Book club with Susan Gregg Gilmore and a giveaway
Last summer, I won an auction for six copies of The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove, a pound cake, and a visit or telephone call from author Susan Gregg Gilmore on the Do the Write Thing for Nashville web site . I was excited to win, but I also had a problem – the only book club I belonged to was online. I was at dinner with friends just before the books came and someone said, “We should start a book club.” I thought that was the perfect time to bring up my auction win. Everyone was excited and we quickly decided that we would give a book club a trial run. We recently held our very first meeting and were thrilled that Susan was willing to drive to join us. I have to admit to being a little bit nervous, though. What if no one liked the book or the conversation quickly dissolved to idle chit chat while the author sat in my family room with us? Well, it turned out that I worried for nothing!
Everyone in the book club loved The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove and its lovely author, Susan Gregg Gilmore. We talked about the book for almost two hours (we had so much fun we met for four and a half hours) and had a lively discussion about civil rights, family dysfunction, and several characters and plot points in the book. Our meeting was such a success, we’ve decided to continue with the book club, but I think it will be hard to top our first meeting. Check out the video I got Susan to make before she left:
While she was here, I got Susan to autograph copies of LOOKING FOR SALVATION AT THE DAIRY QUEEN and THE IMPROPER LIFE OF BEZELLIA GROVE for one lucky reader. To enter to win both books, simply fill out this entry form. Contest is open worldwide. I will use random.org to determine the winner. Contest ends at midnight EST Thursday, December 2, 201o. Winner will be announced on Friday, December 3, 2010. Comments are welcome (and appreciated) but will not get you an entry in the contest.
You are such a winner!
Thanks!
I love the video – it sounds like a lovely novel. And how nice to begin a book group because of it.
What a fabulous beginning. Thank you for sharing the video.
I LOVE SGG! I ran into her at a local bookstore a few years ago and she is just delightful. I’m actually headed to the store, today to pick up a copy of The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove. Thanks for this post and video!
Yay! I am so glad that this evening was a success for you guys! I am thrilled that you guys got the chance to meet for so long, and I know everyone just loved Susan, who is a great person, in my opinion!
What a great way to start off a book club!
Congrats on your book club success! It sounds like it was a ton of fun.
How nice that it all worked out so well! I don’t envy your club having to pick the next book — this great experience will be a tough act to follow, but that’s a good problem to have, I guess
Hurray, for your new book club, how exciting. I’m keeping my fingers crossed all your meeting are as successful. What a great giveaway, too.
This all worked out so well for you! What a wonderful way to start off your book club! I have read a bit about Susan Gregg Gilmore but your video is fantastic, thank you! Her book sounds so interesting, too.
~ Amy
I love how your book club came ot be and I am so glad it was a success! I have been dying to read both of these books and I thoroughly enjoyed the video! Thanks for sharing a piece of your visit with us.
Wow! How fantastic that you were able to hold this meeting and with the author — I love the video that the author did, it even more so makes me want to read this book! Happily entering the giveaway!
This is wonderful! Susan sounds like such a great author
What a great first book club meeting!
Sounds like you had a fun time.
What a fantastic beginning! I’m sure you girls will be able to keep the fun going without special guests. Lovely experience and hope there are lots more exciting meet-ups for you all
I’m so glad you found an in-person group to join together with. They all look like good readers – you know what I mean – their eyes are wide open and they look like they would just love to chat for hours about a great story.
I also like the video. I like how she described the story. I am going to read them.
Awesome on the book club…picture is so nice.
Thanks for sharing.
The book club looks and sounds like so much fun!
How fabulous, Kathy! This book sounds excellent. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
Kathy how great was that? I am so happy for you and your bookclub. Its nice to see a little peak into your home.
I have been eyeing her first book for awhile now so please count me in on the give away. Thanks for hosting it.
WOW! You have set the bar very high for your future book group meetings
What a blast … 4.5 hours of book group!
And, although I need more books like I need the proverbial hole in the head, I’ve entered your giveaway for the signed books.
Thanks, Kathy!
How neat Kathy! I haven’t even heard of these books before, but am now very interested. Thanks for sharing and I hope your new book club keeps going! Mine is such a joy!
I wish I lived in the area as your club sounds like a blast!
Wow, and what did you name your book blog!
)
It is so nice of the author to join you guys, I am sure this experience will be the best!
The video is great too, thank you.
Please enter me as well.
givingreadingachance AT gmail.com
I think it’s awesome that the meeting went so well. My book club tried an author meet-up once and it did not work out AT ALL. The author began to read from an erotic novel and was very good at reading it (if you know what I mean). I had to leave. I couldn’t keep a straight face.
No need to enter me in the drawing.
So cool to have her join you! What a great experience
What a terrific experience. Wow! And although I agree that it will be hard to top your first meeting, you had such a great start I bet the club is a success. I loved your exclusive video — I have Improper Life in my TBR — I guess I should move it up in my list.
What a fun experience! I enjoyed Looking for Salvation–would love to have met Gilmore.
I’m truly envious of your book club, but congrats on your first one. I just found out our library has one started, so I’m ok now! lol I hope its as fun and interesting as yours sounds.
I’d love to read Susan’s books and appreciate the entry in your giveaway. Thank you!
Blessings,
Sandee61
I love when all the pieces come together the way they did for you and your book club. So glad it was a rousing success!
What a great start to your book club and it will be hard to top that book club meeting! I enjoyed the video and look forward to reading one of Susan’s novels.
What an awesome way t o start a book club! You really are going to have a hard time topping that.
This is so good! Love that group photo. I wish for book club like that near my place too.
interesting video! Makes me want to read the book!
Now that’s an amazing inaugural of the book club!
What a great giveaway! I would be delighted to win! Good luck to all.
Wow, what a great way to start off a book club! Lucky you!