My friend Suzanne Rogerson was able to create weeks’ worth of blog tours (aka publicity for her new book) by doing….something. What, though? I had to know. For you, or course, because I love you guys.

So I asked her:

Suzanne, can you send me whatever you posted and blogged to get so many sites to review your book and ask for guest blogs? I’d like to try that!

Thanks,

Dan

 

Her reply was prompt (it’s all pretty much her until it’s me again at the bottom):

 

Dan, all I did was (1) this blog post;

https://suzannerogersonfantasyauthor.wordpress.com/2016/05/24/visions-of-zarua-update-fantasy-review-request-tuesdaybookblog/

Then I (2) retweeted it for a few days using different hashtags like #fantasy #tuesdaybookblog #WWWblogs #readers #bloggers #reviewers. Lots of my followers retweeted as well. Mostly the people that offered to help were bloggers that have previously commented on my posts or I’ve commented on theirs.

That’s all it took to fill a two week schedule! It was a mad few days, especially after feeling so depressed about things.

Hope it works out for you if you decide to do a tour.

Suzanne

 

Suzanne’s Blog Post:

Visions of Zarua update & #Fantasy #Review Request #WWWblogs

Posted on May 24, 2016

I found out over the weekend that my planned 1 day book blitz had fallen through. I sulked for a bit (a few days if I’m truthful), drunk some wine, contemplated giving up, and then today I had a breakthrough – why not arrange my own mini tour. With indie publishing anything is possible, isn’t it?

I know it won’t have the reach of a properly organised tour, but

I’m hoping all you lovely bloggers and retweeters will help me spread the word.

The plan (which I am making up as I go along) is to have a week where people agree to post their reviews of Visions of Zarua.

I’m looking for – book reviewers, book bloggers and readers who enjoy fantasy and would be willing to offer their time reading my debut book.

I’m offering –  a free ebook of Visions of Zarua and my eternal gratitude.

In exchange for – an honest review on your blog, Amazon, Goodreads etc. I’d also be happy to take part in interviews, Q&A sessions, guest posts etc. If you haven’t time to review the book, maybe you might consider one of these alternatives.

Time scale – I was thinking of 5 weeks time w/c 27th June. I know that’s short notice but I am an impatient sort of person and I hate sitting around waiting for things to happen. If that date doesn’t work for you, but you are willing to help me out then please still get in touch.

What I hope to achieve – I’m hoping to drum up some interest in my book and I think the best way to achieve that is with reviews. Blitzing the internet with reviews over a set week will hopefully spread the reach and persuade people that it’s worth taking a chance on Visions of Zarua.

I may get no response from this request, or maybe I’ll be inundated with replies, who knows. All I can do is take a chance, as with every aspect of self publishing.

Even if you haven’t time to get involved, I still appreciate any retweets and reposts you are able to do over the coming weeks.

Please leave any comments below, or use the contact form on the website to email me. Thanks for reading.

***

Here’s what others have been saying about Visions of Zarua on Amazon and Goodreads.

• ‘It’s so lovely to read a book that is a stand alone completed tapestry… I definitely recommend you give this book a try as it’s a real all in-one fantastical adventure story.’
• ‘Wonderful fantasy meets mystery!’
• ‘Dark sorcery with slithering secrets… Visions of Zarua casts a shadow of excitement giving the fantasy genre a nice little jolt.’
• ‘Thrilling and dark fantasy novel… from the very first chapter I was hooked. Overall I just love this book… I can’t wait to read more of the author’s work’
• ‘Enjoyable read with a hint of classic “who dunnit”…’
• ‘A brilliant read… would recommend to anyone who likes murder, mystery and of course fantasy’
• ‘The perfect amount of epicness… one of those fantasy books that can please any reader’
• ‘If you want a great book that takes you away from the monotony of daily life, then this is the book for you’
• ‘Gripping, well written story…the intertwined stories kept me gripped until the end. I recommend, even if you’re not a fantasy fan!’
• ‘…putting this book down, because of the non-reader-friendly-world I live in, made me unhappy. Mrs Rogerson deserves standing ovation for her debut novel… I will applaud with pride and appreciation. Visions of Zarua was simply a story that I love.’

(Image of book cover – yours; this is hers)

Two wizards, 350 years apart. Together they must save the realm of Paltria from Zarua’s dark past.

An ancient darkness haunts the realm of Paltria. Apprentice wizard Paddren is plagued by visions of a city on the brink of annihilation. When his master Kalesh dies in mysterious circumstances, the Royal Order of Wizards refuses to investigate. Helped by his childhood friend, the skilled tracker Varnia, and her lover Leyoch, Paddren vows to find the killer. The investigation leads Paddren down a sinister path of assassins, secret sects and creatures conjured by blood magic. But he is guided by a connection with a wizard from centuries ago – a wizard whose history holds the key to the horror at the heart of the abandoned city of Zarua. Can Paddren decipher his visions in time to save the Paltrian people from the dark menace of Zarua’s past?

(Links to recent reviews can be found on the Visions of Zarua page)

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There it is, gang; a heartfelt post asking for help, and the requests to review her book came pouring in. Simple and effective.

For those of you looking for some reviews and publicity – and we all are – I suggest you try her approach. Use this as a template. Some of the replies said they wouldn’t be able to make her deadline; take them anyway. You’ll need a review next month and three months from now just as much as you need one today.

Oh, and you can grab her amazing book HERE (US) and HERE (UK)

So tell your followers what you need and let them respond!

What have YOU done to get a blog tour to happen?