First of all — Happy New Year!
Authors MUST interact with their readers but it isn't easy to interact with readers on the other side of the world. I'm located in the northeast U.S.A. and I have had books sold in Germany, Australia, California and other places that are not right around the corner; these faraway readers deserve just as much recognition and gratitude as those that stop in at a local bookstore. Online retailers reach worldwide customers and fortunately for us expand our readership.
Short of having a modern day version of the Star Trek transporter, use your imagination, social media, video conferencing tools, blogs, videos, online radio and digital autographs to reach out ANYwhere.
We've previously discussed Virtual Blog Tours (VBT) where an author posts a bunch of blogs, responds to interviews and posts book promos on several sites within a short period of time. This is the internet's version of the in-person author multi-city book tour. Find blogs that cater to the audience you wrote your book for; ask the web-site host if they would allow you a chance to guest post and if yes, what are the guidelines and due date (some blogs are already set-up for hosting blog tours so check for directions). Some blog owners encourage giveaways and you can award a book (print of email) or other swag. One word of caution, if your prize is material and needs to be mailed or shipped to the winner, make sure your know the costs to do so; some authors limit the area winners come from just for this reason.
Set up a live-time chat on Facebook, Twitter, Google-plus or a Yahoo-group email. Announce the time you will be available, where, if special log-ins or hashtags are necessary and try to set a theme such as announcing a new book, talking about writing, or a book discussion. Chats can be done as individuals or a group (perhaps in shifts). Unless you are a well-known author, "give" attendees a reason to show up such as prizes, on-topic discussions (writing) or a co-host that has a good following.
Enroll in sites that make it easier for you to connect with readers like Authorgraph.com. Readers can request an autograph for a favorite book, the request is submitted via email and the author can digitally sign their name and even include a personalized message. The reader then receives a link to download the book cover art with author signature. This is perfect for e-books; readers can also save the autograph and print it out to stick it into their print copy if that's what they are reading.
Video is a terrific way to appear places that may be miles away and this can be either live or recorded. Record a brief book reading and post it on YouTube or your individual web-site. Or contact a book store, library or book club and conduct a lively book discussion in real time. Internet Blog Radio is an audio equivalent of an internet appearance, Google for a list of available IBR and query about appearances at book discussion or topic specific stations.
Writing Exercise: Write a brief bio about yourself that could be used as an introduction. This bio should reflect on you as a writer; readers will be interested in your writing experience and expertise on the topic you write about; personal details should be kept to a minimum and preferably relevant to your writing (e.g.: if you were a crime victim and now write mystery crime novels)
Writing prompts: Make a list of 10 - 15 questions that could be used to interview you and should be of interest to your readers.
Challenge Assignment: Write 300 - 350 words about a topic in your book and how it relates to a relevant recent news topic. Be sure to write this so it could be used as a blog post during a Virtual Blog Tour.
