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Presents an article about a tour for the promotion of the book "Last Call," by K. L. Cook in the U.S. Book prize received by the author for his work; Interest of elementary students at a school in Mobile, Alabama on his reading of passages from the book; Inability of writers to conduct book tours; Complaints of writers regarding the tours.

Discusses trends in promotion of books in the publishing industry as of September 2000. Significance of book tours in the publicity of books by emerging writers; Challenge regarding the placement of fiction writers on television talk shows; Role of Web sites in targeting books to specific audiences.

Focuses on the consequence of publicizing a book that are not yet written by authors in the U.S. Effect of talking to press about the book "Two Gates to the City," by Shelby Foote on its writing; Abandonment of literary projects that their authors talked to death; Background on the unfinished book "Answered Prayers," by Truman Capote which was highly publicized until his death in 1984.

Comments on the advertisement of books as dating aids by London, England-based Penguin publishing house in 2004. Background on the promotional Web site of Penguin; Purpose of the promotion; Alternative approaches used by the company.

Presents news briefs related to the publishing industry in the U.S., as of July 2006. Overview of marketing strategies by some books; Decision of some magazines to publish literary serials.

Presents information on the Virtual Book Tour (VBT) launched by Kevin Smokler that allows writers to promote their books in Weblogs in the U.S. Definition of Weblogs; Belief of Smokler on the power of word-of-mouth publicity; Books he arranged for a VBT, including "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers," by Mary Roach.