I am JXIIH
The Golden City, the third and final book in the Fourth Realm trilogy by John Twelve Hawks, came out in the US this week. Many authors do readings when they launch a new book, but considering John Twelve Hawk’s “off the grid” living, it made sense for him to do something a little different.
Fans are invited to be John Twelve Hawks for a night. They can read from The Golden City, discuss the trilogy, act out a scene, or do whatever they feel best celebrates the new book. John then reviews the videotaped events (posted on YouTube) and adds them to a new site dedicated to this idea: I Am John Twelve Hawks. Two live events will also be streamed on the site this week. The first live event is today, September 10th, from New York at 8pm EST. The second live event is from Los Angeles on Saturday, September 12th.
It’s great to see authors doing something quite different and fun to promote the launch of a new book. This is a prime example of using the power of the web and social media to promote, and enjoy, a book. It’s wonderful to see how much the fans can really get involved–not just enjoying a reading, but actually taking part in the reading itself, and being the author for a day. And it’s exciting to share all these events across the world via a website. Tonight, I’ll be sitting at home in Oxford, UK, watching the live I am John Twelve Hawks event in New York, and feeling part of the whole thing via the stream and the live chat (and I don’t even have to worry about what to wear!).