Titles published by HarperCollins aren't the only ones promoted on BookClubGirl.com, a blog launched by the company. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and Mademoiselle Victorine
by Debra Finerman, published by Scribner and Three Rivers Press
respectively, are among the tomes that have been featured on the
reading group resource site.
The personality behind the Book Club Girl moniker is Jennifer Hart, v-p and associate publisher of Harper Perennial and Harper Paperbacks. "We wanted to create a blog where we could promote books that we publish that are great reading group picks, but we knew if that was all the site had it wouldn't gain the trust of consumers," said Hart. Content ranges from bookstore news, such as a reading group event held at the Tattered Cover, Denver, Colo., to the low-down on what members are reading in the two book clubs to which Hart belongs.
BookClubGirl.com features include "What's on Your Nightstand," where Hart's colleagues share their bedtime page-turners and occasional guest bloggers contribute entries. Harper Perennial author Debra Dean reported from Book Group Expo in San Jose, Calif., where she was promoting her novel The Madonnas of Leningrad. Next month the Book Club Girl audience will hear from Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict (Dutton) author Laurie Viera Rigler, who will share her experiences visiting the Pulpwood Queens Book Club in Jefferson, Texas.
Traffic has increased steadily since the blog's launch in April. Mentions on sites such as ReadingGroupGuides.com and Bluestalking Reader increased its visibility, and a spike in visitors occurred after bookmarks promoting Book Club Girl were distributed at the American Library Association annual conference in June.
One of the reasons for creating the blog, said Hart, is to capture the attention of reading group members using the Internet to find discussion questions and other materials but who might not be aware of or inclined to visit the publisher's website. "The blog seemed the natural way to capture the eyeballs out there looking for information and bring them someplace that's fresh and updated every day," Hart said. "The best thing we can offer readers is a comprehensive site that covers all of the resources available."
The blog is one component in the company's continuing efforts to reach out to reading groups. Along with working closely with bookstore reading group coordinators, initiatives include an "Invite the Author" program, which pairs scribes and book clubs via telephone discussions, and a monthly electronic newsletter. In addition, HarperCollins authors will be among those appearing as part of National Reading Group Month, an endeavor started this year by the Women's National Book Association that will be an annual event.
In a sure sign that word of mouth for BookClubGirl.com is building, Hart now receives pitches from publicists at other houses suggesting titles to be featured. The blog "complements our book club efforts nicely," said Harper Perennial marketing director Amy Baker, "and it speaks directly to the consumer."--Shannon McKenna
The personality behind the Book Club Girl moniker is Jennifer Hart, v-p and associate publisher of Harper Perennial and Harper Paperbacks. "We wanted to create a blog where we could promote books that we publish that are great reading group picks, but we knew if that was all the site had it wouldn't gain the trust of consumers," said Hart. Content ranges from bookstore news, such as a reading group event held at the Tattered Cover, Denver, Colo., to the low-down on what members are reading in the two book clubs to which Hart belongs.
BookClubGirl.com features include "What's on Your Nightstand," where Hart's colleagues share their bedtime page-turners and occasional guest bloggers contribute entries. Harper Perennial author Debra Dean reported from Book Group Expo in San Jose, Calif., where she was promoting her novel The Madonnas of Leningrad. Next month the Book Club Girl audience will hear from Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict (Dutton) author Laurie Viera Rigler, who will share her experiences visiting the Pulpwood Queens Book Club in Jefferson, Texas.
Traffic has increased steadily since the blog's launch in April. Mentions on sites such as ReadingGroupGuides.com and Bluestalking Reader increased its visibility, and a spike in visitors occurred after bookmarks promoting Book Club Girl were distributed at the American Library Association annual conference in June.
One of the reasons for creating the blog, said Hart, is to capture the attention of reading group members using the Internet to find discussion questions and other materials but who might not be aware of or inclined to visit the publisher's website. "The blog seemed the natural way to capture the eyeballs out there looking for information and bring them someplace that's fresh and updated every day," Hart said. "The best thing we can offer readers is a comprehensive site that covers all of the resources available."
The blog is one component in the company's continuing efforts to reach out to reading groups. Along with working closely with bookstore reading group coordinators, initiatives include an "Invite the Author" program, which pairs scribes and book clubs via telephone discussions, and a monthly electronic newsletter. In addition, HarperCollins authors will be among those appearing as part of National Reading Group Month, an endeavor started this year by the Women's National Book Association that will be an annual event.
In a sure sign that word of mouth for BookClubGirl.com is building, Hart now receives pitches from publicists at other houses suggesting titles to be featured. The blog "complements our book club efforts nicely," said Harper Perennial marketing director Amy Baker, "and it speaks directly to the consumer."--Shannon McKenna