Engaging Your Reader with an Author Visit
Visiting a local school
A couple of months ago, a local school librarian contacted me about the book club reading The Waiting Booth. Each student would receive a copy of the book to read and keep. She asked if I would like to visit with the club after they finished. I joyfully agreed. I was excited at the prospect of talking with teens about writing and my book.
When I calmed down, I began to get nervous. It would be my first author visit. My mind went blank, and I broke out into a sweat. It was several weeks away, but I wanted to be prepared.
So, I researched online to see what other authors were doing in visits with book clubs. I decided that I needed a handout with discussion prompts. I prepared a sheet and sent it to the librarian ahead of time for her to preview.
The students were engaged and ready to ask questions. I knew that my prompts were simply a backup. They asked very specific questions about the plot and characters in The Waiting Booth. They also wanted to hear about my path and process as a writer.
I can’t tell you how impressed I was with the questions they asked. They asked questions that weren’t on my discussion guide. Afterwards, a budding writer in the class ran to get her brief synopsis and asked me to read it. The event made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
I volunteered to visit, but some speakers can get paid for these events. I can’t think of a better way to be of service to your community, schools, and readers.
The Waiting Booth Discussion Guide
I’d like to share my discussion guide with you in case you think you might need one for your book. Book clubs exist in many large cities and online. Click on the image to access the full-size pdf. I created my guide in Microsoft Publisher and uploaded to Google Docs for easy access on the web. I now have this available as a link on my website.
Before I leave, I’d like to thank Gloria for having me as a guest this year. Gloria might have said, “You are welcome in my home (blog). Hang from the ceiling or raid the fridge. I trust you’ll make yourself comfortable ” That’s a paraphrase, but you get the picture. I’ve made lots of new friends here that I wouldn’t know otherwise. Additionally, Gloria has supported my work as a writer. So, thank you Gloria. I wish you and all your readers a wonderful holiday season. There’s a reader appreciation giveaway on my blog at THIS LINK with lots of chances to win gift cards and other prizes. So, drop by after you leave a comment here.
Have you ever attended a book club discussion or author talk? Have big plans for the holidays? Wish you could raid Gloria’s virtual fridge?
BIO: Brinda lives in the southern US with her family and two spunky cairn terriers. She’s terribly fond of chocolate, coffee, and books that take her away from reality.
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Gloria Richard 
Eh-HEH!
Now, I know who took my white chocolate raspberry cheesecake from the fridge. I hid it behind a jar of pickled okra, a ginormous container of feta cheese, and a jug of O.J., but you found it anyway, you foxy with moxie.
Phew! I can stop doing the math of how many squats I’ll have to do to knock those calories off my thighs.
At the risk of sounding like an Aw-shucks Mutual Admiration Society, your series has been a highlight for this Noodle Noggin’s glob, Brinda. I have learned so much from you. Last year at this time, you engaged me in my first winky-dink blog hop. [And, I even learned it’s not called winky-dink! And, I can’t remember what it’s really called!]
One fine day, I may apply the discipline you use to craft
globB-L-O-G posts more than seven hours before they’re due to launch.[Pssst. Insider tip. Do not put money on that happening.]
My comments on the honor(!) of being asked to do an author presentation in a separate comment.
It’ll cost you a virtual white chocolate raspberry cheesecake to read it.
Hi, Brinda! I have spoken to book clubs who have read my work and those who haven’t. I find their questions interesting. For me who used to be incredibly shy, this really made me expand myself and no one booed. Congratulations on your work!
Isn’t it funny how we imagine the worst? Being an author really forces us to grow, doesn’t it. 🙂
[Editorial Note: In my imaginary world, you assured me The Virtual Cheesecake is in the mail. With that assurance, I bring you my SKA-WEEEEET! comments on your author presentation.]
What an honor, Brinda!
I can only imagine the glee you felt when the librarian called with her request. Your target audience, your readers, and they wanted to have an opportunity to interact with you?
Go ‘head. Fess up. Did you play it cool at first? “Interesting. Let me take a look at my busy social calendar before I commit…”
I adore the image of that young writer asking you to read her synopsis. Cake? Meet icing.
When I wrote my needs-to-be-rewritten MG, it made its way into the hands of an elementary school librarian, who asked if she could share it with her three volunteer “readers.” (Three young girls who read all MG and YA novels before they went on the shelves). Talk about pressure to keep going! They kept asking for more. I had to finish before the end of the school year.
