Heading off to Hadley, back on the road. Bringing Ipad, camera. Will be posting real time, as I did last week and trying to capture the flavor of a book tour. Got my e-mailed sked last night, a couple of radio interviews added. Will not be bringing Izzy, so it will be simpler. My wish in Hadley is to experiment with the form of the book tour.
Initially, Random House scheduled me for a cable access interview this afternoon and then a reading at Odyssey Books tonight. I asked them to scrap the TV interview and permit me to use Facebook to come up with an alternative forum to talk about my books and about writing. The interviewer, Joe Rodio, who is also the South Hadley Library Director, came up with the library as an alternative site, and he is planning on filming the talk. There was some book tour politics involved, as Random House didn’t want to undercut or undermine the bookstore reading that night in the same town, so we all agreed not to sell or sign books at the Library event, so that it wouldn’t take away from Odyssey.
What do I want to accomplish? I want to use Facebook to connect with readers and draw new people to the tour. I want to do strong events in bookstores. I want to allow people who don’t usually get to see writers to meet me and talk with me in an informal, conversational setting (I learn as much as they do, if not more.) I want to restructure the idea of a book tour.
I’m not sure how Random House feels about it. They are watching, I think and looking to see what happens with the book. Facebook has been a potent tool on the tour, and my blogging and posting photos from the tour has allowed many more people to participate than is usually the case. I think the book is selling well, also, although I’m not sure about that. I’ve worked hard on this interactive book tour, and I hope it works. I will let you know either way. Maria is driving with me to Mass. Framingham Barnes & Noble Thursday night, 7 p.m. Leaving Rose, Frieda, Izzy and Lenore behind with the fabled Tracy, house and pet sitter and friend extraordinaire.