If you missed Tuesday night's live discussion with Ashley Ream about her debut novel Losing Clementine, you can listen to (or download) the podcast now. Thanks to Ashley for being our guest, to Mary for hosting and to everyone who joined in the discussion!
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Just a reminder that our Book Club Girl on Air show with Ashley Ream to discuss her debut novel Losing Clementine is tomorrow, Tuesday, April 10th at 8 pm ET!
Set your reminder for the show here and return to that same link live tomorrow evening to participate. During the show you'll be able to ask questions of Ashley by sending in questions via the chat session (you can also chat with other listeners in the chat session). Or you can call in and ask Ashley questions directly by dialing 347-945-6149.
Be sure to register on the site (select "free account" under the first 3 options you see) before 8 o'clock tomorrow to be sure you can participate in the chat from the beginning of the show.
Check out the reading group guide before the show. Can't wait to talk to all of you tomorrow night!
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I'm so pleased to welcome Ashley Ream to Book Club Girl on Air on Tuesday, April 10 at 8 pm ET to discuss her debut novel, Losing Clementine! Ashley was also kind enough to answer a few questions for us about book clubs, her favorite books, and her experience with Sisters in Crime. Read on for our Q&A and for more details about the show!
Q: What has been your experience with book clubs in your life thus far?
A: I belong to a book club. We meet once a month and rotate who chooses the book. Because we don't vote, the selections are very eclectic, as are the book club members. We have business women, a geneticist and even a television show director. And we've read everything from Victorian literature to werewolves. Whoever chooses the book is responsible for arranging the accompanying meal.
Q: Why do you think discussion is such an important part of the reading experience?
You're looking for the "I never thought of that!" moment. Because we're such a diverse group, we have very different perspectives. The geneticist and I are the dearest of friends, but I promise you her brain works much differently than mine.Q:You spent many years working as a newspaper reporter. How did your taste in books and time for reading change after you decided to pursue writing fiction full-time?
I actually don't write fiction full-time. After leaving newspapers, where I did everything from reporter to copy editor to graphic artist, I eventually found myself in the nonprofit world, which I love. That's my full-time day job. I write books at night. It's an incredible amount of work but an incredible gift to make a difference in your community all day and then live out your novelist fantasy the rest of the time. It also feeds my creativity. I meet people from all cultures and classes with different perspectives and different struggles, which makes me a much better writer. Believe it or not, I still find time to read every day, but I'm much pickier now. I won't waste time on a book that's not for me -- unless it's for book club.
Q: How has your experience with Sisters in Crime changed your perspective as a reader?
I started out writing unpublished mysteries, which is how I got involved in Sisters in Crime. Although I eventually found my voice writing general fiction (or up-market fiction, as my agent calls it), I learned a lot about what keeps a plot moving from my mystery days. I'm told my books read very fast, which is due entirely to those lessons. I used to read a lot more mysteries than I do now. Now I read my friends' books and more general fiction and non-fiction. Right now I'm reading a book about the history of the universe. Maybe the geneticist is having an effect on me.
Q: What are your favorite books to read and discuss?
I like to discuss books where the characters are challenging and there's plenty of not-so-obvious metaphor to get our teeth into. Most recently, my book club read The Epicure's Lament by Kate Christensen. We had a very good time peeling back the layers of that one.
I have 10 copies of Losing Clementine to give to the first 10 people who comment below that they can participate in the show on Tuesday, April 10th at 8 pm ET! Set your reminder for the show, read the first chapter, and check out the reading group guide. More more with Ashley Ream, visit her website, become a fan on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.
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