Authors at your Book Club Meeting

Is it your month to plan the book club program or evening?

Trying to think of something new and exciting to make it memorable?

Why not include an author chat?

Many authors will jump at the chance to do a conference call or Skype call with your book club, and many will even send along some swag (bookmarks, pens, fun stuff to give away) to add to the fun.

How to find an author? You could always start with the website. There is generally contact information and media information there. Finding local authors is always exciting. If you're in the south, the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) has a special program that lists authors by state in their "Authors 'Round The South" program at this link --> http://stars.authorsroundthesouth.com/author 

Another website that includes authors willing to travel, or chat with your clubs is BookClubReading.com 

I'd love to hear about your book club events --- stop by and share your stories or email them to me and I'll post them here on the blog.
Hugs and happy reading.
Nancy

It's April!

It's hard for me to believe we're already a quarter of the way through 2011! Time is zipping by and that makes our get together's that much more important.

So, it's April. The Cadbury bunny is bwak-bwok-bwaaaking on the TV between every other commercial and that makes me think about Easter eggs. For April's get together how about a smorgasbord of anything that has eggs in it in hors d'oeuvres size. 

• Deviled Eggs
• Quiche
• Cake (hooray!)
• Souffle
• Meringue
• Potato Salad with the pretty hard boiled egg slices in a flower shape on top!

Yeah, not as hard as it first sounds is it? It'll be interesting to see what everyone pulls together.
Eggs-actly ;)

Now....tell me what kind of fun you have planned!

Everybody's doing it -- or should be ;)

Had to share this post about book clubs by Kelsey Browning.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/kelsey-browning/book-clubs-books-that-bite/10150091438681500

Get started. Have fun. Make some new memories :)

Be Mine, Book Club Valentine

Hi book club friends,
My first publication is out! FOREVER IN MY HEART, is one of twelve short stories in the Valentine's Day anthology, BE MINE, VALENTINE. I've got a couple Valentine's Day events planned and this is becoming a favorite holiday all over again. As fun as when I was in the second grade and nervous to give out my very first valentine's day cards, and as sweet as the time I got not only a dozen roses for me--but a dozen rawhides for my dog for Valentine's Day. What are your fondest memories?

Back to business...Book club planning.
Fun for this month's book club gathering doesn't require much planning.
What you'll need:

• Conversation Hearts
• Box of kids Valentine's Day trading cards

Open the box of Valentine's Day cards and spread them out on the table.
Have each book club member pick out a card that they will address to their favorite character of one of the novels they've read. Then couple that with the appropriate Conversation Heart to match. Be ready to share why!?!?!

You might just be surprised at how many extra details we add to the romantic hunks in the books we read that are never on the written page. Funny how many of the guys in the books I read look like Kevin Costner.

I'd love to hear from you with ideas or comments.
Have fun!

SIBA :: A great resource

Never heard of SIBA? It's the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance.
Okay -- so if you're not a southerner it may not be as big a golden nugget to you, but for me ... southern to the sassy soul ... it's my kind of reads and they have a sense of humor that I get.

Everyone knows about Oprah's Picks ... but have you checked out the OKRA PICKS?
Yep -- thats what SIBA calls their recommendations and what follows are the 2010 Fall Okra Picks.

On their website - www.sibaweb.com -- they say these are great southern books, fresh off the vine. A baker’s dozen of titles representing a wide range of tastes, all the books selected have the following things in common: 1) They are Southern in nature. 2) They are 2010 Fall releases and 3) There is a SIBA member Bookstore who is really excited about the book. Southern booksellers love their Southern authors—we grow good books!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE ....
The Okra Picks, 2010 Fall Edition: Fiction:

A Perfect Love Song by Patti Callahan Henry
9781593156169 Vanguard Press, October 2010 $15.95

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
9780060594664 Morrow, October 2010 $24.99

I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg
9781400065936 Random House November 2010 $26.00

Love, Charleston by Beth Webb Hart
9781595542014 Thomas Nelson, September 2010 $14.99

My Only Sunshine by Lou Dischler
9781891885723, Hub City, October 2010 $21.95

Virals by Kathy Reichs
9781595143426 Razorbill, November 2010 (Penguin) $17.99

Zora and Me by Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon
9780763643003 Candlewick Press October 2010 $16.99Z

The Typist by Michael Knight
9780802119506 Atlantic Monthly Press August 2010 $20.00


Pick one .. have fun .. and continue keeping me in your wish-upon-a-stars that one of my books will be an OKRA Pick one day.
Hugs and happy reading.
Nancy
www.NancyNaigle.com

October Harvest

Hay rides, carved pumpkins, trick-or-treat, leaves in red-yellow-and-orange, crisp nights that you can sleep through with the windows open .... and a fun month to entertain your book club.

You know my motto - keep it simple.
The host can buy adorable pre-made trick or treat bags in a packet of 12 or so at the local dollar store, or have her kids decorate them over a weekend. One for each book club member. I don't have kids but I do love a craft project so I chose to decorate paper bags with construction paper cut outs and some bling around the names.

Then, have each book club member bring their favorite trick-or-treat surprise (enough for everyone) and secretly have each member put a treat in each bag. At the end of the night ... each member goes home with a wicked, fun treat bag and some childhood memories. Does it get any better than that?

Hugs and halloween fun.

Sensational September

The air is just beginning to chill in the evenings and I've had the opportunity to sleep with the windows open and even tug up the quilt a night or two. Don't you just love this time of year.

We haven't had much rain so the trees are letting go of their leaves early, but on the bright side -- the best foliage years are those that have dry, sunny day summers. We should have a splendid Fall Foliage frenzy here in Virginia. Hope you enjoy one, too.

Thinking of cool nights, and beautiful nature ... here's a great idea for your next book club meeting.

This week I was treated by a co-worker to JASMINE BLOOM tea. Oh my goodness. This tea smelled so good I almost didn't want to drink it, but when I took a sip, there was no way I was going to stop. It was wonderful. You drop this hand woven pod into your mug and in a few minutes of steeping .. it opens up into a glorious flower right in your cup.

A box of ten blooms (individually wrapped) is just $10 at www.adagio.com
Trust me, this will be an experience your book club friends won't soon forget!

Enjoy your September meetings and don't forget OCTOBER is National Reading Group Month http://bit.ly/aHAoUK

Until then ... wishing you great reads and new memories each day that leave you snuggling that pillow with a smile at the end of each one.
Hugs~
Nancy

A fun twist for Book Club night

I don't know about you, but I always feel rattled in August. It must be a throwback reaction from school days when summer ended and August carried the burden of new school clothes, books, schedules and saying goodbye to long summer days.

If you're like me then you might not feel like an intellectual evening of banter over the latest book. How about switching things up?

Dollar Tree is your friend --- purchase a little chalkboard or white board for each member .... then in America's Got Talent or Olympics style ... have each member X or * ... or give a rating from 1-10 on the book.

Everyone show your rating at the same time :)

Have fun!