I’m still not used to it when people ask me how things are going with the book tour for Bloodstream. Until recently, I’ve thought of authors with “book tours” as well-known (or better-known than me) writers who fly or drive around cross-country promoting their books, whose events pop up in my feed and seem never-ending.

There’s a romantic aspect to this vision, and a coolness aspect as well. These authors, I imagine, drop “my book tour” casually in conversation with their friends as if it’s just a normal thing, something an author does.

Those words will never come easily out of my mouth.

While the business part of having a new book does involve marketing, which in turn potentially involves at least some travel to readings or other events, along with financial and time commitments, I’ve come to appreciate that book promotion—and the term “book tour”—looks different for every author.  While one may think of more formal book tours as being associated with fiction writers, some poets I follow definitely have embarked on these kinds of tours in a strategic way.

It feels strange, but also a little cool, to acknowledge that I am, in fact, on tour to promote my new book, even if I’m not actually physically traveling most of the time while I’m doing it. I’ve decided I can say, legitimately, that I’m on tour with Bloodstream, even if that means making efforts to get the work in front of people without always actually traveling to do so. (I will travel, but only to places where I know people, can get comfortable I’ll feel good about, and can more or less easily get to.)

I’m giving myself permission to accept the joy of having a new book published with a press I truly admire and respect, along with the responsibility of joint promotion. At the same time, though, I’m doing it all, as Sinatra would sing, “my way.”

What I’m saying, is that readers and potential readers are as likely – or more likely – to be hearing about Bloodstream online or via social media (if I’m doing my “tour” right) as from an in-person reading or event at a bookstore or other venue.

Here are a few examples of what’s happening with my (actual and virtual) book tour:

• It feels like ages ago already, but I did go to AWP in early March, with books hot off the press, and was able to participate in three different signing opportunities. I signed copies at the Bear Review, Sugar House Review and Kestrel booths, seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
• A couple of weeks before the conference, I read on Zoom with a “Not AWP” group-sponsored reading with two other poets. It was my first time reading a group of poems from Bloodstream aloud in front of people, and great practice. It forced me to think about which poems lent themselves best to a reading, and to develop a set I can now change up as needed depending on the audience.
• On March 28, I had an in-person book launch event at the local Matheson History Museum. I wrote about that in a previous post, but it was a wonderful event on so many fronts, and I’m very glad I did it.
• On April 15, I read with two other wonderful poets, Annette Sisson and Melissa Huckabay, as part of Richard Jordan’s Hilbert Space Poetry Reading Series.
• In April, National Poetry Month, I worked with a wonderful publicist, Kayla Torres, to help me make connections with various poets, readers and booksellers. Some of them expressed interest in reading the book, and ended up sharing poems from Bloodstream on their social channels. One poet, the wonderful S. Salazar, did a review and an interview with me that ended up on her Substack, and which I was able to then reshare on my own. Did these efforts result in sales? Who knows, but at least these cumulative efforts did result in greater exposure—for me, for the book, and for my press. An added benefit of working with Kayla was that I realized as we were exchanging ideas, that I was coming up with ideas of my own. Our synergy opened up new possibilities, which I am still thinking about.
• I spent last weekend in Asheville, where I did travel to participate in a wonderful reading at Malaprops Book Store last Sunday. I’d hoped to read there last year after my first book, The Grief Committee Minutes, came out, but I was never able to pinpoint a time that worked within the store’s available slots. As Malaprops was one of the handful of independent bookstores I had identified as possibilities for readings, I was thrilled that I was able to coordinate an opportunity to be there with Bloodstream as part of the store’s monthly Poet Quartet, which features four poets reading from their work. It was truly magical to read with and get to know Joseph Bathanti, a former poet laureate of North Carolina, Richard Tillinghast, and Rowe Carenen. I also saw some North Carolina cousins, a former classmate, another friend who drove an hour from Tennessee to be there for me, and was able to meet in person some Asheville poets I’ve long admired.

What’s next? I do have a signing opportunity coming up on June 13 in Tallahassee, my hometown, and I’m looking forward to that.  If nothing happens in between, that’s a lovely six-week break between events. I have a tentative reading and conversation scheduled at the Lynx, my local and beloved indie bookstore, for late August, and will post more about that when it’s confirmed. I have two talks scheduled between June and August with two local women’s groups, who have graciously invited me to read and discuss my book (s) and my process.

Meanwhile, I’m continuing to explore the more informal opportunities as time and energy (very important) permit.

Thanks to everyone who has been (and will be) a part of Bloodstream’s book tour, however defined. In whatever ways you might have supported me on my journey, you count as a tour participant, and I thank you for being a part of my team. If you have ideas for how I might further spread the word about Bloodstream in its first year, please let me know!

Meanwhile, here are some photos from my phenomenal visit to Malaprops.