My Mom's Book Club!

My mom's book club read my novel when it first came out but - due to technical difficulties - are just getting around to sending me their photo. They're mostly teachers and have all been very supportive of my writing career. That's my mom, Pat, in the front row in the white sweater. It's clear where I get my stunning good looks!

Reading Group at Lancaster, Ohio

Thanks to the book club at West Elementary School in Lancaster, Ohio, who invited me to join their meeting that was held in the principal's office (and as the mom of a teenage boy, being asked to the principal's office isn't usually good news!) . I had a great time talking books, life lists & writing.

The Spine Crackers, Houston, TX

Thanks, Spine Crackers, for inviting me to join you! This was my first book club with an at-work group (which they pointed out was sort of like Weight Watchers At -Work, only with better food). At their meeting, they had a fun life list idea: Everyone brought a list of a few things they want to do, and they voted on who had the list most would like to complete. Here they are: Top Row (L-R) Geni, Linda, Jackie Claude, Bottom (L-R) Mary, Ann, Felicia

The One Too Many Book Club, Bellbrook, OH

I had a great chat with the One Too Many Book Club (so named because they decided to form a book club after they had, you guessed it, "one too many"). One great idea they're going to try out is that each of them will fill out a "life list" of 5 things to do, then bring it to the next meeting - only they don't do their own list but have to choose someone elses! I love how it mirrors June's task in the novel & can't wait to see how it works out for them. Pictured here:
Marilyn Wick, Mary Madden Lynn Bender ( Ali Wick in gray or Cathy Derrico in Blue) Pam Witzmann and Beverly Francis.

De Cordova Divas Reading Group

I joined the De Cordova Divas from Granbury, TX for a great discussion - thanks for inviting me, (back) Jackie, Melissa, Lauren, Candy (on sofa) Jacquie, Donna, Laurie.

The Once a Month Club in Lexington, NC

Thanks, ladies, for a great call-in meeting!

The Third Coast Moonlighters

Here's a pic I just received from one of the first book clubs I ever met with on the phone - the Third Coast Moonlighters - a group from an area of Michigan not far from where my mom grew up and an area I've visited often.

The Newcomers Book Club, Menomonee Falls, WI

I had a lot of fun talking with the ladies of the Newcomers Book Club in Menomonee Falls, WI. Not only did they have some really interesting questions for me & insights into life lists, but they had a great reading group idea: They have a rule that if you don't read the book, you have to put a dollar into a jar. At the end of the year, they use it for a party! I'm going to steal it for the book club I belong to.

Life Lists With Wynne, Arkansas

I'm always delighted to hear from readers who are doing life lists, like this book club from Wynne, Arkansas.

Booktalk Group in Hortonville, WI

I had plenty of laughs & a great conversation with the Booktalk reading group in Hortonville, WI: Lynn Dillon, Kathy Schweitzer, Mindy Roever, Denise Giguere, Edie Norenberg, Lisa Downey, Lori Lauerman and Sharon Allen (and sorry I missed you Angel Barlow & Tami Peters).

I Visit Camarillo, CA

I want to thank Janett Whitlock & all the ladies of the unofficially named "Raucous Readers" for inviting me to join them and for being such an amazing group - I had a great time. (And I want that shrimp dip recipe!)

UCLA Book Babes

I always learn something new & interesting from book groups I meet - with the UCLA Book Babes, we wound up talking about how to "turn a table," which I never knew was an actual thing you DO to keep conversation moving.

Join the gals in Alexandria, VA for a phone chat

Isn't it funny how even at reading group, people always seem to gather in the kitchen? Thanks for inviting me Kelli, Mary, Alana, Jeannine, Tami, Nicole, Karman, Loredana and Kate!

Norwood, MA - I join the ladies in the pool (sort of)

Sue, Outi, Kathi, Kristie and Rita of Norwood, MA, invited me to join their reading group meeting in the pool



I chatted with them on speakerphone - what a great group of gals. And since I couldn't be there in person, they set up the "spirit of Jill Smolinski" poolside. I love it!