IWSG 136: Book Marketing with Cover Reveals and Virtual Blog Tours

Posted on March 4, 2026 | 36 comments

THE OPTIONAL IWSG QUESTION THIS MONTH

What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?

My Answer

A long time ago there were two things that we did to promote our releases.

To start with you’ll need to collect volunteers, so post a Cover Reveal Google Form or something similar, and gather names, blogs, email addresses of the people who want to help.

Cover Reveal

Once settled on a cover, pick a day. All the volunteers post simultaneously to build momentum for the release.

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The post should consist of cover art, book details (title, by line, release date, book blurb), author image, bio and social media links. This evolves into your marketing package.

Virtual Blog Tour

You’ll have to post for a second collection of volunteers. The form will look the same as the cover reveal, but will also ask for more information. Things like available dates during the tour and what type of post they’d like: guest post, interview, excerpt, or playlist.

If you’ve designed your marketing package, all you need to add are the purchasing links, and giveaway information.

ImageSome hints for success

Your hosts are doing you a huge favour so make it as easy on them as possible. Supply the marketing package so they can copy and paste the parts they want use into their post. Also forward a list all the blog stops with their dates as soon as it’s complete. They may want to post this as well.

Remember to make all posts as upbeat and fun as possible. Hint that they can go to other sites and enter the contests again if they like.

The giveaway I organized mine through Rafflecopter. It worked really well to collect the contestants and randomly select the winners. Besides signed cover art, bookmarks and the actual book, I included some zipper pulls and bracelets I made myself to the prizes.

Seek several guest post suggestions from your host before setting a date for your appearance. Remember to visit the blog once the post is up and respond to all the comments. Don’t leave your host hanging; it could cost you next time.

Guest Post Ideas

A Fab Five or Top Ten also needs a suggestion on what to write. It could be your five favourite foods or you top ten vacation spots. It just a simple way for the reader to get to know the person behind the book.

Some authors have shared playslist of what they listened to while they wrote and what inspired their imaginations.

And finally, there is the excerpt. Just a clip of what the reader can expect when they purchase the book.

Quotable Quotes

While you revise, choose some lines that you feel would promote the book and post them in social media to tease your readers. Be sure to share as much about yourself as you do about your upcoming release.

No one enjoys a salesman in their face 24/7.

Publishing has a lot of ups and downs. This is an up that cannot be truly described until you get there. While riding this wonderful wave of excitement, enjoy yourself.

 

Its all about MarketingImage

I have the old blog posts under my Marketing tab above for anyone that wants to take a look for more. But be warned, they are from a long time ago, so expect missing images and dated info.

NOW YOUR QUESTION

Ever hosted a virtual tour. What worked and what didn’t?

A special thank you to our CO-HOSTS

PJ Colando | Ronel Janse van Vuuren | Natalie Aguirre

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This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.

~~~oOo~~~

36 Comments

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IWSG 135: What Have I Done?

Posted on February 4, 2026 | 33 comments

THE OPTIONAL IWSG QUESTION THIS MONTH

Many writers have written about the experience of rereading their work years later. Have you reread any of your early works? What was that experience like for you?

Handwritten, I don’t have any of my poems or work from my teenage years. Mostly because I was focused on death and the fact my young mind couldn’t let go of losing a sibling.Image

Typewritten, I have a folder full of pages that I don’t look at much. I know me and I’d want to enter it all into my computer—not that anything would happen after that.

Out into the world (and gotten my rights back), have been visited regularly; however, I find myself in revision hell—yes, please slap my hand. It’s hard to say when it’s done. I had to make a decision between leaving it, and not looking back, or revising it into garbage.

ImageI never stop thinking I might submit, but I’m good with leaving my work on my computer, so it may never go further.

Lets face it writing is emotional. Most often personal. It takes a lot to write the truth and share it with the page—never mind anyone else. It’s not for everyone even if they can write beautifully.

 My Answer

So yes, I’ve re-read my work and have amazed myself. Put myself in a story I had long forgotten and enjoyed it deeply. That doesn’t mean it should be out there for public consumption.Image

But don’t we all write as if no one with read it.

NOW YOUR QUESTION

Who do you write for? Are they they your alpha reader?

A special thank you to our CO-HOSTS

J Lenni Dorner | Victoria Marie Lees | Sandra Cox

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This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.

~~~oOo~~~

33 Comments

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IWSG 134: The Chief Inspector Gamache Series

Posted on January 7, 2026 | 32 comments

The OPTIONAL IWSG QUESTION THIS MONTH

Is there anything in your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn’t get done in 2025?

