SA reads discussion

Hi all, we have started a Facebook page aimed at increasing our membership.
Please like us and invite your friends

Our page needs a profile pic and background pic.
Thought about inviting group members to submit photos that they think typify reading in South Africa and holding a poll to pic the best.
The best picture will be our Facebook profile pic.
Any thoughts?

Great idea! :-)

Lisa wrote: "Our page needs a profile pic and background pic.
Thought about inviting group members to submit photos that they think typify reading in South Africa and holding a poll to pic the best.
The best pi..."

I'm in! While we're busy with Facebook (at which I presently suck!) why not Twitter too?

I discovered the existence of the Jozi Book Fair yesterday. (Thanks to a graffiti post on a wall in Hillbrow of all mediums of communication - so much for Facebook)!

Reason why it may be relevant to this group is that they provide support to book clubs in South Africa via newsletters and other forms of communication and events. So we could gain some free exposure to other SA readers. It will also allow us as a group to provide exposure to the SA authors that we read to other book clubs.

Two links - first to what they do for book clubs, link to the actual event in September.

I'm going to do my utmost to go and listen to Zakes Mda and I'm happy to go and do anything for the group if you think it is worth it.

http://jozibookfair.org.za/ - the event
http://jozibookfair.org.za/sites/defa... - book club network

Carolien wrote: "I discovered the existence of the Jozi Book Fair yesterday. (Thanks to a graffiti post on a wall in Hillbrow of all mediums of communication - so much for Facebook)!

Reason why it may be relevant ..."

Carolien,

We have two book fairs a year in Cape Town - they are both great...and well publicised! I always attend. I know you'll enjoy it, but it's been my experience that you must book early for prime presentations such as Zakes. If you get a chance to chat to him, please give him my best regards.
I like your thoughts on expanding the reach of our book club. I follow a twitter group called Readabook SA - it may be linked.

Joburg seems to be finally getting its book events sorted. I count 4 main ones with various levels of publicity. The best known is the Bloody Book Week which is on this week. You have to book early for the main draw cards (this year being Deon Meyer and Peter Temple), but the others are fairly easy to get into.

The Mail & Guardian has a book festival on 29 August, but zero publicity. Only reason I know it exists is a mention in the Love Books newsletter.

Waverley school has a book fair in May each year which seems to be growing and then we'll try the Jozi Book Fair this year.

At leas there are regular book launches to attend. Love Books averages about 3 a month and the Troyeville Hotel combines dinner and a book talk once or twice a month. Skoobs and Exclusives add to the list.

The Cape Town book fairs are both on my list to attend (eventually), but I never get the timing quite right.

Awesome ideas both John and Carolien!

John, would you like to start the twitter page/ thread? No idea how it works at all...
Maybe something linking to our Goodreads page?

I'm still busy creating FB page and contest, will hopefully be done by Sunday. Please everyone on FB 'like' us and invite buddies.

Carolien, that's excellent! I'll have a look and encourage others to do the same.

I'll sort out twitter, Lisa. I'll have you tweeting like a dickie-bird soon enough!

Posted an entry for FB background picture competition. Hope this gets the creative juices flowing!

That's a lovely picture John!

Where's the picture John?

Carolien wrote: "That's a lovely picture John!"

Lisa wrote: "Where's the picture John?"

In the Group Photo section.

It's cool

Thanks, Lisa, Carolien and Sarah. Are there no other offers?
I'll think about something for the profile pic as well. If you have a pic (or two) that you think might be good but don't know how to edit them into a banner, then send them to me and I'll play around with them.

I'm still going to send out a broadcast message and set up a space. Hopefully I'll have time tomorrow.

I've posted a few options for the FB profile pic.