As an author in this economy, you have to come up with creative ways to market a self-published book. While book tours are a great way to connect with your readers, they aren’t the most affordable method of promotion. However, technology has made it possible for an alternative.
Take note from self-publishing Outskirts Press author, Vivien Kalvaria, who is taking her latest book, iBuilt – The House The Internet Built, on tour – a virtual book tour, that is. She will be featured on several blogs over the weeks and months ahead so keep your eyes peeled to learn more about him and his book.
Luckily for us, Vivien was kind enough to answer a few questions as the tour was getting started so that we can give you a sneak peek into the mind of the creator of iBuilt – The House The Internet Built.
OP: Tell us a little bit about iBuilt – The House The Internet Built. What is it about?
VK: This book is about how I used the resources of the Internet to build and remodel my house. The book is divided into three sections:
- Why I did it.
- Steps to safe online shopping.
- The heart of the book: 300 home improvement product websites with thumbnail sketches about each online company, including website addresses and phone numbers.
OP: Why did you decide to write this story?
VK: When word got out that I had decided to remodel my house purchasing the building products online, there was a lot of eye rolling and skepticism. A year later, when the remodel was complete, friends and family were frankly, astounded. I was inundated by requests for websites for this product or that product. Local magazines asked if they could interview me and take photos of the house. At that point, I decided I would write about this extraordinary process and share my experience and the websites I had sourced and researched. I had in fact researched over 2000 websites, but for the purposes of the book, scaled them down to about 300, using screening criteria such as: easy-to-navigate web pages; clarity of text; inclusion of merchant’s phone number; high definition images; supportive sales personnel. From wood flooring to crown molding, from window blinds to plumbing fixtures, the cost savings were staggering. The house caused quite a stir and locals called it ‘the house the internet built’ which inspired the book’s title.
OP: What types of readers would be interested in this story?
VK: Anyone who is building or remodeling a house or any structure, for that matter.
OP: What is special about your book? What differentiates it from other books in the same category?
VK: The book de-mystifies the process. We’re in the midst of a massive technological revolution. It’s our new reality – part of our evolution. We have to embrace it and surrender to the idea that economically it makes a lot of sense to leverage the internet when building a house. The online options are bottomless. The savings are staggering. Not to mention the convenience of armchair shopping. There is no book like it.
OP: Have you published any other books? Do you plan to publish more?
VK: My first book, a complete departure from iBuilt, is called: Break and Hold which was inspired by a diabolical incident that took place some years ago on the junior tennis tour. I’m writing another book which, like the first, is based on a chilling event that occurred during WWII.
OP: Thanks for your time, Vivien! We look forward to learning more about you as you visit other bloggers!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Vivien spent her early childhood in Zimbabwe and she decided when she was quite young that when she grew up she wanted to fix old houses. For 30 years she built and remodeled houses the traditional way purchasing products from regular brick and mortar stores. Then she discovered that the construction and home improvement industry had a thriving online presence. So, she went from traditional to digital and pointed, clicked, and built. Now, it’s your turn!
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For more information or to contact the author, visit www.outskirtspress.com/iBuilt
This author purchased the Virtual Book Tour marketing option, which allows self-publishing authors to connect with bloggers and harness the power of the blogosphere by taking their book on the “virtual road”. Learn more about this service by visiting your Publishing Center and reviewing the available marketing options.
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