One of the ways you can promote a
book is to create a book club packet; my own publisher has helped many of us do
it and it’s easy enough to do on your own.
What is a Book Club Packet? This
packet contains all of the material necessary for discussion if you (the
author) are present or if someone else is facilitating it. Book clubs,
libraries and, depending on the subject matter, even teachers can use these guides
to discuss relevant matters, local history, relationships and any interesting
subject. With a little bit of thought Book Club packets can be made for both
fiction and non-fiction books. Offer them for FREE as marketing tools.
What do you need to put together a
Book Club packet?
1) Start with a short blurb up-to 350 words, shorter is better.
2) Choose one or two short excerpts. If you are working with a publisher find out how much of your book (percentage) you are allowed to use in promotion. Do NOT include any spoilers.
3) Compose ten to fifteen discussion starter questions — now here’s the thing, these questions/discussions do not need to be directed at your book, just the theme. For instance my book Hyphema involves a Muslim Pakistani immigrant and deals with prejudice. A question might inspire a discussion about current events regarding immigrants, diversity, cultural contributions or even family trees.
4) Include a list of suggested additional reading or other sources of information. The packet for my book Bartlett’s Rule which deals with a rape survivor included other books about survival and resources like RAINN.
5) It’s not hard to make printable book marks for the specific books with book covers and blurbs (as my publisher designed for her authors) or for you as an author listing your books, web-site, branding tag-line, etc.
6) Depending on your book’s content you can include extras such as local pics, historical facts and other relevant tid-bits, just make sure you are not using any copyrighted material.
7) Don’t miss the opportunity to list your other books (if you have them), short blurbs, your web-site, and a brief author’s bio.
1) Start with a short blurb up-to 350 words, shorter is better.
2) Choose one or two short excerpts. If you are working with a publisher find out how much of your book (percentage) you are allowed to use in promotion. Do NOT include any spoilers.
3) Compose ten to fifteen discussion starter questions — now here’s the thing, these questions/discussions do not need to be directed at your book, just the theme. For instance my book Hyphema involves a Muslim Pakistani immigrant and deals with prejudice. A question might inspire a discussion about current events regarding immigrants, diversity, cultural contributions or even family trees.
4) Include a list of suggested additional reading or other sources of information. The packet for my book Bartlett’s Rule which deals with a rape survivor included other books about survival and resources like RAINN.
5) It’s not hard to make printable book marks for the specific books with book covers and blurbs (as my publisher designed for her authors) or for you as an author listing your books, web-site, branding tag-line, etc.
6) Depending on your book’s content you can include extras such as local pics, historical facts and other relevant tid-bits, just make sure you are not using any copyrighted material.
7) Don’t miss the opportunity to list your other books (if you have them), short blurbs, your web-site, and a brief author’s bio.
Put this booklet together as a .pdf;
you can use Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, or some other available apps (many
free). Make sure the finished product looks clean and is readable; this booklet
becomes a calling card for you and you want to make a nice impression. You can
distribute this packet via e-mail, a link on your website for free download, download
via social media, or upload it to sites like Smashwords or NoiseTrade.
To see a sample Book Club packet, you
can download my FREE packet for Final
Sin at https://chellecordero.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/book-club-packet-fs-2015.pdf
More packets are available on my
media page at https://chellecordero.com/media/
Writing Exercise:
Make a list of discussion starting questions for your book.
Writing Prompt:
What are relevant topics that deal with your book’s theme? Can you think
of any historical facts or current events topics that might interest the
readers of your book?
Challenge Assignment:
You got it, put together a Book Club Discussion packet for one of your
books. If you don’t have a book of your own put together a MOCK packet for a
book you recently read.
