Live author events and book signings are important components of book launches. These tend to take place in indie bookstores and libraries, among other venues, all of which are closed now due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The closure of brick-and-mortar bookstores and libraries compounds the issue by temporarily closing a source of sales.

What’s an author to do? It’s time to connect with readers virtually.

As anyone active on social media has discovered in recent weeks, people are uniting across time zones through social media and video conferencing. The increased comfort level the general public is building with these online channels means that we’re presented with a number of opportunities even as we deal with unprecedented challenges. What this means for authors is a more reliable method of reaching their readers that can be used even after things go back to normal.

Ideas for Authors to Connect with Readers Virtually