Each month, writer Ben Hobson hosts an online chat – Ben’s Book Club – with an Australian author about their book. Ben called in to Libraries Tasmania to say hello.
Meet host Ben Hobson from Ben’s Book Club
If you haven’t discovered Ben’s Book Club yet, you’re missing out on a very special online community. Each month, best-selling author Ben Hobson hosts a free Zoom call where he interviews an Australian author about their book.
Recent book choices have included The Last Trace by Petronella McGovern, Body of Lies by Sarah Bailey, Killer Traitor Spy by Tim Ayliffe, Why Do Horses Run? by Cameron Stewart, Pheasants Nest by Louise Milligan, and All the Words We Know by Bruce Nash.
Earlier this year, Ben called into Libraries Tasmania to say hello while holidaying in Tasmania for his 40th birthday. He talked about books and reading, his memories of the library growing up, what he’s loving about his first visit to Tasmania, and of course the book club.
Ben has written three novels – To Become a Whale, Snake Island and The Death of John Lacey – and is working on his fourth. You can find all Ben’s titles in the Libraries Tasmania catalogue.
About Ben’s Book Club
Ben’s Book Club has been going for more than two and a half years and is a huge success in Australia.
The idea for the club came after Ben interviewed thriller author Chris Hammer over Zoom during the Covid pandemic. Their conversation was so popular that the head of OverDrive (who organised that interview) suggested Ben host a monthly book club over Zoom and interview an Australian author every month.
The idea is to support people in regional areas and smaller towns who often miss out on book publicity tours and visiting authors. Overdrive reached out to libraries across Australia and organised for members to be able to borrow the monthly title on Overdrive/Libby with no waitlists or holds.
What makes Ben’s Book Club so special
Ben’s Book Club connects authors and readers in an online space that mimics an in-person book launch or a library book club. Ben encourages the audience to ask questions and join the discussion.
“Most people’s questions are really interesting and I often use their questions over what I’ve written myself,” he said. “I come away from every month’s Book Club feeling very inspired. I love the community. I think people who read books are the cream of the crop as far as humans are concerned because they tend to be a little bit more thoughtful and empathetic.”
About 80 to 100 people join the Zoom call each month, though Ben says it can be more depending on the author.
Although Ben doesn’t get to choose the title each month, he always reads each book all the way through. “The choices have always been fun and even if they’re not 100 per cent ‘I love this’, I always find something to really enjoy in them,” he said.
If readers haven’t finished the book choice in time for the Zoom call discussion, it’s still fine to join in – but there are sometimes spoilers. Ben said he gives a warning beforehand though. “I’ll say, block your ears, don’t listen to this bit.”
Memories of the library growing up
Ben grew up in a small town in Gippsland in Victoria and remembers the equally small library. “It was up a flight of steps – they’ve since branched out and they have a bigger space,” he recalled, “but I remember that little space with the kids’ section at the top.”
“I used to go in there with my bag and fill it up with 10 books. I remember specifically there were these maze books and these origami dinosaur books, I used to be dinosaur mad.”
Visiting Tasmania for his birthday
Ben has been dreaming of coming to Tasmania for a decade, since right before his 30th birthday. “The question became, well I could go to Tassie or I could get a new laptop to do writing,” he explained. Ben chose the laptop (who can blame him) but as his 40th birthday got closer Ben knew it was time to finally visit Tasmania.
“It just felt iconic to come down here for my 40th,” he said. “It has been my dream holiday because of all the things I’ve read and what I know about it.”
“Hobart feels like the pride of a small country town and the locality feels very wholesome and more connected but also more peaceful and less busy,” he said, reflecting on his first few days here. “It does feel a little bit different from mainland Australia and I’ve really been enjoying it.”
Coming up in Ben’s Book Club
October’s book is The Ledge by Christian White. Register for the Zoom call.
The title for November is When it Rains by Dave Warner and in December The Valley by Chris Hammer.
Follow Libraries Tasmania on Facebook or Instagram to find out each month’s title and registration link.
You can also join the Ben’s Book Club Facebook group and follow Ben Hobson on Facebook and Instagram.