Dialogue rolls out virtual book club to connect readers in 'uncertain times'

Publisher Sharmaine Lovegrove is launching a new virtual book club in which she will be in conversation with a Dialogue author about their book on Instagram live every Thursday at 8 p.m. for the next 10 weeks.

Promised to be "fun, engaging and illuminating evening virtual fun" from the imprint, the Dialogue Virtual Book Lounge is intended to connect authors with both new and existing readers and help "provide structure and purpose during these uncertain times".

It will take a multi-channel approach, with each book to be announced on a Friday morning in a newsletter as well as via Twitter and Instagram. The format for the book club, held the following Thursday, will then see the chosen author read an extract for 10 minutes after which there will be a wide-ranging discussion about the story, editing, characters and publishing. Questions will be answered in real time with the aim being to make the book club "as interactive as possible in a bid to support people through this tricky time and allow them to connect with readers over their love of and interest in [Dialogue's] stories".

Lovegrove commented: "I have been running book events for over a decade and with millions of people at home wanting something else to think about this feels like the right time to reach out and invite people to join in the dialogue and enjoy our eclectic range of stories from the comfort of your sofa, and spark a conversation with our brilliant array of inspirational Dialogue Books authors."

The authors who will be spotlighted are: on 26th March, Yvonne Battle Felton (Remembered); 2nd April, Saskia Vogel (Permission); 9th April, Niven Govinden (This Brutal House); 16th April, Angela Chadwick (XX); 23rd April, Paul Mendez (Rainbow Milk); 30th April, Ben Halls (The Quarry); 7th May, Season Butler (Cygnet); 14th May, Mitchell S Jackson (The Residue Years); 21st May, Irenosen Okojie (Nudibranch); and 28th May, Lauren Wilkinson (American Spy).