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  • Category: book clubs

    • Plots & Pandemic: Virtual Meet & Greet with Lee Gowan

      Posted at 9:40 pm by TheAuthorsBookClub
      Apr 10th

      Join us on May 5, 2022, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. ET. We will begin with a short reading followed by a group discussion and Q & A.

      Register for this exclusive free event by emailing us at info@theauthorsbookclub.ca. Spacing is limited to 12 guests.

      Lee Gowan is the author of the novels Confession, The Last Cowboy, (published in France as Jusqu’au bout du ciel), and Make Believe Love, which was nominated for the Trillium Award for best book in Ontario.  He also published the critically acclaimed story collection Going to Cuba, and wrote the award-winning screenplay for Paris or Somewhere. He is the Program Director for Creative Writing and Business Communications at the School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto. His latest novel The Beautiful Place was published in 2021.

      Visit Lee’s website.

      Posted in book clubs, Recommended Books | Tagged bookclubs, Canadian author, Lee Gowan, The Authors' Book Club
    • So, you want to start a Virtual Book Club?

      Posted at 2:09 pm by TheAuthorsBookClub
      Mar 28th

      Guest post by Hannah Mary McKinnon

      As an author, I’ve had the pleasure of being invited as a guest to a number of book clubs, in person and online. Each time has been an absolute pleasure, and what struck me the most was the camaraderie amongst the members, so much so that I decided to start my own book club earlier this year. 

      Enter the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures, which means in-person book club meetings must be postponed, and it might seem crazy to even think of starting a new club. Except we need human connections and something to look forward to more than ever right now, and a virtual book club could add to the comfort we so desperately need. The solution? A virtual book club. Here are some tips to get you started:

      1. Find members

      You can’t have a book club without members but where to find them? I posted in a local Facebook mom’s group and was immediately inundated with replies. Expecting a handful of participants, I couldn’t believe it when over 60 women indicated their interest. That number settled at 17 members after people couldn’t make it because of family and/or scheduling conflicts. 17 is quite a large number for a virtual book club, and I’d suggest having around 10 members so it’s easier to chat with one another online.

      1. Have an introductory meeting online

      Make it a “meet-and-greet” where you introduce yourselves, chat about the genre of books you enjoy (or don’t care for), and talk about the structure of the group. To do this, use a videoconferencing tool such as Zoom. A “pro” subscription for up to 100 participants per meeting costs $20/month, but maybe one of your members has already signed up, and they can set the meetings up and share the link with the members. Participants can mute their mic when not talking to minimize background noise.

      1. Figure out how to pick books

      In my book club, we decided to have five rotating selections: Book Club Picks, Suspense/Thriller, Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction and “Wild Card” where anything goes. We plan the books two months ahead, members make suggestions on which we vote afterwards, so people have the chance to look up the books first. Having themes means we read a variety of genres, and don’t have the same one multiple months in a row. Alternatively you could have the host pick the book for the next (online) gathering, or go in alphabetical order instead. Maybe you pluck books out of a (virtual) hat. There are many different ways that allow each member to give input.

      1. Create a Facebook Group

      While I initially managed all communication via email, it was much easier to shift everything to a Facebook group. The group is hidden, meaning only members have access, and I scheduled all our events for the rest of the year. The group is also an easy place to share information about upcoming reads, where to find books, and to create the monthly book pick polls on which members can vote. information about upcoming reads, where to find books, and to create the monthly book pick polls on which members can vote.

      1. Invite authors

      Admittedly, this is easier to do when you’re an author yourself and you’ve made connections with other writers, but you might be surprised by how many authors love to be a guest at a book club. The wonders of technology mean you can beam them straight into your chosen location, again by using Zoom. Whether they charge for their time depends on the author, but regardless, sharing photos and reviews of their novels on social media will no doubt be greatly appreciated. Still unsure about inviting an author?  The Authors’ Book Club provides a list of Canadian writers who are happy to join your meeting—all you need to do is ask.

      Creating a book club has been a wonderful experience and an excellent way to find like-minded friends with whom I can share my love of books. We’re living through an unprecedented crisis, and many of us in isolation, feeling disconnected from the world. A virtual book club might be another way for you to make new online connections, and have a ready-made new set of friends you can meet IRL once the pandemic is over.


      Hannah Mary McKinnon was born in the U.K., grew up in Switzerland and moved to Canada in 2010. After a successful career in recruitment, she quit the corporate world in favor of writing. Sister Dear is Hannah Mary’s fourth novel. She lives in Oakville, ON, with her husband and three sons.

      Visit Hannah Mary’s website. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

      Posted in book clubs, Guest Authors | Tagged ann y.k. choi, authors, book clubs, books, canadian authors, canadian book clubs, canadian writers, david albertyn, Fiona Ross, Hannah Mary McKinnon, online book clubs, starting a book club, The Authors' Book Club, virtual book clubs
    • Invite an Author to your Virtual Book Club Meeting!

      Posted at 10:57 am by TheAuthorsBookClub
      Mar 19th

      As everyone struggles to make sense of the COVID-19 outbreak and how to stay safe, a Toronto-based writing group, The 11th Floor Writers, held its March meeting using Google Hangouts. This allowed its members to still “meet” face-to-face and engage in a productive meeting without leaving home.

