Friday, March 27, 2009

Where's Konrath? Blog Tour Day #27

To promote my horror novel, AFRAID, which debuts March 31, I'm tattooing the release date on my son's forehead. Ha! Kidding! I'm appearing on different blogs every day in March.

Please follow my daily journey, and broaden your blog-reading horizons. Commenting on the guest posts at the blogs I visit is a classy touch, too.

First I explain how to get results while marketing, over at Karen Syed's blog:

http://karensyed.blogspot.com/2009/03/ja-konrathtada.html


Then I bounce over to Kaye Manro's blog, where I once again talk about writing sex scenes, and the sex in my new Jack Daniels novel. But this time, the sex is in the villain's point of view. Graphic excerpt included:

http://kayemanro.blogspot.com/2009/03/blog-post.html

Over at Write First, Clean Later, I visit LJ Sellers and talk about the effectiveness of blog touring. If you're thinking about trying it, take note:

http://ljraves.blogspot.com/2009/03/blogathon-be-afraid.html

I visit Sean Markey and answer some questions about writing Afraid. There's also a chance to get Afraid for free:

http://semarkey.blogspot.com/2009/03/special-ja-konrath-interview-and-free.html

There's a nice review of Afraid at The Farm Report. Scroll down to read it. I have to quote part of it, because I liked it so much:

"SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING . . . DO NOT READ AT NIGHT: I’m a pretty fearless guy. My immediate reaction on hearing something go bump in the night is to move toward that sound, unarmed, but ready to kick some ass.

I may have to change my method after reading Afraid (Grand Central, $6.99) by Jack Kilborn. This may be the scariest book I have ever read. It makes the most twisted Stephen King novel read like He’s Just Not That Into You."

You can read the whole review here:

http://www.thefarmreport.williammckeen.com/?p=120

Incidentally, I thank Stephen King and Dean Koontz in the acknowledgments of Afraid, because I'm indebted to their work in the genre. I wonder if they'll ever read it. How cool would that be?

If you missed my page 69 and 99 tests, there's a recap, along with an excerpt from an interview, over at Author Interviews:

http://writerinterviews.blogspot.com/2009/03/jack-kilborn-aka-ja-konrath.html

That brings the blog tour total up to 87 locations. Will I hit the elusive 100? Has any fiction writer ever been on a hundred blogs in a single month? Will I get some kind of award if I do?

Don't change that channel, and stay tuned...

4 comments:

Karen from Mentor said...

Joe,
Two interesting things and a scary thing just happened to me at my local Barnes and Noble.

I expected to be complaining that you were costing me a lot of money after I got back from the bookstore. lol During the tour I'd made a list of ten titles that I planned to investigate; either because the books looked interesting or I liked the blog owner's style.
To my shock only 2 of the authors were stocked. Some were available special order, but many were not.
Very eye opening. I had this Newbie idea that once you were published you were golden. I guess you do have to work your butt off and keep yourself out there. VERY GOOD OBJECT LESSON!
btw: out of the two, one was too graphic for my taste, the other was Beth Ciotta's "Evie Ever After" which looks delightful. I'll let you know tomorrow.

NOW TO THE INTERESTING THINGS:
There I was, roaming the shelves, list in hand, and I kept bumping into another woman, list in hand.
We started talking...she starts telling me about this guy on this amazing blog tour...HOLY COW...that was GREAT. If you make "have you been KONRATHED?" buttons or tee shirts, I'll take one.

The other interesting thing, when she found out that I was the winner of the 70 word or less story that you pronounced "truly evil" she said "But you look so NICE!" (I have permission to blurt this out to the universe)
Preconceived notions are a funny thing.
You my friend are making a dent in the universe. (or at least in Ohio)
Many thanks for the entertainment and wisdom this week.
Karen Schindler

JA Konrath said...

That's a great story, Karen.

I just got my JD books. Did you want WHiskey or Dirty?

Karen from Mentor said...

Whiskey please.


Hey that was a fun conversation. And an answer appropriate in many situations.

Karen :)

Karen from Mentor said...

Joe,
Have you been back in Rowena's blog from yesterday?
She's a HOOT.

We need you to weigh in on the issue of naked funny women in hats.
(and/or scaring us out of our socks)
Karen :)