instead, each blog requires unique answers. It’s really fun to elaborate on the various aspects of the past few years, especially since I know these are going to read by other writers. I love the opportunity to help them; however, I’m quite certain I could have written another book by now! Seriously – I would tell your authors to plan on a half-hour at LEAST with each blog, on average, and say 10 blogs or whatever the total is for the tour. That way, they can fully understand what it takes. It’s only been hard for me because I have so much ELSE going on! For instance, tomorrow I have appointments at 10:30, 12, 12:30 and 4:30 – AND I have to go to the bank at some point! Big day…out mostly – I like days like today, that consist entirely of writing. It’s such a creative endeavor, that time just flew. And I’ll tell you just how much I love this. When I was writing that long story for you today (www.bloggingauthors.blogspot.com), I kept thinking, “I’d better hurry up and finish this so I can get back to work!” And then I realized “This IS my work!” That’s pretty cool, huh? When you love what you do – it just doesn’t seem like work. It’s all the other stuff that is a drag.”

When you love what you do. Words to live by. I love what I do and I try not to be a slave driver; but the thing is, I only want what’s best for my authors. The real story behind virtual book tours is that while it requires a lot of work on everyone’s part for it to be a success, a virtual book tour can create an online presence that you’ve never seen before. And THAT’S the real world of virtual book touring. See you in the blogosphere....

Tags: Pump Up Your Book Promotion, virtual book tour, author publicity, book promotion, online book promotion

Amazon Opens Payment System to Other Websites

Amazon.com Inc. has opened its payment system to other Web sites in a move that would pit it against eBay Inc's PayPal.

The program, called Amazon Flexible Payment Service, was launched on Friday in an initial testing period, Amazon said on Monday.

Customers of Amazon.com, the largest internet retailer in the world, can already purchase goods through third-party sellers. Now, software developers operating their own Web sites can choose to use Amazon's payment system.

Read article here.

Tags: How to Pump UP Your Book Promotion, online book promotion, author publicity, book promotion, book promotion tips, virtual book tour, author interviews, Amazon

JUDGMENT FIRE VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '07

We have a very special guest author today! Her name is Marilyn Meredith, author of the book, JUDGMENT FIRE and she is here to tell us how she pumps up her own online book promotion!

Marilyn is on her virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours, a full-service online virtual booking agency. If you would like to see her tour schedule to see where she'll be going next, click here!

*****

PUYOBP: Thank you for coming to Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion, Marilyn! Can you tell us what your book is about?

Marilyn: Judgment Fire, the latest in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series is about the murder of a battered wife. Tempe is a Native American who hasn't embraced her heritage until recently. As the investigation progresses, painful memories of Tempe's high school days begin to plague her and give her insight into herself and what has been happening.

PUYOBP: Who are you published with and how have your experiences with them been so far?
Marilyn: Mundania Press is my publisher and I've been very pleased with the publisher's know-how of this business.

PUYOBP: Can you tell us ways you have been promoting online?

Marilyn: The most exciting way is this virtual tour. I've never done anything like this before. I'm planning a book trailer too. I also have a monthly email newsletter which I'll use to promote. And of course, I'll be telling everyone about Judgment Fire on the many lists that I'm on.

PUYOBP: Can you tell us ways you have been promoting offline?

Marilyn: I'm planning a book launch in my home town. I've done several here over the years, at a book store (no longer in business), the local Inn, a recreation center, a coffee shop and a gift shop. I'll also do some book signings at bookstores, libraries and I'm presenting at several writers' conferences and cons. I'm even going to Alaska in September to Bouchercon where I'll be heading out to the Bush to talk to school children about writing mysteries.

PUYOBP: What is the most important piece of advice anyone has ever given you about the publishing industry?

Marilyn: Not to get discouraged by rejection. I took that advice because I was rejected many times before finally being accepted by a publisher. My advice to writers sprouts from that--keep writing and submitting. Learn from your mistakes and keep on going.

PUYOBP: What’s next for you? Do you have more books in the works?

Marilyn: I've already finished the next in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series and submitted it to my publisher. I'm working on the one after that.

I have another series, The Rocky Bluff P.D. series, and I expect the ebook version of Smell of Death to be out in the fall. The latest one, Fringe Benefits, is available as a trade paperback from my website and an ebook from Tigress Press and Fictionwise.

PUYOBP: Thank you for stopping by, Marilyn, and I wish you much success to you during your virtual book tour!

Marilyn: And thank you for the interview. This is such a fun and unique way to promote a book.

You can visit Marilyn's home on the web at http://fictionforyou.com/ or her blog at http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/!

*****

Tags: How to Pump UP Your Book Promotion, online book promotion, author publicity, book promotion, book promotion tips, virtual book tour, author interviews, guest blogger

When Being a Publicist Takes on a New Meaning

I have officially been in publicity for roughly four months. Hardly long enough to be called a seasoned pro, but what happened to me tonight made me realize that all this hard work I'm pushing myself to do for my little virtual book tour company has already paid off in ways I'd never dreamed possible.

