Big thank you to Cindy Hudson and WOW! Women on Writing for setting up this guest blog post and sending me a copy of Book by Book. With Mother’s Day coming up, I think you’ll find it’s a very appropriate read!
By Cindy Hudson
Technology has made it easy for book clubs and authors to find each other, and many authors are opting to attend meetings of groups who read their work, either virtually or in person. While it may be tempting to see these connections as a major benefit for the book club but a chore for the author, I believe writers can gain a lot when they encounter their audiences.
Here are two of what I consider the major reasons authors may benefit when they get together with book groups:
- They hear readers’ perspectives about their books and possibly get ideas that may help them in future writing. When my guidebook for mother-daughter book clubs first came out I was asked to attend a reading group for women in my neighborhood. I knew none of them had daughters and didn’t intend to start clubs of their own, so I was curious what they would find interesting in my book. We ended up having a great conversation about parent-child reading and how to choose books to read with sons or daughters. I learned a few things that night that may help me expand my audience.
- They get to interact with an interested audience and possibly create a group of loyal readers who will pick up whatever they write in the future. I know this is true of both of my book clubs. We’ve attended readings at bookstores for Gennifer Choldenko and Zlata Filipovic. We all enthusiastically read whatever they write after meeting them and getting to know them a little bit. Author Laura Whitcomb also attended one of my mother-daughter book clubs to talk about A Certain Slant of Light. Now we can’t wait to read the sequel when it hits bookstore shelves.
And you can bet we all spread the word to our friends about those books too.
The biggest concern I hear from authors who opt not to interact with book clubs is their fear that it will take too much time. But with so many ways to connect, getting together doesn’t have to take a lot of your time or energy. Book groups are often happy to connect whether you send them an email, have a Skype conversation, recognize them from the stand at a bookstore reading, or make a personal appearance at one of their meetings.
Keep in mind that you’re in charge of how much time you’ll spend meeting with book groups. It may be helpful to remember that when you find yourself having too much fun getting together with your adoring fans.
Cindy Hudson is the author of Book by Book: The Complete Guide to Creating Mother-Daughter Book Clubs (Seal Press, October 2009). She is the founder of two long-running mother-daughter book clubs, and she lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two daughters. Visit her online at www.MotherDaughterBookClub.com.
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I'm guessing most book clubs won't track authors down without an invite. what do you think is the most effective way to tell readers you're open to visiting book clubs? Your website, in your book, Facebook, book signings? How did you find authors willing to visit your meetings?
I totally agree! When I researched parent-child book clubs for an article in Colorado Parent, it was a favorite activity of one book club to invite authors as guests.
I think yes, your website – facebook, all that helps get the word out. Also, I'm starting a parent-child book club newsletter so let me know if you want me to include your info.
http://imaginationsoup.net/2010/03/parent-child-book-clubs/
Melissa
My clubs found authors willing to visit simply by noticing the ones who lived nearby and sending them emails through their websites. That often works for all but the best known authors, who often are so swamped they don't even answer email.
The other way for clubs to find authors is to monitor local bookstore calendars to see who's coming to town. I know of a club near Chicago who recently met with Ingrid Law because they saw she was coming to speak at their local bookstore.
Authors can let book clubs know they are willing to meet by posting something for book clubs on their website or a Facebook fan page. There's also a list of book-club friendly authors I included in Book by Book.
Great article! Our club was lucky enough to send an email to an author, and have the author skype in for a visit. Really fun, involved no travel for the author.
I belong to http://www.bookcrossing.com, and our local group has excellent relationships with authors such as R.J. Ellory and Christine Coleman (who have an added bonus of being local). Both have supported us (giving talks, supporting charity events), and likewise we have supported them (going to book launches, buying their books, promoting their works via Bookcrossing and beyond).
One down side of a potential relationship with an author (not one we've encountered with the two above!), is where an author sends us copies of their book in the hope of establishing a relationship…….and it's not that good. In some cases the books are awful! It's difficult to build a decent relationship based on finding little good to say about someone else's "baby", whulst also being true to yourself and the group as readers…..
Nordi—I love bookcrossing.com, and I've participated in a few book drops.
You absolutely do take a risk when you connect with an author and you haven't read her book yet.
That can also happen when reviewing books, but if there's one thing I've learned from being in book clubs for many years, it's that just because a book doesn't resonate with one reader doesn't mean another reader won't love it.
I think the same is true for book clubs. Each one has its own personality, and what doesn't work for one group may easily work for another.
That may be a way to let an author down gently when your group doesn't connect with a book you've gotten from a writer. You can say it didn't work for your group, but you wish her luck finding other groups that may connect with it.
I remember years ago being astounded when most of the members in my women's book group didn't care for Wild Life with Molly Gloss. It's one of my favorites! Since then, I've heard of many other groups that loved Wild Life.
So it may be awkward to say to an author that you didn't love her book, but I think you can be honest while keeping in mind that others may very well feel differently.