So You Want to Start A Book Club!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:    Are you in a book club? Have you ever been? Every author will tell you they are the absolute pinnacle of delight. To be surrounded by people who love your books and want to talk about it --what could be better? And for readers, please know that so many authors are thrilled with a book club invitation.

 

The fantastic and brilliant Hannah Mary McKinnon, my dear friend, and founder of First Chapter Fun and now my partner in fictional crime,  and wildly successful best-selling author (whose marvelous new THE REVENGE LIST is an instant Canadian bestseller!) has been on both sides of the book club couch: as an honored guest, and as host. 

And today, she has some inside scoop on everything you need to know about book clubs.

 

HANNAH MARY MCKINNON:  So, you want to start a book club?

 

As an author, I’ve had the pleasure of being invited as a guest to

several book clubs, in person and online. Each time has been wonderful, and what struck me the most was the camaraderie amongst the members, so much so that I decided to start a book club in 2019.

Unfortunately, Covid hit three months later, but we persevered online, and have kept going for over three years already. It’s been great fun, and I thought I’d share some tips and tricks on creating your own book club, in case you’ve been toying with the idea but aren’t sure where to begin.

 

1)   Find members

 

You could drop off a flyer at your library, community centre, or book store (or ask if they have an online option) — these all fabulous places to start. Personally, I posted about starting a book club in a local Facebook mom’s group and was inundated with replies. Although I only expected a handful of participants, over 60 women indicated their interest. That number initially settled at 18 and, over time, naturally reduced to around 10.

 

On average, 6-8 people attend monthly because of e.g., vacation, family commitments, and scheduling conflicts. It’s a great number as everyone gets to chat, and we’ve been able to get to know each other better in a smaller group.

 

2)   Have an introductory meeting

 

I held the initial meeting at my house as a “meet-and-greet” where we introduced ourselves, chatted about the genre of books we enjoy (or don’t care for), and talked about the structure of the group. The biggest problem was figuring out what to do with all the food everyone generously brought.

 

If you don’t have the space or you’re not keen on hosting at your place, look for a local restaurant or coffee shop where the noise levels work with having conversations. I’ve found round tables work better for group discussions than rectangular ones.

 

3)   Figure out how to pick your books and if there are rules

 

We opted for five rotating genres: Book Club Picks, Suspense/Thriller, General Fiction, Historical Fiction and “Wild Card” where anything goes. We plan the books two months ahead, and members make suggestions on which we vote afterward, so it’s always a consensus. Having themes means we read a variety of genres, and don’t have the same genre multiple months in a row. Other options could be whoever leads the meeting picks the book, or pulling book suggestions from a hat.

 

Will your club have rules? For example, do members have to finish the book to join the discussion (ours don’t). See what works best for your group.

 

4)   Create an online group

 

While I initially managed all communication via email, it was much easier to shift everything to a Facebook group. The group is hidden, meaning only book club members have access, and I scheduled all our events for the year so everyone had the dates well in advance. The online group is also an easy place to share information about where we buy or from which library we borrow the books.

 

5)   Invite authors

 

Admittedly, this is easier to do when you’re an author and you’ve made connections with other writers, but you might be surprised by how many authors love to be book club guests. Fortunately, with the wonders of technology you can beam them straight in via e.g. Zoom.

 

Whether they charge for their time depends on the author, but regardless, sharing photos and positive reviews of their novel on social media will be greatly appreciated.

Just do me a favor, please? Ask your book club members to withhold negative comments about the author’s work until after the author has left the discussion. Instead, focus on e.g., how they crafted the story, what research they undertook, which scene they had the most fun writing, and if they’d considered an alternate ending or title.

For a list of 101 questions to ask authors, click here, and if one of your group members forgets to be kind, gently jump in and recalibrate the conversation.

 

Still unsure about inviting an author? Two initiatives, https://invitd.ca/ and www.theauthorsbookclub.ca connect book clubs with writers who are happy to join your meeting—all you need to do is ask.

