Gearing Up For A Blog Tour---Or Not!!

In a few months JAILHOUSE GLOCK releases. You would think that since I’ve known this for –well, forever—that I would be better organized with the promo that I’ll have to do. In the past when I've had a book release, I would already have a six week schedule of marketing set up as well as a blog tour, several signings, and lots of contests and Facebook announcements. I remember being exhausted by the time I was finished, and I vowed never to do that again.

Apparently, publishing books is like childbirth—you forget how bad it really was until you’re smack in the middle of it again. I was all geared up to send out pleas for friends to have me on their blogs when I realized I have not budgeted much time for that. I just signed another two book deal and have a June deadline for the first book of that contract.

Plus, I am going to Malice Domestic in Bethesda the first week in May, to Marco Island for a week with my Bunko buddies the third week, and on a 7-day cruise with my family in June. There is no way I could fit in a grueling blog tour like I did way back when.

Then I read an interesting blog. Although it’s about the top self published authors who earn the most money, I found one very interesting point among the ten points listed that I swear was a gift from heaven to me. (Thank you, St. Jude.)

The Top Earners group spent more time writing than they did marketing, and those in the group who spent the least time marketing were making the most money. Out of all respondents, those who spent the most time marketing earned the least. 

Are you kidding me? Go back and read it again. And again if you’re like me and have a hard time believing it. Is the guy really saying that if I spend more time writing and less time with blog tours, signing, etc, I will  be more successful?

Damn! I think that’s exactly what he’s saying. And you know what? The more I think about it, the more I realize he’s right. What good does it do for you to hook a reader with a cutesy blog or a FaceBook blitz or even your fantastic writing style if there isn’t another book for him/her to read afterwards. Let’s face it, in this day and age of self publishing there are a lot of choices out there for readers. Are they going to remember your name nine months later, or however  long it takes to get another book out there? Maybe—maybe not, but for now, I’m going to give it a try.

I have committed to writing 2 books and a novella this year, and we're already past the first trimester!!  Cozy readers would love a book every month from the authors—that’s how crazy they are about the fast, entertaining genre. I need to quit worrying so much about how my books will sell and just write new ones to go with the ones out there. As a reader myself, if I find an author whose voice I love, I immediately look to see what else they have that I can read.

So, don't look for me to be all over the blog nation in May. I have already agreed to several blogs where I know I get the most exposure. Of course, the Plotting Princess one is at the top of my list. After that I am going to put my butt in the chair and write. For my last release I established a street team of readers who liked my stuff and had a FB release party for them only with lots of giveaways. Did this help sales? All I know is that I am still in the Amazon rankings with that book. Who knows if I would have been there anyway.

I’m curious what you all think about this. I know some people think that blog tours are still very effective. How important do you think it is for an author to devote so much time to marketing nowadays? And do you think it might be different for a debut than a multi-pubbed? 

Liz writes G rated cozies as Liz Lipperman and grittier mysteries and romantic thrillers as Lizbeth Lipperman. Check out her website to find out more about her.