Interview with Fantasy Author Bruce Skye

A former technical writer, detail is important to Bruce Skye. His research for the Deathsong Chronicles included medieval armor and fortresses, as well as Celtic names and magic. "If you create a world, it must be consistent. And that's what I strive for Grayrider's world to be. I've built a database of material for each of the Deathsong Chronicles. Those databases aid me in keeping the world the same from book to book. "When I wrote Grayrider, I followed the advice of Stephen King. I did not write the book following any sort of outline. I have no more idea than my readers do when I write a novel what will happen in the midst of the story. It makes it more exciting for both the readers and myself." You can visit his website at www.bruceskye.com.

Welcome to Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion, Bruce. Can we begin by having you tell us what Grayrider is about?

Grayrider is a fantasy.

Did you choose it or did it choose you?

The story which is inherently of the fantasy genre chose me.

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

Press releases; my own website (including my blog on fantasy writing) http://www.bruceskye.com; and a blog supposedly written by the hero of Grayrider http://bruces1225.blogspot.com/.

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

Probably my website, which continues to get more and more visitors every month.

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?

I think the Internet has indeed opened up publishing to far more authors. I found my agent through the Net and at her suggestion, applied online to my publisher.

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?

Good question! All I can think of is something not very original. Hold up a copy of my book and yell “Hey! Want a great book to read?”

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

Ted Bell. He is a best-selling suspense author. I’ve always wanted to succeed in writing suspense.

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

Keep at it and always be open to using new ways of marketing your book.

Thank you for coming, Bruce! Can you tell us where everyone can pick up a copy of Grayrider?

Any bookstore can order it for you. It’s also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble’s website and Powell’s Books website.

Interview with Historical Fiction Author J.A. Hunsinger

J. A. Hunsinger lives in Colorado, USA, with his wife Phyllis. The first novel of his character-driven, historical fiction series, Axe of Iron: The Settlers, represents his first serious effort to craft the story of a lifelong interest in the Viking Age—especially as it pertains to Norse exploration west of Iceland—and extensive research and archaeological site visitations as an amateur historian. He has tied the discovery of many of the Norse artifacts found on this continent to places and events portrayed in his novels. Much of his adult life has been associated with commercial aviation, both in and out of the cockpit. As an Engineering Technical Writer for Honeywell Commercial Flight Systems Group, Phoenix, AZ, he authored two comprehensive pilots’ manuals on aircraft computer guidance systems and several supplemental aircraft radar manuals. His manuals were published and distributed worldwide to airline operators by Honeywell Engineering, Phoenix, AZ. He also published an article, Flight Into Danger, in Flying Magazine, (August 2002). Historical Novel Society, American Institute of Archaeology, Canadian Archaeology Association, and IBPA-Independent Book Publishers Association, are among the fraternal and trade organizations in which he holds membership. You can visit his website at http://www.vinlandpublishing.com and his blog at http://www.vinlandpublishing.blogspot.com.

Welcome to Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion, Jerry. Can we begin by having you tell us what Axe of Iron: The Settlers is about?

Axe of Iron: The Settlers is a character-driven historical fiction.

Why did you choose historical fiction?

The Vikings have been a lifelong interest and any novel about them will be historical fiction.

Did you choose it or did it choose you?

A little of both I think. My heritage is Swedish/German and I believe writing these books is my destiny.

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

I have both a website: http://www.vinlandpublishing.com/ and a blog: http://www.vinlandpublishing.blogspot.com/. I have also signed up for several social networking sites for writers, Google Book Search, and everything that Amazon has for writers of books.

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

I do not know at this point, the book was published August 2008 and the jury is still out on what is the most effective. I believe that the internet is rapidly replacing all other advertising methods because of cost and the amazing level of exposure.

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?

Absolutely! As I said I believe max internet exposure is the key in this business. A case in point: Google J. A. Hunsinger, or the book’s title and see what happens. I am pretty happy about that level of exposure.

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?

I would say that I am telling a continuing story in a series of books about medieval Vikings and their struggle to settle and eventually assimilate with the native people in North America. It is a story of strife, hate, love, sex, warfare, and every other element that one would expect from a novel taking place one thosand years ago in a primitive new land.

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

I do not want to trade places with any other author, but I would certainly welcome a beer or coffee with Mel Gibson because I have written his kind of book.

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

I want the word out there so people will ask for it, read it, and like the experience enough to tell others that they just read this great book .

Thank you for coming, Jerry! Can you tell us where everyone can pick up a copy of Axe of Iron: The Settlers?

The book is availalble from my distributor, AtlasBooks from my website and nationwide at major

booksellers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Book-A-Million, etc.

Author Interviews & Book Marketing Buzz

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to give everyone an update on the status of Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion. In the past, we have given you author interviews, promo of upcoming author and book events, promotion tips, online book promotion gadgets and gizmos, but it's time the blog took on a new focus.

