Book Club Travels: North Pole, AK

Thursday evening, I went to the North Pole. 

Okay, not really. 

I went to North Pole, Alaska. 

Well, that’s not exactly the truth, either.

I visited a book club in North Pole, Alaska. Via the computer. 

Last Tuesday, I blogged how technology (laptop computers, mainly) allowed me to be a nomadic writer–writing wherever and whenever I chose without being tied to a desk.

Today, I’m all excited how technology can allow authors and readers to come together and chat face-to-face. Book clubs around the world are discovering how to add a whole new dimension to their book discussions. 

With the North Pole group (including my friend, writer Sarah Tipton), we chatted about my 1920s era novel, MISTAKEN. We laughed about how I learned to drive a Model T (YouTube tutorial) and how I researched soda fountain drinks (ordering my way through the menu at a local soda fountain…yum!). They told me some of their favorite scenes and which characters they liked best. I showed them photos of actors who inspired the leading men characters (Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane). We discussed the spiritual message of the story and which books they were reading next.

I had a great time and I hope they had fun, too. 

Do you belong to a book club? Have you ever invited an author to stop by? If you have one in your local area, you can invite them to visit your group in person. I’m going to see a local group in a couple of weeks–I can’t wait! If you want to connect with an author out of your region, look into whether they can meet you via Skype or Facetime. These are easy to setup using a computer or mobile device. 

I encourage online groups to begin their meeting without me. That gives everyone a chance to express their opinions freely, without fear of hurting the author’s feelings. Of course, we’re pretty thick-skinned after dealing with years of rejection, but most readers aren’t comfortable being brutally honest directly in front of the work’s creator. You can also use that time to write down a few questions, so when you get the author on the line, you’re not just staring at each other across the miles. The writer will hopefully have some questions for you, too.

Always double-check your system before making the call. Are your speakers turned up? Is the camera pointed toward the group? If you’re on a tablet or cell phone, you can probably hand the device around the room as you chat. Otherwise, try to place it so the author can actually see at least part of the group. It feels pretty funny to talk to a blank wall. 

I’d love to hear your experiences with book groups. What works and what doesn’t? What types of books does your group enjoy most? 

And keep in mind–if you read MISTAKEN or OUT OF THE RUINS (releasing in May), I’d love to visit your club and chat about it. I sure hope they invite me back to North Pole. A trip to Alaska has always been on my bucket list. Maybe next time I can visit in person. 🙂

Blessings! 

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