While promoting their books, many famous authors go on book tours, which include reading sections of their books to a live audience. Think of it like bedtime stories, except with adults and during the day. With the added benefit of seeing the actual book’s author.
You can usually find these live readings at your local bookstores or coffee shops—anywhere that people can gather and listen to an author promote their book. Some authors are even taking to online platforms to do live readings virtual.
It’s always enjoyable to attend these live readings when possible. You get to hear one of the best passages from the book read by the person who created it. Additionally, you get to hear how the author enunciates words and pronuonces the characters’ names.
Usually, a live Q&A session with the author and book signings accompany each live reading. Because the real point of these is to promote the book. The reading is just a sample, a tease of what the readers can expect. It’s also a chance to engage with the author and show that they’re a real person like you—except that they’re also a famous and successful author.
Just because the readings are live doesn’t mean that they have to be in-person. Many of these readings are increasingly accomplished online to reach more people. A prominent example is the organization Writing by Writers, which hosts a free weekly virtual reading called Readings by Writers.