Sentiments of Blue Virtual Book Tour June and July 2011

Join Garasamo Maccagnone, author of the literary short story collection,  Sentiments of Blue (CreateSpace, January 14, 2011), as he virtually tours the blogosphere in June and July on his fourth virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book.

About Garasamo Maccagnone

Garasamo Maccagnone is a writer and entrepreneur. The founder of a successful airfreight business, Maccagnone now focuses on his literary career. He is the author of the novel St. John of the Midfield, the novella, For the Love of St. Nick, a collection of short stories entitled, My Dog Tim and Other Stories, and a children’s book titled, The Suburban Dragon. Sentiments of Blue is his latest short story collection. Maccagnone currently lives in Shelby Township where he is working on his second novel, The Sorrows of Pebble Creek.

Find the author online at http://garasamomaccagnone.com/.

About Sentiments of Blue

Set in a Michigan factory, the title story takes readers inside a workplace dominated by a ruthless bully and his cronies. While explaining the actions taking place around him, it becomes clear that the narrator yearns to escape the blue-collar life handed down to him from his father. “Perfect Game” unfolds during a minor league baseball game with Chi-Chi Gomez on the mound, a fearless pitcher who never fails to brush a few batters back from the plate–a space he considers his personal property. Along with other stories, the book also features original poems including “Uncle Nardo’s Store,” “My Father’s Foot,” and “The Malediction of Miss Holstein.”

Read an Excerpt!

The Careers of My Mother

When I was a boy
she was a secretary.
Her nights were filled
with filing groceries,
taking phone calls,
posting notes
around his office
to remind him of things
he always forgot.

Then, when I turned fourteen,
My mother earned her law degree.
As a defense counselor,
she became a dazzling chief litigator,
furious with her polished tongue,
bullying us with verbal assaults,
clearing his name with brilliant oration
while drilling her steely finger into my chest
with every point she made!

Today, she’s a nurse.
From the den I watch her
slowly lean over to turn him,
stroke his hair, cut the drool that sways,
from the corner of his mouth,
kiss his hand that trembles
between the tubes that feed him.

Read the Reviews!

Throughout the pages of Sentiments Of Blue, author Garasamo Maccagnone takes the reader deep into the hearts and minds of individuals who find themselves up against some of the greatest challenges of their lives. A creative mix of poetry and short stories, Sentiments Of Blue conveys the raw, unfiltered essence of humanity at its best and worst, painting for the reader a compelling portrait of courage in the face of fear and uncertainty.

Maccagnone’s collection leads off with five reflective poetic pieces, culminating with the jarring “My Father’s Foot” – an eye-opening offering sure to catch the reader off guard. Sentiments Of Blue then closes out with five engaging short stories, including the stirring “Perfect Game,” “Holy Thursday,” and the eponymous tale of a conflicted young soul yearning for release from the mundane legacy of his father. All taken together, Maccagnone’s stories and poems comprise a quite moving collection with the potential to resonate within readers for a long time to come. An impressive, thought-provoking read.

–Apex Reviews

Sentiments of Blue Tour Schedule

Monday, June 6^th

Guest blogging at Literal Exposure

Tuesday, June 7^th

Interviewed at Blogcritics

Wednesday, June 8^th

Interviewed at As the Pages Turn

Thursday, June 9^th

Book excerpt featured at Between the Covers

Friday, June 10^th

Book spotlight at Let’s Talk Virtual Book Tours

Monday, June 13^th

Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking

Tuesday, June 14^th

Book spotlighted at Books, Products and More!

Wednesday, June 15^th

Guest blogging at The Hot Author Report

Thursday, June 16th

Book reviewed at 4 the Love of Books

Friday, June 17^th

Guest blogging and giveaway at Acting Balanced

Monday, June 20^th

Book spotlighted at Pump Up Your Books, Blurbs and Bytes

Tuesday, June 21^st

Guest blogging at Writing Daze

Wednesday, June 22^nd

Book reviewed at The Book Connection

Thursday, June 23^rd

Guest blogging at Paperback Writer

Monday, June 27^th

Interviewed at Beyond the Books

Tuesday, July 5^th

Book reviewed at Paperback Writer

Wednesday, July 6^th

Book spotlighted at The Writer’s Life

Thursday, July 7^th

Guest blogging at The Story Behind the Book

Friday, July 8^th

Guest blogging at Authors and Appetizers

Monday, July 11^th

Guest blogging at Review from Here

Wednesday, July 13^th

Guest blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner

Friday, July 15^th

Interviewed at Examiner

Wednesday, July 20^th

Book spotlighted at American Chronicle

Thursday, July 21^st

Radio interview at 6:30 PM Eastern at A Book and A Chat

Friday, July 22^nd

Book spotlighted at Broowaha

More dates to come!

