Book Clubs

I’m so pleased you stopped by to get acquainted. If you enjoy bookclubs, we have something in common to start! If you’d like to talk with me about Book Club options, just click on this link to contact me and I’ll respond right away. Note: if you first want an idea of what I’m like, this TV interview will give you an idea.

If you’re planning an author event and would like me to participate in person (or on ZOOM), here are some sample questions you could ask me to get the conversation started:

What was the initial spark that gave you the idea for this book?
While Lainey is a prominent character in the novel, this is Becket’s story and journey. Why did you focus on him and his journey (vice hers)?
The environmental themes in this book are often found in non-fiction, but are unusual in romance and other popular fiction genres. Did you feel any trepidation about writing a novel with these elements? What prompted you to combine these environmental themes into a popular-fiction novel?
How did you research the science part of the novel? Were there other parts of the book for which you needed to do significant research?
The story has a significant scientific/environmental thread that balances on the line between fact and fiction. How did you maintain that balance and convey it to readers? Was that balance important (and, if so, why)?
You donate part of the proceeds of this book to Save the Bay. What’s your connection to that organization?
Home Waters mixes family, romance, and environmental suspense, so there are a number of interlocking layers to this story. Did that make writing it especially challenging? How did you overcome those challenges?
How long did it take you to write Home Waters? Can you describe your writing process?
Is Jackson Island based on a real place? If so, where is it? Did you go there to research the book? Why didn’t you use the name of the real place?
What are some things you learned while writing the book? What surprised you the most?
What other books have you written? What are you working on now?

If your Book Club chooses Home Waters as this month’s book (and the author isn’t going to be there), here are some possible discussion questions:

What were some key themes of the book? How were those themes brought to life?
How important was the setting to the story? Which location in the book would you most like to visit and why?
Did this book remind you of any other books that you’ve read? Describe the connection.
Which character did you most relate to and why?
Can you think of any specific details in the story that stuck with you? If so, why do you think they resonated?
Which character or moment prompted the strongest emotional reaction for you? Why?
Did the characters seem believable to you? Did they remind you of anyone you know?
If the book were made into a movie, who would you want to play each of the lead characters?
How does the way the characters see themselves differ from the way others see them?
Were there times you disagreed with a character’s actions? What would you have done differently?
What scene would you point out as the pivotal moment in the story? How did it make you feel?
What surprised you most about the book? Why?
The story has a significant scientific/environmental thread that balances on the line between fact and fiction. As a reader, were you aware of that balancing act? Was it important to you to learn the writer’s view of that line (in the Author’s note)?