Fashion Girls

Unmasking the Virtual Tour

Well, I had a grand time answering questions for the Virtual Book Tour!  I was expecting to get the same five questions, time after time, and I was pleasantly surprised by the variety!  If you haven't yet had a chance to read the posts, here they are:

ceolnamara - http://ceolnamara.livejournal.com/323496.html

Julie Czerneda - www.sff.people.julie-czerneda

[info]elsceetaria - http://elsceetaria.livejournal.com/?skip=1 (posted late on 9/30, if you have to scroll back, also posted at www.xanga.com/Elsceetaria
and Elsceetaria's Facebook site)

Jim Hines ([info]jimhines) - http://dsnight.livejournal.com/201525.html

[info]spytfire - http://spytfire.livejournal.com/122192.html

Bethany Warner - http://bkwriter.blogspot.com/ (scroll back to September 27!)

And the prize for participating - the ARC or finished copy of GIRL'S GUIDE?  That goes to Elsceetaria (after a random drawing)!
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Posted on Oct. 4th, 2006 at 08:10 am | | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend

Comments

ceolnamara

I had fun thinking of questions. Thanks for the opportunity :-)
Posted on Oct. 4th, 2006 12:28 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]mindyklasky

The pleasure was mine! ;-)
Posted on Oct. 7th, 2006 07:14 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]jimhines

Hm ... I'm a little surprised you didn't get more entries. And I hope you don't mind, but I'm thinking about stealing this idea :-) (Properly credited, of course!)

For now though, I'm off to read the other interviews.
Posted on Oct. 4th, 2006 12:43 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]susanwrites

Yes, I'm thinking of stealing, er, being "inspired" by your idea too (with proper credit).

I think it was a grand idea and sorry I was too crazed to get in on the fun at the time.
Posted on Oct. 4th, 2006 01:38 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]jimhines

Mindy might get as much publicity from other authors stealing her idea as she did from the actual interviews :-)
Posted on Oct. 4th, 2006 01:46 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]mindyklasky

Best of luck with your iteration, if/when you do it!
Posted on Oct. 7th, 2006 07:14 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]mindyklasky

I, too, was surprised by the paucity of entries. Several people sent me email saying that they thought it was a great idea, but despite repeated, um, proddings, they didn't come back with questions.

I don't know if people are simply too busy to do the two steps of asking questions and then posting answers, or if authors are reluctant to promote other authors, or if time is just such a premium that *any* devotion to non-self is asking too much...

In any case, I loved answering the questions that I got, and the Virtual Book Tour is an idea that I'll try again! I think it's great that you're doing your own version of it!

Mindy
Posted on Oct. 7th, 2006 07:13 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]jimhines

Personally, I'm all for promoting other authors. And most of them seem quite kind about returning the favor, so there's also an element of self-interest :-) But mostly, the authors I chat with are such nice people that I like helping in whatever small ways I can...

I was talking to Joshua Palmatier a while back. It does seem to be a bit of a trick getting any sort of "viral" promotion to work. Not only do you need the contest itself, but you need incentive for people to post about the contest. And even then it doesn't seem to work too well.

I've got two entries in my interview so far. But even if it's only those two, each one has an awful lot of readers, so that potentially means a few hundred people hearing about the book, right?

I'm coming to the conclusion that it's a lot more random as to what works and what doesn't. I guess we just keep trying and hoping...
Posted on Oct. 8th, 2006 01:13 am (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]mindyklasky

*Coming* to the conclusion?!? Alas, I've been there for quite some time :-)

No, it's the rare advertising campaign that truly takes off with viral success. I think it's our job to keep throwing things at the walls. Eventually *something* has to stick - or at least we'll have a pretty picture to look at :-)
Posted on Oct. 10th, 2006 02:00 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]jennreese

Yay, I'm glad you posted the links!

I'm also sorry that the timing didn't work out so I could participate. I knew my weekend would be too crazed to do it justice.

Also, it's better for me to post something on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. My blog stats indicate that those are, by far, the days with the most hits. Fridays and Sundays are the worst. Just FYI. :)

Look for some Mindy propaganda soon...
Posted on Oct. 4th, 2006 03:16 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]mindyklasky

Hmmm... I'm not tracking stats, on either my new website or my blog. I realized that, after tracking site hits for five years, I'd never done anything with the information, so I decided to liberate myself :-)

So, I wonder if we surveyed employers, if they would say that employee efficiency drops off dramatically on Tuesday through Thursday :-)
Posted on Oct. 7th, 2006 07:16 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]spytfire

:D Thanks for the chance to participate. I do believe you are the first writer I've ever interviewed!

~Kim, who had much fun taking part...
Posted on Oct. 4th, 2006 04:02 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]mindyklasky

Glad to have been your first! May you have many other opportunities... :-)
Posted on Oct. 7th, 2006 07:16 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

[info]elsceetaria

This was a great idea, and it was fun. I like being able to read all of the interviews. I only wish there were more.
Posted on Oct. 5th, 2006 01:37 am (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

[info]mindyklasky

Ah... Perhaps another time! (Of course, if you or others drummed up interest, I'd extend the tour :-) And you know that you can email me questions any time, for random blog answering!)
Posted on Oct. 7th, 2006 07:17 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply