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Thursday, January 28, 2016

Social Media Book Club



As an author, a life long dream was to be picked up by a book club and have them pick your book. I'm not talking Oprah level book club, though....that would be great. I'm talking just a girl's night out, having fun discussing books. The small town book clubs.

When I got my first novel got picked up by a book club, I was so excited. They were from Harvard and had emailed me through my website. I sent them book marks, a tote bag, and some signed book plates before they had met. A couple of weeks later, I had received a photo of the book club holding up the book and the bags. It was so exciting.

Book club requests were few and far between and I appreciated them so much.

When social media took off about six years ago, I knew this would open up a whole new world for readers. It was going to open up a whole new world for me to connect with my readers. I put it out on my website and newsletters that I'd love to Skype with their book clubs and send some goodies along.

WOW! Did that little newsletter open up the doors to more and more book clubs. It's been amazing.

What I've seen lately that has been even more fun, are groups of readers who have met on Facebook through their favorite authors or favorite genres and formed online book clubs. It's been so fun seeing my readers come together in their own club and reading.

Do you have a book club? Are you a member of an online book club? What are you reading now?

One lucky comment will be picked to win a new Tonya Kappes tote!

63 comments:

Shelli King said...

Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!

I'm reading five books at once right now, but 3 of them are textbooks for classes. I'm also reading (and it's taking forever) a book about the Great Potato Famine as research. I just finished my 'fun book' and haven't had a chance to pick up a new one yet. Soon.

Anonymous said...

No, I'm not in any book clubs. I'm reading "act one, wish one" by Mindy Klasky

Mary Ellen Fink
(couldnt remember google acct password)

nat2am said...

I'm not in a book club and I'm reading Wildest Dreams by Samantha Chase.

Shelly Small

starlipermom said...

I have attended a few online book review, meet the author via Skype etc. It's nice to talk about an interest you share with others who may not be in your community.

starlipermom said...

I have attended a few online book review, meet the author via Skype etc. It's nice to talk about an interest you share with others who may not be in your community.

Anonymous said...

There is an author/publisher online who has a bookclub that I belong to.sometimes I participate if I've read the book, not always. Currently I'm reading Checking Inn, by Emily Harper. Jill, minishoes@msn.com

Blessed911 said...

Yes, thanks to you, I am a Diva now :)
I am currently reading The Kiss on Castle Road by Lauren Christopher.

Andria said...

I am a member of an inactive book club.

Unknown said...

A member of Dennis Grover Swank on line group. Just finished Dirty Sexy Saint by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde.

Susan P. said...

I don't belong to a book club. I JUST last night finished reading American Housewife by Helen Ellis. :)

Deb Forbes said...

I belong to an online bookclub for classic mysteries. We are reading Rebecca right now. It is the only bookclub I have ever been in

Deb Forbes said...

I belong to an online bookclub for classic mysteries. We are reading Rebecca right now. It is the only bookclub I have ever been in

Unknown said...

I tend to be a solitary reader , altho I always tell everyone I can when I read a book I really love in the hope of seeing them read it and enjoy it ! I am currently reading The Masquerading Magician by Gigi Pandian .

Unknown said...

No, I don't belong to any bookclubs. It's something I've been thinking about more and more. I need to step outside my comfort zone and interact with more people. I'm a shy person and don't like to let people in.
Currently, I'm reading Spell Booked by Joyce and Jim Lavene.

Star said...
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Star said...

I started a book club with my sister 8+ years ago called Daisy Book Club. We are reading Wedding Wipeout by Jacob M. Appel. I am also a member of the DearReader.com Online Book Club.

Anonymous said...

I don't belong to a book club, but I do read a lot of books. I'm reading right now "Together For Christmas", by Katherine Spencer. it's the Cape Light Series from Thomas Kinkade. It's a series that continues that takes place in Cape Light, I have been reading them since this series started, loving them each step of the way. I would love to win this tote to carry my books in when I go visit my 2 Grandsons in Chicago. Thanks for this awesome chance. Linda May

Airieanne said...

What I'd love to do is start a book club among the college students at my university, maybe through the university library. Not that college kids have beaucoup recreational reading time, but some might. It would be cool to get disabled students and those using English as a second language to participate, as well. Maybe a fun mystery by you or Duffy would get it off the ground. It would have to be fun, so a cozy club might just be the thing.

allie said...

