Sheila Roberts lives in the Pacific Northwest. Her novels have appeared in Readers Digest Condensed books and have been published in several languages. Her novel Angel Lane was an Amazon Top Ten Romance pick for 2009 and her holiday perennial, On Strike for Christmas is slated to be a Lifetime Channel movie presentation this December. When she’s not hanging out with her girlfriends or hitting the dance floor with her husband, she can be found writing about those things dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.
Her latest book is The Snow Globe.
You can visit Sheila at her website (http://www.sheilasplace.com). You can also find her on Twitter (http://twitter.com/_Sheila_Roberts) and
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/pages/Sheila-Roberts/76502579853?ref=ts)
Thank you for this interview, Sheila. Can we start out by having you tell us briefly what your new book “The Snow Globe” is about?
It’s about a magical snow globe that allows people to see the possibilities in their lives and gets passed among three girlfriends. Of course, each woman has her own unique problems and needs, so the book is funny in some places and thoughtful in others. In other words, a great holiday read for women. (Said she modestly J )
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?
So much of us do a lot of our connecting on line and I’m no exception. I have made some great “virtual friends” and I hope to make more. So what better way to do that than to visit other people’s on-line homes?
Is this the first time you have heard of them?
No, this is my third on-line tour. And let me tell you it’s a lot more cost effective than the traditional book tour. No airline tickets and hotel bills!
What do you hope to achieve through promoting your book through a virtual book tour?
I do hope people will hear about my book and want to read it. After all, what’s the fun of writing a book if no one reads it?
Do you promote online through other means? Website? Blog?
I am on line. I have a website (http://www.sheilasplace.com)where I blog. We also run contests (got one going right now), share recipes, news of signing events, and post excerpts of the book. And, of course, I’m on Twitter and am building a like page on Facebook
(http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/pages/Sheila-Roberts/76502579853?ref=ts)
Who maintains your website?
I have someone who helps me with that.
What are your experiences with offline booksignings? Do you have much luck selling your book through that method?
I enjoy doing signings in brick and mortar stores. I love getting the chance to meet people in person, and we always try to make the signings fun with give aways and door prize drawings. Of course, the only problem with that is it’s a little limiting. Much as I’d like to hit every book store in the country when I have a new book out, obviously, I can’t. Going on line I can meet people I’d never get a chance to meet otherwise.
Here’s a fun question. If money were no object, how would you promote your book?
Well, I guess I would try to visit just about every book store in the country . . .or bribe someone to let me on Dancing with the Stars!
Thank you for this interview, Sheila. Do you have any final words?
Only that I hope readers will enjoy “The Snow Globe” . . . and come meet me online!
If you’d like to follow along with Sheila Roberts as she tours the blogosphere with more interviews, guest posts and reviews, click here!