 

6)   Ask for help

 

I have the great fortune of having branched out into writing romantic-comedies as well as my annual thrillers. That means I have two books publishing this year — The Revenge List (thriller) on May 23, 2023, and The Christmas Wager (romantic-comedy penned as Holly Cassidy) on September 26, 2023.

 

Writing two books a year means I must cut down on other things, and when I mentioned this to the group, two of the book club members immediately volunteered to take over. I can now attend as a member only without having to worry about all the coordination, and it’s been great to have fresh leadership.

 

When you create your book club, it’s worthwhile considering who’ll co-lead the group with you, so you don’t have to manage everything all alone.

 

Do you have a book club? How did yours start, how long ago, and what other tips can you share?

 

HANK: I was in a book club once, and it was great, and we all got to choose books. (When it was my turn, I chose one of my dear and forever favorites, Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton. Reds and readers, they all hated it. HATED. Anyway. We parted ways soon after, because I was about to be on the other side of the chat!

 (And to find the perfect book, there’s also https://novelnetwork.com/ which will connect your club with 128 fantastic authors! Check it out.)

(And oh, we can all tell funny-now stories about questions we’ve been asked. SO true, dear Hannah!) 

But now, in this life as an author, I give thanks for book clubs every day.  And  we’d love to hear more about YOURS! 

Hannah Mary McKinnon was born in the UK, grew up in Switzerland and moved to Canada in 2010. Her suspense novels include THE NEIGHBORS, and bestsellers HER SECRET SON, SISTER DEAR, YOU WILL REMEMBER ME, NEVER COMING HOME, and THE REVENGE LIST.

She has also written the romantic comedy THE CHRISTMAS WAGER as Holly Cassidy.

Hannah Mary lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her husband and three sons.

Connect on Facebook and Instagram @hannahmarymckinnon, and on Twitter @HannahMMcKinnon. For more, visit www.hannahmarymckinnon.com

What We're Reading

DEBORAH CROMBIE: We had so much fun with our "recommends" yesterday I thought we'd extend our chat to WHAT WE'RE READING–always a big fave here on Jungle Red. We love nothing more than talking about our latest finds.

I'll start with BLOOMSBURY GIRLS by Natalie Jenner. Set in 1949 London in a bookshop in Lamb's Conduit Street (the location of Duncan's police station in the present day–how could I not want to read this book?) three very different women navigate a changing world.

The male characters are very well done, too, and lots of famous literary figures are woven into the plot. I loved this book so much that I read Jenner's previous (and debut) novel,  THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, as there is some character and plot crossover. I enjoyed it, too, although I didn't adore it as much as BLOOMSBURY GIRLS.

Another big thrill for me was a new book by Ella Risbridger–you may remember me raving about MIDNIGHT CHICKEN last year. This one is called THE YEAR OF MIRACLES and is ostensibly a cookbook, but it is so much more. The subtitle is "recipes about love + grief + growing things) and is a journal of Risbridger's year following the death of her partner. It's also an accounting of the first year of the pandemic, as it begins in January, 2020. Risbridger's writing is absolutely gorgeous and it's a very inspiring and affirming book. The book is beautiful, too, so I'd highly recommend the hardcover. It will be a keeper even if you never cook a single recipe. (NOTE: It won't be released in the US until July 26th but it is out in the UK and you can order from Book Depository. It's fast and no more expensive.)

And one more! I somehow ran across a book called THE NOTHING GIRL by Jodi Taylor. We've mentioned her CHRONICLES OF ST. MARY'S series before, as Julia and I are big fans. Do not be put off by the invisible talking golden horse!! This is a gem of a novel about an isolated young woman who agrees to marriage as a business proposition and gets much more than she bargained for. It's laugh-out-load funny, touching, suspenseful, AND it's on Kindle Unlimited at the moment!

I also thoroughly enjoyed Connie Berry's latest Kate Hamilton mystery, THE SHADOW OF MEMORY. This series just gets better and better. Connie will be here Thursday to tell us more!