I don't belong to a book club and surprisingly enough I'm in between books right now.

Margo said...

We have a sometimes book club- every now and then we get together at the winery for a glass of wine,share and trade books. I'm in the middle of Erika Chase's series. I won a set for my library, so I'm rereading them in order.

sharksrule said...

Many years ago i was in a book club. I worked at a bookstore and many of our members also worked at the competing book store. We read The Mothman Prophecies and Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance. Of those two books I really enjoyed the Zen book better. I am currently reading Ashley Bell by Dean Koontz.

Brooke Showalter said...

I started a book club at the library where I work. We are reading The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern for this month. I'm a bad book club leader and haven't started it yet...for Saturday's book club. Ahem. LOL.

Unknown said...

I am a member of a book club and it is so much fun.

Eileen Blades said...

I am in 3 online book clubs and 1 monthly book club. I am reading Carry On Love my books

jawdance said...

I am in a book club called Book Ends. We will celebrate 5 years on February 5th. Our book for January was "Beyond Nostalgia" by Tom Winton. He and his wife came to lunch and our meeting. Our book for February is "Where the Souls Go" by Ann Hite. She will be joining us also. We love to have authors come to our meetings or skype or talk on the phone. Our book club is awesome!! We also get together one night a month for game night, which has turned into games, or painting, or making jewelry or scarves. We have so much fun together, we really don't care what the activity is. I had wanted to join a book club for years and am so happy that I found this one. They were 3 months old when I joined.

Kim Gayheart said...

Awesome. I am on so many. Love learning about new authors and books

Lisa Kay said...

I've not been in a book club but always thought each person should read a different book and come to the table to share a new author or genre. Still love the tote! LOL

Pamela Woodfield said...

I don't belong to any book clubs in the traditional sense where you all read the same book & talk about it. I do participate in many cozy book groups on FB & ones specific to my favorite authors. It's fun to discover new authors & keep up with what you're favorites are doing & writing. It's even better when the author is active on their group & you can get to know them. Many of them are just genuinely nice people & it's as much a pleasure to chat with them in real life as it is to read their books. One of them for me happens to be Tonya Kappes. It's a whole new fun world for readers today with social media. Right now I'm reading Murder on the Last Frontier by a new author, Cathy Pegau.

Holly LaFrance said...

I do not belong to any books clubs, but I do belong to some book groups on Facebook. I just finished The Liar by Nora Roberts and I'm just starting Color Me Love.

Nova said...

i am not in any official book clubs. i belong to a few street teams on facebook and i trade books with friends at times. getting ready to start "To Charm a Naughty Countess" by Theresa Romain. Just finished "Bane" by Brenda Jackson.

Anonymous said...

I am reading The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley. I like historical fiction and chick lit. <3
I am not currently in a book club, but have been in one. We read a professional teaching book and encouraged one another to try something new from it. That was cool.
Teri Lenz

Kathleen C. said...

Do you have a book club? I don't have a book club right now. Are you a member of an online book club? I do participate in online book discussions or Facebook events that are set up by authors and bloggers to share thoughts about an upcoming release. What are you reading now? I've been quite passionate about "cozy mystery" books, and, like following several television shows at one time, I'm reading Perish by Pedicure, Clobbered by Camembert, and A Charming Wish...

Unknown said...

My library has both an adult & a teen book club. My ladies are all mystery lovers. They range from mid 50's-mid 80's with 80 being the median age. We have snacks, teas, coffee, lemonade & dessert while we talk books once a month. We don't ever have enough copies of a book to all read the same book, but we read the same author. We take pics & have door prizes for the author. We tried Skyping, but our wi-fi is so slow, it freezes. Plus, my ladies weren't excited about that. They became shy!! We do have a blast though.

Unknown said...

I currently belong to 2 online book groups. One is for Cozy lovers and we will soon be discussing Murder Past Due by Miranda James. The other focuses on thrillers and suspense. In February we will be discussing Lisa Unger's newest release-- the title escapes me at the moment.

Kory Bull said...

I am reading Fat Cat at Large which is awesome and Use do participate in a online book discussion in Goodreads

Donna Harms said...

I am a part of book club! Diva's ;-) It's a lot of fun...I didn't know what to expect but it fun reading the same book and talking about it and just hanging out with other fabulous readers and authors too!

Joann Hunter said...

No book club, but I do love to read.

