You don’t have to jet off on a whirlwind tour in order to effectively market a self-published book. While large, summer book tours are, indeed, a fun way to connect with your readers in other cities, technology has made it possible to reach out to fans in other cost-effective ways.
Self-publishing Outskirts Press author and comedy writer Jerry Belitch is taking his book, Population: One, on a virtual book tour so you can learn more about him and his book. Jerry will be featured on several blogs over the weeks and months ahead so keep your eyes peeled to learn more.
Jerry 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 Population: One.
OP: Tell us a little bit about Population: One. What is it about?
JB: A satire about the 2008 presidential election, the narrative focuses on three central characters: Tara Haylin, Ron Rogaine, and Jermaine Intesh, as they compete for the spotlight and employ tactics that prove even when it comes to major issues, everyone has their own secrets and hidden agendas.
OP: Why did you decide to write this story?
JB: Like so many others frustrated by a governmental system that doesn’t seem to be working lately, I came up with the idea for a story revolving around fictional versions of real-life people and situations that I hoped would put recent events into perspective by showing just how absurd some politicians’ thought processes really are. The majority of America, myself included, had never heard of Sarah Palin prior to John McCain’s choosing her to include on his campaign ticket. Based on people’s perception of her alone, I constructed a tale where a fictional woman modeled after Palin was literally thrust into the public eye overnight and had to deal with the aftermath.
OP: How did you get your book published?
I had decided before I finished the manuscript that I was interested in pursuing self-publishing. After reading up on several of the options available to me, I decided to go with Outskirts Press who published the book for me within a time frame of a little over two months from the time I submitted it.
OP: What types of readers would be interested in this story?
JB: Anyone who enjoys humorous fiction or is interested in current events will enjoy Population: One.
OP: What is special about your book? What differentiates it from other books in the same category?
JB: Many of the works I’ve seen that claim to be parodies or satirical in nature usually revert to re-telling stories that already exist while throwing in a pop cultural reference here and there. While based on real public figures and events, the narrative in my book is entirely fictional and not just a rehashing of the same old ideas.
OP: Have you published any other books? Do you plan to publish more?
JB: Aside from short stories I’ve submitted to various publications in the past and newspaper articles I’ve written as a student, this is the first book I have published. With several years of writing comedy under my belt, this is something I love to do and I would certainly like to publish more titles in the future.
OP: Thanks for your time, Jerry! We look forward to learning more about you as you visit other bloggers!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jerry Belitch is a comedy writer and occasional stand-up comedian who satirizes pop culture and current events. He resides in Florida, where he is developing his own production company and working on a couple of screenplays. Population: One is his first novel.
For more information or to contact the author, visit www.outskirtspress.com/populationone
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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