Talking virtual book tours with children's picture book author Diana Rumjahn

Charlie and Mama Kyna

Children's picture book author Diana Rumjahn will be touring the Internet with her latest book, Charlie and Mama Kyna (Booksurge, Jan. '09), in October and November '09, with Pump Up Your Book Promotion.  We interviewed her to get her thoughts of using virtual book tours to promote her books.

Thank you for this interview, Diana.  Can we start out by having you tell us briefly what your new book is about?

Hi Dorothy! Charlie and Mama Kyna is an award-winning charming book with beautiful illustrations for children. The story and illustrations are based on my internationally acclaimed film, Going Home, which was shown worldwide, including 45 film festivals and London Film Festival.

The story is about a little stuffed animal frog, named Charlie who runs away in fear after accidentally breaking his mother’s favorite vase. Charlie makes his way to the city and meets a stuffed animal Lion, named Leo and a stuffed animal giraffe named Joe outside Mrs. Cupcake’s Bakery. The three become best friends and live inside a little orange tent outside the bakery.

After awhile, Charlie becomes homesick, misses his mother, Kyna, decides to go home and invites Leo and Joe to live with them. On the next sunny day, Charlie, Leo and Joe, journey to find Mama Kyna’s home.

The book was written because I received so much positive responses for the film, Going Home. My passion is to tell you this story.

The book just won The Best Short Story for Children Award at the 39th Annual Marin County Fair, California.

More and more authors are realizing the potential for sales that virtual book tours can bring.  Can you tell us your personal reasons why you chose a virtual book tour to help get the word out about your new book?

The virtual book tour is exciting and online. The world constantly uses the internet for information and having a book tour on the internet is a great way to promote.

Is this the first time you have heard of them?

Yes.

What do you hope to achieve through promoting your book through a virtual book tour?

I hope that more people will hear about my book.

Do you promote online through other means?  Website?  Blog?

Yes to website and blogging.

Do you promote through Twitter and Facebook? 

Yes to Twitter and Facebook..

What are your experiences with offline booksignings?  Which do you prefer – online or offline and can you give us the reasons why?

Booksignings whether online or offline are really fun.

I have no preference because either method is actually an honor.

Here’s a fun question.  If money was no object, how would you promote your book?

Having an interview on TV, the major networks.

Thank you for this interview, Diana.  Do you have any final words?

I really would like the world to know my book, Charlie and Mama Kyna. The story and pictures touch many, many people from around the world with a positive message.

Diana Rumjahn earned a bachelor’s degree in social science from San Francisco State University where she currently works at the College of Creative Arts. She wrote and directed the film “Going Home” which has been screened at venues worldwide. Rumjahn resides in San Francisco and is currently at work on film and book projects. You can visit her website at www.dianarumjahn.com.