By Bob Irelan, Outer Banks Publishing Group author of Angel’s Truth
Talking to book clubs about writing and about the book you’ve written is an effective but underutilized marketing tool.
The advantages include:
Start off by telling your audience that “everyone has a story to tell,” and encourage them to tell theirs. It need not be a novel. Maybe it is a memoir, a collection of recollections and experiences that were personally important and may be of interest or guidance to others. Maybe it is a chronological narrative; maybe just a collection of anecdotes.
Then talk about what motivates you to write, what you learn in the process, what ups and downs you experience, and the sense of accomplishment you feel when you finish the concluding sentence.
Comment on how the publishing business has changed . . . about how it has become more “author friendly.”
Having done all this, it’s time to read a key passage or two from your book.
Most important — leave plenty of time for questions. You will get them and they will provide insight into how people read and whether you succeeded in delivering your message.
Bottom line: You will enjoy the small group experience, your visibility as an author will be enhanced, and you will sell books.