Book Tour was a fantastic site for readers to find author events, interviews, and podcasts. Authors, publishers, and publicists could build an author page featuring bios, links, appearances, and books. The feed from Book Tour appeared on numerous sites, including Amazon’s author pages.
Kevin Smokler stated it was just not financially possible to run the site anymore. (And that there were fewer author tours.) He did offer several other sites as viable replacements:
Amazon Author Central
Google Calendar
Upcoming
Eventful
He even stated that existing dates could be downloaded as an XML file or through a tool at Book Tour and uploaded into several of the sites listed above.
Outside of my own websites and blogs, Book Tour was the main site I used to post my schedule. I’m really going to miss it!
Anyone else use Book Tour, either as a reader or author?
19 comments:
It's sad to see a site close down especially if you as a writer used it regulary.
Thank you for your comment about the sad event here in Bournemouth, I also am saddened by your country's tragic accident.
Yvonne.
Yvonne, I rarely do author appearances anymore, but I used it to list my speaking engagements.
It was sad to read about that young pilot. He was so new to the team.
Seems financially more and more great things are being lost. The idea of corporate America or the world for that matter, has me a bit worried. To much big and not enough small.
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
It is particularly disheartening when the alternative is Amazon or Google. I don't want to see a world where these online mega-giants are our only options.
I've never used Book Tour, but I have heard good things about it. What a shame.
Like Talli, I've heard a lot of good things about it. Sad.
Never used it, but sad it's closing down.
Book Tour was pretty large, so I'm surprised it's shutting down. Yes, it seems as if Amazon and Google are swallowing everything.
I checked it out a few times. It's always sad to see something like this close it's doors.
Sia McKye's Thoughts...OVER COFFEE
I hadn't heard about this site. I'll bet Facebook was another huge competition for it, as people can post events there. So it's all boiling down to Amazon and Google? Ugh.
Is this a casualty of e-books?
Sad when this sort of thing happens.
I was sad to see this happen. I admit I didn't use it as often as I should have.
GiglesandGuns, there is never only one reason for something like this (my own personal philosophy that most things fit into a gray area rather than black or white), but I think it was mostly difficult finding a way to monetize the site That was my impression from the notice they sent out.
Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
I didn't use the site, but I'm sorry to hear about it closing down. Sounds like so much hard work went into it, and I'm sure there are many others like you who depended on it to get their messages out there.
Never used it, but it looked like a great resource. So sad.
Business is very difficult. I hope the people from Book Tour find other more successful avenues in future.
Every Savage Can Reproduce
Ditto Enid's comment. Kevin & Diane-- Thanks for providing some viable alternatives.
Kevin said they had other things planned, I just don't know what.
I've never used this site. Looks like i missed out. But thanks for the other links as I am putting together a virtual book tour soon.
I had seen it recently. But I still feel sad, as I always do when something/someone goes "out of business." I can see how YOU will miss it. I would have too if I had used it. I HAVE signed up for Author Central but I'm not yet sure how it works :-)
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror, A Memoir of Shattered Secrets
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