Talking Virtual Book Tours with Children’s Author Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Cheryl Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. A regular contributor for Writer2Writer, her articles focus on increasing productivity through time management and organization. A founding member of Musing Our Children, Ms. Malandrinos is also Editor in Chief of the group’s quarterly newsletter, Pages & Pens.

Cheryl is a Tour Coordinator for Pump Up Your Book, a book reviewer, and blogger. Little Shepherd is her first children’s book. Ms. Malandrinos lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two young daughters. She also has a son who is married.

You can visit Cheryl online at http://ccmalandrinos.com or the Little Shepherd blog at http://littleshepherdchildrensbook.blogspot.com/.

Thank you for this interview, Cheryl. Can we start out by having you tell us briefly what your new book is about?

Thanks for having me here today. Little Shepherd is the story of Obed, a young shepherd in the fields outside Bethlehem on the night of Christ’s birth. While he wants to join the others to see the newborn King, he’s anxious about leaving his first flock unattended. After some wise words from his father, Obed decides to step out in faith and go to Bethlehem. An encounter with the Holy Family and what he sees upon his return to the fields leads Obed to decide it is a night of miracles.

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?

I’ve been in the business of coordinating virtual book tours for three years. I knew when my book came out that I would tour with it. I’ve concentrated mostly on online book promotion because I can reach more readers that way. I am however, combining that with a few local events.

Is this the first time you have heard of them?

You and I both know the answer to this one.  I started hosting clients for Pump Up Your Book (formerly Pump Up Your Book Promotion) in April 2007. A few months later, I joined their staff and I haven’t looked back.

What do you hope to achieve through promoting your book through a virtual book tour?

Working online has given me the chance to network with people in ways my parents never dreamed of being able to connect with others. Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks have changed the way we do a lot of things. I can keep in touch with my brother who is in Afghanistan or my sister who lives in Pennsylvania. I can find out what my adult nieces and nephews are up to, even though some of them live hundreds of miles away. I can even check to see if my son is playing around on the Internet instead of working. 

For me, a virtual book tour is all about exposure and networking. If I sell books as a result—which I have during this tour—then great. Sales are not my main goal, though, because no marketing tool can guarantee you’ll sell anything.

Who maintains your website?

I do, but only because I can’t afford to hire someone to do it. As a time management expert, I’m all for finding ways to streamline things. Your time is worth something too. I would rather write than update my website.

Right now http://ccmalandrinos.com doesn’t look the way I want it to, but I hope to be able to hire a designer after the first of the year to spiff it up.

What are your experiences with offline book signings? Do you have much luck selling your book through that method?

My first book signing isn’t until Saturday, November 27^th at the Living Gate Community Church Annual Country Christmas Bazaar and Tag Sale. This event will be held on the church grounds at 151 Taylor Street, Granby, MA from 9 AM to 3 PM.

I’m also trying to plan one at a local bookstore. We’ll see what happens.

Here’s a fun question. If money were no object, how would you promote your book?

If money were no object, I would donate 5 copies of Little Shepherd to all the Christian churches in my area. It’s not so much about selling the book, as it is getting it into the hands of young people.

Thank you for this interview, Cheryl. Do you have any final words?

I firmly believe in the power of virtual book tours. Having coordinated tours for nearly 100 authors, spanning over 125 books, I’ve seen how much fun they are and how they can provide exposure for authors. I recently wrote an article titled, “Why Virtual Book Tours Work”.  This provides some concrete examples of what a virtual book tour can do for you. You can find the article at http://littleshepherdchildrensbook.blogspot.com/2010/10/why-virtual-book-tours-work.html

Thanks for letting me talk about one of my favorite subjects.

Talking Virtual Book Tours with Ann Putnam

ANN PUTNAM teaches creative writing and women’s studies at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. She has published short fiction, personal essays, literary criticism, and book reviews in various anthologies such as Hemingway and Women:  Female Critics and the Female Voice and in journals, including the Hemingway Review, Western American Literature, and the South Dakota Review.  Her recent release is Full Moon at Noontide: A Daughter’s Last Goodbye.  You can visit her website at www.annputnam.com.

Thank you for this interview, Ann.  Can we start out by having you tell us briefly what your new book is about?

If I may, I’d like to refer to the “Preface to Full Moon at Noontide:  A Daughter’s Last Goodbye.  It’s a memoir about my mother and father and my father’s brother, his identical twin, and how they lived together with their courage and stumblings, as they made their way into old age and then into death.  It’s the story of the journey from one twin’s death to the other, of what happened along the way and what it means to lose the other who is also oneself.

