Let’s Talk Book Clubs by Mae Clair: Rave Reviews Book Club #RRBC

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Happy Saint Paddy’s Day!

Grab yourself something green and pull up a virtual seat. I’d like to talk book clubs.

If you’re a writer and/or a reader you’ve probably stumbled across several online book clubs that offer resources and networking. I’ve been doing the publishing game since 2012 and in the process have tried several. Sadly, none were a good fit. A few promised networking but ended up being little more than endless “buy my book” promos. I ditched those immediately. Others offered forums that never really matched what I was looking for, and one or two, while providing handy resources, lacked a sense of community.

*Sigh.*

I’d about given up on finding one that was a good fit, and then a friend (thank you, Craig Boyack) pointed me in the direction of Rave Reviews Book Club (RRBC) run by Nonnie Jules. Um…if there is a fairy Godmother of bookclubs, this is the one. Or perhaps it should be more aptly dubbed the brainchild of Wonder Woman—as I’ve come to realize is a fitting crown for Nonnie.

Warm and cozy window seat with cushions and a opened book, light through vintage shutters, rustic style home decor.I’m a little embarrassed to say I’ve only been a member for a few months, yet the flush of excitement I’ve had since joining makes me feel like an Old Timer. It’s a comfortable, welcoming fit. Members rolled out the red carpet with tweets and retweets and immediately made me feel like I was part of the crowd. Not just welcome, but special.

Within my second month of membership, I was invited to be a guest on Rave’s Blog Talk Radio Show, where I was able to share information on two of my novels in a causal, chatty atmosphere. If you’re interested in how hosts John W. Howell and Bill Ward put myself and sister author, Jayne Nichols, immediately at ease, you can catch our interview here.

Tweet support has been phenomenal, with my Twitter following growing and so many great Rave Review authors providing RTs and shout-outs. This group does an unbelievable job at networking. As in… Off. The. Charts!

So, exactly what is the idea behind RRBC?

It comes down to a basic and critical key that can make or break an author—support. Writing and publishing is a rough game. No one should have to navigate those choppy waters alone. Founder and president, Nonnie Jules, has put together a club for indie and small press authors who band together to promote each other through purchasing, reading, and reviewing books—PLUS sounding trumpets, gongs, drums, and everything in between to make a resounding splash on social media. RRBC doesn’t believe in ripples. It makes a RACKET of support! After nearly three months in the club, I’m still discovering all the wonderful things it has to offer.

Here’s the basic concept in a nutshell:

Membership is a mere $25.00 per year. When you join, you make a small commitment: You agree to purchase, read, and review a minimum of four books from the Rave Reviews catalog in a twelve month period. Phff! Seriously, we’re talking twelve months.

The catalog is where members list their titles for other members to peruse by genre. The eclectic mix has something for everyone—mystery and suspense (my favorite) fantasy, science-fiction, romance, horror, speculative, comedy, literature, drama, non-fiction, and more. Take your pick and start reading.

RRBC also has featured Books of the Month.

A beam of light shines out from an open bookEach month, the club picks three reads and highlights them as the featured club reads of the month. These books get extra promo and a plethora of attention from members. Personally, I find the whole concept super exciting. Every month, I anxiously wait to see what the featured books will be, just like a kid waiting to discover the favored treats of the month. It reminds me of when I was a kid in junior high and those shiny scholastic book catalogs were distributed. Remember those? You were able to choose and buy books. I never missed putting in an order for several, and then devoured them as soon as they arrived. Libraries were fun, but those books always had extra magic for some reason.

As part of your RRBC commitment, two of your four annual reads need to be from the Book of the Month selection. How ridiculously simple is that?

Most authors are also avid readers, so it’s a no-brainer. I average between 50-70 titles a year, so belonging to a club that allows me to be an avid reader as well as support other writers and garner their support in return is a win-win situation. I’m still a newbie in this club, but the glow I’ve felt since joining has placed me on a perpetual high. I’ve finally found a club that works, and a network of authors who have made me feel part of something special—from day one. Put in a little effort and it’s returned ten-fold. The more you contribute, the more support is levelled behind you. I have already made lovely friends through this club.

We all need help with promotion. RRBC also offers weekly club updates where members can announce special pricing and newsy bits to members. There are spotlight authors, Member of the Month, Member of the Week, Pay-it-forward-days and Push Tuesday promotions (each Tuesday the entire club gets behind promoting a specific author through tweets, social media shares and links to their books). These are just a few of the extra promos RRBC organizes.

If you’re looking for that extra something, I highly recommend considering Rave Reviews Book Club. For a minimal fee of $25.00 a year and a small reading commitment (something most authors love to do anyway) you’ll be rewarded many times over.  To learn more about the club, visit their website at Rave Reviews by Nonnie Jules. Should you wish to join, you can complete a membership request form here. Please tell them Mae Clair sent you. You won’t be disappointed. If I have any regret, it’s that I didn’t take the plunge sooner.

