Ever wanted to take part in a book group...with the author present?

[Bill]

Well, now you can.

Here at Book Group Online, we're always trying to think up new and interesting initiatives, and here's the latest. In fact, this is an idea we’ve had from the very start, and we've been waiting for the best moment to put it in place.

This is an online book group with a difference - the involvement of the book's author. We are proud to have a number of published writers among our membership, and this scheme is a means of bringing authors together with their readers and with potential readers. The idea is that, in conjunction with an author's publisher, we give away a number of free copies to members, on a first come, first served basis. We will also provide direct links to online bookshops to anyone else who wants to take part but who didn't sign up in time for the freebies.

Everyone taking part will then be given a couple of weeks to read the book. In the meantime, I would set up an area of the forum where an ongoing discussion can take place over the ensuing weeks, with members discussing the book among themselves, but also with the author himself or herself, who will also answer any questions which readers might have.

Tom Cox, known to most of you as Top Cat, has kindly volunteered to be the first author to participate. We have up to 50 copies of Tom's book Educating Peter to give away, through the supreme generosity of Random House, to any members who make a claim on this thread (on a strictly one member, one copy basis). All you have to do then is let us know your postal address, either by sending a Private Message to Bill or by clicking on Contact Us at the top of the page and emailing it to us.

Educating Peter was first published by Black Swan in August 2004. Here is the publisher’s summary:

“Peter's mum and dad are worried. Over the last 12 months, they've noticed ferocious changes taking place in their son. It's not just the mumbling and the cloud of melancholy that seems to hover permanently over his ever-more-militant mop of curly hair. It's not even the oversized trousers or the numerous metal chains that hang off them. The problem is that Peter, who is 14, wants to be a musician - a rock star preferably, but anything else that involves a guitar, gets him bags of money and free CDs, and gives him access to unlimited scantily clad groupies will suffice (as long as it's not classical). Uncoincidentally, ever since the advent of this new ambition, Peter's grades at school have plummeted from very good to somewhere below mediocre. What is to be done?

In the spirit of intellectual enquiry, Peter and music-critic, Tom Cox, set off in a Ford Focus on a journey to the dark heart of Britain's musical heritage, to get the inside track on whether being a musician really is a sensible career choice for a teenager. They hunt the streets of Cambridge for former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett and have numerous encounters with folkies in tights. They explore the wilder shores of prog rock and get up close and personal in a lift with Brian Wilson. Tom gives a masterclass in second-hand-record-shop etiquette and finds that Peter is something of a child prodigy. Most of all, they drive around, talk about stuff and Peter eats crisps.”

This is an experiment, and we’re basically making this up as we go along. If anyone has any ideas for improvements on how to organise this, please post on this thread.

Most importantly though, please post on here if you wish to take part and receive your free copy. Starting now…

[Adrian]

I'd be well up for this. As a (strictly amateur) would-be author myself (through www.NaNoWriMo.org) it'd be interesting to ask the author of the book about characterisation, plotting, etc.

I'll pm you my address.

[My Friend Jack]

Me too! My address is winging its way to you now.

[Opal]

Sounds like a great idea! I've written letters to authors before but somehow the responses always seem very automated (I'm sure everyone gets the saem reply!) This sounds great though - actually being able to talk to the author! :D

PM-ing my address right now....

(And thanks to MFJ for pointing this thread out to me! :D )

[Harriet]

Yay me too. Sound cool :D You know my address...

[Tess]

oooo free book, yes please! :D

[Seraphina]

Yeah I'm really interested, what a great idea! :D

Will PM my address right this instant!

[Claire]

MeMeMeMeMeMeMe!!! :D

Address on the way...

[Top Cat]

Glad people seem so keen on this idea, and it goes without saying that to answer any questions on the book and talk about its creation would be an honour. The neurotic part of me is a bit scared that you're all going to hate it - I personally have a bigger soft spot for my other book, Nice Jumper - but I'm also very excited to be the first BGO author to be the subject of this kind of exercise, and will do my best to suffer all critical comments manfully. EP was a lot of fun to write - apart from a couple of traumas that seem more minor now than they did at the time - but it is quite slight (what a writer of proper books like Normal Mailer would probably dismiss - if I was lucky - as "an entertainment") and let's just say the old phrase "Never work with children or animals" springs to mind!

