Where's Konrath? Blog Tour Day #20

To promote my horror novel, AFRAID, which debuts March 31, I'm appearing on different blogs every single day in March.

Please follow my daily journey, and broaden your blog-reading horizons.

It's Day #20, and I've been featured on 50 different blogs so far. I'd like to thank everyone who has hosted me, and is planning on hosting me. If you wanted to host me, and I haven't replied, try me again.

Busy day today on the tour. I start off at Writer Unboxed and reveal my secrets of self-promotion:

http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/19/guest-blogger-ja-konrath-how-do-i-self-promote/

Then I discuss fear over at Feng Shui Assassin:

http://fengshuiassassin.com/blog/2009/03/ja-konrath-talks-about-terror/

The incomparable Marshal Zeringue kindly invited me to do Page 69 and Page 99 tests on Afraid:

http://page69test.blogspot.com/2009/03/afraid.html

http://page99test.blogspot.com/2009/03/jack-kilborns-afraid.html

Joe Rixman gives Afraid a great review:

http://sheriffjoe.livejournal.com/205603.html

Marilyn Meredeth gives Afraid a great review:

http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/2009/03/afraid-by-jack-kilborn-review.html

Please remember to send me the links to your reviews so I can post them, and thanks much...

Where's Konrath? Blog Tour Day #19

To promote my horror novel, AFRAID, which debuts March 31, I'm appearing on different blogs every single day in March.

Please follow my daily journey, and broaden your blog-reading horizons.

Today I'm over at First Offenders, wondering why authors don't recommend each other more often:

http://firstoffenders.typepad.com/offenders/2009/03/welcome-guest-blogger-ja-konrath.html

Then I pop over to Jake Nantz's blog, The Pen-ferno, to share a cool writing exercise and contest where you can win some free books:

http://jnantz.blogspot.com/2009/03/afraid-to-write-super-short.html

Also, RJ Medak posted a kind review of Afraid on his blog, and many other places online:

http://rjmbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Is this blog tour working? On March 1, Googling "Jack Kilborn" resulted in 2880 hits. Googling it today brings 5320 hits. On March 1, Googling "JA Konrath" resulted in 68,400 hits. Googling it today produces 79,000 hits.

My blog and website, along with the blogs I've been visiting, are getting increased traffic. My Amazon rankings have modestly spiked, at various points in the day fluctuating between 25,000 and 300,000 for Afraid and my Jack Daniels backlist. Prior to March they were ranked between 150,000 and 900,000.

I find it strange that my Jack Daniels books seem to be selling better than Afraid, since Afraid is the book I'm promoting, but I think I know the reason. Afraid isn't out until March 31. Thinking about my buying habits, I've never pre-ordered a book on Amazon, and I've bought well over a hundred books from them. My reason is simple: if it's a book I want, I know the bookstores will have it sooner than Amazon can ship it, especially since books often reach the stores a week or two ahead of schedule.

That's why, on Amazon, the day a book is released, the numbers spike like crazy. So the real test to see if this tour worked will be to check out the Amazon ranking on April 1. If I get a nice number, all of this touring paid off. If I get a mediocre number, I'm left scratching my head.

But I have to say that, as of today, I've found blog touring to be an overwhelmingly positive experience. Especially in regards to permanence.

Roughly half of the daily hits I get on his blog are people visiting old posts. Because the Internet is permanent, and because blog posts stay live and Googleable for years and years, all of these guest blogs and interviews I've done will continue to get read. The surfers will keep trickling in.

It will be interesting to see how Afraid sells over the upcoming months, and if this word-of-mouth campaign I'm attempting to kick-start actually takes off.

Where's Konrath? Blog Tour Day #18

To promote my horror novel, AFRAID, which debuts March 31, I'm appearing on different blogs every single day in March.

Please follow my daily journey, and broaden your blog-reading horizons.

Today I stop by Rebecca Benston's blog, and talk about rejected Dr. Seuss titles:

http://wordsiview.blogspot.com/2009/03/interview-with-ja-konrath.html

Then it's on to Jane Bretl's blog, where I offer tips on how to read Afraid if you're a scaredy-cat:

http://janebretl.com/2009/03/18/scaredy-pants/

Finally, a nice review of Afraid up on Goodreads by Ophelia Julien:

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2133674-ophelia

Where's Konrath? Blog Tour Day #17

To promote my horror novel, AFRAID, which debuts March 31, I'm eating seventeen Leprechauns. Ha! Kidding! I'm blog touring.

Today is St. Patrick's Day. I'm not Irish, but I am today, because the bars open at 8am and it's the only day my wife lets me drink before noon.

I start the tour this fine morning at the terrific blog of Maurice Broaddus, where we discuss extreme horror.

http://www.mauricebroaddus.com/2009/03/ja-konrath-and-extreme-horror

Then I'm off to Amy Krueger's blog, Random Thoughts.

http://writeonetwo.blogspot.com/2009/03/dont-be-afraid.html

Then to Dana Kaye's blog, The Chicago Contingent.

http://danakaye.blogspot.com/2009/03/from-newbie-to-novelist-interview-with.html

Nick Kelly has some nice things to say about Afraid it over at Horrorview:

http://www.horrorview.com/Reviews/A/Afraid.htm

Susan Tunis thought Afraid was sick, but still enjoyed it, reviewing it on her blog:

http://inoneeyeouttheother.blogspot.com/2009/03/youll-read-it-in-day-but-itll-keep-you.html

Sara J. Henry thought it was repulsive, and didn't enjoy it:

http://sarareports.blogspot.com/2009/03/review-jack-kilborns-afraid.html

Why am I linking to a negative review, you may ask? While I disagree with Sara's opinion, I certainly respect her right to voice it, as should you when you visit there today. Be nice.

Where's Konrath? Blog Tour Day #16

To promote my horror novel, AFRAID, which debuts March 31, I'm wrestling a bear. Ha! Just checking if you were paying attention. I'm blog touring.

Please follow my daily journey, and broaden your blog-reading horizons.

Today I'm hanging out with my buddy, fellow author Jeff Strand, over at his blog/website. When you're done reading our informative, hard-hitting piece, rush out and grab a copy of Suckers, the book we co-wrote. I believe there are only 286 copies left.

http://jeffstrand.wordpress.com/2009/03/15/a-ridiculous-jack-kilborn-interview/

Where's Konrath? Blog Tour Day #15

To promote my horror novel, AFRAID, which debuts March 31, I'm appearing on different blogs every single day in March.

Please follow my daily journey, and broaden your blog-reading horizons.

Today I'm hanging out at the very funny blog of writer, Charlotte Hughes. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Warning: this post may cause you to choke on whatever you're eating or drinking.

http://blog.readcharlottehughes.com/2009/03/15/a-sentence-or-two-is-the-perfect-length-for-me-to-write-a-dumb-joke/

Where's Konrath? Blog Tour Day #14

To promote my horror novel, AFRAID, which debuts March 31, I'm appearing on different blogs every single day in March.

Please follow my daily journey, and broaden your blog-reading horizons.

Today I stop over at author James Knapp's delightfully irreverent blog, Oneiros. You'll laugh. I promise. Even if it's just at the sight of my disembodied head hurtling through space.

http://www.zombie0.com/ONEIROS/2009/03/like-a-comet-through-the-blogosphere/

Then I visit my good friend, thriller writer Robert W. Walker, over at the ACME authors blog, for what may be the most creative interview I've ever done.

http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com/2009/03/ja-konrath-jack-kilborn-cornered-by-rob.html

And remember; as with the many other fine blogs I've visited, if you're enjoying what you read, offer to trade links with these bloggers and post comments about how cool they are.