Author Susan Wingate Discusses Book Clubs
By APOOO • Sep 30th, 2008 • Category: Virtual Book Tours •
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APOOO welcomes author Susan Wingate to our humble abode today as she joins us for a Virtual Book Tour pit stop. Also, today wraps up the month-long HEAD OF THE CLASS FEATURE. What a great send off from Wingate; Check out what she has to say about the importance of book clubs.
Susan Wingate Discusses Book Clubs
With the advent of book clubs on the internet (or “eBook clubs” as I call them), readers everywhere are finding accessibility to a huge range of books – from brave new writing to the classics – eBook clubs are becoming the way literary masses are likely to gather for years to come.
For writers, eBook clubs are a great resource to get work in front of an audience and a knowledgeable audience at that. This audience is what I refer to as the heavy-hitters of bookies. They don’t have time to leave the house and go to the bookstore to get a book, well, maybe they squeeze time in for this as well but these folks are the ones who take their reading seriously. They want reading at their fingertips at all times and the internet is making that available to them.
I’ve been asked by APOOO to discuss a few ways eBook clubs can benefit a writer and, so, I’ve listed them in no important order. The first reason is equally important as the last. Here we go:
Number 1: I’ve mentioned before that eBook clubs make a writer’s work accessible to a potentially very large audience,
Number 2: These clubs make the writer available to the club’s members through online chats,
Number 3: Some clubs give reviews for books as part of their mission statement and writers always need reviewers,
Number 4: Many of the clubs offer interviews for the writers they have slated to be read. This feature along with #2 make the writer accessible to the club’s members,
Number 5: Related to #2 and #4, it’s always important to hear readers’ questions about your stories. The questions your readers will have can open your eyes to what they are wanting, what they feel is missing (perhaps), but more importantly for the writer to get to know the reader. I think this is a crucial aspect of accessibility with your reader base,
Number 6: The eBook market has blossomed atomically and writers who do not take the necessary steps to learn the benefits of this vast market are missing the proverbial boat,
Number 7: Because online accessibility between different sites is so simple these days, traversing between an eBook club and the writer’s website and blog, for instance, is just a finger-click away. As a writer gets “hits” on their different sites their rankings build in several search engines such as Google, Ask and Yahoo,
Number 8: As with eBook clubs, eBooks make reading much more conducive to the readers’ preferences. By this I mean, a reader can save the eBook in a file for later perusal on their computer, iPod, cell phone or other peripheral. Or, they can print it out and read it from paper. eBooks are making reading a simpler task for a writer’s reader base much the way eBook clubs allow people to meet and discuss books,
Number 9: eBook clubs are not localized, they are global and the chances of meeting someone in Austria or Australia become very likely. We’ve seen, with online sites such as Facebook, MySpace and YouTube, a huge network that ranges from country to country and eBook clubs are no different. Our chances to reach out to people we wouldn’t normally meet (given our limited time and the cost it takes to get to another country) expand exponentially,
Number 10: eBook clubs collect readers and writers of “like minds.” More often than not, eBook clubs are developed with a certain type of read in mind, a certain type of genre, like mysteries, romances, science fiction. Likewise they bring together people who like similar reads. This alone makes it easier for a writer to know their online markets and eBook clubs are certainly a new, vibrant and expanding market for writers and their books.
As a member of several “physical” book clubs and although they are incredibly valuable, I’ve noticed that the books they read are usually all over the board – from mystery to nonfiction. Inevitably, each time these clubs have offered-up a book that I wouldn’t normally read, I don’t, and then I fall out of the group. The fact that eBook clubs are so specialized makes eBook clubs a very enticing alternative. eBook clubs are truly the way of the future in reading.
Thank you for visiting and reading this blogpost and thank you to APOOO for hosting me. Sincerely, Susan
ABOUT BOBBY’S DINER: “Bobby’s Diner” by Susan Wingate relates the trials and tribulation of Georgette Carlisle when she arrives in Sunnydale, Arizona. The quiet small town is in for a change but to what degree? No one could’ve envisioned.
“Bobby’s Diner” is a story of a woman trying to find herself in a town where nobody wants her. Georgette Carlisle, twenty-five when she saunters into the rustic town of Sunnydale, Arizona, snags husband, Bobby, away from another woman, Vanessa Carlisle. After he dies – fifteen years later when the story begins – he leaves his restaurant called Bobby’s Diner to both women. But, that’s not the only problem. Bobby’s Diner, situated on an attractive highway corridor property, is slated as the next boutique tourist site and sits smack in way of Zach Pinzer’s dreams and future with Chariot International Incorporated, a large developer headquartered in Phoenix. Even after Zach arranges to destroy their property and fatally wounds their beloved busboy and gardener, he nearly kills Roberta, Vanessa’s daughter. Georgette and Vanessa hold fast to the only thing they have, each other, and they fight. Georgette’s story tells a tale of life, love, death, grief, pain, loneliness, and redemption. And, she finds her true family with the most unexpected people.
VISIT SUSAN WINGATE ON THE WEB:
Susan Wingate’s website – www.susanwingate.com
Susan Wingate’s blog – www.susanwingate.blogspot.com
For more information about Susan Wingate’s virtual book tour and her full schedule at http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/08/bobbys-diner-by-susan-wingate.html
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APOOO is an online author and reader community dedicated to advancing African American literature. Our mission is to expose readers of all ages to a good book in any genre; to support African American authors, books, literary events and bookclubs; to provide marketing resources, tools and tips to authors; and, to promote literacy within the African American community.
