Inspired by the works of Emily St. John Mandel, Stephen King, and Audrey Niffenegger, M. Kevin Hayden’s debut novel, An Old Soul is a slow-burn mystery of love, memory, and unraveling reality, set against the backdrop of 1996 Chicago.

If you're excited to introduce your self-published book to book clubs or reading groups, consider taking a friendly, thoughtful approach. Reach out directly, build connections, and make your book easy for readers to find and enjoy. Having a book club kit at the ready will make this process much easier for you when you find groups that you feel would be a good fit for your book. 

Below, you'll find a list of 8 items to include in your kit to make sure you're book club-ready.

Jill Ramsower is a powerhouse dark romance author with wildly popular titles across four romantic suspense series. Her newest book, Death’s Favor, is the second installment in The Moretti Men series, and it released this week! 

While English is widely spoken in many places, the reality is that less than 20% of the world's population speaks English. That means there's more than 80% of people who won't be able to read the books you're publishing if you don't translate them. The math is simple: a bigger audience equals more potential readers. Not only that, but everyone should have the opportunity to read, and to find and purchase books they need or enjoy.

A 2025 nominee for Book Blogger's Novel of the Year Award for A Lonely Broadcast: Book One, author Kel Byron also enjoys tabletop games, cooking spicy food, 80's goth music, and volunteering at cat rescues. 

From dark romance to small town, paranormal, and second chance romances, USA Today- and Wall Street Journal-bestselling author Willow Winters is known for her irresistibly steamy, emotionally gripping contemporary romance novels, including All He'll Ever Be. 

Make sure your metadata is in tip top shape for optimal SEO and online discoverability.

Genre fiction refers to books that are written according to a particular theme or style. Crime fiction, romantic fiction, or fantasy fiction are examples of popular genre fiction. Fiction readers are very genre-specific, and your metadata (especially keywords and categories) tells them at a glance if your book meets their interests.

Scott Semegran's latest book, Starman After Midnight, is a quirky novel-in-stories about two beer-drinking neighbors who team-up to track down a mysterious late-night interloper terrorizing their middle-class neighborhood.

Understanding your writing style is essential as it can greatly influence both your productivity and the pleasure you get from writing. When writers operate in a way that aligns with how their brains work, writing feels more natural and sustainable. That confidence shows in the work—and makes the writing habit easier to maintain.

Every writer is different, but determining whether you’re a plotter, pantser, or plantser can help you tailor your writing (and editing) routine, set realistic goals, and find techniques that work best for you.