Because we have moved all of our online book promotion tips to our new blog, Book Marketing Buzz, we will only be hosting authors for interview on this one.

If you would like to share your online book promotion tips and get FREE book promotion for your book, send me an email at thewriterslife(at)yahoo.com with "I want to be interviewed on Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion" and I will send you the interview for this blog. Turnaround is 3 days unless we get a heavy flow of interviews coming in, of which I will let you know if that turnaround time changes.

Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion has a huge subscriber base and that's why I don't want to close it down entirely. It's also predominantly spidered in the search engines and comes up with many key search words, sometimes in the first place on the first page. Having your interview posted here will give you an added slot in the search engines for your key search words and the best part, it's all FREE.

I would like to encourage all of my subscribers to visit my new book marketing blog, Book Marketing Buzz, and sign up to receive daily updates on book promotion tips. The hits and stats have flown off the roof, so I knew there was a need to help authors learn how to promote their books online and that proves I'm right.

We also have guest bloggers at Book Marketing Buzz, so if you would like to send me a guest post telling me how you have been promoting your book, that's added promo for you at no cost whatsoever. There will be a link in the top bar that will lead you to the submission guidelines page.

So, send me your interviews for this one, your guest posts for Book Marketing Buzz and let's together pump up your book!

The Dos and Don'ts of Virtual Book Tours

Social media consultant Angela Wilson interviewed Cheryl Malandrinos of Pump Up Your Book Promotion, an innovative public relations agency specializing in online book promotion recently on the topic of virtual book tours. The virtual book tour is a relatively new online promotional tool for authors. You can read The Dos and Don'ts of Virtual Book Tours at Angela's Market My Novel blog.

Do you have a character blog?

I'm on the hunt. For character blogs, of course. If you are a published author and have a blog set up just for one of your characters to blog, will you please visit www.bookmarketingbuzz.wordpress.com, fill out the poll and leave your character's blog link in the comment section?

Thank you!

Dorothy Thompson
Book Marketing Buzz
www.bookmarketingbuzz.wordpress.com

Luck O' the Irish Virtual Book Tour Special

In celebration of St. Patty's Day, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is passing on the Luck o' the Irish to you! Sign up for a Luck O' the Irish March Tour before January 31, 2009 and you will receive this great book promotion package!

• One virtual book tour (can be taken anytime between March '09 and December '09)
  

• A minimum of 15 - 20 visits on blogs and websites geared specifically for your book, with possibilities of appearing at Reuters, USA Today, Chicago Times, Washington Post and high profile news sites
  

• Press releases which are specifically written for your book and are syndicated to hundreds of news sites
  

• Full publicity including but not restricted to daily postings about your book through social networks and other media
  

• Personalized tour banner
  

• Personalized tour page
  

The special price for this package is only $299 and only available for purchase between Dec. 15 - Jan. 31. This discount cannot be applied after the deadline.

Payments can be made via PayPal (Paypal accepts most major credit cards), money order or check.

This special is available not only for books that are recently released, but also for books that were released in the last 2 years.

Space is limited and will be on a first come, first serve basis.

If you are interested, visit www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.com/Specials.html and fill out our convenient online form. A representative will be in touch with you.

Thank you and pump up that book!

Mystery Suspense Author Richard E. Roach on Blog Talk Radio Tomorrow!

Pump Up Your Book Promotion would like to extend an invitation to all our readers to join Richard E. Roach as he kicks off the second half of his virtual book tour during January with his first stop at Blog Talk Radio with the wonderful and talented talk show host Kim Smith on Monday, January 5!

If you'd like to find out more about Richard and his publishing journey, tune into the show by visiting this link at these times:

6:30 Pacific
7:30 Central
8:30 Eastern

(If you miss the show, you can listen to the interview by visiting their archives soon afterward.)

About Richard:

Richard is the author of the mystery suspense novel, Scattered Leaves. You can visit his website at www.richarderoach.com.

About Scattered Dreams:

When Ben McCord comes home from a business trip to find his young wife raped and murdered, he starts out on a journey of death and destruction. Clues lead him to a dark world of drugs and violence in action that spans Texas, Colorado, and the Mexican border. McCord hooks up with a beautiful doctor, who was also victimized by members of the same drug cartel, and together they track down the killers, surviving bloody confrontations, and ending with a suspenseful climax in the Big Thicket of Texa.

Richard's virtual book tour is being brought to you by the fine folks of Pump Up Your Book Promotion, an innovative public relations agency specializing in online book promotion and virtual book tours. You can visit their website at www.pumpupyourbookpromotion to book your next virtual book tour or their blog at www.bookmarketingbuzz.wordpress.com for book marketing tips!