Gotta Love a Book Club

Posted by Donna MacMeans Oct 22 2008, 7:07 pm in bookclubs, Donna MacMeans, Heron Bay, Noveltea

by Donna MacMeans

One of the best things about publishing is the opportunity to address bookclubs. What’s not to love? A gathering of women (sometimes one or two men) who not only appreciate a good read, but also enjoy a good meal as well. My kind of people.

I LOVE speaking to bookclubs. I thought I’d share some of the experiences and modus operandi of some of clubs I’ve visited this summer.

My neighbor invited me to speak to her book club, a group that has been meeting
monthly for ten years. In that club, the hostess selects the book to be read and purchases copies for everyone. The members then pay the hostess for their copy of the book. I spoke to them in advance of their reading of The Education of Mrs. Brimley. I asked “how many read romance?” Only two people in a group of twenty raised their hands. So we discussed the genre, the expectations, and specifics surrounding my book.

Now in this club, the rule is that the members are expected to start the book, but they don’t have to finish it. The book they discussed at this particular meeting was Obama’s book, so you can see – this wasn’t specifically a romance reading group.

The following month, I checked back with the hostess to see the reactions. She said everyone liked it and more importantly, for the first time in the history of the club, everyone actually finished the book! Hopefully, if I’m invited to speak again, a few more hands will acknowledge romance.

In August I visited the Heron Bay Bookclub. The weather was beautiful so we sat and ate outside and talked while the husbands toured Buckeye Lake in a boat.(Darn, can’t get the photo to upload – trust me – it was beautiful and a perfect setting for romance).

My next bookclub visit was a writer’s dream. I was invited to speak to a group of ladies who read The Trouble with Moonlight. I arrived at the hostess’s house in shorts and was greeted by a man in a tuxedo with a rose in his lapel next to a name tag bearing the name of my hero: James Locke. Inside, all the ladies were wearing long dresses. One had a string around her neck with
a cowbell attached to signify the little brooch with a bell that my hero gave to my heroine. The menu included tea and crumpets (iced tea and english muffins) along with finger sandwiches, brownies and salad. This photo is a bit dark, but I hope you can see the dresses. At one point, the back door opened and a bunch of people trooped in with filled wineglasses. They posed for a photo (not this one) then left.

Last week, I spoke at Novel Tea. They meet at a local library and read The Trouble with Moonlight. If you look carefully, you can see the teapots and munchies on the table. Once again I had readers come up afterwards to say they hadn’t read a romance in years and now planned to start again. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over.

So my question to you: Do you belong to a book club? If so, tell us about them. Have you spoken to a bookclub? Tell us about the experience. What’s the best book you’ve read in a bookclub? I’ll send a bookclub tote bag to one commentor.

77 Comments

All together now!

Posted by Anna Sugden Oct 22 2008, 4:09 am in Anna Sugden, chocolate, collective nouns

by Anna Sugden One of my favourite English lessons as a teacher (no groaning!) was Collective Nouns. You know – the name for a group of things: A pod of dolphins A tower of giraffesA prickle of hedgehogsA leap of leopardsA mob of kangaroosA company of molesA crash of rhinosA harem of sealsAn ambush of tigersA sneak of weasels It was such fun seeing how children’s minds worked as they came up with their own examples. Could they more innovative than: A murder of crowsA cast of falconsA chattering of goldfinchesA twittering of magpiesAn exultation of larksA convocation of eaglesA
Read More…

59 Comments

A Harvest of Expectations

Posted by crocodesigns Oct 21 2008, 4:44 am in Aunty Cindy explains it all for you, harvest, writing life

posted by Aunty Cindy aka Loucinda McGary Since it’s the harvest season here in the Western hemisphere, and time for sowing and new beginnings for our buddies down under, I’ve been thinking about the whole cycle of planting and reaping and anticipating rewards. Most of the time, when I do something, I have certain expectations of the process and the outcome. For example, when I read a new book or watch a new movie I expect to be entertained by characters and situations, maybe learn something along the way, and generally enjoy myself for a few hours. When my BFF
Read More…

50 Comments

Mistress of Pleasure Treasure!

