Book Club Appearance
The Church in the Wildwood is my first real publication. I have other things out there—Kindle books and short stories and articles in magazines—but Wildwood is the first full length novel I've seen through to completion and put out in the world for people to experience. That means every step of the way is another first: holding the first printed copy of my first novel; seeing my book on the shelf of a bookstore; autographing copies; having readers send me pictures of my book from all over the world (British Columbia, Indonesia, Idaho, Italy); visiting a book club...
It never really occurred to me that people might actually want to talk to me about the book. I don't know why. There have been countless times while reading that I wished I could ask the author why they made a certain choice, or how they came up with the idea to do that thing that blew my mind...So why I thought it was so strange when someone approached me and asked if I'd be open to visiting their book club is beyond me.
Because I'm rather quiet and consider myself quite shy, I suppose I make the mistake of thinking I'm not very interesting. There's nothing glamorous about writing. It's dirty hair and late nights and closed doors and too much coffee. But in the end, there's a story.
And people want to talk about stories.
Being an indie author means you walk through every door that's open to you. So I agreed to go. I was nervous and had no idea what to expect, but I thought if each person who attends talks about it with one other person, that's another potential book sale. And let's be honest, I want to sell as many copies as I canso I can quit my day job so I can afford to invest more into my future as an author.
It was nearly dark when I got there. I pulled my van in behind someone else who'd just arrived. I watched her climb out of her car and place a book—my book—on the roof of her car while she gathered her other things.
As I approached the (gorgeous!) house, I could hear laughing and talking inside and I saw people moving through the huge picture windows that looked out towards the lake. These women are way out of my league. No way am I cool enough to be here...
But then I thought WWTD. (What would Ted do?) And I straightened the same shirt I wore when he had his arm around me and I marched inside and shook the host's hand.
Let me back up.
I think it's pretty safe to say that most writers have an author crush. I am no exception. Ted Dekker makes my heart pitter-patter. That day when heheld me in his arms put his arm around me will always be a personal highlight. So when I chose my 'book club outfit', it was intentional. I met him because his books move me and so I paid a stupid amount of dollars to attend a conference where he was the keynote speaker. He hugged me (whatever, let me have it!). Obviously some transference of power happened there because I went on to publish a book, and obviously the shirt I wore when we touched is the conduit of said power, so of course I had to wear it to an event where people were coming because my words moved them...beautifully perpetuating the literary circle of life.
Do you see?
Never mind.
So I'm in this beautiful house filled with 13 women and there's wine and plates of crackers and brie, and there are copies of my book everywhere. We talked for a good hour and a half. They came with great insights and questions. It's amazing to think the make-belief that came from my head inspired real conversation. I expected to feel nervous and uncomfortable but everyone was so warm and inviting that I was able to set my insecurities aside. I certainly wasn't anticipating such a big group, and there were times when there were multiple conversations happening at once, but it was so exciting to be in the midst of it all.
Would I do it again? Um...yeah! I already have another one lined up! I'll come to yours too if you want me—just pay for my gas if I have to travel any distance.
I also accept plane tickets 😜 (I'm especially interested in a European book tour!)
Who knows, maybe someday I'll be someone's author crush!
p.s. If your book club is interested in reading The Church in the Wildwood, there are discussion questions available here if you need a little help getting the conversation started.
It never really occurred to me that people might actually want to talk to me about the book. I don't know why. There have been countless times while reading that I wished I could ask the author why they made a certain choice, or how they came up with the idea to do that thing that blew my mind...So why I thought it was so strange when someone approached me and asked if I'd be open to visiting their book club is beyond me.
Because I'm rather quiet and consider myself quite shy, I suppose I make the mistake of thinking I'm not very interesting. There's nothing glamorous about writing. It's dirty hair and late nights and closed doors and too much coffee. But in the end, there's a story.
And people want to talk about stories.
Being an indie author means you walk through every door that's open to you. So I agreed to go. I was nervous and had no idea what to expect, but I thought if each person who attends talks about it with one other person, that's another potential book sale. And let's be honest, I want to sell as many copies as I can
It was nearly dark when I got there. I pulled my van in behind someone else who'd just arrived. I watched her climb out of her car and place a book—my book—on the roof of her car while she gathered her other things.
As I approached the (gorgeous!) house, I could hear laughing and talking inside and I saw people moving through the huge picture windows that looked out towards the lake. These women are way out of my league. No way am I cool enough to be here...
But then I thought WWTD. (What would Ted do?) And I straightened the same shirt I wore when he had his arm around me and I marched inside and shook the host's hand.
Let me back up.
I think it's pretty safe to say that most writers have an author crush. I am no exception. Ted Dekker makes my heart pitter-patter. That day when he
Do you see?
Never mind.
So I'm in this beautiful house filled with 13 women and there's wine and plates of crackers and brie, and there are copies of my book everywhere. We talked for a good hour and a half. They came with great insights and questions. It's amazing to think the make-belief that came from my head inspired real conversation. I expected to feel nervous and uncomfortable but everyone was so warm and inviting that I was able to set my insecurities aside. I certainly wasn't anticipating such a big group, and there were times when there were multiple conversations happening at once, but it was so exciting to be in the midst of it all.
Would I do it again? Um...yeah! I already have another one lined up! I'll come to yours too if you want me—just pay for my gas if I have to travel any distance.
I also accept plane tickets 😜 (I'm especially interested in a European book tour!)
Who knows, maybe someday I'll be someone's author crush!
p.s. If your book club is interested in reading The Church in the Wildwood, there are discussion questions available here if you need a little help getting the conversation started.
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