By Tosca Lee
I do a lot of events through the year—big conferences, library talks, workshops. But one of my all-time favorite events remains the book club.
I attend every book club I’m invited to that I can. For me this usually means within a one hour radius of my house, assuming I’m not in the writing bunker, or via Zoom. I absolutely cherish the opportunity to meet with readers where they gather—to eat, or in one another’s homes, or at their places of worship or recreation. I am honored at this glimpse into your lives and to get to sit and relax and hear about you, answer your questions about the book, sign copies, and just chat about life. As an author, I’m also well aware that book clubs are my bread and butter.
They also tend to have the best snacks.
If you have a book club and are reading a book by an author you’d like to invite, here are a few tips:
- Reach out via the author’s contact form or through the publicist or other contact on their website. Be specific about time frame, location (is this in person or virtual?) which book your club wants to discuss, and how flexible your club is with dates and times. Some authors go into busy or quiet seasons, depending on their writing or tour cycle. Don’t be disheartened if they’re unable to join you. The request alone lets an author know you’ve enjoyed their work.
- Look into a site like Adventures by the Book, and check the “Book an Author Visit” feature under the Book Clubs tab.
- Most authors do not charge for virtual or in-person visits. That said, gift cards for coffee, honorariums, or tokens of thanks are always kind and welcome gestures.
- Don’t be shy about asking a visiting author to sign your books. That’s what they came for. You might even ask if they have other books for sale they can bring with them if your members are interested. Many authors keep an inventory of books for events and may be able to bring some for purchase.
- Check the author’s website for book discussion guides if one isn’t included in the back of the book, or ask the author or their representative if such a guide is available. That said, don’t feel required to stick to the questions!
- Feel free to ask the author to talk about the inspiration for the book, stories behind the stories, and any secrets about the book they can share. Usually there’s stories galore!
I’ve joined clubs from 5-200 members strong and every single time has been a delight.
Have you been a part of a part of a book club that has invited an author before?
Tosca Lee is a New York Times bestselling author of twelve novels including The Long March Home (May 2023, coauthored by Marcus Brotherton), The Line Between, The Progeny, Iscariot, and The Legend of Sheba. Her work has been translated into seventeen languages and optioned for TV and film. She is the recipient of two International Book Awards, Killer Nashville’s Silver Falchion, ECPA Fiction Book of the Year, and the Nebraska Book Award. Her work has finaled for the High Plains Book Award, the Library of Virginia Reader’s Choice Award, the Christy Award, and a second ECPA Book of the Year, among others. Lee earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Smith College. A former first runner-up to Mrs. United States, she lives in Nebraska with her husband and two of four children still at home.
I hope every book club member in the universe reads this post and follows your suggestions!! 1000% agree, book clubs are so much fun, the snacks and the people!
I love visiting book clubs!!! They’re so fun and full of interesting people. I happily go wherever I’m invited.
And they do have the best snacks!
I’ve visited many book clubs (haven’t done any via zoom yet though). Your suggestion about joining Adventures by the Book is a great one. Like Jenny, I hope other book club members read your post – it’s terrific.