Roland Stops by on an Anti-Blog Tour & Links

Today, I'd like to welcome Roland Yeomans to talk about his upcoming release, The Not-So Innocents Abroad. No worries, though! This is not a blog tour.

Welcome to my “DON’T YOU HATE BLOG TOURS?” Book Tour.

Shannon has been naïve, ah, kind enough to lend me her blog.

Book Tours. 

Are they dead?  Are they the Walking Dead?  Sometimes seemingly done-to-death concepts can sizzle if we do it in a new light.

As in: “Hey, the woman wants a green dress; turn on the green light!”

You ask, “What is there new to do?”  You aren’t asking that?  Well, I’m asking it for you because I’m your friend, because I want you to sell books …oh, all right … because I want to sell books.

Listen to super-agent Donald Maass:

“There are only TWO things that sell books…a good book and word of mouth. Period.”

Jeez, look at all those rolling eyes out there.  I hear you: “How do you get good Word of Mouth, for crying out loud?”  And, boy, have I cried out loud at that question.

Ever hear of Book Clubs, my friends?  Gee, thanks, some of you out there think I’m number one … but, guys, you’re using the wrong finger.

Oh, you’re using the finger you wanted?  Oops.

Book clubs are critical and wonderful influencers when it comes to talking up new books … ah, that’s WORD OF MOUTH for those of you finger-shaking critics!

It is why I included a substantial Reader Discussion Guide at the end of my latest book.  I know you want to know its title.

You don’t?  Well, I want you to know, so there!

For your own questions – ask the reader if the characters changed by the end of the book, has the reader changed by the end?  Were there memorable bits of dialogue?  Was there a favorite character?

You know your theme of your book.  Ask the reader what they thought the theme to be. My theme in my new book?

“My back; your knife.  My gun; your head.”  Not really.  You’ll have to read it to find out what it really is.

This March board the Xanadu, the 1^st Air/Steamboat, on a honeymoon cruise for Paris and the Unholy Lands where death, betrayal, deceit, and murder reign supreme … and that is just in the newlywed’s bedroom!

The passengers?  An insane Abraham Lincoln, a crippled General Sherman, a vampiric Benjamin Franklin, a clueless Mark Twain, 11 year old Nikola Tesla, and his faithful black cat, Macak.

Cost of Passage?  Only $9.99! 

Want more?  Here is the music I listened to while writing the battle between the Xanadu and Captain Nemo’s Nautilus:

Thank you for stopping by on your book tour that isn't a blog tour, Roland!

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Now for some links. Bear in mind that I'm merely passing them along, not endorsing them. Always do your own due diligence before submitting.

Accepting Submissions:

Uncanny Magazine is seeking speculative fiction. 750-6000 words. Pays $.08/word. Deadline is February 29. Thanks to John Wiswell for the reminder!

Syntax and Salt is seeking magical realism for their first issue. Up to 3500 words. Pays $10 unless you win an Editor's Choice, which is $25. Deadline March 18.

Lit Select is seeking stories in the theme "What Went Wrong?" for Legendary Stories. 2000-8000 words. Pays $30. Deadline March 30.

Less Than Three Press is seeking LGBTQIA fairy tales for Fairy Tales Slashed: Volume 7. 10,000 to 20,000 words. Pays $200. Deadline March 31.

Cori Vidae is seeking erotica involving tattoos for kINKED. 3000-20,000 words. Pays in profit shares. Deadline March 31.

York Literary Review is a new literary journal. They accept fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, essays, reviews, visual art, and photography. No more than 5000 words. Pays £50. Deadline March 31.

Tayen Lane Publishing is seeking literary fiction for the 2016 Articulated Press Short Story Anthology. Up to 5000 words. They are also seeking science fiction for their Procyon Press Science Fiction Anthology 2016. This one is up to 7000 words. Pays $100, plus contributor copies. Deadline for both is March 31.

Truancy is seeking flash and short stories retelling fairy tales. Up to 3500 words. Pays $15.

Shattered Prism is seeking speculative fiction. 1500-5500 words. Pays $.06/word.

Clubhouse Magazine is seeking stories for 8 to 12 year old boys. This is a Christian magazine. Between 500 and 1800 words, depending upon type of story. Pays between $.15 and .25 per word.

Of Interest:

Chrys Fey and L. Diane Wolf have combined forces! You can get a full manuscript edit by Chrys and print & ebook formatting by L. Diane. They list the prices on this post, so there are no surprises. As a bonus, L. Diane's husband does cover design.

What do you think of Roland's non-blog tour book tour? How about his cover? Any of these links of interest to you? Anything to add? Any news to share?

May you find your Muse.