What is a virtual book tour?

It's less than two weeks until The Miracle Inspector comes out in paperback on 4th September. I'm doing lots of promotional events and will soon be posting details of my virtual book tour. If you don't know how a virtual book tour operates, check back here in the coming weeks for details. But, in essence, I will be writing guest posts and answering questions on several influential book blogs in the UK and the US in September and October to draw attention to the publication of my book.

If you have a book blog you can sign up here to review the book and take part in the tour. I love this book, I'm really proud of it. I want the world to know about it! Thank you to everyone who has already read an advance print copy or an ebook and reviewed it. If you don't have a book blog but you'd like a copy of the book so you can review it on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, etc. email me here.

I'm also doing some 'real life' events in London and (I hope) New York. I post details of these events here on my events page as they're booked. But this is what's definitely coming up:

Brixton Book Jam at the Lambeth Country Show, London, 15 and 16 September 2012
I took part in the inaugural Book Jam in July this year, along with Alex Wheatle, Adam Mars-Jones and other local writers. The Lambeth Country Show is just as it sounds - there are sheep, there are tents where prizes are awarded to jam, cakes and vegetable sculptures. It's like Midsomer Murders! I'll be doing something bookish, and I'll also secretly be researching for my third full-length Emily Castles murder mystery which will take place at the Lambeth Country Show.

Literary Death Match, London, 19 September 2012.
Last year I read from Alison Wonderland at Literary Death Match and I won! It was very exciting. Four writers compete for the honour of a medal in this anarchic, entertaining live literature show. They're judged on performance, literary merit and intangibles. I'll be returning on 19th September to judge literary merit.

26 Treasures at the V&A Museum of Childhood, London, October 2012
This is unrelated to my book promotion but as the exhibition opens in the middle of all the other promotional activity, I thought I'd mention it here. Together with former Children's Poet Laureate Michael Rosen and twenty-four other writers, I have written a poem in response to an exhibit that will be on display at the V&A Museum of Childhood in London until January 2013. More details soon.

LondonIsYours, Twitter, 14-21 October
I'll be taking over the LondonIsYours Twitter account for a week, broadcasting live and direct to the world from Brixton. Each week a different Londoner curates the account. This week it's author Jonathan Kemp, so please follow him for enlightening, amusing, literate updates.

Literary Cabaret, Bloomsbury Festival, London, 20 October 2012
I'll be hosting this popular event (last year it sold out, with more than 250 people crowded into the St Pancras Hotel to hear us) at Senate House. We'll have an entertaining mix of songs from Kate Arneil, and readings from Suzy Joinson, Karen McLeod and Craig Taylor. I'll be giving the audience a preview of my first full-length Emily Castles mystery, Invitation to Die, which is set in Bloomsbury.

Polari, Royal Festival Hall, London, December 2012
I'm thrilled to be reading again at the always-brilliant, always sold-out Polari, a literary salon held in the gorgeous surroundings of a top floor room at the Royal Festival Hall, hosted by writer Paul Burston. The next one, 24th September, features Jonathan Harvey, Penny Arcade, Jesse Blackadder, Adam Lowe and Adrian Dalton.
"Paul Burston's achievement in consistently bringing together writers and performers who will stimulate and inspire is remarkable." Patrick Gale.
"Always fun, always thought-provoking: a guaranteed good night out." Sarah Waters