Dear Book Club Members...

Some of my most rewarding and memorable moments as an author have been when book clubs have invited me to attend their discussions.
I feel a unique connection when I encounter a group of women who have poured hours of their life into reading and discussing my books. I am amazed by the questions they ask me and the reactions they share with me, and how all of a sudden we are laughing and then we are crying, and by the end we are hugging. Books do this to women. They bring us together.

Although I am unable to attend as many book clubs as I would like, if you belong to a group and you've chosen Sanibel Scribbles, Portion of the Sea, or Sand in My Eyes for your next discussion, I would love to be a part of it by answering a question or two via email. I can't promise to fulfill all the requests, but I will do my best.

And to make your gathering extra special, here are few themed ideas to consider:

• All of my novels take place on Sanibel Island, the tropical island where I live. Wouldn't it be fun if all the women wore flip flops to your discussion, and if there were a few island-style decorations?
• If you choose to discuss Sanibel Scribbles, there is the "Scribbling Your Dreams Activity." Provide each woman a white paper placemat and crayons, and as you play a classical song, have them scribble the dreams and goals they have for their life-whatever comes to mind that they want to do before they die. Then have each woman share one or two things they've scribbled down.
• Should you pick Sand in My Eyes, flowers are a central theme-how they all have something to say to us. For example, roses represent rest in order to bloom again, and orchids remind us women how strong and resilient we are. Ask each woman to bring flowers. If your group is small, they can hand one flower out to each woman so each will go home with a variety of flowers. Or, if your group is large, have them bring one flower and go around the circle, having each woman place their flower into a vase in the middle, saying one thing their particular flower represents to them.
• If your group is discussing Portion of the Sea, have them close their eyes, and as you play a song, have them imagine themselves picking up the paddles of a little boat and rowing out to their very own Portion of the Sea to reclaim the treasures they thought they lost for good and the ones they want to reclaim. Provide them paper and a pen should they want to write anything down and when the song is over, they can share if they like.

I would be honored if your book club chose one of my books for discussion and would love to hear about how you made your event special!

Sincerely,

Christine Lemmon