For Our Readers

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our readers. Without you we wouldn't need to write. This past weekend I went to a literary festival in Dahlonega, Georgia. I met a lot of fellow authors but the highlight was meeting some of my readers. I met several people who had read my books and I met new people who bought my books and would be reading them for the first time. I was thrilled when a young lady came to my table and ask me if I was the author of Death in Dahlonega, Murder in Marietta and Terror on Tybee Island. She had read two of the three books and wanted to meet me. Here is a picture of this sweet young lady.

While I was there I was able to eat lunch with the Book Ends book club. These ladies have read all three of my books and invited me to lunch with them. I was thrilled to be invited. I want to thank each and every person who's read any of my books and offered me support over the past few years. It never fails to encourage me when a fan tells me how much they enjoyed reading about Trixie and Dee Dee. I instantly want to go home and start writing. Writing is lonely and takes a lot of will power to sit down and write. If you haven't encouraged your favorite writer please take the time to do so. You don't know how much a few words will encourage them and give them the extra push to keep writing.



Deborah has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, since 2001, for the historical magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published during this time. Her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails” edited by Olin Jackson. She has also had a showing of her photographs at Floyd Medical Center Art Gallery as well as winning several awards. Her debut cozy mystery "Death in Dahlonega", a winner in the ACFW Category Five Writer's Contest, is now available. She is a current member of the Georgia Writers Association, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Deborah has been nominated for Georgia Author of the Year 2012. She has an established blog, Butterfly Journey, where she reviews Christian Fiction. You can also catch her at
Sleuths and Suspects, where she reviews mysteries. She also contributes to the Cozy Mystery Magazine every other Tuesday. 

Starting A Book Club

I've really enjoyed going to book clubs and meeting all the ladies. I thought some of our readers might want to start one of thier own. Here are some suggestions to starting one. I've added a couple of pictures of clubs I've been to.

 

 

How to Start a Book Club - 10 Easy Steps

By Molly Lundquist

So you want to start your own book club? Terrific! Book discussion groups are great ways to make new friends, keep in touch with old ones, discover new books, and have meaty conversations. To help you get organized, simply follow these 10 steps and you'll be on your way!

1. Decide what kind of a club you want to be-do you want to be seriously academic with a heavy emphasis on book discussion and minimal social chat? Or do you enjoy the social bonding aspect of a book club-food, wine, personal sharing-and want to keep discussions shorter, light and fun? Probably, it's somewhere in between the two.
2. Decide what kind of books you want to read-do you enjoy reading the older classics or contemporary novels? Challenging works or somewhat lighter? Perhaps poetry, plays, or nonfiction-history, biographies, travel stories, current events. What about specific genres-detective/mystery, romance, inspirational, science fiction or fantasy? Perhaps you're eclectic-you like a variety of genres.
3. Choose three friends who share similar reading tastes and ways of approaching book discussions-that's important. You all want to be on the same page, so to speak. Each one of the three should ask one or two others, for a total of 7-10 members. It doesn't matter if you don't all know each other; in fact, it's more fun if you don't. And start small-you can always add new members when you want, though it's good to stop at 16, a maximum number for most book clubs.
4. Choose when and where to meet. Once you all get together, pick a day and time of the month that works with everyone's schedule. Some clubs meet in the evenings, after work; others on weekends. Those who are at home with children, or retired, find midmornings or lunchtime best. The most important thing is to establish a schedule and try to stick to it.Then, of course, decide where you want to meet. Most clubs meet in each others' homes or restaurants. Others find rooms in local libraries, Y's, or other more public places. Or you may decide to become a library-sponsored group, in which case you will always have a good source of fresh new members.
5. Decide about food. There will be food, right? Of course. Do you want just appetizers or desserts...or do you want full meals? And who prepares the food-does every member bring a dish...or does each member cook once a during the year? Maybe it's brown bag lunch or a potluck supper. Think, too, about having themed food to match your book-feature food from Afghanistan when you read A Thousand Splendid Suns. Look for Book Club Recipes on the web to give you ideas.
6. Decide how to select your books. Most clubs use one of two basic methods-voting or rotation. The voting begins with members making book suggestions, followed by discussion, and then a vote. The process can be as formal or informal as you want. The rotation system means that every member gets a month to choose a book. Both methods have their strong suits...and their drawbacks. Choose two or three books at a time so members can read at their own pace. Many clubs choose all their books for the year at one meeting, but that ties clubs into a rigid schedule...and it's unfair to members who had to miss the one meeting.
7. Give yourselves a name. And be creative: some of my favorites are The Happy Bookers...or First, the Food Book Club...or The Brooksville Book Babes.
8. Send out monthly reminders for every meeting. Don't rely on peoples' memories. Use email, phone or postcards, so make sure you keep an up-to-date contact list.
9. Keep a journal. It's a nice way to keep track of all the books you've read and what you thought of them. You might include photo highlights of special meetings or trips to hear an author speaker.
10. Give back to the community. Collect dues and donate books to your local library, or sponsor a scholarship for youngster in a literacy program. Schedule reading times for nursing homes patients.

 

 

 



 

 

HAPPY READING!

 

 

 

: Deborah Malone’s first novel Death in Dahlonega, finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Category Five writing contest! Deborah was also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year in First Novel category. She has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, for the historic magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published, and her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails,” edited by Olin Jackson. She is a member of the Georgia Writer’s Association. As a current member of the American Christian Fiction Writer she has established a blog where she reviews Christian Fiction.