Talking Virtual Book Tours with Horror Novelist Maryann Paige

Maryann Paige was born in Brooklyn, New York, lived in Nevada and Texas and landed back in her home state.   She resides in the beautiful Hudson Valley and uses the area as the setting for her novels and stories. She attributes the idea for Hidden Shadows to her younger son, who claims to have met the shadow people on a nightly basis.  After researching and learning of them, she decided to write a novel loosely based on her son’s experiences. Please visit Maryann at www.maryannpaige.com to find out about her latest novel, Cemetery Gates.

Maryann Paige will be on a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours in December and is here with us today to give her impression of virtual book tours and online book marketing.

Thank you for this interview, Maryann.  Can we start out by having you tell us briefly what your new book is about?

Maryann:  Cemetery Gates is a horror novel that moves throughout history from the Crucifixion of Christ to the Black Plague, the Flu of 1918 and into the present time.  It follows a few characters that were born to bring about the end of mankind.  One of the major characters, however, is not happy about it and fights those around him and looks for the redemption of his soul.

More and more authors are realizing the potential for sales that derives from virtual book tours.  Can you tell us your personal reasons why you chose a virtual book tour to help get the word out about your new book?

Maryann:  I decided to partake in a virtual book tour in order to drum up some sales and get the word out about my novels.  I think it’s a great way to start learning about advertising and get your feet wet in the blog tour arena.  I also feel this is the advertising of the future.  I know myself; I do just about everything online.  This medium simply made sense to me so I signed up for the tour.

Cemetery Gates by Maryann Paige (click on cover to purchase)

Is this the first time you have heard of them?

Maryann:  Yes, it is.  I was not aware that a service such as this existed.  I think it can meet the needs of new and established authors alike.

What do you hope to achieve through promoting your book through a virtual book tour?

Maryann: I hope to gain some sales, some notoriety as an author and some experience on marketing my own materials.  I also hope to obtain a few reviews for my work.  It’s so important for a new writer to hear the good and the bad about their novels, so they can grow as a writer.  I’m excited for this to begin.

Do you promote online through other means?  Website?  Blog?

Maryann:   Yes, I do.  I promote my writings through my website, www.maryannpaige.com.  Please come visit me.

Do you promote through Twitter and Facebook?  What are your links there?

Maryann:   Yes.  I’m on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1377603419&ref=profile

What are your experiences with offline booksignings?  Which do you prefer – online or offline and can you give us the reasons why?

Maryann:  I have never had an offline book signing experience, but hope to be partaking in one for my third novel, Wolf Strap.  I would be interested in comparing the two mediums and see which one fits my needs better.

Here’s a fun question.  If money was no object, how would you promote your book?

Maryann:  If money were no object, I would make amazing novel trailers and put them on all of the local networks.  I love using the novel trailer as a marketing tool.  It’s so much fun to make scary, little movies.

Thank you for this interview, Maryann.  Do you have any final words?

Maryann:  Yes, I do.  I would like to say I’m so excited to be on this tour.  I feel it’s going to be a rewarding experience.  I appreciate your time.  Thank you.

You can visit Maryann’s official tour page here.