(View entire post here)

As a social butterfly type who apparently didn’t think through the 95%-of-the-time-spent-in-isolation aspect of writing when I chose my career, book group visitations are a fabulous development. For some of us, in fact, they’re as rewarding as a paycheck: a group of friendly, literate strangers, a wine glass in every hand, a coffee table groaning with food, everyone assembled to talk about—well, a book that’s certainly interesting to me! Of course, the ideal group is sixteen women who loved the book and bought extra copies to get signed and pass on as Christmas and birthday presents, but I have to admit I even enjoy the opposite extreme: four retired English teachers who’ve all shared a library copy and have one or two problems with some plot points. Inevitably, I can’t help but appreciate the care with which they’ve read the book, and the reminder that there are careful, smart readers out there.