The Book Tour Gals, one of bookstagram's most expressive and influential book tour groups, led the way in March for The Mistake and the Lycan King. My first tour with them was deeply memorable, and it wasn't only because of the hype they generated for my debut novel. To address the hype briefly, I look back and still can't believe TMatLK reached #42 in Women's Fantasy Fiction on Amazon (03/02/24). It's strong evidence that restarting is possible. The tour took the seed of TMatLK and watered it. With ashes, water, and eight more seeds, I may eventually have enough crops to feed myself. It won't stop at eight though. Like I've told my readers, I'll be doing this for the rest of my life. Maybe someday I'll be able to write purely for fun instead of needing it for exposure therapy.

But I digress. Back to the BTG.

This pack of females was organized, communicative, and detail-oriented. And my gods, the production quality was stunning. But most importantly, they made the project space feel safe with their compassion for why I write. Since my work is therapy first and product second, therefore fairly raw, it's terrifying to introduce to any new individual, not to mention an entire team. The amount of shaking in my hands when I first reached out to them... my gods. Kindness is a catalyst, a quick primer that allows my mind to settle, to calm my nerves, and produce the best results possible. They provided that in abundance. Still, being me, I did make a couple mistakes during this project, and my gratitude is deep for their tolerance and sense of humor (thank you, Thais Lopes); it can be difficult to find partners in the marketing world that are both nurturing and professional. It's clear that I still have a lot to learn. 

Ultimately, their overall handling of client and project reminds me of DBT's (Dialectic Behavioral Therapy) wise mind, the overlapping of reason and emotion mind. The best relationships are built upon wise mind decisions, considering immovable facts and the human experience. Working within the best of both worlds, the overlap, they've truly set a standard for tour groups, and there is no doubt that I'll return to do sequel tours. That will provide an opportunity for learning as well (*cough* international shipping *cough*). Hilariously enough, I'll be facing that fear with Toast. If you know, you know.

And look at that cosplay Shelby Goodwin, Instagram's beloved @literaryfaery, did of Ragna for the promotion. Simply stunning, from the green eyes to the claws, she created a beautiful rendition of the enduring she-wolf. What a fantastic photographer too. Honestly, all the BTG are.

How is it that we live in an age where a person can make up a character, and somewhere else on the planet, another person can don that idea? Plus, it could only ever be their interpretation. Ragna has been a symbol of healing for more readers than expected, and seeing her brought to life significantly adds to the wonder. The wonder being the individual journey, the way we digest stories and metabolize them to serve us... or not. That is the magic of it, how we make the unreal tangible.

Extending all my gratitude and love to the team at booktourgals.com
@booktourgals

Hosts:
@canxdancexreads
@wordsbychiara
@pagesofmaria
@literaryfaery
@tata.lifepages
@ve_xo
@heartof.tati

BTG, dealing alone with disabilities, depression, and trauma, I find myself running on empty most of the time, but that was not the case after the tour. I cannot put into words how much you've refueled me and helped me feel like maybe it's safe to hope again. I feel seen. You're simply magic.

Starlight preserve you,
Asha Nyr