tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post2128014669391100649..comments2024-03-18T23:16:11.140+00:00Comments on 'Do You Write Under Your Own Name?': Libraries and readers' groupsMartin Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-58714723077396579972008-02-25T21:56:00.000+00:002008-02-25T21:56:00.000+00:00Peter, I guess the starting point may be a chat wi...Peter, I guess the starting point may be a chat with your local librarians to see if they are keen to become involved. Most of the groups I know have been linked to the public libraries in some way and having a core of enthusiasts seems to be the key to success.<BR/><BR/>Patti, thanks for the news about the books! An online group sounds like a good idea to me, though I imagine it would take quite a bit of organising.Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-25428740375469506212008-02-25T15:28:00.000+00:002008-02-25T15:28:00.000+00:00I wonder if an online reading group that reads cri...I wonder if an online reading group that reads crime fiction could work. I guess not but I know I can't find enough people here to pull it off. Or if I did, we'd disagree on sub-genres probably. So you know, Martin, my local library has all your books.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-6708900710620226542008-02-25T05:55:00.000+00:002008-02-25T05:55:00.000+00:00I've thought of starting such a group at my local ...I've thought of starting such a group at my local library. Any suggestions on how to get started?<BR/>===================<BR/> Detectives Beyond Borders<BR/>"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"<BR/> http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/Peter Rozovskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09977933481463759162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-15480202714848931642008-02-24T23:50:00.000+00:002008-02-24T23:50:00.000+00:00Karen, of course I hesitate to disagree, but such ...Karen, of course I hesitate to disagree, but such recommendations certainly are much - much more valuable than you may guess! It is increasingly difficult for a mid-list writer without a big publicity budget to make an impact these days - think of all those entertaining writers of whom we have heard little in the past few years because, despite their merits, they simply can't find publishers. There are plenty of them, I'm sorry to say. So 'the oxygen of publicity' really is valuable. Thank you.Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-82385905582723280172008-02-24T22:31:00.000+00:002008-02-24T22:31:00.000+00:00The Coffin Trail was very popular at my crime read...The Coffin Trail was very popular at my crime reading group.<BR/><BR/>It's not much but when I'm asked for recommendations or ordering titles for housebound patrons, I do look for your books :-).Karen (Euro Crime)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03678348280806062648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-39678966073474777722008-02-24T16:47:00.000+00:002008-02-24T16:47:00.000+00:00Thanks very much for these comments. For mid-list ...Thanks very much for these comments. For mid-list writers like me, the hope must be that some libarians become enthusaiastic enough about the books to recommnend them. Word of mouth is undoubtedly the best way of reaching new readers.Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-91377966177894845292008-02-24T14:40:00.000+00:002008-02-24T14:40:00.000+00:00I totally agree with Patti that reading groups ten...I totally agree with Patti that reading groups tend to read the same books. <BR/><BR/>I would like to mention one reason, at least for public libraries, that we tend to do this. Our reading groups need to have the book chosen available in a variety of formats. We need to have that title in regular print, large print, and some form of audio - whether CD or tape, because of the variety of patrons who participate in the groups. And, then we need to own enough copies of it for everyone to get one. Libraries, in many cases, don't ask our reading groups to buy their own copies. So, we're looking for titles that will be popular enough to circulate outside of our book groups, and titles that have been published in a variety of formats. Sometimes that means we tend to gravitate to the popular books used for book groups.Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-15728699890926548852008-02-24T14:02:00.000+00:002008-02-24T14:02:00.000+00:00Belonging to a reader's group, I have one real pro...Belonging to a reader's group, I have one real problem with them. Reading groups gravitate to the same sort of books, month after month and group to group. Friends in groups hundreds of miles away from me have very similar reading lists over the years. This means that although a small group of books gets read by many, other equally good books go untouched. And most of members read just that one book a month. Plus the books tend to be books that confirm their world view. So it's a good thing but it's also a bad thing.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.com