Social Media Is Changing How Authors Go on Tour
Robert Scoble via VisualHunt / CC BY
Once upon a time the cross-country book tour was a regular occurrence for published authors. Now, those tours are reserved for “huge sellers who are also excellent public speakers or have multiple platforms that are going to attract a lot of media attention,” best-selling novelist Joshilyn Jackson says.
On this edition of “Writer to Reader,” Jackson gives an overview of how her experience touring has changed over the years, and how tours have changed for the publishing industry as a whole.
“Most authors have moved to virtual tours, and we visit book clubs or libraries via Skype, or we do interviews, or we do live events on twitter or Facebook Live,” Jackson says.
Jackson still goes on small multi-city tours when she releases a book, which she says is a privilege. “I get to hang out, break bread and, let’s be real here, crack open bottles with booksellers and librarians … not to mention meeting fans and potential new readers.”
If the number of fans is underwhelming at a particular tour stop, Jackson says not all is lost.
“I decided a long time ago if I did one of three things in a city, it was a good stop,” she says. “First, have an event where I sell a lot of books, that’s always nice. But if not, get some media coverage. And if not, really connect with a bookseller who likes my work or seems likely to. One hand seller can be worth their weight in gold.”
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