As book review outlets and publicity budgets evaporate with the recession, two writers have discovered the perfect way to reach readers--self-guided book club tours.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on how novelists Joshua Henkin (who was featured in that exclusive GalleyCat video) and Kelly Simmons have collectively spoken with 150 reading groups in person or by speakerphone.

Look for more authors adapting this time-consuming, but rewarding practice next year:

"Henkin - who has visited more than 80 book groups in person or on the phone.... will visit yours even with only a few hours' notice ... Henkin and Simmons readily admit their motivation is selling books and building readership. They do not charge for visits (a Web site from New Zealand lists dozens of authors willing to visit book groups for $100). Henkin asks for a minimum of 10 or 12 when he is driving, and tries not to travel more than two hours from his home. For the year after the book came out in 2007, Henkin and his wife lived in Philadelphia."