LUCY BURDETTE: I’m betwixt and between. I have just finished Alicia Bessette’s SMILE BEACH MURDER and I hate to leave the Outer Banks! Last week I hated leaving Julia Child’s Paris. I have a lot of books ordered, including Krista Davis’s newest and Sarah Stewart Taylor’s newest and Paula Munier and Kristan Higgins, and I have a million books on my nightstand. But still, sometimes it’s hard to dive into something brand new. Any recommendations for THE PARIS LIBRARY or THE TASTE OF GINGER or FENCING WITH THE KING?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Absolutely do not miss Sulari Gentill’s THE WOMAN IN THE LIBRARY.  It’s a meta-literary mystery and I cannot say anything more, but just–read it.

Along those same lines, ish, THE APPEAL by Janice Hallett. Those books both delve into the workings of a writer’s mind, and a reader’s too, and they’re marvelous and hilarious and brilliant, both of them.  And I am getting ready for THE MURDER RULE by Dervla McTiernan.   Also LOOK CLOSER, by David Ellis, one of my favorite authors ever. And I am reading JAMES PATTERSON by James Patterson–in preparation for interviewing him in June!  Reds and readers, this autobiography is AWESOME and wonderful and charming and unique.

DEBS: Hank, what fun! I sat next to James Patterson at the Bouchercon Dallas GOH dinner, and he was so nice. A very charming and interesting man.

JENN McKINLAY: I’ve been enjoying a wild variety lately. ALLOW ME TO RETORT: A Black Guys Guide to the Constitution by Ellie Mystal. Fascinating book mostly about the amendments and why they need to be revisited. DOUBLE SHOT DEATH by Emmeline Duncan.

A terrific cozy mystery set in Portland about a coffee cart owning amateur that really captures the PNW vibe. THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS by Lisa Jewell. Delicious suspense novel about three families and deep dark secrets. So good! 

RHYS BOWEN:   Rhys, the blurb queen here. It seems like a never-ending stream. They are mostly good reading but sometimes I’d like to choose.

I’ve just finished another upcoming book to blurb called The Spying Eye by Michelle Cox.

Quite good

And now I’m embarking on a non fiction about women’s lives around the world called Women’s  Work by Megan K Slack. Fascinating so far.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: The heat has been climbing into the 70s and even 80s here in southern Maine, I've been mowing daily for the past five days (yes, I have that much lawn) so for me, it's beach read time! First up, THE HOMEWRECKERS by Mary Kay Andrews. If you've ever read her, you know she describes home renovation and decorating like a dream, and when I saw she had come up with that's basically about a young widow getting her own HGTV-like show, you know I had to have it. 

Next on my TBR pile, NEVER COMING HOME, a delicious domestic thriller from Hank's First Chapter Fun buddy, Hannah Mary McKinnon. Here's the start of the jacket copy:

Lucas Forester didn't hate his wife. Michelle was brilliant, sophisticated and beautiful. Sure, she had extravagant spending habits, that petty attitude, a total disregard for anyone below her status. But she also had a lot to offer. Most notably: wealth that only the one percent could comprehend.

For years, Lucas has been honing a flawless plan to inherit Michelle's fortune. Unfortunately, it involves taking a hit out on her.

Sounds awesome! I love rich people behaving badly.

Finally, this summer's book from my friend Nancy Thayer, SUMMER LOVE. It doesn't feel like summer until I've read one of Nancy's tales of heartache and hope, set on the idyllic island of Nantucket. SUMMER LOVE is about a reunion of people in my age bracket, which I love, accompanied by their twenty-something kids, which my daughters love. Something for everyone.

HALLIE EPHRON: I’ve just started reading Susan Orlean’s ON ANIMALS. She’s a wonderful essayist, musing on everything from household pets (hers) to the animals we eat to her experiences keeping chickens and critters further afield (Moroccan donkeys)… and on and on. It’s a book for animal lovers and perfect for the summer because you can savor it in chunks.

 

READERS, what books have tickled your fancy lately?