Do dive in. The water is wonderful! 🙂

92 thoughts on “Let’s Talk Book Clubs by Mae Clair: Rave Reviews Book Club #RRBC”

    • Just saw and comment on your post for John W. Howell. RRBC members are definitely getting around today, LOL. Thanks for the shares. And again, many thanks for introducing me to such a fantastic club. You’re the reason I joined RRBC in the first place!

      Liked by 1 person

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  5. Mae… I’m at a loss for words! I’m running right over to the RRBC website to join today… ummm…. I forgot, I’m the Membership Director… so I guess I’m already a member! (Grins sheepishly) Thanks for the very well-written post!!

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. Interesting to know, though for me, as you know, is out of reach, unfortunately.
    I am a member of several book clubs, but as you mentioned in the post nothing good came of it.

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    • I’ve been a member of several clubs of that nature too, Carmen. Nothing came of those memberships, but this one has been stellar. Wishing you a happy “Wearing ‘o the Green” day even though neither of us are Irish 🙂

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    • Sue, it is an absolutely wonderful club. The more you share, the more you reap in return. There is no need to post reviews on your blog (I don’t do that either). The only requirement for posting is that they go on Amazon. RRBC has been awesome for sharing news about my books, plus I’ve discovered some wonderful novels and a host of supportive authors!

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Julie, TOTALLY awesome! I’m still floored by the support I’ve received. The more you contribute, the more you reap. Just wonderful, wonderful networking and support. RRBC is a fantastic community of authors! I do hope you get a chance to check it out. Best $25 I’ve spent as an author!

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  12. Tweeting and FBing for you Mae 😀 Guys, if you’re not already a member of RRBC – EVERYTHING MAE SAYS IS TRUE! We’re BIG on author support as well as providing catalog links to some brilliant reads, so give us a whirl – you don’t need to try everything at once, but the more you do, the better it gets! 😉

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thanks for the Tweeting and FBing, Jan, just another example of an RRBC member supporting other members and spreading the word. I’m delighted to share all the wonderful features the club has to offer. And you’re right…no need to try everything at once, but wow, so much to choose from, and all of it great! 😀

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  15. Hello from a fellow #RRBC member. Great blog post! #RRBC is definitely a fabulous place to be as an author. Whatever effort you put in is returned tenfold. If you need support, you just have to ask. There are so many members, that someone will be able to help from their wealth of experience. Reblogged on lizziechantree.com

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Hello, Lizzie. It is wonderful to have you drop by. Thank you so much for the reblog. And I agree 100% that whatever effort you put in is multiplied over and over. It’s like a pot of gold! How fitting for St. Patrick’s Day 🙂

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    • Isn’t RRBC great, Jayne? And I consider you one of the lovely new friends I’ve made since joining. It was great doing RRBC Blog Talk Radio with you, John and Bill! I’m looking forward to hosting you on my blog next week 🙂

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  18. Mae, I like the way you promote RRBC. It just remind all of us what we are a part of. Sometimes we need to hear it again and again. Thank you for sharing.

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    • Hi, Shirley! I’m thrilled to have you drop by and check out my post. As a new member, I’m delighted to share all the benefits of the club and grateful for the amazing support I’ve received since I’ve joined. Thanks so much for contributing to that. RRBC rocks! 😀

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  22. Pingback: Let’s Talk Book Clubs by Mae Clair: Rave Reviews Book Club #RRBC | Dawn Delivers

    • Hey, so great to see you here. Thanks for dropping by and checking out the post. The club has been so wonderful, I’m happy to share RRBC’s wonderful philosophy of support!

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    • It’s lovely to have you drop by and add your thoughts to the post. The club has been an eye-opening experience for me as to how authors support other authors. What a amazing club we have, with such great leadership. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!

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  25. Mae, this sounds wonderful, and just in time. I’m hoping to promote my paranormal mystery series after I jazz up the covers, update the series name and the blurbs and reread the books just to make sure they’re not too bad. I have so many books waiting to be written and read. Thanks for another great post.

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    • Mary, you will LOVE this club. The $25 fee is so small compared to the support you get in return. Go for it! 🙂 And I hope all is okay on your end. Have been thinking about you a lot. It’s a delight to have you pop in. Your paranormal mystery series would find so many new readers in RRBC!

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    • No snow, Yay!
      As for RRBC, Sandra, I HIGHLY recommend it. They do such an amazing job of supporting their authors. It’s the best $25.00 investment I’ve made since becoming an author. Wonderful promos, with everyone backing everyone else. If you have questions about it, just shoot me an email.

