Author Harriet Steel talks about her #TFBookClub experience

When Tina and Andrew of TripFiction very kindly chose my murder mystery, Trouble in Nuala, for the TFBookClub November read, I was delighted but, I must admit, a little apprehensive. It wasn’t the first time that one of my books had been selected by a book club, but it was going to be my first experience of an Internet one. On previous occasions, I had joined the groups when they discussed the books and several of the members were already friends. Inevitably, this time would be different.

In hindsight, I can honestly say that I really enjoyed the experience. As comments multiplied, there was a definite buzz that, for me, banished any feeling of impersonality. Comments were balanced and interesting and showed that TripFiction’s readers are prepared to judge a book on its merits, even if isn’t their usual kind of reading. I was relieved to find that feedback was largely positive! No author wants to think they have wasted their readers’ time.

I felt that the giveaway we organised to coincide with the book group read was very worthwhile too, adding a sense of fun to the proceedings.

As for the lasting effects of being featured, I’ve certainly noticed a rise in sales and new publicity avenues have opened, for example, an exciting invitation to a podcast interview over Skype with Kendall and Cooper Talk Mysteries in Seattle. The TripFiction team are also very active on social media and have given me a great deal of much-appreciated support.

All in all, having Trouble in Nuala featured by the #TFBookClub has brightened my November enormously. Once again, thank you to everyone who helped make that happen.

And many thanks from the team at TripFiction for giving us the opportunity to feature Trouble in Nuala. Do follow Harriet on Facebook, Twitter and via her own blog.

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