How Listening Books & the Virtual Village Hall Use Live Author Q&As to Help Support Mental Wellbeing
At a time when reading and connection are more important than ever, Listening Books and the Royal Voluntary Service’s Virtual Village Hall joined forces to bring literature to life through the Ask the Author series - a programme of live, interactive author interviews designed to engage, inspire and support mental wellbeing.
With the National Year of Reading underway - a major campaign from the National Literacy Trust designed to help more people (re)discover the joy of reading and make it part of their everyday lives - what better time to join us for a live session, or explore a whole host of previously recorded conversations already available.
In this blog, find out about more about the partnership, why we created the author interviews and how you can get involved.
A partnership built on purpose
The Virtual Village Hall is an online community hub offering free activities that promote health and happiness, especially for older adults and people who may feel isolated. Their range of daily online activities includes everything from physical activities such as Zumba and chair yoga, tutorials on a variety of arts and crafts, spotlights on skills and learning and talks on gardening and growing your own.
Listening Books, a charity dedicated to providing audiobooks to people whose illness or disability affects their ability to read print books, also shares this mission of accessibility and inclusion. Alongside our growing online book club community - who regularly share book recommendations and reviews - we were looking for a way to offer deeper engagement with audiobooks and authors. And what better way than a live Q&A session?
Together, we’ve created a space where members can not only discover and enjoy new stories - perhaps ones they might not have chosen previously - but also connect directly with the storytellers behind them. We hope this opportunity helps to encourage wider listening, strengthens connections within our member community, and encourages meaningful interaction between listeners, the charity, and a wide range of authors.
Why author interviews matter for mental health
We hope that our live author Q&As offer more than just entertainment for members and listeners alike. There’s plenty of documented benefits to attending online events, especially for those whose illness, disability, caregiving responsibilities, or busy schedules perhaps limits their access to attend these types of events in-person.
Along with removing physical and geographical barriers, our live author events also help to provide:
- A wider sense of connection: Virtual Q&As provide a structured, engaging space for listeners to connect with authors and others who share the same interests. This shared experience helps turn reading into a more communal activity, helping listeners feel part of a wider community of readers.
- Emotional engagement: Audiobooks can be incredibly inspiring, but virtual author Q&A events help to deepen that emotional connection even further. Hearing directly from authors about their creative process, personal motivations, and the real-life experiences that shaped the story adds an extra layer of meaning for listeners.
- Cognitive stimulation: Engaging with literature and author discussions help keeps the mind active, which is especially beneficial for older adults. The sessions also provide mental stimulation and act as a welcome break from daily stressors and busy workloads.
- Empowerment through participation: By submitting questions and contributing to the discussion, it gives the listeners a valuable and engaging platform. This active involvement can also help boost confidence, reduce isolation, and overall enjoyment of the experience.
These events are particularly valuable for those who may be housebound or experiencing loneliness, offering a window into the literary world and a chance to interact in an engaging way.
More than just a book club
Our Ask the Author series is just one of the many ways we’re trying to help people find comfort and connection through audiobooks. Alongside thousands of stories across genres, our online book club, and our newsletter filled with reviews, interviews, and competitions, these events help bring stories to life in a way that’s accessible to everyone.
We know that stories can do so much more than entertain - they can help lift our mood, engage our curiosity, and help us feel part of something bigger. By providing a space where listeners can hear from and engage with authors, share experiences, and discover new ideas, we hope to make reading a source of community as well as comfort.
It’s all part of our mission to help to make literature accessible, enjoyable, and genuinely supportive for everyone - wherever you are on your reading journey.
How to get involved
If this sounds like something you’d love to take part in, there are several ways to stay up to date with our latest announcements. We share all upcoming author sessions across our social media channels and in our regular member emails.
The Virtual Village Hall also promotes their weekly schedule on social media and via their website, which you can find here.
Whether you’re a social prescribing link worker, a healthcare professional, or simply someone looking to support a loved one’s wellbeing, the online sessions from Listening Books and the Virtual Village Hall offer a unique, engaging, and accessible resource.
For more information or to request promotional materials, please email info@listening-books.org.uk or visit www.listening-books.org.uk
