When I’m asked what sort of books I write, I sometimes describe my work as ‘book club fiction.’ It doesn’t fit neatly into any one genre, it’s character-driven and gives readers plenty to discuss.
In this blog post I look at what makes a good book club read, how authors and clubs can work together to mutual benefit, and why novels published by independent presses work so well for groups.
What is a book club?
A book club is a group of people who share a common interest in books, who get together in person or virtually to discuss what they’re reading.
In the UK alone, there are thousands of book clubs that meet regularly face to face, and many more online. In my neighbourhood I know of at least five groups within a two-mile radius.
Two of these local clubs are currently reading Heartsound.
How do book clubs work?
Usually, members take it in turns to nominate a book for discussion. They’ll then meet up to compare notes about the reading experience.
Some groups are formal, with structured criteria around what is discussed. Others meet informally in each others’ houses for coffee and cake and a natter about the book.
There’s also an emergence of ‘silent’ book clubs, where people get together in companionable quiet to read.
What is book club fiction?
Also known as ‘upmarket fiction’, the term covers a range of titles that fill the gap between genre and literary fiction. Crucially, they are character-driven books that give readers plenty to talk about.
Typically, they’re books that aren’t an arduous read, but raise issues for discussion.
Books outside of the mainstream work well as members are less likely to have already read them. That makes titles published by independent publishers perfect for book groups.
How can reading groups help authors?
Having a novel chosen by a book club gives authors a wider audience for their work and helps them reach more readers. If one member recommends a book, it may well be something others wouldn’t normally have read.
This can snowball, boosting the book’s popularity. This is what happened with Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus. A brilliant novel which gained traction through book clubs and shot up the New York Times bestseller list.
Feedback from book clubs is valuable too, as it helps authors understand their audiences, gain insight into what works for different readers, and develop their work.
How can authors get involved with book clubs?
As an author, I love it when book clubs choose to read one of my novels, and I enjoy going to visit the group either before or after they’ve read it.
The offer of an author turning up to talk about their work goes down well with groups as it means members can quiz the writer about what their intentions were when crafting the novel.
Talking to a group before they’ve read the book allows me to do readings to whet people’s appetites and give a flavour of the novel. If I visit after they’ve read it, I can get their feedback and take questions.
I’ve sometimes given groups half an hour before I arrive so they can discuss the book amongst themselves first. This gives them a chance to formulate their thoughts and questions uninhibited by my presence.
Who goes to book clubs?
It’s hard to find data on book club membership, but reports suggest that while book clubs were previously the domain of people aged 30 upwards, they are now burgeoning among Gen Z readers.
The accessibility of groups online has contributed to this resurgence among younger people, plus the effect of social media platforms where Bookstagrammers and Bookfluencers are sparking interest.
According to Publishers Weekly, 88% of private book clubs are women only, while publicly run groups contain more men. This statistic certainly seems to be true among the groups I’ve visited. Most, but not all, the members have been women.
Of the two groups reading Heartsound currently, one is an all female group, the other all male. It will be interesting to see if there are marked differences in how they receive the book.
Discount for bulk buying
My publisher has started to offer a discount for book clubs purchasing novels through the Inspired Quill website.
They do this on a sliding scale, as follows:
- Up to 10 copies: 10% discount or free single location shipping (whichever is more)
- 11 – 20 copies: 15% discount or free single-location shipping (whichever is more)
- 21+ copies: 20% discount. No free shipping option.
Anyone interested should contact the publisher in the first instance or get in touch with me using the contact form here.