Posted by Guest Oct 21 2008, 2:44 am in Uncategorized

Hey, better late than never, right? Poor Delilah is dying to give away her books, and it’s been far too long to wait! So here goes… Delilah has generously agreed to give away THREE copies of her fabulous book: One to a commenter from her originally scheduled blog day, one to the winner of the Golden Rooster on her actual blog day, and one to a second commenter on her blog day!  WOW!  So the winners are…TERRIO (she who speaks of angels), FEDORA (she of the Golden Rooster) and JANE (she who captured Delilah’s heart).  Ladies, please send your addressses
Read More…

5 Comments

This Will Make You Feel Better…

Posted by Anna Campbell Oct 21 2008, 2:30 am in Bandita Booty, Fiona Lowe, The Playboy Doctor's Wedding Proposal

Thanks to Fiona Lowe and all our visitors for a fabulous day in the lair discussing Medical romance and why opposites attract! I’m delighted to announce that Fiona has chosen the winner of her new Mills & Boon Medical romance THE PLAYBOY DOCTOR’S WEDDING PROPOSAL (and a fridge magnet). Stand up straight for your medical examination… PAT COCHRAN! Congratulations, Pat. Would you please email Fiona on fiona@fionalowe.com and give her your snail mail details? She’ll get your book off to you faster than they talk on E.R.! Happy reading!

7 Comments

Totally Awesome!

Posted by Beth Andrews Oct 20 2008, 4:09 am in Beth Andrews, classic tv

by Beth I admit it, as a child of the 80′s, I watched way too much television. Other than curling up with a good book, TV was my favorite past-time. Okay, so it was my favorite past-time until I reached my mid teens when hanging out with my friends became priority number one. But I digress (as I often do). Last week, a few things happened that made me think of some of my old favorite shows. The ones I watched week after week (the only show I watch faithfully now-a-days is Supernatural, but that’s a whole ‘nother blog about
Read More…

86 Comments

Medical Author Fiona Lowe in the Lair!

Posted by Anna Campbell Oct 19 2008, 4:30 am in Anna Campbell, Bandita Booty, Fiona Lowe, Medical Romances, The Playboy Doctor's Wedding Proposal

by Anna Campbell I’d like to offer a big Aussie welcome to my friend Fiona Lowe who writes wonderful emotional Medical romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon. I met Fiona at the Australian romance writers conference just before I (and she) sold so it’s always felt like a fated partnership somehow! Her new book THE PLAYBOY DOCTOR’S WEDDING PROPOSAL is just out in the UK and Australia and she’s here to celebrate in the lair! If you’d like more information on Fiona and her fantastic Medicals, visit her website. If you’d like to order any of Fiona’s books, a great
Read More…

66 Comments

Too Much Competition!

Posted by Caren Crane Oct 18 2008, 4:01 am in Caren Crane, competition

by Caren Crane When my older daughter was about 3, I picked her up from daycare one day and found her in a frowny mood. This daughter has always, since birth, been moody and prone to deep thinking, so her 3-year-old frowning didn’t concern me overmuch. I did, however, ask what was wrong. She pulled the finger she was sucking out of her mouth and said (very clearly), “There’s too much competition.” Yes, friends, my preschooler had figured it all out. There is too much competition in the world. Some people love it, some hate it. Daughter dear despises it.
Read More…

57 Comments

Fall is in the Air!

Posted by Christie Kelley Oct 17 2008, 5:00 am in Christie Kelley, Fall, Halloween

by Christie Kelley While Anna and Christine (and all our Bandita Buddies in the Southern Hemisphere) are enjoying spring, here in Maryland it’s fall. And I love it! I’m writing this on Thursday but it doesn’t really feel like fall here yet. Some of the leaves are starting to fall but most of the trees have only just started to turn. Not to mention, it’s almost 80 degrees here. Luckily, a cold front is heading our way. Fall is that time to hunker down and make sure every thing is in working order before winter comes. This year, I’ll have
Read More…

49 Comments

Denise Rossetti on The Hero Dimension

Posted by Christina Brooke Oct 16 2008, 4:25 am in Bandit Booty, Berkley, Berkley Ace, Christine Wells, Denise Rossetti, guest blogger, November Releases, The Flame and the Shadow

posted by Christine Wells My dear friend and critique partner, Denise Rossetti is with us in the Lair today and she is giving away a signed ARC of her November 4 release, THE FLAME AND THE SHADOW. You don’t want to miss this wonderfully sexy, dark, angsty fantasy romance. Hmm, can I think of any more adjectives? Yes, I believe I can! Superb! But here is the delightful Denise in a less dark and angsty mood, musing and amusing about heroes…I’ve always been intrigued by missing socks. I mean, where do they go, the little devils? Must be the same
Read More…

110 Comments