BCagle said...

I don't belong to any book clubs but it is something I have always wanted to do. I would do it with my friends, bit most don't read the same types of books I read or aren't interested. May have to see about an online one.

BCagle said...

I don't belong to any book clubs but it is something I have always wanted to do. I would do it with my friends, bit most don't read the same types of books I read or aren't interested. May have to see about an online one.

S211n3 said...

I don't belong to a book club. I'm reading Gone by midnight by Joyce and Jim Lavene.

Sandy Swanger Bartles said...

I have never joined a book club that wasn't online. I think it would be exciting!

Unknown said...

I don't belong to any book clubs bit I am reading 2 ARC'S and 2 other books right now.

Anonymous said...

I belong to a book club online, but I don't always join in the reading just because of the selection. (I'm not a horror reader) Right now I am reading There Haunts Are Made for Walking by Rose Pressey. I have tons of other books on my TBR list, so hopefully I will be able to make time to read them all!!!

Jenn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jenn said...

I am not currently a member of a book club online or in person. I like to read books on my own. I am currently raining two different books. The first one I am reading is Grace Unplugged my melody Carlson. The second book I am currently reading its called The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst. :)

diannekc said...

I am not in a book club. I like to pick out the books I read, don't want to have to read a specific book in a specific time limit. I am currently reading "Murder is on the Clock" by Fran Rizer.

Emily Goehner said...

I am not a member of a book club but I have connected with many readers online through facebook pages. Some are fans of a particular author and some are genre related, mystery, cozies in particular, etc. I have thought of trying an in person book club but I haven't found one that was going to read a book that interested me, yet. I am in between books (for the moment) and I'm unsure which I will pick up next.

Unknown said...

I am not a member of a book club but I have made connections with several authors and the readers that follow them. Most of the line I love to read is cozy mysteries whether they have book stores, deli settings, ghosts and/or spirits, and/or animals. robeader53@yahoo.com

Becky Winters said...

i'm a member of the karen kingsbury book club. i'm reading glimpsess of grace atm. :)

Kim said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
dstoutholcomb said...

I belong to several online book clubs

Denise

Kim said...

I am a member of a brand new book club, Once a Month Book Club on Facebook. February 3 will be our first official meeting. We are reading Candy Cane Murder by Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine, and Leslie Meier. I finished reading my book club book and am currently reading Sleight of Pay by Sofie Kelly.
musiqmom@yahoo.com

traveler said...

I don't belong to a book club but I read a great deal. I am reading The Art of Baking Blind.

petite said...

I am not in a book club since I was ill. I am reading The Ambassador's Wife.

Robyn K said...

I don't belong to a book club. I'm in between books right now. Thank you for this chance!

Marsha Bachmeier said...

I do not belong to a book club. For one, I prefer to read what I want, when I want to... I'm selfish like that. lol I don't want to feel like I HAVE to read a book. Plus not many of my local friends read the same type of books I like to read. Anywho, I do read plenty on my own and have lots of discussions about the books with myself. :D I do follow several book blogs, if that counts. :D And I am finishing up Kathi Daley's 'Shamrock Shenanigans.'

Sue said...

I'd love to belong to a book club--but the only one in my area only meets in the summer which is when I want to be outside enjoying the warm weather.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Barbara T. said...

I must not be a book club fan. I haven't even participated in ones I have joined online. I want to read not socialize or talk about the books. I may post a review, but then I am on to the next book. Bobbipad@gmail.com

bn100 said...

not in a book club; not reading anything now

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

servedogmom said...

I belong to two online book clubs. One is a Christian Women's inspirational group. The other is compromised of Moms who are parenting medically fragile children and/or have the same rare disease. The Moms book club has a member pick the book for the month based on having a birthday that month.A majority of the books are cozy mysteries. One caveat is ideally the book should have availability in audio format as some members have vision loss. I'm currently reading Tor Cheddar or Worse by Avery Aames and Meow for the Money by Patricia Fry. servedogmom@yahoo.com

Terry said...

No book clubs in my town. But I read all your books. 😊

Tonya Kappes said...

Congrats Jill minishoes@msn.com!! You won!!! I love how you give online book clubs a chance!

Anonymous said...

Thankyou! I'm so excited! I love your new tote! It will be accompanying me to work! Will email you after work.Than! Jill Broussard; minishoes@msn.com