The Philadelphia Inquirer points out today how social media platforms are changing the game for writers who traditionally wouldn’t get much publisher support when they’re on the road.
An excerpt: “Yet, in an era when major publishers are cutting expenses, even established authors can find themselves in [this] situation: fending for themselves in a crowded media marketplace. It’s a path that takes them to the Web, community bookstores, and local literary festivals.”
The article makes an interesting case study out of Rebecca Skloot, the science writer who used Facebook and Twitter to draw big crowds on her book tour. Skloot’s book, The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks is now number nine on the Times’ Best Seller list, largely thanks to her thriving web presence.
Leave it to Kitty Kelley to get the outlier treatment. From the article: “Random House publicist David Drake, who is coordinating Kelley’s appearances, says only a few A-list authors still enjoy the classic perk–a book tour. ‘Kitty is doing an old-fashioned tour: Full media and event appearances in 10 cities over three months,’ he says.” Only the best for Kitty.