Book Club Love

A few years ago, I tried to join a book club. I obviously love to read, and what’s better than getting together with a group of friends once a month to discuss a great book? But I had commitment issues. There was a stack of TBR books piled high next to my bedside that just had to come first. I mean, it’s my job, this reading stuff, and my focus is intensely YA centered. (Which means that I had issues with others choosing for me what I would read next.) I also had to focus on my writing. And the book club was taking away from what precious little time I had to devote to my WIP. So I bagged out. Lame, I know.

This short experience with my book club had me terribly excited to join when a local book club invited me to sit in during their discussion over The Tension of Opposites. I was a little nervous as I drove to the restaurant where we were all meeting. The group has been together for over ten years. What if someone didn’t like the book? Or hated one of the characters? Or just plain thought I was a sucky writer?

But I had nothing to fear. The group was excited to share their thoughts on the plot, the twists, the emotions, and everything else I had weaved into the book. They asked insightful questions, giving me time to pause and think about the different interpretations readers are taking from each of the many scenes. It was an amazing night. Inspiring. And upon leaving, I was ready to dive back into my current WIP, which has taken a back seat in life due to medical issues I’ve been helping my father with.

I might not have time in my busy life to be a faithful member of one club, but I will certainly enjoy every opportunity to sit in and offer an author’s perspective to any book clubs that have chosen to read my debut novel.