Happy Hannah Day!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Well hey, couple of things today! First, breaking news! HER PERFECT LIFE is on sale today, for $1.99! And you can snap it right up for Kindle, Nook, Kobo or Apple. it’s s 80 percent off! (Isn’t that right?) Reds and readers, I really hope you will click and get a copy for yourself or a pal.. Every book makes a difference, and it really matters. Here’s a link. Tell your pals. End of sales pitch.

 

Also today, Happy Happy Birthday to one of my dearest best friends in the world, the incomparable Hannah Mary McKinnon.  Of course you know the two of us are partners in fictional crime on First Chapter Fun every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30 PM ET live on facebook and Insta, and some of you Reds and Readers are beloved members of the Funster family, and we are incredibly grateful. Today is episode 262! 

 

Hannah is rockstar brilliant, and her new book Never Coming Home is out in two weeks.  It’s darkly hilarious, completely sinister, and incredibly original. And you are all invited to the launch party!

 

She has a fascinating past, and now she’s realized that past gave her a secret weapon for her current work! 

 

(And see if you can get some clues about the riveting NEVER COMING HOME from this piece she wrote just for us.)

  

Embracing Research

   By Hannah Mary McKinnon

 

Many years ago, when I worked in IT recruitment as a Chief Operating Officer, I sat in a meeting during which we decided to open a subsidiary in Frankfurt. I lived and worked in Switzerland, and while I’d frequently traveled to Germany, I had zero knowledge of setting up a company there. My boss asked if I’d take on the project. “Absolutely!” I said, which I meant wholeheartedly, and I couldn’t wait to get started. After all, during a recent performance appraisal we’d chatted about how much I loved being thrown into new situations and figuring stuff out.

 

It seems the thrill of cannonballing into the deep end has stuck around and translated into my being more than a little willing to shove my characters in unknown territory, too. This involves them doing dark deeds, getting the ultimate revenge, and committing murder, mind you, not working on administrative logistics like I did, but the approach remains the same: I need to do research.

 

As a crime writer, this takes me down some pretty dodgy cyber rabbit holes, and I get to have some, uh, interesting conversations I’ll bet have resulted in my being flagged by security agencies. For my third novel, Her Secret Son, I called a school board in Syracuse, asking if I could register a kid without a birth certificate. “Who did you say you were?” the woman asked, her voice going up a few notches. “And why are you asking?” She hung up shortly afterward despite my reassurances of, “Honest, ma’am, I’m an author, I promise.” 

 

Then there was the time when an employee at poison control swiftly pointed out that, no, she couldn’t tell me if a particular concoction would kill someone…but she did ask which of my books I recommended, so I hope the chat broadened my audience.

 

My most devilish research was for my latest novel, Never Coming Home, which is written exclusively from the antagonist’s point of view. At the start of the book, Lucas Forester is about to inherit a lot of money. His wealthy mother-in-law is dying, and his wife, Michelle, is missing—presumed dead. Lucas already knows Michelle’s never coming home because he hired a hitman on the dark web to get rid of her. All he needs to do is play the desperate, grieving husband and wait for the cash to roll in…until someone thwarts his plans, and all hell breaks loose, of course.

 

Writing from the antagonist’s perspective was unique in many ways. In particular, it made me think like a criminal for the entire duration of the novel, slipping into the shoes of someone who wants to get away with murder while pretending to care about the victim. Oh, and I should mention that tricky hitman business. Like most, I’d heard about the dark web, but didn’t know the details, so I listened to various podcasts about its history and current state, which I found both fascinating and disturbing in equal measure. I also spoke to crime author Drew Murray, who shared more details. I didn’t venture on the dark web though. That was a step too far, even for me.

 

I did however have a few conversations with crime writer Bruce Robert Coffin, a retired police detective sergeant and bestselling author of the Detective Byron Mysteries. He’s always my go-to when I’m thinking about (fictional!) murder and has helped make many of my plots even more cunning. After I’d described Lucas’s plans, and how he’d always stay three steps ahead of the cops, I’ll admit to feeling pretty chuffed when Bruce paused, chuckled, and said, “If I didn’t know you’re an author I’d worry because you’ve thought of almost everything”—and then he gave me another few tips.

