One Book, One Community… a great idea
Writing life: 75
I was reminded of One Book, One Community (OBOC) programs a few months ago when the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library—encompassing 14 branches in British Columbia’s Southern Interior—announced that my current novel, A New Season, was their 2025 OBOC selection. I was thrilled when they let me know last fall, but we’ve kept it under wraps until just recently.
It means that I’ll be heading out to BC in the spring for a week or so for a series of events to promote the program. But I may be getting ahead of myself.
So what is One Book, One Community (OBOC)?
In short, OBOC is an increasingly popular local initiative to encourage reading, support writers, and bring communities together across the country. Most often, it’s the local government and public library that spearhead the program. If I’m not mistaken, Kitchener-Waterloo’s OBOC program is the oldest in Canada, now in its 23rd year.
The idea is that citizens of the community, town, city, or region are encouraged to all read the same book, and then participate in various community events around the book. Usually the author participates by giving talks, attending book clubs, and visiting schools and library branches.
A win-win-win
I’m a big OBOC fan, and not just because I’ve been lucky enough to have my novels chosen as OBOC selections in various communities in Ontario and Canada. To me, OBOC is a win-win-win. Readers win and have the chance to connect with authors and fellow book-lovers. The library/local government wins by drawing crowds to the area in general and to the library branches in particular. And the writers win by having their books promoted and showcased.
Below you’ll find a quick overview of the OBOC programs that have somehow chosen one of my novels as their selections. In almost all cases I visited the community as part of the celebrations and have always enjoyed connecting with readers who participated by reading the designated book. I feel very fortunate.
2025 OBOC Thompson-Nicola Regional Library (BC’s Southern Interior): A New Season
I’m excited to be heading out west to BC’s Southern Interior (around Kamloops) to participate in OBOC events later this spring. Find out more by clicking here or on the image below. I’ll report back after my visit to out west.
2010 OBOC Kitchener-Waterloo: The Best Laid Plans
This was my introduction to OBOC, now nearly 15 years ago. In 2010, the oldest OBOC program in the country in Kitchener-Waterloo chose my debut novel, The Best Laid Plans as their OBOC selection. It was all very exciting for me as a rookie writer. There were many events over the course of a week including a gathering of several different bookclubs hosted by Peter Nosalik, a prominent K-W business leader, good friend, and charter member of the book club Nancy and I have been in for nearly 30 years. I consider my first OBOC to have been quite important in elevating the profile of the novel so early in my writing life.
2012 Woodstock Reads: The High Road
Woodstock, Ontario kindly chose my second novel, The High Road as their 2012 Woodstock Reads selection. I visited Woodstock to support the program and gave a couple of talks. It was a great day and I’m grateful they chose my novel. I’ve been back several times since for book events.
2014 One Book, One New Tecumseth: No Relation
The library staff in New Tecumseth, Ontario, are very creative and put on a number of events to celebrate my fourth novel, No Relation, the One Book, One Tecumseth selection in 2014. They helped promote the program with a “caught reading” initiative with photos of prominent citizens “caught” reading my novel.
2018 SDG Reads: One Brother Shy
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry County chose One Brother Shy as their 2018 SDG Reads selection and I was thrilled. There was an amazing sellout event held to celebrate the novel including stations around the room depicting various locations in the story. A local sculptor even created a a metal version of the feather on the front cover featuring the novel’s title. Check out the photo below. It was a memorable night.
2023 The County Reads (Prince Edward County): Operation Angus
I was delighted to learn that Operation Angus was the 2023 County Reads selection. I have spoken in Prince Edward County several times over the years and always been impressed by the community’s commitment to their library and to reading.
Wrapping up…
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Well done, Terry. I’m actually awaiting your next book. I turned 86 in January, so my time is becoming somewhat limited.
Terry, nice to know of this OBOC concept. Your post suggests, as you often put it, you’re just lucky enough to get picked, year upon year. But knowing how hard you work at promoting your books, it seems likely you’ve had a hand in reaching out to these libraries and their OBOCs. Maybe you could go beyond the books Ah shucks disclaimers and tell us how you get their attention.
I’m reminded of Stephen Leacock’s famous quote, (not Mark Twain): ‘I don’t believe in luck, but I find, the harder I work, the more of it I have.’