My story takes the reader through the journey of the end of life: selling the family home, re-location at a retirement community, doctor’s visits, ER visits, specialists, hospitalizations, ICU, nursing homes, Hospice.  It takes the reader through the gauntlet of the health care system with all the attendant comedy and sorrows, joys and terrors of such things.  Finally it asks:  what consolation is there in growing old, in such loss?  What abides beyond the telling of my own tale? Wisdom carried from the end of the journey to readers who are perhaps only beginning theirs.  Still, what interest in reading of this inevitable journey taken by such ordinary people?  Turned to the light just so, the beauty and laughter of the telling transcend the darkness of the tale.

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?

I am only beginning to learn the value of such things.  I do know that there is a limit to how many bookstore readings and signings I can do.  It’s wonderful to talk with people and hear their own stories, as well as hear how my book has touched them.  There is no dollar value to put to that.  But it costs so  much emotionally for me to do these that when a virtual tour came highly recommended by a good friend who had done this, I said, hey, sign me up and now here I am!

Is this the first time you have heard of them?

Yes it is.  I can barely operate my IPOD.

What do you hope to achieve through promoting your book through a virtual book tour?

What I hope will happen is a larger readership.  I’m hoping to  catch some reviews in good places.  I feel as though my book has work in the world to do…that my story will be of help to others.  And this seemed like such an interesting way to go about this.

Do you promote online through other means? Website? Blog?

Not yet.   I have a website, www.annputnam.com but I don’t actively use it.

Who maintains your website?

My daughter, bless her techno heart!

What are your experiences with offline booksignings? Do you have much luck selling your book through that method?

I think I began to talk about this a few questions earlier.  Yes, I’ve had great success. It’s been standing room only at times.   But again, I’ve been limited to my own home state of Washington, and have pretty much exhausted the local book scene.

Here’s a fun question. If money was no object, how would you promote your book?

I would hire a publicity agent and let him/her do all the rest.

Thank you for this interview, Ann. Do you have any final words?

This virtual tour is very exciting to me.  I hope to have much more to say about it when it’s over. Right now, it’s just barely beginning.

Visit Ann’s Full Moon at Noontide tour schedule here.

Virtual Book Tour: Cozy Mystery Author Kim Smith Visits Pump Up Your Book

Kim Smith, author of the cozy mystery, Buried Angel, will be stopping off at Pump Up Your Book today with a free book giveaway!

Shannon Wallace is finding trouble in the most bizarre places these days, but not as bizarre as the ones her sidekick Dwayne Brown is finding. When his friend. Bubba, is found stuffed in a cooler in his flower shop, the hunt is on to find his killer.  Could it be Bubba’s sister who is now his heir, or maybe one of the flower shop guys who works with Bubba? You can be sure the dreadful duo of Shannon and Dwayne won’t rest until they have helped South Lake’s police department, and the Hispanic hottie investigator, Sal Ramirez, find his man. Or was that woman?

You can visit her website at www.mkimsmith.com.

Young Adult Fiction Author Larry Sweitzer “The Ghost, the Eggheads, and Babe Ruth’s Piano” to give away book today

Young adult fiction author Larry Swietzer, author of The Ghost, the Eggheads, and Babe Ruth’s Piano, will be at Pump Up Your Book on Monday, December 7, taking your questions and comments. Leave a question or a comment, along with your email address (very important), in the comment section anytime between now and 8 p.m. tomorrow night and you could win a free copy of his book!

The winner will be selected at the end of tomorrow night and announced on Tuesday, Dec. 8.

Find out all about writing young adult fiction from one of the most talented authors!

Click here to enter now!

Virtual Blog Tour: Historical Nonfiction Author James Diehl Visits 4 the Love of Books & Between the Covers

James Diehl, author of the historical nonfiction, World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware will be stopping off at 4 the Love of Books and Between the Covers on his 12 Days of Christmas Virtual Book Tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

James Diehl is an award-winning journalist who has covered Sussex County, Delaware for various media outlets since 1998. Since 2007, he has owned and operated a freelance writing company based in Seaford, Delaware and is also a partner in a Lewes, Delaware-based public relations and marketing firm. He is the author of one other work of non-fiction – “Remembering Sussex County, from Zwaanendael to King Chicken,” published in 2009 by The History Press. James lives in Seaford, Delaware, with his wife and two daughters. You can visit his website at www.ww2-heroes.com.

Talking Virtual Book Tours with Historical Fiction Author Douglas W. Jacobson

Douglas W. Jacobson is an engineer, business owner and WW2 history enthusiast who has traveled extensively in Europe researching the courage of common people caught up in the greatest catastrophe of the twentieth century. Doug’s first book, Night of Flames: A Novel of World War Two was published in 2007. Doug has also written numerous articles on WW2 resistance organizations and is finishing up his second historical novel focusing on one of the most notorious war crimes in history.