[wendywoo]

Yes please, sounds like a great idea

[Lei-Lei Jayenne]

Yes, i'd be up for this too.

[BrumB]

Great idea - I'd be interested too.

[Kel]

Yes please- would love to take part

[Bill]

Glad you like the idea. Thirteen copies claimed so far.

LLJ, don't forget you'll need to PM or email me your address.

[ChrisG]

This sounds great! Will PM my address to you.

Will you post a timeline for when the discussion is to start?

[megustaleer]

Looking forward to joining in!

[sebastian melmoth]

Sounds like a winner to me! And only fitting that Top Cat should be the first "chosen one" as i'm sure his recent Sunday Times article can take a great deal of credit for the groups recent influx of members.
P.S. Do close friends get to call him "TC", pro-vided it's with dignity?

[Deinonychus]

Yeah, count me in Billy - obviously you won't need to post me a copy. When am deadline to read? (Says he with a hundred rock biogs around him...)

[Bill]

I'm delighted with the response so far (and hopefully TC is too), but there are still plenty more free copies ready to be claimed.

I'd be well up for this. As a (strictly amateur) would-be author myself (through www.NaNoWriMo.org) it'd be interesting to ask the author of the book about characterisation, plotting, etc.

Just checking that you know this is a non-fiction book; not that they can't have characterisation and plotting.

As for a timescale, we should hopefully be able to get books out to people next week some time. We'll give members a few days to start reading the book at least, before commencing discussion. Educating Peter being non-fiction, it won't be necessary for everyone to finish the book before this happens, although that doesn't mean you can give away the ending.

[Justine]

Since my two oldest sons have aspirations towards Rock God-dom, this is a book I need to read! Please count me in; I'll send my address.

[lizzie_odd]

I'm sure I've heard of this book before, so a free copy would be appreciated, and willingly read. Can i include a review, or discussion of it as part of my university newspaper? Oooo - or could i interview you about it, once I've read it TopCat? Thank you!

[Magwitch]

I'd like to add my name to the list, please :)
Thank you Bill for arranging this and thank you Top Cat for agreeing!

I must admit to being slightly apprehensive about reading a non-fiction book, particularly one that involves second-hand record shops. This worries me because it must mean I am getting very set in my ways. However, I have a son who is approaching adolescence so anything about teenage boys interests me at the moment.

The fact that the book is free has absolutely nothing to do with it. :o

[Top Cat]

Hi Lizzie - I would be happy to do an interview. Please feel free to email or PM me.

[Adrian]

Just checking that you know this is a non-fiction book; not that they can't have characterisation and plotting.

Oops! Too fast in my first reply, but the sentiment stands about talking with the author.

[belinda]

Already read this so don't need the book but it will be great to join in the discussion

[babelbel]

I'm up for it. I'll pm my address!

[Bill]

I'm sure a lot of members haven't been around during Easter, so here's a reminder that you can still claim your free book. I will be compiling the list of names and addresses towards the end of this week, so don't leave it too long.

I've noticed that most of the volunteers have been among the more prolific posters. Please don't feel that you need to have been on here for a certain amount of time or have written a certain number of posts to take part. All are welcome.

[happyfriday]

Oh i'd like this if i'm not to late???

[Bill]

You're not, hf. Thanks for the PM.

[happyfriday]

Thanks a million Bill, I look forward to reading this!!!

[Bill]

Just in case you were wondering if we had forgotten all about this, I have now collated all your addresses, and the wonderful Elizabeth Dare at Transworld - who are providing the free books - will be sending out your copies in the next couple of days.

A big thank you to Elizabeth for all her magnificent help.

[Claire]

It's just arrived!

[sebastian melmoth]

My copy too! All other arrangements are hereby cancelled!

[Opal]

Mine was sent to my home address, but I ended up coming up to university early, so although it arrived today I'm going to have to wait a few days for it to be sent on up to me! There are some times when I wish I lived in just one place. :(

[Tess]

Left before the postman this morning so hoping that it will be waiting for me tonight...

