Book-clubbed x 2

Since my book, In an Uncharted Country, came out about a year ago, I've visited several book clubs that have chosen it to read and discuss. I attended two just this week! I love it. I'd enjoy doing more, and judging by the lively discussion in even the smaller groups, my book seems to make a good choice for clubs.

The first visit this week was to a book club in Harrisonburg consisting of women connected to James Madison University. There were 14 or so women there--including a couple of writers--and most had read the book very closely, leading to some probing questions: Is there really a sun-worshiping cult in the Valley? Which story is my favorite? Since the stories all stand alone, was it originally conceived of as a book? What happens at the end of "The Nymph and the Woodsman?"

The second visit was to my own book club, or rather the club that The Sacred Circle Bookshop has been running for the past year. I've been a participant since the beginning and so I was honored when the store chose my book for this month's discussion. Although this group was smaller than the other club, the people who came had obviously also given the book a careful read and also asked great questions. One woman asked about the fact that the women in the book seemed particularly flawed--was I saying something with that? But I asked if she thought the men in the book were any better, and on reflection she realized that they weren't. I wasn't trying to invent any heroes in the book--just people who were as real as I could make them, and everyone I know has flaws. Except you, of course. You're perfect.

It's a little embarrassing to be the center of attention like that, but it is enormously gratifying to speak with people who have read the book.

Book Clubs

In my life, I've been in a number of book clubs. I've always enjoyed them because I love to talk about books. I don't think I've ever been in a book club meeting with the author of the book, however. But since In an Uncharted Country came out last September, I've met with several book clubs. The experiences have all been quite different, but all wonderful.

Yesterday afternoon I was invited to meet with a local club of retired James Madison University faculty members at the home of new friends Rex and Jane. It was a big group--11 people--and for the first time a mix of men and women. (Both of the previous clubs I visited were all women.) I enjoy talking about the book and my process, so I love answering the many questions people have about the stories. Sometimes, in answering the questions, I reach insights that I hadn't had before. (This happened yesterday, concerning the story "White Swans".)

If any book clubs are interested in having me appear, I'd love to do it. I'd even travel a bit or, if it's too far, I could appear by Skype. Seriously.

Book Club: In an Uncharted Country

Since my linked short story collection (In an Uncharted Country) came out in September 2009, I have enjoyed making appearances at bookstores and libraries and schools to talk about the book and about short stories in general. It's been a lot of fun and I have quite a few appearances scheduled over the next few months.

But this week, for the second time, I visited a book club that had chosen my book to discuss. The first time, shortly after publication, was also a lot of fun--good food and wine contributed to that--but I was a little stunned to be sitting in a room where listening to people talk about the book and, to a lesser extent, about me. This time the food and wine were also great, but I was a little more prepared to hear the book club members talk about my stories and characters, and to hear reactions that were surprisingly different. "The Clattering of Bones" made one member cry (it's about, in part, an injured animal). "William & Frederick" made everyone laugh (I read a few pages of that story to the group and was gratified by chuckles and guffaws). And in many of the stories the members recognized, or thought they recognized, people or places in our area.

It was a lively discussion and I had a great time. I hope there will be opportunities for more visits to book clubs -- either in person or on the telephone, as some writers do.