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Thank you for the opportunity to make APOOO Books a stop on my virtual book tour.
Sincerely, Susan.
This is one reason why I love this site and Yasmin soooo much.. the introduction of new and exciting information and Authors. Susan, I love your insite on eClubs. I have put your book on my Wish List.. The Cover caught my eye and the description hooked me.
Hello Cilla!
What a beautiful name. Thank you for your kind comments. It’s a warm feeling to have someone comment and talk with me. I wish more people would do so. I love to meet new people and hear what they have to say about writing.
And, you’re right, Yasmin’s blog is an incredibly valuable one. Here’s to you, Yasmin!
-Susan.
Thanks ladies and Susan I hope more folks will stop by and chat…with readers you just never know…it’s so hit or miss sometimes…sigh.
Hello Yasmin!
It’s okay. I’m getting used to it! Ha! The people who do stop by and post comments are so genuine and sweet. Because of this blog tour I’ve met many interesting people even a man who has a blog dedicated solely to diners! Now, isn’t that something? It’s called The Diner Hotline and it’s at http://www.dinerhotline.wordpress.com. The blogmaster is Larry Cultrera.
Still, thank you a million times for hosting me today. -Susan
Susan.. just checked out your web site. Very Nice!! I’ve book marked ya so I’ll stop in when I can. (My name is Priscilla – I just like the short version
) Have a wonderful week!!
I couldn’t agree with you more about the ebook clubs. I prefer them, because I can’t always make the meetings and I feel bad, especially when the author is going to be there. I want to support them as much as possible. But on the internet we can be supportive.
You’re book sounds interesting. The ex-wife and the widow together in one restaurant must make for some hot drama.
Jennifer C.´s last blog post..Monday Musing
Hello Jennifer!
Yes, the ebook clubs DO alleviate the guilt of not being able to attend the physical book clubs, don’t they? I want to go but…
Anyway, thank you for commenting about the book too. It was fun to write and I guess it’s as much fun to read. Just Friday, I received the most amazing review by Joyce Anthony (http://joyceanthony.tripod.com/blog). I cried, that’s how wonderful it was. I actually cried.
You take care in this virtual world and thanks for stopping by.
Sincerely, Susan.
Cilla,
Thanks for telling me your proper name, Priscilla. I NEVER would’ve made the connection!
You have a great week too.
Take care, Susan
Susan,
Hello and it’s nice to talk with you. Bobby’s Diner souds like a great read and I am looking forward to suggesting it to my bookclub at our next meeting. I’m with Positive Minds out of Macon, Georgia and we’ve been around for 10 years so we have done a LOT of reading and this one sounds like one that will definitely hold our interest. Wishing you much luch and success.
Hello Condra!
Thank you for your note and thank you also for suggesting “Bobby’s Diner” for your book club. Sorry it took me so long to post. My husband, our dog – Robert – and I just got back from a long walk on the beach! Nice.
After I finish this post, I’ll be checking out your book club. And, once again, THANK YOU!
-Susan
Susan,
Thanks for that shout out on my bookclub’s feature. I was just looking at your website and I am also interested in your first book, Of the Law. I love a good mystery novel. Luckily, there’s a Barnes and Noble right down the street from home and I will have to run out tomorrow to pick that up!!!!!!
Hello again, Condra!
Yes, “Of the Law” got some good reviews too. One coined me as the “new queen of mystery” and I laughed. JA Jance is a friend and I had to tell her about it. Of course, JA has a jet and I have a Toyota Echo. So, I’m not sure how accurate the reviewer was. Ha!
Also, if you want to order “Of the Law” order it through the website because you’ll receive one that is signed. Plus, you’ll be getting it for $15.00 versus $21.95 off of Amazon or anywhere else.
Thanks again for your comments and interest. I do appreciate you so much. -Susan
I have had the privilege of being apart of an online book club with a wonderful group of women. Through the book club I’ve had the chance to meet so many other avid readers across the country as well as authors. It’s not always easy or feasible for authors to travel to meet with book clubs, but online anything is possible. We have had the opportunity to chat with quite a number of authors. Our chats are very informal and not just a question and answer between the members and the author. It’s an open discussion and allows for authors to ask questions of us readers. And because we are online it seems many feel more comfortable asking questions that they might not ask if the author were standing in front of them. That has lead to some rather lively discussions. I also enjoy the fact that I’m chatting from home. No need to leave to meet somewhere, though I do enjoy our occasional physical meet and greets. I can chat in my pajamas from the comfort of my home.
That also makes it easy to chat more often. Less expense involved. Only your time is required. We have three botm and it’s not uncommon to find us chatting with all three authors that month thanks to the worldwide web.
OOSA Online Book Club
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Ms. Toni´s last blog post..OOSA Online Book Club gave 4 stars to: Preacherman Blues
Hello Ms. Toni,
I agree whole-heartedly with you about the convenience of online book clubs. Actually, I had just blow-dried my hair and came back down to the kitchen when I got the notice you’d commented. Only an hour before I stepped out of the shower, clipped up my wet hair and came back down to the computer! However, it’s not uncommon that I’ll sit in my pj’s all day when I’m working.
I’m turning into a recluse! But, I love it! Anyway, thanks for commenting about online book clubs. It’s nice to hear other people’s thoughts.
Sincerely, Susan