Offbeat Book Event Planning
Comedian, improv actor, and writer Claire Berger shares her experience of planning out offbeat book events that may inspire other authors.
I wrote my interactive memoir, How Much Is Enough? Getting More By Living With Less, to start a conversation. After three years of solitary writing, plus three years of the pandemic, my extraverted self is excited to get back out in front of people and chat them up about my new book, exploring the concept of "Enough" in all aspects of our lives.
The release of my book coincides with a full, gut renovation of my current residence, so this was the perfect opportunity to hit the road like a literary nomad for six months while my home was under construction. I’m not exactly a Frances MacDormand Nomadland kind of girl, so I picked cities across the country where I have generous friends and family members who possess big hearts, an unquenchable thirst for Scrabble, well-equipped kitchens, and cozy guest rooms.
Once I had my itinerary set, I began imagining offbeat ideas for book events. Sure, I love a good bookstore, the obvious choice for book readings and signings, but I challenged myself to conjure up untapped and unexpected venues. As my imagination began straying from the norm, I decided to partner up with my longtime friend, comedian Wendy Hammers to craft entertaining, conversational events. We’ve both been doing one form of comedy writing or another for over 40 years and are charter members of each other’s fan clubs, so I have every confidence Wendy will be the perfect wing-woman for the Southern California leg of my book tour.
I cannot say enough about the importance of collaboration when it comes to brainstorming book event ideas. Wendy and I combined our various contacts and wacky ideas to come up with a book event schedule that defies conventional wisdom.
In July, we will begin our "Enough" events at the wildly popular Zibby’s Bookshop, located on Montana, the trendiest street in Santa Monica. Zibby’s nurtures a highly intelligent customer base thanks to their charming store, popular book club, publishing imprint, and podcast empire. We’ll be grateful to find our footing here with their well-heeled, extremely well-read audience.
At every one of our Southern California book events, we'll be highlighting different chapters that explore the "Enough" concept, often relating to each venue.
Our next stop jettisons us into a bastion of beauty—a beachfront salon called Amico in Manhattan Beach. We’ll be spotlighting the Beauty and Friendship chapters since the salon is owned by a close family friend. Like us, he is excited to treat his clientele to the unexpected. Anyone can get a cut and color, but what other salon also hosts an author reading? I was careful in selecting what to read. One of my favorite stories in the Beauty chapter extolls the beauty of my gray hair, but that would be bad for the salon’s business so I’m flipping the page to another facet of "Enough" beauty.
One of my most provocative chapters asks readers to contemplate “How much is enough sex?” Reading the Sex chapter in the right setting is crucial. And while we can’t control the audience demographic at any public event, the community hub known as The Village Well in Culver City seems like a good fit. Authors, poets, screenwriting students, and musical acts (including the dad-rock band Low Coast Yams) perform in this multifaceted neighborhood outpost, so it seems like an ideal venue to talk about my sexual escapades and cajole the audience to do the same.
My background as a writer includes contributing to an Italian cookbook and writing for two Culinary immersion programs, both based in Italy. So my personal passion and professional focus on food will join together at La Puglia, a popular west side restaurant that lovingly prepares their southern Italian nonna’s recipes. I’ll do readings there from both the Food and Travel chapters. Immediately following the book event, the owners have agreed to prepare a special prix fixe "Enough" book tour menu after the event for those who care to stay after the book event to dine with us.
Check out Claire Berger's How Much Is Enough? here:
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I really wanted to find a way to support Art Division, one of my favorite nonprofits in Los Angeles known as an “incubator of creativity.” They nurture the talent, education, and careers of young, underserved artists with impressive classes, workshops, mentoring, and travel opportunities. Wendy and I are excited to teach a creative writing class to Art Division students in advance of our book event, where I will spotlight the Life and Work chapters.
My final Southern California book event will be held at a popular health food shop called Muun Chi in Redondo Beach, where the owner prepares and serves 100% organic, hand-made, plant-based foods created from upcycled food products. She has a loyal following of dedicated customers who've had enough of chronic illness and swear she has healed them from an array of health challenges. Her invitation and endorsement of my Enough conversations mean the world to me. At Muun Chi, I’ll read from the Health and Exercise chapters and I’m looking forward to a lively discourse with her customers.
All of these events (plus a few more private parties!) will take place in July. Follow the fun on my website journal at www.claireberger.com.
For over four decades, Claire Berger has been earning a living as a comedian, improv actor, and writer. She began her career in Chicago with The Second City and in local comedy clubs. She found big laughs in Los Angeles, earning acclaim as a warm-up comedian on over 65 of your favorite sitcoms, including Seinfeld, Murphy Brown, and Mad About You. Claire was the first comedian HGTV hired to host a series (Fantasy Open House). She is the author of several books, including the forthcoming “How Much is Enough?: Getting More By Living With Less” (Dartfrog Books, June 4, 2024).
