By Erin L. Cox
Today, on The Los Angeles Times book publishing blog, “Jacket Copy,” they published a story called “Book Tour? More Like a Safari” about the joint book-tour of authors and couple, Bill Cotter and Annie La Ganga. While their respective publishers chose not to pay for a formal author tour, the two took to the road and traveled 8500 miles over the course of 27 days in a tour they planned themselves. Why? Because it meant something to them to meet their readers and booksellers around the country face to face.
In sharing their story, it brings up an interesting question. Is the cost of a book tour worth the money and time? Or, in this day and age of social media and the ability to be in touch with millions of people from your home, a better, cheaper way to reach the reader?
Having spent a lot of time on the road with authors over the years, there is nothing quite like seeing a writer and his/her reader connect. I think it turns a reader into a fan and does something that connecting via email/Facebook/Twitter doesn’t do. So, if I had my druthers, I’d always put writers on the road…but in a smart, thoughtful way.
Tell us what you think!