I recently read the post How to Get Your Book Accepted and Read by Book Clubs by Shamontiel Vaughn. Until reading this post, I had not thought about approaching book clubs. It seemed like a good idea, the more people who read the book, the more there would be talking about it. Also, most book club members pay for the books, unlike many book reviewers who receive a copy of the book in exchange for the review.
Initially, I searched book clubs online to see what was available. There are large book clubs such as Double Day Book Club, Oprah’s Book Club, and Book of the Month. Most of these feature bestsellers, not indie books. The search for indie book clubs was disappointing.
I had little luck in finding books in my genre. The few book clubs that had potential did not have a contact person listed. To see how other authors were dealing with book clubs, I went to LinkedIn.
Book club advice from LinkedIn members:
- Use the author-central page on Amazon. Book clubs view this page before to see the author’s style and read about the book
- Have a good website. Many book clubs visit the author’s website to look up information about the author. For this reason, adding a few press releases may help traffic
- Search book clubs in your genre and send out emails inviting them to read and review your book. If you get a response to your email, send a synopsis or a few sample chapters
- Finding book clubs that will review your book/genre is a time-consuming task, but worth the effort.
- Send a copy to the Library Journal ( a trade publication for librarians) for review. Its “Library Journal Book Review” reviews several hundred popular and academic books each month.
- Write a discussion guide for your book and send that to discussion book clubs
- Ask a librarian to review your book on the on-line book outlets such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and others.
Book club resources for indie authors
These resources are from my research. I have not dealt with these organizations and cannot vouch for them.
- Indies Unlimited celebrating independent authors, independent readers, independent minds. This is a great place to submit content to for increased exposure.
- Book Club Reading is a highly trafficked website “that introduces book clubs to authors who have agreed to make themselves available to participate in book club meetings.” The participation may be over Skype, phone, or in person. There is a one-time fee ($39.95)
- Indie Book Club on Goodreads focuses on great reads of indie/small pub authors and have several threads welcoming self promotion.
- Book Movement offer advertizing opportunities and customized solutions for authors. I wrote to ask how one gets a book on this site. Their purpose is to sell ads and promotions. Depending on the book, the promos start at about $700 for a week.
- DVW Book Club is a great place who will put your book cover and your book description up on their website for free. It’s a great place.
- Indie Book Club on Goodreads focuses on great reads of indie/small pub authors and have several threads welcoming self promotion.
- Book Club Resource lists book clubs and reading groups
- Amazon Book Club allows you to promote your book for free on the forum. You can use the forum to discuss book related topics, excerpts from your book, about what you are doing to promote your book, book reviews, testimonials, samples of your writing. To get the book added to the book club, send a message to services@amazonbookclubs.com
Have you used book clubs to help promote your book? If so, were you successful? What advice would you give? Please comment below.