There comes a time in one's life when you suddenly realize that yeah this is what I am supposed to be doing. Might take almost a lifetime to realize, but when it hits, it's like the best feeling in the world.

And this realization hit me tonight when I saw someone blog for the first time. Now, you would think there's not a thing phenomenol in that. We've all had our first times.

But, this was different.

I'm talking about watching someone who didn't even know what a blog was actually make his first post, then email me to ask when he could put his second one up. I had created a monster and this was my intention.

I've told everyone how important blogging is to promote your books. I've suggested putting up book blogs and adding tags. I ran a workshop in here not too long ago (look in archives) about how to promote your book blog and why it was so very important to have one.

To refresh your memory, a book blog is another vehicle to sell your book, but by adding tags and learning how to promote your book blog, you can up your search engine ranking dramatically.

I received an email tonight from Cheryl Malandrinos over at The Book Connection. Cheryl is one of my blog hosts who so graciously hosts my authors at Pump Up Your Book Promotion on their virtual book tours. Cheryl has been there for me so many times, I owe her my firstborn child, haha.

Anyway, she went on to tell me to hop over to StoryCrafters, another blog she writes for, that she mentioned my company and thought I'd like to read it. Of course, I drop everything and go over. If you'd like to go see what she wrote, go to http://storycrafters.blogspot.com/2007/08/promotion-is-full-time-job.html.

"Promotion is a Full-Time Job" was the title of her post and she goes on to say how she realized that it's almost impossible to promote right and write, too. We're all doing it, but somewhere along the line, editing doesn't get done because someone sent you a few links of places you could promote your book for free and you just had to get yours in. Or, that manuscript that was supposed to go to the publisher months ago *waving hand* is still sitting in files because you're out there either promoting yourself or in my case promoting other people.

You need to be Wonder Woman, but you just can't.

Something suffers.

But, there are some of us who think smart and hire someone to help us promote to save some time to write. And that's where I come in.

I love doing what I do. I simply love it. But, tonight, everything just came to a head why I love what I do and it was all because of Dwayne G. Anderson.

Now, Dwayne is a new client who will be going out on a virtual book tour next month. He's all excited because he's finally found someone who can help him promote his book in ways he hadn't thought of. He's a very young author - only 24 - and has three books already. A phenomenol young man. I wasn't even published until I was in my early forties, so for Dwayne to have three at twenty-four, it was just a phenomenol thing to me.

When he sent in his application, I had no idea how old he was. I could sense the enthusiasm radiating from his email, but nothing to indicate his age. I liked the sound of his book and took him on.

I asked him if he had a blog as that was pretty necessary to have for these tours to work and he said, "No." I asked him if he had ever blogged and he again said, "No."

So, I set him up a blog at http://www.partiallyhuman.blogspot.com/ tonight.

And he made his first post.

Now this is also someone who has Asperger's Syndrome. I asked him what it was and he said his brain perceives things differently from other people. Talking to him, I would have never known it. Whatever way his brain perceives things must be a good thing because he's a very talented young author.

So, I gave him instructions on how to post and waited. A few minutes later, he wanted to know when he could make a new post.

This is what I'm talking about. This is what I get up in the morning for.

And, this my friends, is when being a publicist takes on a new meaning. It's these kinds of things that you can't put a pricetag on.

Do check out his blog and leave him a comment. I have a feeling you're going to hear a lot about Mr. Dwayne G. Anderson. If you'd like to host him on his tour next month, send me an email at thewriterslife(at)yahoo.com. Better get in early...I have a feeling he's going to be booked to the max. ;o)

Tags: How to Pump UP Your Book Promotion, online book promotion, author publicity, book promotion, book promotion tips, virtual book tour, author interviews, Dwayne G. Anderson

What's a Virtual Assistant?

One of my clients, Robin Jay, author of THE ART OF THE BUSINESS LUNCH, and who is virtually touring this month, just sent me an article she had written on the subject of virtual assistants which appeared in the Las Vegas Business Press this morning.

Am I the only one who didn't know what a virtual assitant was?

According to Robin, "Thanks to today's technology, they are able to work "virtually" from their own homes or offices, as independent contractors or consultants. VAs are business partners who want to help you grow your business."

She also goes on to say, "Unlike a temp or employee, a VA is a business owner who has worked in high-level positions in the past, and who can handle marketing, sales, database management, customer relationship management, bookkeeping, or even answer your phone remotely, if you wish. This solution allows entrepreneurs to hire someone to tackle those aspects of their jobs that they don't have time for or that they consider their weakness. This partnership helps to create a dynamite combination."

If you'd like to read the article, go to the Las Vegas Business Press website and you can learn more about virtual assistants.

Hey, I'm for anything virtual or assistant. As a new business owner of Pump Up Your Book Promotion, I tend to try to do it all and sometimes we just can't. I don't know whether a virtual assistant would be a good thing for me at this point, but it's definitely something to think about for the future. Great article, Robin!

Tags: How to Pump UP Your Book Promotion, online book promotion, author publicity, book promotion, book promotion tips, virtual book tour, author interviews, guest blogger, Robin Jay, virtual assistant