On the night of the launch party for Fallen, my friend Susan approached me and said her mother, Carol, was a member of a book club called “Read Between the Lines” in North Carolina. The club had expressed an interest in having me attend their August meeting, when they would be discussing Entheóphage, and would I be available? I was honored, and like any author who loves to talk about their work, immediately said yes.
The date was set. Plans were made. And on Monday, August 26, B and I packed the car and drove to Carol’s home just west of central North Carolina. The drive (for me, at least) was peaceful. Restful. It was a nice change of pace from the usual daily grind. We stopped only a time or two and made it to Carol’s home in the late afternoon. My friend was there to help 
out. We were also introduced to dainty, sweet Katy Kat, a beautiful little black feline house companion, who demanded much petting and love. After settling in, we sat down for a scrumptious dinner of homemade soup and some great conversation, before heading upstairs to bed. (Of course, Katy Kat required a “petting toll” every time we went up or down the stairs.)
The next day after breakfast, we were introduced to the outdoor cat, Nimbus, who likes to share his opinions on subjects wide and varied, especially the status of his food bowl and whether you’ve scratched his cheeks enough. B and I rested in our room for a couple of hours before the meeting started. When I came downstairs, group members had already started to arrive. They were lively, chatty, and full of questions.
One woman asked if it had been a deliberate decision to make both of the scientists in the story women, to which I replied “yes, absolutely.” When she asked why, I explained that I like to explore the reality of women in unexpected roles, as well as the fact that characters like Isobel and Nadine might serve as role models (in their scientific expertise) to women readers. That sparked a bit of discussion about Nadine being a strong character, someone who did the right thing even when she knew it was going to cost her in a big way. And of course, while everyone could relate to why Isobel did what she did, not one of them liked her as a character, especially given what happened at the Nlaan reef.
Another woman asked how much of the science in the story is real. “Almost all of it,” I said. I explained how I’d researched the details behind Phagey for months before I even began to write it, how specialists in many different disciplines had contributed to the conversation, and how any mistakes in the science were my responsibility. I’d tried to make the story as realistic as possible so that it would be easy to believe; then when you do cross over into the speculative element, you wouldn’t even notice that threshold.
One member mentioned that she’d liked it when a character in the story referred to god as “she.” A couple of others agreed. Another remarked that she had been curious about my use of the lower-case “g” in the word “god.” Another asked about Nadine’s food-based thinking processes. Yet another mentioned the mix of scientific and mystical themes.
Questions came and discussions followed, which was the whole point of the meeting. To try and relate every question and answer would be not only impossible but would water down the essence of the group’s purpose. I felt that at the end, when the women began to leave, the purpose of the discussion had been satisfied.
This wasn’t my first invitation to speak about Entheóphage at a book club meeting, but it was my first in-person attendance. The first time, a business associate at B’s day job invited me to a local group in the summer of 2023. I was delighted to accept, but a few days before the meeting date, I tested positive for COVID. (I know. Ironic, right?) I still met with the group via Zoom, but I’m sure I wasn’t at my best. They also asked a lot of questions and, as they are a gay men’s reading group, were fascinated and enamored of the fact that the heroine of the story is gay.
These experiences have been golden for me. It’s such a treat to hear readers discussing my story in animated remarks and dialogue! Some of the things they said (in both cases) made me nod and say, “Yes, exactly. That was my intention.” Other times, their observations surprised me. I hadn’t previously considered the perspective they raised, or the connection they’d made. What a delight!
After this most recent discussion was ended, it occurred to me that next time (assuming there is one), I might want to ask the group members questions of my own. “How did it make you feel when X happened?” Or “What do you think motivated Z character to do what they did?” Or “Did you see the plot twist coming?” And so on. Not only would it help, I think, to keep the conversation dynamic, but it would also be instructional to me as a writer. Am I giving away the plot twist too soon? Am I making Z character’s motivation too obscure? Am I evoking enough emotion through the storyline? With direct-line answers such as a book club group might offer, I could learn from past mistakes and tighten the storylines on future books.
Later, after my friend left for home in Norfolk, B and I played a couple of games of Scrabble 
with Carol. It was so much fun that all three of us stayed up later than our usual bedtimes. It was hard to leave the next morning, but we’ve been told we are welcome to come back any time.
On the way home we had another mini-adventure (which I’ll talk about in my next Niveym Arts newsletter), with my long-time friend and beta reader Becky. While this trip was a real treat, both relaxing and exciting, by the time we arrived at home, we were ready to love on our anxious kitties and settle into our familiar landscape. Big thanks to Read Between the Lines for having me as their guest, to Susan, for being there to help, and to Carol for being such a gracious host. We had a blast!
(If you’d like me to speak at your book club meeting, either in person or via Zoom/other online conference, please contact me here.)