 

Some may find research is a solitary experience, but for me this isn’t the case. It probably helps that I’m not shy. For example, when I needed input from a family lawyer, I filled in a contact form for a firm I’d found online and got a call from the senior partner ten minutes later, a charming man who was delighted to give me the skinny on adoption laws. 

 

Then there was the funeral director I contacted via Facebook, and who gave me ideas about hiding a body at a cemetery (I haven’t used the info yet, but I hope to in a future book). A friend connected me with an ER physician with whom I spent an hour on the phone and who thought it was a lovely break to discuss my musings because nobody real got hurt. More recently, I corresponded with a pediatrician, who said she’d jokingly entered a sweepstakes with her family about my including her in the acknowledgments. I told her I’d go one better, and named, and styled my family doctor character after her, ensuring she’d win the bet.

 

When I conduct my research, it’s often so much fun I have to force myself to stop and refocus on my manuscript. People always surprise me with their generosity and willingness to help, it’s truly extraordinary. So, if you’re ever wondering if you should try to connect with someone when you’re attempting to figure something out for your books, don’t hesitate. You’re not making a sales call, you’re not asking them to part with their money—you’re requesting their assistance, knowledge, and expertise, something many individuals are more than willing to do, and they’re often flattered you asked.

 

As I sat in that corporate meeting all those years ago and agreed to figure out how to open an office in Frankfurt, I’d never have considered it training ground for my career as an author. But looking back, there’s no doubt that it was, so thanks again, Boss!

 

HANK:  How about you? Got a fun research experience you want to share? And did you notice--Hannah wrote this book from the antagonist's point of view! Wow! What do you think about hat?

Tell us in the comments! 

 

 

Hannah Mary McKinnon was born in the UK, grew up in Switzerland and moved to Canada in 2010. After a successful career in recruitment, she quit the corporate world in favor of writing. While her debut, TIME AFTER TIME, was a rom com, she transitioned to the dark side thereafter. Her suspense novels include THE NEIGHBORS, and bestsellers HER SECRET SON, SISTER DEAR, YOU WILL REMEMBER ME, and NEVER COMING HOME. Hannah Mary lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her husband and three sons. Connect on Facebook and Instagram @hannahmarymckinnon, and on Twitter @HannahMMcKinnon. For more, visit www.hannahmarymckinnon.com

 

NEVER COMING HOME

 

First comes love. Then comes murder.

Lucas Forester didn't hate his wife. Michelle was brilliant, sophisticated and beautiful. Sure, she had extravagant spending habits and that petty attitude, a total disregard for anyone below her status. But she also had a lot to offer. Most notably, wealth that only the one percent could comprehend.

 

For years, Lucas had been honing a flawless plan to inherit Michelle’s fortune. Unfortunately, it involved taking a hit out on her.

 

Every track was covered, no trace left behind, and now Lucas plays the grieving husband so well he deserves an award. But when a shocking photo and cryptic note show up on his doorstep, Lucas goes from hunter to prey.

 

Someone is onto him. And they’re closing in.

 

Told with dark wit and a sharply feminist sensibility, Never Coming Home is a terrifying tale of duplicity that will have you side-eyeing your spouse as you dash to the breathtaking end.

 

 

 

Website:                      www.HannahMaryMcKinnon.com

Facebook:                   www.facebook.com/HannahMaryMcKinnon (@hannahmarymckinnon)

Instagram:                   www.instagram.com/HannahMaryMcKinnon/ (@hannahmarymckinnon)

Twitter:                       www.twitter.com/HannahMMcKinnon (@hannahmmckinnon)

Goodreads:                  www.goodreads.com/author/show/15144570.Hannah_Mary_McKinnon

BookBub:                    www.bookbub.com/authors/hannah-mary-mckinnon

Contactin.bio:             https://HannahMaryMcKinnon.contactin.bio

First Chapter Fun        www.firstchapterfun.com