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Advice needed!! Hosting an author at local book club
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I've done many author events at our library and have even been asked to introduce authors, and moderated panels of authors since I retired. Great fun! My advice, get to know the author and his/her work. You have homework to do. Check on-line to see if anyone else has hosted this author and see if it was written up. Interview the author, via phone or e-mail and certainly ask the author if they have a preferred way have doing a visit. Would the author like to have questions, do a reading from their book, just talk off the cuff (you may want to set a time limit!). Will you need a podium, have the author in front of the group or is it small enough to sit casually? Have a bunch of questions of your own ready to ask if things flag. As for the comfort of the author, definitely make them aware of the layout of the site for the book talk, especially where the restroom is located. Have water on hand for dry mouth. Will you take the author out after (to lunch or dinner, with or without some of the book club members)? Oh, and be prepared to cut off the conversation just in case it goes too long.
Barbara wrote: "I've done many author events at our library and have even been asked to introduce authors, and moderated panels of authors since I retired. Great fun! ..."These are great recommendations! The author seems totally laid back and on board with how we typically do our meetings, which is casual conversation in a living room setting. I don't think we will do a podium but will ask her about readings, questions, etc. I would like to start by asking her some questions about what inspired her to write this book, etc. before discussing the book itself.
I will also be sure to have some questions/discussion points available in advance. The woman who nominated the book can probably help me in that department. Great points on water, bathroom location, etc. We will not be taking her to dinner but we do have a pot luck style food so I will be sure to ask if she has any dietary restrictions and we may step up our game in that department.
She is actually doing an event in my neighborhood in a couple weeks and I think my friend and I are going to attend. This way, we can meet her face-to-face and I will probably purchase the book from her then. I like to support local authors.
Thank you for the great advice! I am really looking forward to this.
Anyone else have any nuggets of info or pitfalls to avoid?
That sounds awesome, good luck! I'm sure your members will be kind. Maybe your group could start a few minutes earlier than she's scheduled to come? Then people won't be walking in late/interrupting since it seems like a smaller more personal group. I have zero experience, just the one thing that came to mind.
Jennifer P. wrote: "That sounds awesome, good luck! I'm sure your members will be kind. Maybe your group could start a few minutes earlier than she's scheduled to come? Then people won't be walking in late/interruptin..."What a great idea Jennifer!
Nicole R wrote: "She is actually doing an event in my neighborhood in a couple weeks and I think my friend and I are going to attend. This way, we can meet her face-to-face and I will probably purchase the book from her then. I like to support local authors. ..."Super! You get to see her style in advance. That will help a lot and, by buying a book from her there, she'll see a friendly face when she arrives.
Jennifer P. wrote: "That sounds awesome, good luck! I'm sure your members will be kind. Maybe your group could start a few minutes earlier than she's scheduled to come? Then people won't be walking in late/interruptin..."The one thing she did request is to arrive a bit before everyone else so that she was there when they came. That may be less overwhelming for her personally to greet people one at a time as they trickle in and have a few moments to speak with each of them personally.
But, had she not made that one specific request, I would have totally implemented your idea, Jen!
I have no advice, but I just wanted to say how exciting that sounds! I'm sure it will all go very well for you, Nicole. Have a great time! (And you'll have to fill us all in after it's over...)
In addition to everyone else's comments, I want to know who the author is and which book you're reading. I can't believe no one else has asked yet!
Sara wrote: "In addition to everyone else's comments, I want to know who the author is and which book you're reading. I can't believe no one else has asked yet!"Haha! We are reading Waking the Merrow (Merrow Trilogy, #1) by Heather Rigney.
And, this quote sums up exactly why I voted for this book:
Besides the bloodthirsty merfolk, our antihero protagonist is an overweight, drunk, subpar mother, who also happens to be a funeral director. I can’t even describe the premise of this book without getting giddy, because how many times does a plot involve both vicious mermaids and Rhode Island colonists? — Nicole Hill, Barnes & Noble Book Blog
Nicole R wrote: "Jennifer P. wrote: "That sounds awesome, good luck! I'm sure your members will be kind. Maybe your group could start a few minutes earlier than she's scheduled to come? Then people won't be walking..."Haha, well I guess not then!
Nicole R wrote: "Sara wrote: "In addition to everyone else's comments, I want to know who the author is and which book you're reading. I can't believe no one else has asked yet!"Haha! We are reading [book:Waking ..."
This almost sounds like some of that "trashy underwater fiction" that Susan loved so much. I can't wait for your review, of both the book and book club.
I don't even know what to think about the merfolk.
Now I desperately want a review when you're done.
Sara, it is definitely more along the lines of trashy underwater fiction than Franzen! Which increases the odds I will finish it in time. LolMary, there will definitely be a review after the meeting!
We've had a few authors come to our book club. Usually, we just talk to the author while he/she is there and ask questions about the book, their writing process, etc. Then, after the author leaves, the real discussion begins, lol.
Sounds exciting! I don't really have any advice, though.
How exciting! My F2F book group has had a couple of authors join us for discussion of their books. When I lead a discussion (not involving an author), I usually start by asking everyone what ONE issue / question do they want to be sure we cover. That way everyone is invested in the discussion from the beginning. Of course, sometimes there are duplicates, but that's okay. You might want to send an email to your members in advance asking for their questions/ suggestions.
As for "what if the members hate it?" In my experience the members who don't particularly care for the book usually just stay quiet, or make noncommittal remarks. I've never known anyone to be openly rude to the author. (Once, the "real" feelings didn't come out until the next month's meeting....)
In my excitement, I emailed the author through her website and asked her to join us, which she enthusiastically agreed to! Yay!
But, now I am panicking because I have never hosted an author! What if the discussion sucks? What the members HATE the book? What if the dog sniffs her too aggressively?
AH! Any tips on way to prevent these atrocities from happening?! Anything special I can consider doing to ensure this is a rocking book club meeting?!