I’m posting this blog to try to get a question answered.
Exactly what do book clubs want to hear when an author addresses them?
For my published books, I’ve prepared discussion questions,
like talking points. However every group I’ve spoken to so far has wanted to
talk about other things.
I suppose this blog title is a misnomer. It seems book clubs
actually want to hear about things like, how I became an author, or why; how I
go about writing a book; the perennial--where do I get my ideas. I do make sure
to let them know how hard it is, not only to write a book and get it
published--both monumental tasks--but what that comes after that: selling the
book, trying to make people aware of it without ticking them off. I give
statistics on my agent and publisher queries, just so they’ll know how many
years it takes to get traction.
But I’d really like to lead a discussion of one of my books.
I think. At my last engagement, a woman was vocal about the fact that she didn’t
like my book. Is it better for readers to discuss a book without an author
present?
