Tag Archives: book clubs

Valuable resources for women who love to read

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By Denise Turney (author of Love Pour Over Me)
The Internet is packed with benefits, one rewarding novel connect after another. Websites, social media posts, e-blasts and digital newsletters have put a wealth of literary information at book lovers’ fingertips. At first glance, it’s like being planted in an oasis of book clubs, author interviews, book trailers, marketing slogans, author You-Tube video messages and free to low-cost print and e-books.

Perhaps at no other time in history has it been so easy to get in touch with your favorite authors. Gone are the days when you had to stand in line at a bookstore for one or two hours just to meet a writer whose books you’d read and absolutely enjoyed for several years. Now all it takes is the click of a button.

If you grew up in the 1970s or earlier, this might seem like a bit of culture shock. For younger readers, it’s the “norm”. No one’s as far away as they once appeared to be.

But, how do you know which websites, book trailers, author videos, interviews, etc. to check out? After all, you can’t see them all, just as you probably can’t read every book, even every book you’d love and appreciate. There is simply too much to choose from. You might as well settle in to the fact that you’re going to miss an incredibly large amount of good stuff, including books that could deeply inspire, motivate, educate and definitely entertain you.

We really are living in a time of great information wealth, great books being a tremendous part of this enriching data.

By sifting through all the data that’s out here, the time it takes you to discover life changing books can shorten significantly. In effort to help you sift through the massive amounts of literary data there is on and offline, I put together lists of resources that can benefit you as a book lover.

Book Clubs (some are great places to meet with other book lovers in person, make friends with people who share your passion and more)

Large Book Websites

Guides for Starting Book Clubs, Etc.

Book Festivals/Conferences Writers Attend (places where you could meet your favorite authors)

Enjoy visiting these and other book related websites, joining and participating in quality book clubs and finding and reading great books. After all, many great books are hidden, not featured in newspapers, magazines or even on websites. Finding these enriching, emotionally moving reads is like finding a rare jewel, a jewel you can treasure for years, perhaps the rest of your life.

Thank you for reading my blog. To learn what happens to Raymond, Brenda and the other characters in Love Pour Over Me, hop over to Amazon.com, B&N.com, Ebookit.com, or any other online or offline bookseller and get your copy of Love Pour Over Me today. And again I say – Thank You! 

Book Clubs Make Reading Great Books Fun

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By Denise Turney

Libraries, schools and bookstores are traditional places members of book clubs meet at to examine, explore and discuss great books. These avid lovers of great non-fiction and fiction stories also meet at each other’s homes. Attend one meeting as a new member and you’ll clearly see how passionate active members are about literature.

Key benefits you receive when you join a book club are friendships and the chance to celebrate a shared passion with likeminded people. You can also travel to other parts of the world, enjoying the sites and sounds of foreign lands during the day and authors reading from their bestselling novels at night. In fact, some book clubs like the Cushcity, Unputdownables and Explorations book clubs, host cruises for their members. During cruises authors not only read from their books, they also hold face-to-face question and answer discussions with book club members. While you’re at sea don’t be surprised if you strike up one or more lasting friendships with some of your favorite writers.

For me a true gem gained from joining book clubs is the chance to dive into the heart of a story alongside other avid book readers. I always learn something about a character, scene or plot that I didn’t notice before. It’s like watching a movie twice and picking up images and sounds that slipped past you the first time you watched the movie.

Other benefits you can gain when you join (and actively participate) in a book club include:

  • Learning about great books you may not have heard about on your own (my first book, Portia, got a huge lift this way!)
  • Buying books at discounted rates if your book club buys books in bulk
  • Opportunities to meet authors in person during special club meetings
  • Chances to spread the word about great books, perhaps even assisting in the launch of a talented writer’s career
  • Ability to write articles and/or book reviews on books you read (and get paid for it!)
  • Another reason to continue building your digital and/or print book collection!

If you’re looking for a book club to join, consider checking with your local library or bookstore. You can also join online book clubs listed at websites like Goodreads, Amazon.com, B&N.com and Mosaicbooks.com. Some of the larger, more widely known book clubs are Oprah’s book club (she’s bringing it back!), AALBC.com, Black Expressions, History Book Club, Doubleday Book Club and Romantic Times Book Club.

P.S.:  If you’re a book club president or the member of a book club, please email me. I’d love to connect with you and offer you special deals on my books. Oh, and you’ve gotta know that I’d love to visit your club in person, share laughs, have fun with your club members and talk about my books Love Pour Over Me, Portia, Long Walk Up, Spiral and Love Has Many Faces!

Thank you for reading my blog. To learn what happens to Raymond, Brenda and the other characters in Love Pour Over Me, hop over to Amazon.com, B&N.com, Ebookit.com and get your copy of Love Pour Over Me today. And again I say – Thank You!