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  32. Pingback: Romance, Horses, and Wishes Fulfilled with Jayne Nichols #RRBC Author | From the Pen of Mae Clair

  34. Such a wonderful post, Mae! I agree with everything you said about Nonnie and the entire experience of RRBC. What a great literary community. It’s like the old days, when authors got together to help each other out. I do not see much of this anymore. What a blessing.

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    • So great to have you drop by and check out the post, Robin! The support and networking among RRBC authors is what really makes it different from so many others. It’s been such a great experience being a member!
      Thanks for chiming in 🙂

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    • Hi, Pamela! Thanks so much for the reblog. Rave Reviews Book Club is an awesome organization, especially for small press and indie authors. I’m delighted your sharing the news! 🙂

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  38. As these things happen, I found you through exploring the blog of someone I didn’t know who liked a comment I made on someone else’s blog. Now I’m intrigued enough to explore RRBC. I do have a question you might be able to answer before I recommend this to a Writer’s Co-op (https://writercoop.wordpress.com/) that launched mid-April. They are specifically interested in finding more effective marketing methods for both self- and traditionally- published works.

    Has anyone involved in RRBC examined the effect its influence has on sales of each author’s work?

    I can see RRBC’s value even if it doesn’t affect sales, but the question remains. 🙂 Do members of RRBC also discuss marketing?

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Hi, Sue. I’m glad you found me through that round-about means 🙂

      I like the idea you have going with the Writer’s Co-op. I hopped over and checked out the site.

      I don’t believe anyone in RRBC has examined the impact it’s had on each author’s work, but I’m sure each author individually has tracked or noticed that impact. Has it helped increase my book sales-Yes. Have I picked up reviews as a direct result of RRBC-Yes. Part of that is because I dove in as soon as I joined, and immediately started promoting other authors by tweeting them, following their blogs, commenting and posting and leaving reviews. Since I wrote this post, I’ve now had a book featured as a book of the month and was invited to guest on two additional radio shows. I won’t say that my sales have skyrocketed because of RRBC, but I have made sales and picked up reviews as a direct result of the club. I’ve also garnered a ton of support for my work and have made wonderful new friends online. The more effort you put into supporting others in the club, the more that support is returned in kind.

      As for marketing, RRBC members make posts on their various blogs now and again but there isn’t really a central blog dedicated to that. RRBC also has a mentoring program to help newer authors navigate hurdles. I’m not involved in that so I’m not knowledgeable of the details but you could always use the contact form on the RRBC site for any specific questions you may have. Also, please feel free to email me at maeclair (at) maeclair (dot) com if you have more questions. I’m happy to share what I know!

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      • Hi, Mae (or is Mae Clair your name of direct address?).

        Thanks for sharing such helpful details about RRBC and your experience. I’m sure the Writer’s Co-op will be as interested as I am in the possibilities. I’m a cautious and selective investor by necessity (even for the minor sum of $25/year :/ ), but RRBC appears to offer such deep and meaningful personal connections and benefits beyond the chance of boosting book sales that I’m going to find the resources and take the plunge!

        My writing partner and I are in the “final” edit of a YA SciFi that an agent requested prior to resubmission. Although nothing is guaranteed, we’re excited about what the future might hold. I think we would glean helpful insights from members of RRBC, and I would hope others would find our contributions to their journeys worthwhile as well.

        Thanks again! I’m looking forward to many more interactions with you.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Sue, congrats on that YA. That is awesome news! I would be happy to promo on my blog when everything comes to fruition… Or even as a guest blogger if you’re interested.

        RRBC has been wonderful to me but it is key to promote for others in the club. When you do that they rally around you offering all manner of support.

        I’m glad to hear you’re going to take the plunge! 🙂

        Oh, and it’s Mae. I look forward to interacting with you too. I’ve gained so much from other authors and am always happy to help promote and share!

        Liked by 1 person

  39. Pingback: Having a Book of the Month with Rave Reviews Book Club by Mae Clair #RRBC | From the Pen of Mae Clair

  41. Hello,
    I signed up about a week ago. Micki Peluso was spotlighted, and she introduced me to RRBC. I’m glad she did, and I am happy to be a member. I plan to go traditional with my first book. At least, that is the route I want to take. I have got the feeling since I have been in the RRBC for a week or so that it doesn’t matter if I self-publish or have an agent/publisher. I can still belong here. I am also a voracious reader so, I believe the RRBC is a good fit for me.
    So thank you for confirming my beliefs and this good feeling that I have about the RRBC.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat Garcia

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    • Hi, Pat! Wonderful to meet you and Welcome to RRBC. I am a hybrid author with 4 traditionally published titles and 2 more under contract but I also have 3 indie releases to my name. Although most of the authors in RRBC are indie authors, I have found it a good fit for my traditionally pubbed titles as well. I think you’re going to love it here! 🙂

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