virtual book clubs | The Authors Book Club

We have a volunteer team of four here at The Authors Book Club. David and Ann represent the authors and (obviously) have knowledge and connections with the publishing industry. Claire, our newest addition, is our creative tech troubleshooter. Me, well, I am the book club “expert”. I am supposed to get book clubs involved and connected to our authors, and well folks, thus far I don’t think I have done a very good job. Right now we have three book clubs signed up (and one of them is mine). Now, while it is true it is hard to get fired from a job that is entirely voluntary, I am asking for your help. PLEASE consider signing your book club up with us. A brief blurb about your club and a picture would be wonderful. See how the others have done it by visiting our Book Club Page.

IF you sign up (I feel like I should be offering a set of knives or something) you will get advance notice of any of our free digital events and we will be starting a quarterly draw for a signed book from one of 50+ authors.

On a more serious note, we need to support authors and publishers in Canada if we want them to be around in the future, and we need your help. Buy books by CanLit authors, preferably from a local independent book seller if possible. However, you don’t need to spend a dime and you can still do lots to help. Please consider the following:

Request a book from your local library
Write a positive review on Goodreads, Chapters/Indigo or Amazon.ca
If you are on Twitter retweet out a book announcement (book birthdays are always on a Tuesday BTW)

Check out our Summer Newsletter and our upcoming events. You can sign up your book club or ask any questions you may have by emailing us at info@theauthorsbookclub.ca.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Fiona Ross is teacher librarian and book club consultant with The Authors’ Book Club. From the time she read her first novel, Bimbo and Topsy by Enid Blyton at age 6, she was hooked on fiction. Fiona is an avid reader, a teacher librarian, a current member of two book clubs and past chair of the Secondary Fiction Review Committee at the Peel District School Board. She also serves on the planning committee at the Festival of Literary Diversity, (FOLD). Although her job demands lots of YA she occasionally tries to read a book aimed at adult readers.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Authors Book Club

Tag: virtual book clubs

Calling all book clubs!

Posted at 11:25 am by TheAuthorsBookClub

So, you want to start a Virtual Book Club?

Posted at 2:09 pm by TheAuthorsBookClub

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