What do you think is the most complicated part of writing about parents? Was it hard to transition from romance to women's fiction? Do you begin thinking of your next book while still working on your current one? I know two writers--both obsessed with their Amazon numbers--are you? I know publishers are concerned with e-books; as an author, are you worried? 
These were some of the questions readers asked Barbara Delinsky, who was the guest on Monday night's live BookMovement Author Chat, talking primarily about her novel Not My Daughter. I liked the range of comments, as well as the genuine curiosity about an author's works and working habits. Host--and BookMovement president--Pauline Hubert had some great questions of her own, and the hour-long discussion covered a lot of ground. Delinsky even shared photos of her office, confessing to fans: "I cleaned it just for you!"
Questions and conversation.
When those of us in the book trade are not reading or writing about books, we're often talking about them. We get spoiled... or jaded, depending on the day and our mood. In a couple of weeks, when we invade Manhattan for BEA, the book noise decibels will spike to measurable levels at the Javits Center. Sometimes I have to remind myself that most readers are not immersed in book talk all day; that one of the primary reasons book groups were born decades ago and have become such an important component of readers' lives--not to mention the publishing industry--is that book people must seek each other out.
At the Books on the Nightstand Readers' Retreat last month, people came from all over the planet to a small Vermont town to meet authors and talk books. On Monday night, a bestselling author spent an hour in live, online conversation with book group members. What they have in common is a love, bordering on obsession, with reading, and we all understand that.
Here's something that occurred to me as I monitored (also known, I realize, as "lurking") the BookMovement chat: What if a small indie bookstore somewhere in the country--a shop that would never have a chance of scheduling a Barbara Delinsky event--had instead taken advantage of BookMovement's webcast and invited all area book groups to an in-store event, with refreshments and, of course, a display of Delinsky's books, creating the opportunity to actively participate in that conversation? I like to think this was happening Monday night, somewhere out there, and will happen again next time.
BookMovement has also hosted live author chats with Anna Quindlen and Randy Susan Myers, as well as the first one last fall with M.J. Rose, which has been replayed 125,542 times. The next live author chat will be with Ellen Sussman, discussing French Lessons, and is planned for July.
"We've had some wonderful suggestions and responses from book clubs about how they would like to incorporate these chats into their book club plans," said Rose, who also serves as marketing v-p for BookMovement. "Cecilia from the Decatur, Tex., Public Library asked how she could put the chat up on a TV screen so her library could schedule a get-together; Carrie from Berlin, Conn., suggested we set up later chats so readers could participate after work--which we did with Barbara Delinsky; and another e-mail suggested we announce these chats further in advance so book clubs have a chance to make the book their book selection."
BookMovement was started by Pauline Hubert in 2001 and now has more than 29,000 registered book clubs (as of March 2011), representing 290,000 readers. She said she considers herself "an advocate for book clubs and from what they have been telling me, they want to hear from authors they normally don’t get to have a conversation with. It’s one thing to see an interview on television or in print, but it’s quite another thrill to be able to talk about the unspoken challenges of motherhood with Anna Quindlen, as we did when we spoke about her novel Every Last One (and with Barbara Delinsky as well). These chats are a way for clubs to be able to have conversations with these authors, not just sound bites. And so far, the authors have really loved it--as have the clubs. I think we’ve been able to have some insightful conversations that help book clubs get to know the book and the author in a new way."
As indie booksellers find it increasingly difficult to place themselves on author tour itineraries, options like BookMovement's live chats provide an inviting opportunity to play matchmaker between writers and local book group members who would love to ask--as someone did Monday night--questions like: Did you come up with the title for this book before it was written or did it come from its pages? Delinsky's answer turned out to be a revealing glimpse behind the publishing curtain.
"I think as author tours get smaller, these chats are a way for them to be 'virtual,' but still human," Hubert added. "It is a great way to be able to reach out to all corners of the country and talk to this audience."--Robert Gray (column archives available at Fresh Eyes Now)