Publishers and retailers are tapping into book clubs to build buzz for new titles. The connection pays off with increased sales and a customer base that regularly shops the associated stores.

A recent sign of suppliers' increasing interest in book clubs was the July launch of Zondervan's Invite the Author program.

"Individuals will be able to sign up on our Web site, and select authors will be available by phone for book club chats," said Tracy Danz, vice president of trade sales at Zondervan. "We think we can learn a lot from our parent company, HarperCollins, since they invented this. It allows authors to contact with fans of their works really well."

Thomas Nelson's fiction division also partnered with authors to reach book clubs. The publisher posts "free book content on the Web, includes book club discussion questions in the back of the novels and makes authors available for conference calls with book clubs," said publicist Katie Schroder.

Two author groups—Christian Authors Network and the American Christian Fiction Writers—are aggressively pursuing retailers by supporting book club efforts.

The Christian Shoppe in Purcellville, Va., has hosted a monthly book club for almost four years. Now comprised of about a dozen members from different denominations—Baptist, Episcopal, charismatic, independents and Catholics—the club began at the suggestion of a customer, said store owner Dave Dittmeier. The move has increased sales some, he said.

Read the full report in the Aug. 25 issue of Christian Retailing magazine.

• Prev
• Next