[My Friend Jack]

I got a postcard from the postman saying that he had tried to deliver a parcel to me. I now have to drive into Crawley to collect it. :mad:

[Mad Dog and Glory]

Mine has arrived too. I will be reading Cloud Atlas with one eye, and Educating Peter with the other, while using the eyes in the back of my head to finish off the last 80 pages of The Time Traveler's Wife.

[Claire]

Sounds impressive - are there photos available?? :p

[Mad Dog and Glory]

I can't take photographs as well!

[Top Cat]

Slightly frightening to think Cloud Atlas might be what I'm judged against!

Which reminds me, I must start reading that myself soon.

[Tess]

Don't worry Tom, on first impressions Cloud Atlas isn't really living up to expectations.

[Bill]

I have now created the forum for Educating Peter. It can be found just below the forum for Cloud Atlas, in the Book Groups area just above Anything But Books.

[happyfriday]

Mine has not arrived yet :( fingers crossed it gets here tomorrow!!! Our postal system can sometimes be a little slow :rolleyes: (thats me being very polite)

[megustaleer]

Mine was waiting for me when I got in from work.

MFJ, you must have a very small letterbox, it's not a very big packet.

Have only just got into chapter 2 of 'Cloud Atlas', so I don't know how I'm going to do this, seeing as I'm a 'one-book-at-a-time' person!

[Kel]

Mine arrived today! Will get started on it right away:)

[Jassie]

The guilt of a lady of leisure.. mine arrived today and I've finished it! Both eyes read it instead of one eye on Human Stain by Phillip Roth.

[babelbel]

Mine's has arrived safely as well.

I'm also reading Cloud Atlas (for BGO bookgroup).................Before Night Falls (for a book ring).................and Any Human Heart (for me -sorry Top Cat, that's probably worse than being up against Cloud Atlas!)

.............and I have this site to thank for tearing me away from my computer and making me read again!!!!!

............must go or I'll never get through this lot on time! :eek:

[Harriet]

Mine arrived this morning as well, will start reading it on Wednesday when my french exchange student leaves...

[Tess]

Educating Peter was waiting for me when I got home last night! Two chapters in and its looking good Tom :D

[Deinonychus]

Yup, got mine too...

[My Friend Jack]

MFJ, you must have a very small letterbox, it's not a very big packet.

No, a fairly standard letterbox as well as a catflap. Odd. Not the letterbox - or the catflap - the fact that Postman Pat took it away. :confused:

[My Friend Jack]

All is now clear. The packages (there were 2) that Pat took away were recorded deliveries - nothing to do with books at all. My copy of Educating Peter arrived yesterday, and will now be battling with Dark Tower VII for my attention!

[doggies]

great idea

address on the way

Doggies

[Opal]

I finally got mine today! :D

So I'll be making a start on it tonight, and like MFJ it'll be battling Dark Tower for my attention! :p

[Bill]

great idea

address on the way

Doggies

I got your PM. The deadline passed a couple of weeks ago, I'm afraid. However, I have emailed the publicist to ask if she can send out one more copy.

I will let you know if she can, but if not, you can buy the book and earn both Top Cat and myself a few pennies, and then join in the discussions. That of course goes for everyone.

Either scroll down to the Educating Peter forum in Book Groups or follow this link:

http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showthread.html?t=949

[Bill]

You're in luck, doggies. Transworld are sending you a copy. But I'm afraid that's the last freebie...until the next time we do this.

[Lei-Lei Jayenne]

I have my copy too, just going to finish off Washington Irving's stories, then i shall read it.

[ChrisG]

Hurray! Got my copy Tuesday PM and finished it Thursday AM - couldn't put it down! Got to buy 'Nice Jumper' next, as I love TC's style!

Can't wait to discuss this - especially with a 57-80's vinyl junkie who knows who Gordon Lightfoot is!!! :D

[Justine]

Thanks very much to Bill and Top Cat and those concerned at Transworld!

I got my copy a few days ago, but have not been able to get near it -or indeed this forum - because of my very own teenage would-be musicians (and their toddler brother).

Oh, for a little peace and quiet.......!