      Virtual book club meetings with a “visiting” author might be one way for authors and book clubs to connect during these uncertain times. They allow book clubs to invite authors from across Canada. There is an abundance of technology that makes this possible. The key is to figure out which works best for individual book clubs and authors. With the exception of calling the author using a telephone, a virtual author visit requires an Internet connection, audio (speakers and microphones), a webcam, and a projector/computer so that the book club and the author can interact with each other. 

      Google Hangouts:

      To use Google Hangouts, one book club member (the host) needs to sign into a Gmail/Google account and go to Google Hangouts. There, hosts can invite members to be their contacts on Hangouts. They can only invite Gmail email addresses. Once the contacts are added, hosts can start a video chat and invite as many as 25 people to participate. 

      Tip: Hosts can also create a group of contacts to make inviting online book club members more efficient. While they can do all this through the web browser, they can also download the Google Hangouts app on any device and use the service that way, all of which is free. The drawback is that everyone involved in the chat must have a Google account, including the author.

      Other options that most of our authors use include Skype, FaceTime, and conference calling.

      Group Video Chat via Skype: 

      What you will need: The Skype app on a smartphone or computer.

      Benefits: Easy for group chats; (up to 50 participants); free.

      Cons: Video connection depends on your Internet connectivity (a slow or intermittent connection can lead to frozen screens or glitches).

      Learn more: Visit Skype’s website.  

      Group FaceTime:

      What you will need: iPhone, iPad or Mac desktop or laptop.

      Benefits: Picture-in-picture allows book clubs and authors to view each other (up to 32 participants); free.

      Cons: FaceTime is incompatible with non-Apple devices.

      Learn more: Visit Apple’s website.

      Conference calls: 

      What you will need: A phone with a speaker.

      Benefits: No need for any other technology/tech set–up.

      Cons: Book clubs and authors cannot view each other; long distance fees may apply.

      Etiquette for virtual meetings:

      • Test all technology before the meeting
      • Introduce everyone at the book club meeting to the author
      • Select a quiet area, free from distractions
      • Ensure all cell phones are on silent
      • Stick to your predetermined author visit time

      Some final tips for book clubs:

      Select one person to be the author’s key contact. Prepare for the virtual visit. Predetermine how long the visit will be (30-45 mins). Take into account any different time zones. Pick a format (e.g., do you want the author to read? Key talking points? Q&A?). Find out about any author fees or requests. Check the quality of your Internet connection, as well as the camera and sound. Have fun!

      Some final tips for authors:

      Check the quality of your Internet connection beforehand. Confirm your meeting times and the length of the online visit ahead of time. Discuss any author fees if applicable.

      If this is your first virtual book club, practise! Look at the camera and not the screen. This will allow you to look out at the book club members. Ensure the space is quiet with minimal background distractions. Avoid interruptions. Turn off your cell phone and let others around you know that you are working. Have fun!

      We’d love to hear from you!

      Share your virtual book club meeting experiences! Tag us on social media using the hashtags #theauthorsbookclub and #inviteanauthor, or email us at theauthorsbookclub@gmail.com.

      Thank you and Happy Reading, everyone!

      Posted in book clubs, General | Tagged ann y.k. choi, book clubs, books, canadian authors, canadian book clubs, Canadian books, CanLit, david albertyn, Fiona Ross, The Authors' Book Club, virtual meetings
    • Skype Visit with Author Jesse Thistle

      Posted at 9:29 pm by TheAuthorsBookClub
      Mar 16th

      Guest post by Toni Duval

      Our book club met on a Friday evening in a lovely country home in Caledon. We planned to connect with Jesse Thistle, author of From the Ashes via Skype, a process that was simple in concept but proved to be a challenge! But we overcame it together. Seated around a large television screen, our author appeared in a hoodie surrounded by darkness. We learned he was on his way home from a spa day and was Skyping from his car while his wife, Lucie, drove them home. 

      We jumped right in with questions for Jesse, almost as if he was sitting in the living room with us. He answered personal questions about the editing process, his mentors, family members, current work and future projects. We were able to share some of our own personal connections to the book. He was gracious with our praise and admiration of his perseverance. 

      Jesse explained how the book began as a part of his steps towards sobriety and how the editors made choices about the material that became the final manuscript, choices he didn’t always agree with and shared a pivotal moment of his life with us. While he was living in Ottawa he begged on the streets for money to buy food. There was a man he saw often who finally introduced himself. He was a podiatrist and offered to get Jesse shoes that would help with his gait. Jesse would not accept the shoes, knowing he would sell them for drugs and wouldn’t allow himself to take advantage of the man’s kindness. 

      Overall, the experience of speaking directly to the author of a book that resonated with all of us was powerful. It is due to Jesse’s generosity with his time. We probably spoke to him twice as long as originally planned. His willingness to share his time and insights with us allowed us to experience a special evening beyond compare. 


      Toni Duval is a member of the Caledon Women’s Book Club.

      Jesse Thistle’s memoir, From the Ashes, was published by Simon & Schuster Canada. He lives in Hamilton, ON, and is available to meet with book clubs via Skype and FaceTime. Learn more about Jesse.

      Posted in book clubs, Recommended Books | Tagged book clubs, canadian authors, canadian book clubs, Canadian books, From the Ashes, Invite An Author, Jesse Thistle, Skyping, The Authors' Book Club, Toni Duval
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      • The Quotable Dennis Bock
      • Plots & Pandemic: Virtual Meet & Greet with Lee Gowan
      • Catching up with David Albertyn
      • An Interview With Ami Sands Brodoff
      • An Interview With Cathrin Bradbury
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