November 4, 2024
Dear {Contact_First_Name},
Thank you for sharing your initial interest in participating in the author selection process for our 2025-26 season. If you have participated in this committee in the past, welcome back, and thanks so much for your time! If you are new this year, I am so happy you chose to join in the fun. Our current fabulous season of authors is thanks to this committee’s efforts, and I hope you take pride in your role! As the chair of the Author Selection Committee, I want to express my gratitude for your interest and give you enough information so you can decide whether you have the time to commit to the evaluation for the 2025-2026 season.
- Board Author Selection Committee - This committee of board members started reading this summer and will finish in December. So far, we have evaluated 35 books with another month to go. We will winnow the list down to approximately 12 total (fiction and nonfiction), which we will pass on to the Advisory Committee on or about December 20, 2024.
- Advisory Committee - Members who volunteer receive the shortlist and a synopsis of the books and authors on or about December 20, 2024. This year, you will have until February 5, 2025, to rank your selections. We are not asking you to read all the books but rather to read the books that most interest you and rank only the books you have read. We learn as much from which books aren’t read as we do from those selected. Read only what you can and what you want. More information on the ranking process will be provided next month. There are no meetings, but don't hesitate to reach out to me or Megan Calles with questions!
I would like to confirm your availability to participate in the process. If your schedule does not allow you to participate, I understand. I would like to retain your name on the list for future years unless you would prefer to be removed from the list. It is a vital and satisfying component of the Society's work, and I am thrilled that we have many members who have expressed interest. Please indicate your availability in the poll below.
In our efforts to bring the most recent books forward for the season, we will likely have books on our shortlist that may not have been published yet. Any pre publication titles will be available via an electronic galley from the website NetGalley. Here is your chance to read a book before it is published! You will be provided detailed instructions on setting up a NetGalley account and how to access the book. We would greatly appreciate your willingness to read electronically. It is the only way to bring the most current books forward to the membership. Please indicate your interest in reading electronically. You do not need a kindle device. You can download a free kindle app to your tablet or phone. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jayne Lewis, jaynel@literarysoc.com or Megan Calles, meganc@literarysoc.com.
Kindly reply to the poll below by November 15, 2024, if you can participate.
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