My answer

Nope, nada, not a thing. hehehe

Now I have to come up with a post of my own

Do you remember the Mummy from 1999. How about when Rachel Weisz playing Evelyn says:

“I’m a librarian.”

Imagine me using that tone while I’m saying:Image

“I’m a Canadian.”

LouIse Penny

Now that you’re in the right mindset, imagine how proud I am to be a countryman of  Margaret Atwood and Louise Penny.

Atwood I’ve read for years, but I just discovered Penny.

She opened my eyes to the French Canadian culture and I’m very glad of it. Since I’m from British Columbia, I have only met a few people from Quebec and when our paths crossed, it was in my neck of the woods.

She brought back all those long lost encounters by writing the Chief Inspector Gamache series.

Characters

The star of my first Armand Gamache novel was, of course, Armand Gamache.Image

He could have been David Suchet, playing Poirot. But gently reformed into a more modern man. Gamache is a loveable character that brought coziness to a police procedural. Armand is a francophone, that speaks English with a British accent. Québécois to the bone. A thinker that likes to walk with his hand clasped behind his back. His love of family includes the people he works with.

setting

ImageThe fictional village of Three Pines is located amid the Eastern Townships in Quebec and shares a lifestyle that I hope truly exists. The village is an out of the way place that is not on any map and it’s purpose when it was founded was to offer sanctuary to any and all in need of it.

But there is a hitch, they have to be willing to give up the internet (dial-up only) and their cell phones. Cut off from most of Canada, it allows the author to blend a police procedural with coziness. There is some violence–most of it off the stage and downplayed.

My personal bonus

It was the first time I’ve been introduced to such a heartwarming mix. It inspired me to write and its been a very long time since I thought I could write a book. I did it—the first draft anyway—during November and December.

It may end there but I did it and I’m pretty pleased with myself.

And I blame Louise Penny and her skill as a storyteller.

NOW YOUR QUESTION

What’s the best book you read in 2025?

A special thank you to our CO-HOSTS

Shannon Lawrence |Olga Godim |Jean Davis |Jacqui Murray

Image~~~oOo~~~

This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.

~~~oOo~~~

32 Comments

Posted in BlogHop, Reviews

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IWSG 133: A Gift List for Writers

Posted on December 3, 2025 | 34 comments

The OPTIONAL IWSG QUESTION THIS MONTH

As a writer, what was one of the coolest/best gifts you ever received?

 But first,

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Best of the season to all of you!

NOW, MY ANSWER

I’ve had this “hobby” for over fifty years and I’ve been published three times. Two short stories and a book, and that was a long, long time ago. After that I lost my mojo, so there was that.

My family and friends don’t think of me as a writer which I hope answers what question.

WHAT TO BUY A WRITER

ImageThe AI suggests—and we all know what we think about that, hehehe—is a high-quality notebook, a fountain pen + purple ink, subscription to their favourite literary magazine, cozy blanket for their writing space.

What humans know—

  • Shower Notepad
  • Headphones or earbuds
  • Books on Writing
  • Bookstore Gift Card
  • Blank Journal
  • Fountain Pen (with ink)
  • Package of Post-It Notes
  • 15-Minute Sand Timer
  • Stress Ball
  • Fidget Ring
  • Mini Zen Garden

NOW YOUR QUESTION

What did gifts did I miss?Image

WEBSITES TO DEFINITELY CHECK OUT

A special thank you to our CO-HOSTS

Tara Tyler | Ronel Janse van Vuuren | Pat Garcia | Liza | Natalie Aguirre

 

Image~~~oOo~~~

This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.

~~~oOo~~~

34 Comments

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IWSG 132: TECH AND THE INTERNET ENCOURAGED ME TO WRITE

Posted on November 5, 2025 | 36 comments

The OPTIONAL IWSG QUESTION THIS MONTH

 When you began writing, what did you imagine your life as a writer would be like? Were you right, or has this experience presented you with some surprises along the way?

 MY ANSWER

I never thought I’d be here. Way back when there was no internet, or blogging. Writing poetry and letters to burned served their purpose. I enjoyed the venting and the creativity, but it was just a hobby and a place to stow my emotional baggage.

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None of my work was for  public consumption. It was a guilty pleasure that stuck with me through maiden, mother and crone.

Then I tried out Scribophile and found my first online writing group: the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pens. That moment changed my life. It taught me what a writing group was and I’ll be forever grateful for tech that lead me to them and to you.

A special thank you to our CO-HOSTS

Jennifer Lane | Jenni Enzor | Renee Scattergood | Rebecca Douglass

Lynn Bradshaw | Melissa Maygrove

Image~~~oOo~~~

This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.

~~~oOo~~~

36 Comments

Posted in meme

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