One of my prized possessions is a book cover they designed for their end-of-year project.
I never met them. I can only imagine how thrilled you were to meet those readers in person. KUDOS, congratulations, and all that jazz.
I tried to play it cool while there, but I did SQUEE when I was home alone. I would keep a book cover designed by a group of kids FOREVER. That is absolutely cool.
Congratulations! How cool to go to a discussion about your book. I would be a nervous wreck!
Thanks, Susie. You really wouldn’t be once you were in front of the group. It’s fun to talk about a subject you know the most–your own work.
Brinda, how marvelous for you. I have loved this entire series and reading all that has happened to you since you started … published and public speaking … has been a vicarious thrill. How grand. Now if Alex will let you stop hopping through cyber space, you might have more time for these little talks.
Okay Gloria … I was about to write you again to find out where you’ve been hiding. Now I know you’re behind a giant jar of pickled okra (yuck) scarfing down a giant cheesecake.
You need to talk to Brinda and Sherry and stop avoiding us … I need you so badly and what do I get? I get more posts in the mail about passive verbs or how to query the 1001 one agents that need pampering. I get how to start or finish a novel and sometimes I get a thrill like Sherry’s series on Nancy Drew or her latest ghost sightings … or Brinda’s great YA list TBR.
What I don’t get is you!
Get your head out of the fridge and start posting … or I might have to get on my pony express donkey and come and kick your butt 🙂
I have this vision of you on the pony express donkey…
Phew! Thanks, Florence.
I had been wondering where my head was. So pleased to know it’s in the fridge rather than…
[Ending to that sentence intentionally left to your imagination.]
Yes, Ma’am! I’ll get to work on a blogular sensational post.
Hopping over to your site tonight to comment on your NY memory post. I love how you bring that city to life for me.
Brinda, that just sounds lovely for you. One of the benefits of YA, I guess. Kids can be so open. And thanks for putting the work sheet up for other writers.
Kids and teens are wonderful. I wish I’d had permission to videotape it. They asked the best questions.
Gloria, you just make me laugh. Thank you for that!
How cool. I’ve done a couple of author talks but never a book club. It sounds as if your book club talk was a huge success 🙂
It was great. I have another one at the end of January!
What a great opportunity to talk with your readers! I would have been so nervous. I’m so glad you shared your handout. I like handouts. And being organized. They are like security blankets for us introverts. Someday, when I graduate from writer to author, I know I can look back on what both you and Gloria have so wisely shared here and be reminded of how this author thing is done.
Tami,
It’s been so nice to get to know you. I can’t wait to read your work.
Yes, I felt all snuggly-buggly in my security blanket that I didn’t even use. I did hand the discussion sheets out. Then I resisted the urge to pull the discussion sheet/security blanket up to my chin when they rushed at me with alternate questions. Have a wonderful holiday!!
I’ve done plenty of readings, Brinda, but only one Q&A panel afterward. Visiting a book club is an idea I’ve entertained, but haven’t done. Think your discussion guide is a fabulous idea, and of course, yours looks superb. An advantage of a younger audience is you can find them gathered in schools. Adults are a little harder to pin down for that purpose. Must put on the thinking cap.
I had a captive audience. *grin*
I think there are probably some book clubs you don’t even know about in your area. Check the local public library, Facebook, Twitter, and bookstore people for that kind of info.
I remember having an author visit us in high school. There were only about ten of us who attended, and I hadn’t read the book, but I loved finding out all about her writing process. That unknown author was Jean Auel, author of Clan of the Cave Bear and I remember how enthusiastic she was for our small group. Had the rest of the school realized what would happen to her I have no doubt there would have been more students, but for those of us who were there, it was amazing. Thanks for continuing the inspiration for students.
And on that note, I have learned so much from you this year, Brinda. Thanks for all the information for us less than techie authors. All of us adult students who appreciate your wisdom!
Aww….thanks, Jessica. The feeling is mutual. I love your informative and witty blog.
Jean Auel? I bet all those former students are kicking themselves now.
Glad I went, and I bed all the students who attend your sessions will be thrilled they went too!
Brinda, what a great experience. I’ve been asked by one of my tennis buddies to come present at her book club and I said yes.
Gloria and Brinda, thank you for a year full of great tips and advice. It was fully appreciated.
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