A couple of months ago, an email arrived in my inbox. It made my day. It was sent by Ann, a lovely local lady who wanted to let me know her little book club was going to read my novella tilted 'Crayons and Chaos'. She had discovered me and my writing, when she read an article featuring me in the local paper. She invited me along to join them at their October meeting, as they would be discussing the book.
I accepted of course, but had no idea what to expect. I ended up having a lovely time with this friendly, fun bunch of ladies. They made me feel very welcome. I have now joined the book club and look forward to catching up with them again very soon. I decided to pick Ann's brain to find out how the book club came about, and what goes on. Here's what I found out.
Tell me a bit about yourself
My name is Ann and I’m married with two teenage sons. We’ve lived in Penrith in far western Sydney for about 20 years.
What do you love about books?
The thing I love about books is, there is always something new to discover, whether it is a who dunnit, or some historical fact that is part of a fiction, or even a new place to discover, that the author is writing about.
What inspired you to start the book club?
My friend Denise started the book club in 2015 and it was initially called WWW Book Club – Women Wine and Writing, (I’m not sure about the last “W”). We all enjoy reading and knew each other. I took over running the book club about a year or so ago, when Denise became too busy to be involved.
Do you have a favourite book?
I currently have two favourite books – ‘It’s not me, it’s PMS’ and ‘The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared’.
Who are your favourite authors?
Candice Fox, Fiona McIntosh, and Fleur McDonald
How do you choose the next book to read?
I have just finished ‘Happy and other Ridiculous Aspirations’ by Turia Pitt and it was amazing. It didn’t feel like a self-help book and it is one that I have recommended to a lot of my friends. The two on my bed stand, waiting to read are your book, ‘Making March’ which I am looking forward to, and also the sequel to The Hundred Year Old Man.
What is the book club’s current read, and what appealed to you about the book?
The book club is currently reading Ben Elton’s 'Identity Crisis'. I am new to Ben Elton’s writing and it was one of the other girl’s choices. Our book club women take turns in choosing books, which opens us up to books we may never normally read which is good.
How often does the book club meet?
Once a month.
Do you have a set format for your meeting, or do you simply go with the flow?
The person who chooses the book has to present an author bio and also provide the book club attendees with discussion questions. Depending on the night, and who can attend, sometimes it is simply ‘go with the flow’.
What questions do you address as a group when discussing a book?
It is up to the person who chose the book to find the questions. I tend to look at authors questions that are sometimes provided at the back of the books for book club discussion inspiration.
Lastly, what interests do you have outside of books?
I love bushwalking and walking outdoors. I love spending time with my husband and boys, going to the beach or a Sunday markets, or just going for coffee with them.
A big thank you to Ann for chatting to me about the book club. I will do my best to keep up with the reading, but if I don't manage to get through a book in time, I am sure I will continue to enjoy the company of these lovely ladies. It's a win win really.
This is Ann :)
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