The competition is on Australian children’s author and friend, Kat Apel‘s site. The prizes are a copy of Princess Clown and the chance to have the child winner’s name used for a character in my work-in-progress. Hopefully, when schools go back after the holidays on Monday, we will get some entries coming in.
All of the hosting blogs are owned by my writerly friends, all Australian published authors in the world of Children’s and Young Adult books. They are the best bunch of friends an author could want.
The main reason for blog-touring is publicity for your book. Lordy knows, it’s hard enough in the mind-boggling world of media, both print and online, to publicise a book written by an Australian children’s author who is not a house-hold name. Not even one’s publisher spends money on publicity for new books like they used to do!
So blog-touring helps a little – it works best if you have amiable author friends who are willing to be part of the tour, and that they have access to a wide range of interested bloggers who drop in. I will take this opportunity to thank each and every one of them for their support and the splendid efforts they have made to make Princess Clown‘s blog tour a success.
If you want to organise your own, set up a group of author friends with a Yahoo group – for the sole purpose of blog-touring. Everyone participates when one of you has a new book and each reciprocates for the other touring members. It works best when everyone is committed to the idea.
The topics we have done and will cover over the next week range from:
Tips for Writing Chapter Books – Dee White’s blog July 6
Tips for Young Writers – The Alphabet Soup blog July 7
Extracting the Story – Robyn Opie’s blog July 8
Clowning Around – Catriona Hoy’s blog July 9
What’s in a name? + KIDS’ COMPETITION – Kathryn Apel’s blog July 10
What the heck is a ‘blog-touring’? – YOU’RE ON IT July 11
Guest blog with Sandy Fussell – July 12
The Author’s Life – an interview with Sally Murphy July 13
Interview with Claire Saxby July 14
Workshopping with younger readers – Mabel Kaplan July 15
BOOK LAUNCH Friday July 16 – also announcing the Winner of the COMPETITION on Kat’s blog and Sheryl’s kids’ blog
Sheryl Gwyther 
Yes, I am very lucky with my Aussie author friends I know – they are a brilliant support! Hope your writing is going well, Rachna! 🙂
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Sheryl, the idea of a blog tour is really wonderful and you not only seem to be doing a great job of it, but also enjoying yourself. This is a nice way your Australian writer friends are helping you.
I wish you and Princess Clown loads of luck and success.
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Sheryl
I’m thinking you should be able to tap into your contacts amoung the school librarian community to spread the news about the competition you’re running. Fangus Fearbottom sounds a hoot!
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I have enjoyed following you over the past few days Sheryl. I can’t wait to read your new release! You’ve got me thinking about the whole blog tour idea. Might need to chew you ear before my next release in November.
Kerry xoxo
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That’s exactly right, Svett. And of course, I’m learning from the master (mistress?) of the blog tour – Dee White! 🙂
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Great post and this seems like a really fun thing to do. And all from the comfort of your own home with coffee in hand! What more could you ask for?
Svett 🙂
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Thanks for the post, Sheryl.
I love blog tours. I love hosting people on my blog and I love having the chance to visit other people and see inside their blog homes.
Dee:-)
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