Dear Pamela:
You said, "My first novel was published this past Summer and I was lucky enough to have the Boomer Ladies Book Club read it a few months ago.....I knew NOTHING about book promotion when I signed with my small press publisher but quickly learned that I would be doing all the promoting MYSELF. I'm learning quick - the old "trial by fire" method!"

As you learned book clubs are an excellent way to gain exposure. We can also learn a lot about how our READERS view our writing by listening to what readers (as opposed to fellow writers) have to say about our work. One of my closes author friend found, though, that it is a good idea to be published before you subject your book to a reader's club--otherwise they get the idea that it is their "job" to rewrite it for you. LOL!!