I’ve always loved book clubs and have been a member of several in different places where we’ve lived. One of the pleasures for me of having a novel in print is talking to other readers, particularly in groups, about the story and the process of writing.
Last Monday, December 9, I met with a Wareham, MA book club hosted by my friend Janet Memoli. It was a wonderful time! Janet’s lovely, comfortable house was all dressed up for the holidays; she had prepared lots of delicious food and the wine flowed right along with the conversation. I’m used to book discussions lasting 1 to 1-1/2 hours, but the group talked for three hours—about Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate, about mental illness and how it is treated in the United States, about the choices writers make about what to leave in and what to take out. This club is an extraordinary group of thoughtful readers. I’ve included a picture of most of us below. Janet Memoli, in a red top, is standing next to me at the back of the table.
