Talking Virtual Book Tours with Thriller Author Dave Zeltserman

Dave Zeltserman Dave Zeltserman won the 2010 Shamus Award for Julius Katz, Ellery Queen’s Readers Choice Award for Archie’s Been Framed, and is the acclaimed author of the ‘man out of prison’ crime trilogy: Small Crimes, Pariah and Killer, where Small Crimes was named by NPR as one of the five best crime and mystery novels of 2008, and Small Crimes and Pariah (2009) were picked by the Washington Post as best books of the year. His recent The Caretaker of Lorne Field received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, calling it a ‘superb mix of humor and horror’, and was shortlisted by ALA for best horror novel of 2010. Outsourced (2011) has already been called ‘a small gem of crime fiction’ by Booklist and has been optioned by Impact Pictures and Constantin Film.

His latest book is Julius Katz and Archie (Top Suspense).

You can visit Dave’s website at www.davezeltserman.com. Connect with him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Zeltserman/1434849193.

About Julius Katz and Archie

Julia Katz and Archie The award-winning Julius Katz mysteries have delighted thousands of mystery fans since first appearing on the pages of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine in 2009, winning a Shamus, Derringer and Ellery Queen’s Readers Choice Award . ‘Julius Katz’ introduced readers to Boston’s most brilliant, eccentric and possibly laziest detective, Julius Katz, as well as his sidekick, Archie, a tiny marvel of whizbang computer technology with the heart and soul of a hard-boiled PI. Now in Julius Katz and Archie’s first full novel, the stakes have never been higher when a famous Boston mystery, Kenneth Kingston, tells Julius he wants to find out who’s planning to kill him. The problem is almost everyone in Kingston’s life has good reason to want to kill him, and this case soon plunges Julius and Archie deep into the world of murder and publishing.

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

Julius Katz and Archie is the first full-length mystery novel based on the characters from my award-winning short stories, which have so far garnered Shamus, Derringer and Ellery Queen’s Readers Choice awards.

This is a charming and fun mystery appropriate for any mystery reader. When a famous mystery writer hires Julius to find out who is planning to kill him, it soon plunges Julius and his sidekick, Archie, into the world of murder and book publishing.

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?

Aaron Patterson at Stonegate Ink suggested that I try it.

Is this the first time you have heard of them?  If not, where did you hear of them?

I’d probably heard of them over the years, but didn’t pay much attention then.  My publicists at Overlook Press and Serpent’s Tail do a good job with my print books, but with putting Julius Katz and Archie out myself as an e-book, I felt I needed to do something.

As you know, a virtual book tour involves – among other things – interviews and guest posts.  Do you prefer one over the other?

Interviews and guest posts are a good mix. While it’s good to do some guest posts, it would be tough coming up with 15 of them.

Some authors prefer an all review tour.  Can you tell us if you are one of them and why or why not?

I’d much prefer an all review tour. I believe in letting my work speak for itself!

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

Selling millions of e-books!!

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

I have a website + blog + Facebook presence, and I’m also participating in a group venture called Top Suspense Group.

Who maintains your website/blog?

I maintain my own site + blog.

What are your experiences with offline booksignings? Do you have much luck selling your book through that method?

I’ve done a lot of bookstore events, and it’s really the best thing a midlist author can do. Over the years I’ve developed a lot of readers + fans working at these bookstores who hand sell a lot of my books. Also, I like doing whatever I can to support bookstores.

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

Well, that would be easy. If money were no object I’d produce a film version of Julius Katz and Archie. And who knows, it might not only sell a lot of books but recover the cost of the promotion!

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

I’d like to thank you for having me here.