Blogging panel report at last week's Book Expo

Thanks to Kevin Roderick at L.A. Observed , I started getting the free Publisher's Lunch e-newsletter, written by Michael Cader. Today Roderick points out this report of a blogging panel (which Cader mentioned in one of his newsletters last week).

Jessa spoke about the role that blogs can play in championing first time authors unlikely to get reviewed in the larger outlets, and all the panel shared tales of hearing from readers who had purchased and loved titles based on blog recommendations. She mentioned Alasdair Gray, and I made the inevitable John Banville plug.

Kevin spoke with energy and enthusiasm and – most impressively, to me – vision about the bigger picture; about where blogs can go and what they can do, something I’ve wondered about openly in these pages. He talked in detail about VBT [Virtual Book Tour]– which if you’ve never visited is worth your time, and if you’re an author it’s worth your money. He also spoke to the importance of maintaining a “real world” presence – hosting readings and other live events.