It’s not long before she discovers the book club is a ruse.

The women just want to escape from their families, drink wine, and gossip.

“You didn’t really think we read the book, did you, Lois?” asks one woman, shocked.

Fortunately for authors, many book club members take their club commitments seriously, reading the assigned book and arriving prepared to both socialize and discuss the book.

This is good news for you if you think your book is book club material.

Finding book clubs

If your book is the type that’s popular with book clubs, it’s possible that some in your area will find and contact you. This is more likely if you’ve had local publicity.

You can also look for book clubs to contact. Options for doing so include:

1. Ask at your library’s reference desk or talk to your local bookstore’s community relations manager.
2. Talk to friends about the clubs they belong to and whether your book is a good fit for them.
3. Inquire on social media.
4. Search the book club section of Meetup.com.
5. Use the ZIP Code search box at Reader’s Circle or list your book with the site.
6. Pay a service to advertise your book to clubs.

Start by identifying local clubs so you can participate in person rather than by Skype, FaceTime, Google Chat, or speaker phone.

Local clubs will also be more open to working with you than those in other regions, which makes them a good starting point.

Use local club meetings to discover which discussion questions resonate and what questions they ask that aren’t on your list but should be. Let them be your training ground.

Getting selected

Your next challenge is to get your book selected by clubs. Even then, though, you also need to make sure it can be borrowed from libraries and purchased online or in person.

How will book clubs know yours is the perfect choice for them?

Among other things, you want to include a book club reading guide on your website.

This is essential because it helps your book get found by groups. It also tells them that you’re interested in working with them.

You’ll find detailed information on what to include in your book club discussion guide as well as what to expect from club appearances in Module 4 of our popular online course, “Book Marketing 101 for Fiction: How to Build Book Buzz.”

Reader connections are worth it

Like nearly every other book marketing tactic, attracting and connecting with book clubs takes time and effort.

Even so, if your book is appropriate for clubs, whether they’re general interest, cookbook, or Christian book groups, think about reaching out to them.

The one-on-one interaction with people who have read (and loved) your book can be more energizing than a Starbucks latte.

In addition, the feedback you’ll get that you can use to shape your next book is almost priceless.

Do you participate in book club meetings? What advice can you offer authors reaching out to them? 

(Editor’s note: This article was first published in July 2013. It has been updated and expanded.)