(I love their dogs and cat! Can you find their pet turtle?) I met Rose through Goodreads, and in the year that I've known her, I've watched her book blog, and commitment to helping authors grow. I was so excited when I learned that she and her husband were opening the doors of their Literary and Tour Services.
Without further gushing, I will let them tell you a little bit about their awesome selves!
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves?
Sure! We're a husband and wife team. We're best friends, met on Facebook, and have been together for 7 years. Collectively, we've lived in Japan, Wyoming, New Mexico, Missouri, Illinois, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Montana, and Idaho. We have several dogs (Chevy, Ace and Daisy), a cat (Max), and a baby turtle (Fred).
2. How did your business start?
We started a review blog focused on books, because we love to read, support authors, and share our reviews with people. From there, it grew into tour hosting, and one day we thought “Wow, a tour service would be so much fun! We could easily offer tours as well, and make ours unique!”
3. How many people are in your business?
Right now, it's just the two of us. If it grows, we may add people in the future, but it's just us for now :)
4. What services do you offer?
We offer book reviewing and literary services, which includes book editing, beta-reading, writing advice, and co-writing. We offer advertising and promotions on our blog and Facebook page, and also offer virtual tours.
5. How are you different from other tour services? Are you bringing anything new to the table?
Most virtual tour services at the moment offer book tours only. We offer tours to musicians and artists as well.
We'll be doing the same kinds of things that book tour services offer, such as cover reveals, book release blasts, reviews and tours.
For musicians, we'll offer things like album cover reveals, album release blasts, reviews and tours- same things as for the books, just for music!
For artists, we'll offer things like art tours, showcasing their art on different blogs and websites, and help them get their work out to people.
6. What is your goal for your business?
We want to help authors, musicians and artists however we can. We love supporting indie books and music, and love art in general.
7. How did you come up with your banner image?
Our banner image was created by Ken. Each part of the image has a meaning for both of us.
The sword is a representation of Ken (he spent his high-school years growing up in Japan, and his name in Japanese means "sword"), and the rose in the hilt of the sword represents Rose. Then the yin yang sign covering the rose, which covers the sword, is the balance we create for each other, and together. Then the dragon represents our life, how it's dangerous, yet equally mysterious and beautiful :)
8. What are your stylistic influences?
Some of our biggest influences are steampunk, dieselpunk, fantasy, anime, Rock, Punk, Indie, Europe, and nature.
9. What music bands do you like?
We enjoy most kinds of music, but some of our favorite bands are Third Eye Blind, The Killers, Dashboard Confessional, Brand New, Imagine Dragons, Deathcab for Cutie, Lana Del Rey, Frank Sinatra, The Beetles, Kimbra, Gotye, Grouplove, Fun., Matt & Kim, Modern English, and most everything from the Twilight Saga Soundtracks.
10. What are your passions?
Some of our passions are music, art, animals, nature, old-world, steampunk, dieselpunk, reading, writing, photography, food and cooking, trying new things, traveling, and cultures/languages.
As I mentioned in a prior post, we're in the process of preparing to republish the first book in what will be Daughter of Light, Half Faerie. I'm so excited to release this book in the way that it was originally written. A significant part of this effort has been to have the entire book re-edited by Ken Wallin of Desert Rose Literary Services.
