One of the things I most enjoy about being an author is meeting readers (especially readers who like my books!). Since the publication of The Hanged Man’s Noose, I’ve had the good fortune to be a guest author at a few local book clubs. Basically, the club selects my book, and on the day of their meeting, I show up and answer questions. There’s no charge (although I do love cookies)—I’m just happy that the group has read my book and might spread the word and/or review on Goodreads.
It helps that my local library owns two book club “sets” — one set of The Hanged Man’s Noose, generously donated by a group in memory of their latefounder, and the other, Skeletons in the Attic, donated by me because I love libraries and book clubs in equal measure.
I’d like to tell you that all of these book club “events,” for lack of a better word, generated rave reviews from every member, and in most cases, that was the case (or at least the members were too polite to diss my book in front of me). This past winter, however, while visiting a local Senior’s residence, it was clear that “amateur sleuth mysteries” did not meet up to the standards of previous Pulitzer prize winning literature they’d been reading. One woman went on to tell me that there were “too many dead bodies,” before sniffing loudly and bringing the conversation around to an NHL hockey player, long dead (of natural causes, I assume, though I’m not entirely certain).
But for every dead hockey player, there have been many more wonderful experiences. Recently, a book club held a “Hanged Man’s Noose Pub Night” in celebration of reading The Hanged Man’s Noose, complete with Treasontinis, Full Noose Nachos, and shortbread. (Find recipes here).
Authors tend to be solitary creatures who make up stories in the comfort of our own preferred space. Getting out there with others can help fuel our imagination…or at the very least, reassure us that someone out there is reading what we wrote.
If you are part of a book club and would like a visit (either virtually or, if you’re in my regional area, in person), contact me to discuss. At the very least, I can send you bookmarks!
I’ve only done two book clubs, one local thanks to friends, one on Skype. I’d love to do more. My alma mater had a national book club going with chapters all over, but that seems to have disappeared. But they weren’t going to read me anyway – not when they can read Jessmyn Ward! (Who, coincidentally, now teaches at my alma mater.)
Yes, our books are not typically book club books!
Great idea Judy. Now the virtual aspect is an interesting one. Is there a list of book clubs you can approach to offer to talk to them? I am in a rural area of Spain, so little opportunity for me here.
I’m not aware of a list like that Lucinda. In my community there are several book clubs, but of course, mysteries are not typically the selection of book clubs, who tend to pick “literary” or NYT Bestsellers, so those that did select my book probably did so because I’m local.