Douglas Jacobson will be on a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours in September and October ’09 and is here with us today to give his impression of virtual book tours and online book marketing.

Thank you for this interview, Doug.  Can we start out by having you tell us briefly what your new book is about?

Douglas: Night of Flames is a story of courage. It is a story about common people caught up in unimaginable circumstances who find the strength and determination to survive. The main characters are a university professor in Krakow, Poland and her husband, a cavalry officer, who are separated on the first day of the war. For the next five years they struggle to survive and preserve their humanity while searching for each other across war-torn Europe.

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?

Douglas: I am a member of the Historical Novel Society and through contacts with other authors in this genre I have learned of the success many of them have had with virtual book tours.

Is this the first time you have heard of them?

Douglas: I have heard about them several times over the past year or so, but at the recent HNS conference in Chicago many authors discussed their experiences with virtual book tours.

What do you hope to achieve through promoting your book through a virtual book tour?

Douglas: Obviously I hope to increase book sales but I also want to establish a niche for my future writing as a historical novelist specializing in the WW2 period.

Do you promote online through other means?  Website?  Blog?

Douglas: I have contacted book clubs through Reader’s Circle and other similar sites.

Do you promote through Twitter and Facebook?  What are your links there?

Douglas: I am only just beginning to learn about Facebook and Twitter.

What are your experiences with offline booksignings?  Which do you prefer – online or offline and can you give us the reasons why?

Douglas: I have not done many off-line book signings as such, and the ones I have done have been marginal. I’ve had much more success as a speaker to service clubs and other organization and coupling those with book signings following the event. I’m looking forward to my first experience with an on-line book tour.

Here’s a fun question.  If money was no object, how would you promote your book?

Douglas: I’d donate a hundred thousand dollars to Oprah’s favorite charity.

Thank you for this interview, Doug.  Do you have any final words?

Douglas: I’m looking forward to discussing Night of Flames with readers on-line and sharing with them my enthusiasm and admiration for the real people who endured the largest conflict in world history.

To find out more about Douglas’ virtual book tour in September and October, click here!

Virtual Book Tour: Political Nonfiction Author Alan Kennedy-Shaffer Visits Book Addiction

Alan Kennedy-Shaffer, author of the nonfiction political book, THE OBAMA REVOLUTION, will be stopping off at Book Addiction on Day Two of his virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

The first book to be written by a campaign staffer and offering rare insider glimpses, The Obama Revolution explores how a generation of believers and the politics of hope won the presidency for Barack Obama and changed the world. You can visit Alan online at www.alankennedy-shaffer.com.

THE OBAMA REVOLUTION VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘09 will officially begin on April 1, ‘09 and end on April 30. You can visit Alan’s tour stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in April to find out more about him and his new book! Leave a comment on his blog stops throughout the month of April and you can become eligible to win a FREE virtual book tour or an Amazon $50 gift certificate from Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

Virtual Blog Tour: Poet Balthazar Rodrigue Nzomono-Balenda Visits The Writer’s Life

Balthazar Rodrigue Nzomono-Balenda, author of the book of poetry, THE DEPTH OF MY SOUL, will be stopping off at The Writer’s Life on Day Two of his virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

The Depth of My Soul is a book or poetry that focuses on injustices such as wars, corruption, war crimes, religious fundamentalism, child abuse, and other types of abuse. The goal of this book is to share his approach with his readers about the problems we face in this world. You can visit Balthazar’s website at www.ganymedeweb.com.

DEPTH OF MY SOUL VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘09 will officially begin on April 1, ‘09 and end on April 30. You can visit Balthazar’s tour stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in April to find out more about him and his new book! Leave a comment on his blog stops throughout the month of April and you can become eligible to win a FREE virtual book tour or an Amazon $50 gift certificate from Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

Virtual Book Tour: Short Story Author J.W. Nicklaus Visits The Bookworm

J.W. Nicklaus, author of the short story collection, THE LIGHT, THE DARK & EMBER BETWEEN, will be stopping off at The Bookworm on Day Two of his virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

Fifteen stories: From the wispy fog of a love lost at sea, to an orphaned child who delivers a present of her own during a war-torn Christmas. These stories are gentle reminders to each of us of what it is to be human, and certainly of our affinity for the slightest glint of Hope. You can visit J.W. online at www.avomnia.com.

THE LIGHT THE DARK & EMBER BETWEEN VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘09 will officially begin on April 1, ‘09 and end on April 30. You can visit J.W.’s tour stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in April to find out more about him and his new book! Leave a comment on his blog stops throughout the month of April and you can become eligible to win a FREE virtual book tour or an Amazon $50 gift certificate from Pump Up Your Book Promotion!