Talking Virtual Book Tours with Caricature Artist Victor Pross

Victor Pross is a professional artist born and raised in Toronto now residing in British Columbia. He is known for his “extreme caricaturing”. He has many high profile commissions to his credit including painting Ron Howard’s caricature portrait as a gift for the famous director as well as painting various agents of the William Morris Agency. He has rendered numerous International celebrities and Canadian media personalities for commercial and private purposes. Victor Pross has been interviewed on television shows such as: Canada AM, Breakfast Television, News at Noon and has been pegged by Canadian Media as “Canada’s foremost caricature artist.” He has worked on various posters, comic books and CD covers bringing to each work his own unique style. He is currently instructing an art class as well as offering his services as an editorial caricaturist. Victor’s first book, Icons & Idols, will feature a collection of the artist’s paintings and drawings and is now available. See Victor’s website at www.victorpross.com

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

Of course. ICONS & IDOLS: Pop Goes the Culture is an eye-popping visual homage and satire of pop culture. It is comprised of my  “extreme caricatures” of the famous—such as Elvis Presley, Sylvester Stallone, Marilyn Monroe, George Bush, Albert Einstein—and others icons from the world of film, music and literature. It has over 70 paintings and drawings and it is assembled under one volume with interesting reading.

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?

I think the internet is the way to go because it reaches thousands of people at a time. That sounds good to me.

Is this the first time you have heard of them?

Yes.

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

Exposure and sales. I have a good book to offer and the more people that enjoy it is my reward as well.

Icons & Idols: Pop Goes the Culture by Victor Pross (click on cover to purchase)

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

I have a website and can be found on flickr and facebook, etc.

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

Not twitter, but facebook for sure. I can be found by my name ‘victor pross’.

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

Both are fine. I enjoy the interaction of real people, but I can reach more at a given time via the internet.

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

Newspaper ads, the internet, showcase displays of my book in stores, television interviews, etc.

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

Yes. Get my book Icons & Idols. You’ll love it.

Victor Pross will be touring in February 2010 with Pump Up Your Book.  You can visit his official tour page here.