Christian Fiction Blog Tours

Can't We All Just Get Along?

By Frank Creed, published Feb 04, 2008
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Now onto Christian Fiction Blog Tours. What are they, where did they come from and why are they here? Blog tours in general are simply a group of bloggers joining together to post their reviews, interviews, comments etc. about a particular book. There is no real way to put a date on when this activity started but the earliest blog tour date found was 2000 at a blog called Buzz, Balls & Hype, and since then this online promotional tool has really gained momentum and has done authors, especially new authors, a lot of exposure. Book blog tours promote all sorts of books from children's and business to coaching Little League to ethnic knitting.

Some brave souls in the Christian fiction industry have organized virtual book tours on their own. Karina Fabian of the Lost Genre Guild has a primer on her site that explains the ins and outs of VBTs, as well, I found another excellent blog article that gives good information. Then, the publicity agencies have entered the mix. Glass Roads Public Relations will set up a blog tour for $1750.

Several organizations have sprung up to tour exclusively Christian fiction. The most recent edition of CBA (Christian Booksellers Association) Retailers-Resources contains the article "With so many books on the CBA market how can front-liners keep up?" This article discusses the qualities of Christian fiction blog tours and their usefulness for promoting novels. This information is especially interesting to their audience, Christian book stores, as it works as a marketing tool for the stores: online readers read a review, like what they see and may well look for the book at their local Christian bookstore.

A blog posted on a particular CBA/ ECPA published author's site suggests that the article may not adequately cover the truth about "Christian" blog tours. Of course, that remains to be seen and hopefully they'll get it right because there is so little to get wrong. It's almost embarrassing to wonder how someone could since "Christian" blog tours haven't really been around all that long.

 
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Takeaways
  • the CFRB, CSFF and CFBA are the most visible Christian fiction blog tours
  • the CFRB is exclusive to books published by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association
  • the CFRB's motto is No Author Left Behind
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From Glass Roads site: We began as the only publicity firm in the country dedicated solely to representing novelists writing from a Christian worldview. Two members of the six listed who have a background in being published and/or working with publishers have primarily if not exclusively(according to what's listed on the site) worked with CBA and/or ECPA affiliated associations. CBA and ECPA affililated organizations have a tendency not to look at anyone who isn't affiliated as being legitimate, thus sending rejected authors to the "secular" market instead of recommending they go find another "Christian" publisher. I'd have a tough time thinking I was going to benefit from a public relations group who claims to represent authors who write from a Christian Worldview when they're only real experience is with companies who don't. Bottom line, check things out before you put your money down. GRPR can not get you on the CFBA tour (unless you're CBA or ECPA affiliated) w

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Posted on 02/06/2008 at 2:02:26 PM

 
Great breakdown, Frank. I was shocked to know the cost for a blog tour created through a pr agency. Many fans pull blog tours together for friends, but never thought about charging the author a fee. I wished I would have thought of the idea. I am a member of CFBA. I joined when TL began it, not as active as I would like to be. Didn't know about Christian Fiction Review, so thanks for directing me to them.

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Posted on 02/04/2008 at 9:02:19 PM

 
It is a most frustrating -- indies have to work twice as hard to get half as far. Another issue is that many of these same folks have no clear idea about how the industry operates. The CFBA, for instance, lumps POD, vanity, self-published and independents together. I don't think that they even know what an indie press is! Wouldn't it be nice, for once, if quality counted for something?

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Posted on 02/04/2008 at 6:02:55 PM

 
A really informative essay on the subject of Christian blog tours. Obviousy well researched. Thanks!

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Posted on 02/04/2008 at 3:02:26 PM

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