First, a confession: I have never belonged to a book club. This might be because I spent quite a long time at university and so had many years of focused and sustained discussion about a book/poem we’d all recently read (or pretended to read). Most classes were adequate-to-fine. A few were dismal. A very few were spectacular. So while I do love talking about books, there’s something about the formality of a Book Club that gives me classroom flashbacks.
As a result, I’d no idea what to expect at my first book club meeting as an author. What can I tell you?
First, that it may be all about the food. Seriously: 8 women. Snacks for, ooh, 16? It was heaven.
Second, that they had all read Spy (or did a great job pretending) and had tons of questions. And they asked me things I’d never thought about – for example, what’s the backstory on the primary agent whose territory Mary Quinn treads on? My brilliant answer: “Um, I haven’t thought about her much.” I think I’d better get on that.
Third, I totally cracked: I’m not supposed to reveal the Candlewick cover for The Body at the Tower yet, because it’s not quite ready. (Soon, soon.) But I brought an ARC and flashed it around shamelessly. The bookclubbers were very kind and humoured my delirious babbling about the story behind the cover. Thanks, ladies.
I had such a great time, thanks to Jennifer O’Donnell who invited me, and Marcia Irving who hosted. It was terrific to meet all of you and I hope you keep in touch! (And thank you very much for the lovely bottle of wine! You really shouldn’t have, but I’m secretly very glad you did.)
This week in reviews:
Bookseller Ben McNally says Spy is “accomplished and believable. Mary Quinn and her supporting cast are developed with care and craft, and the plot is polished and quick.” Notes from a Book Addict, at BookLounge
The charmingly named NerdGirl is “on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book”!
And Ria at Tea and Tomes says the characters are “wonderfully real” and the period detail “made the story just that much more believable”.
Jill says
Oooh…I love my book club! You should join!!!
Admin says
Tempting – BUT WHEN?! For now, I’ll settle for drop-ins. 😀
Colleen says
I would fail at being in a book club because I’d only ever show up for the discussions of the books I’d chosen. But anyone who wants to be in a book club run by a ruthless dictator should feel free to contact me!
Admin says
You have a chalkboard pointer at the ready to rap knuckles, don’t you?
Maggie says
I wish I could have been there! One question — will we being seeing more of James, or is he gone off to India for good?
Admin says
Hi Maggie! Oh, there’s more of James. He’s back in bk 2, The Body at the Tower.
Maggie says
great!! another question — where Mary’s father’s papers really lost during the clean up after the fire?
Admin says
Afraid so. Good thing she hung on to the pendant!
Maggie says
shucks! yes, indeed. i presume that this necklace has some more significance in later books….. or am i just being overly suspicious?
Admin says
Yes, you’ll see a bit more of the necklace. Can’t say more without getting all spoiler-ish!
Maggie says
i understand. it’s good to know my instincts weren’t leading me astray….