In case you were wondering, we do have several international authors in our membership. Yes, they are happy to stay up past their bedtime to visit with book clubs, and yes, it’s worth it to them (and to book clubs)!
Case in point:
The Third Thursday of the Month Book Club formed on Facebook in December 2020 as an outlet for historical fiction lovers to come together amidst the pandemic. The club currently has over 900 members from across the U.S. and Canada. Each month, 20-50 members log-in to their Zoom discussion of a historical fiction which has been suggested and voted upon by members. They enjoy author visits to enrich their discussions and introduce their members to the craft of researching and writing about a wide spectrum of historical events, people, and time periods.
Their August book selection, The Collector’s Daughter by Gill Paul, presented a scheduling challenge as the author resides in the UK. However, the time difference didn’t deter the group from inviting Gill to join their discussion, and Gill welcomed the opportunity to set her alarm to join the discussion, with over 50 members logged in!
Of their visit with Gill, the group offered glowing reviews:
“I enjoyed the discussion a lot. I think her honesty about moving around in time periods was interesting. Authors tend to stay in a lane when writing HF. I also liked her perspectives on the covers” – Marianne K
“I found Gill Paul to be very personable, candid and funny. Thank you for spending time with us at such an early time for you (1 am British time), and for providing us with such wonderful insights into research and overall understanding about your book more!” – Simon C
“What a pleasure it was having Gill Paul as our guest author last night. Her warmth, candor, and humour made our time together feel like chatting with a friend. Listening to her describe her writing process, research, and inspiration for The Collector’s Daughter enhanced my enjoyment of the book more.” – Irene M (moderator for the evening)
Moral to the story: Don’t let a time difference deter your book club – embrace the challenge! Schedule an author visit today via NovelNetwork.com.