Book Club Visits
What a special day spent in Lake Lure with The Library Book Club. I had the pleasure of lunch with these ladies at La Strada, right on the shores of Lake Lure, and was excited to lead a book discussion of the book they read this month, On the Eighteenth of May! I loved every minute of my time with Marily and the group. Many thanks, ladies!
So many sweet, incredible women in this book club group! What a pleasure to hang out with them for lunch!
It is always such an honor to sign books for those who have read or have plans to read my novels, and I was pleased to even have a few of my new Wings Saga with me for this visit!
May 7th: Many thanks Shannon and Nicole of First Baptist of Cramerton for hosting a lovely ladies luncheon and book club in the beautiful new Discipleship Room for a talk about Of All the People in the World (Book 1 of The Wings Saga). That makes this little book club the FIRST to ever read and invite me in for that particular book (It’s been out in publication for only a month!). We enjoyed great food and fellowship, and the whole setting was relaxed and filled with love.
Make it stand out
April 22nd: Thank you so much to Tommie Paul and the lovely group of ladies in Elkin, North Carolina, who welcomed me so warmly to their beautiful town. We had a fun author talk at Dirty Joe’s Coffee Shop, and then after a hearty discussion and some Q and A, we headed to Reeves Historic Theatre (which is now an eclectic, beautiful cafe and event venue). We completed our day at Grassy Creek Winery, which has some of the most amazing “Guernsey Red” wine I have every tasted. What a fun day! Thank you to Jennifer and the Jonesville Library for sponsoring this wonderful event!
The awesome group of former teachers, principals . . . Jennifer, the local librarian (on the left), and just all around precious ladies!
Dirty Joe’s in Elkin was a perfect venue. Very relaxed and cozy on this slightly rainy day.
We were serenaded a lunch by a great band playing Highland music. I could have sat and listened to them all day!
Here I am with the “Paul sisters” trying out the wines at Grassy Creek. If you are in the area of Elkin, NC, do yourself a favor and make a stop at this winery and tasting room. The Guernsey Red was some of the most delicious wine I have ever tasted! (semi sweet, and almost like a port/dessert wine).
March 28th: I had SUCH A BLAST with “The Page Turners” Book Club in Forest City. The Club meets in the cutest Bead Shop I have ever been in . . . filled with craft kits and places to just lose yourself in exploring! Kelly Dale (owner of Off the Beaded Path) invited me, and I met such lovely members of the group. Others I had met before, like Pat Nanney, Peggy Bryant, Katie Loudermilk, and June Green, were also in attendance to help me feel right at home. This book club read Book 1 of The Broad River Trilogy: On the Eighteenth of May as their March book selection. I had the honor of leading a discussion on the book. Thank you, “Page Turners” for inviting me! Such a special evening! - JRS
I was so honored that they chose my book to read, and the whole group had great insight into the characters and plot, as well as wonderful questions!
The lovely Kelly Dale, owner of Off the Beaded Path. I brought her a hardback of my new book, Of All the People in the World, as a small token of my appreciation. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by and check out her amazing bead business! She’s also on You Tube!
June Green, with the book she won from the website last month!
Such a fun group - we laughed a lot!
January 3, 2023: Looking forward to being back in the mountains and spending time with the “Rutherford Readers”, who are spending time with On the Eighteenth of May (Book One in The Broad River Trilogy) this winter!
September 15th, 2022 - So excited to spend the afternoon with the Mt. Holly Book Club, a group that has been bringing together generations of book lovers for over 100 years! Melanie, Janice, and the many lovely women of this group welcomed me with yummy, sweet lemonade and a time of fellowship and fun. This was their first gathering since before COVID, and MiMi, Donna, Camille, Judy and the gang all seemed so happy to be back together. We talked a little about the trilogy, laughed about the challenges of getting people to leave reviews (“Please! Leave a review!) and just relaxed in the company of great friends. A few pics follow below . . . Thank you, ladies (And Gary!) for a most memorable and lovely afternoon! - JRS
Melanie Black was kind enough to give me a tour of the Mt. Holly Historical Society Museum. This is their Fame to the Name room, decked out in the school colors and emblems from the town’s traditional middle and high schools!
Camille visits the lovely refreshment table . . . and she also ended up getting a signed copy of Book One On the Eighteenth of May. Fingers crossed she enjoys it!
Educators, nurses, retirees . . . a great mix of beautiful ladies, together again after two long years!
Some of the sweet book club friends signing get well cards for others who couldn’t make it! Had so much fun with this lovely group! Keep in touch, friends! - JRS
June 27th, 2022 - What a delightful evening I enjoyed with “The Old Guard” book club for an in depth discussion of Book 3, In Fields of Daisies! I am so honored that this club, made up of school leaders (principals, district leaders), chose my book for thier June selection! Here are some fun pictures from our evening together. Thank you, Old Guard! And I congratulate you on the first year anniversary of your amazing group! - JRS
Hostesses Emily and Susan, wearing aprons from “Walt’s Bakery and Cafe!”
In true “Ella” style, chicken salad croissants, with daisy napkins!
The hostesses handing out candy for the fun game they had planned!
BINGO CARDS!
Principal Dawn leads the lively round of Bingo, all about In Fields of Daisies.
I was honored to sign a few books and hear some great feedback on the entire trilogy!
Such a close group of amazing school leaders and friends!
The amazing Jaime W - a school principal who read the entire trilogy and who even saw her name pop up in Book 3!
Thank you to “The Happy Bookers” Club for choosing Book 3, In Fields of Daisies, for their May selection, making them the first book club to read all three books separately! I am very honored!
May 21st, 2022 - I am so grateful to Teresa Pahutski and the ladies of “Ladies’ Morning Out” for inviting me to join them for their lovely Saturday brunch and Author Talk. Such a great group of sweet ladies who share so many memories together! And the food was delish! - JRS
Such beautiful decorations and lovely new friends at this morning brunch!
Teresa P - organizer extraordinaire and the leader who is able to keep this group together after so many years!
May 10th, 2022 - Thank you to Kathy Johnston and “The First Tuesday” Book Club for inviting me for your May meeting. I love the way this club chooses all 12 books ahead of time, then just rotates each month! A real cost-saver!
February 21, 2022 - THANK YOU to “The Babes with Books and Brains” Book Club for selected Book 2, Across the Broken Bridge for your book discussion. I had a great time hearing your questions and feedback about the story! And afterwards, “Babes” member Natalie Dunn and I had an “after party” to discuss it even more!
February 9, 2022 - What a joy to be back at Rumbling Bald Resort in February to be a guest at their Monthly Members Event. I made some lovely new friends, including Rebecca Cherry and Debbie Ray! And, I had the chance to reconnect with my dear friends, Bob and Pam Keith (who I usually only get to see at the annual August Olympiad!). Hoping to visit with this fun group again very soon.
I was so honored in November of 2021 to be invited to visit with one of the oldest book clubs in Gaston County, NC, “The Review Club.” And what an operation! They have a secretary, bylaws, and even minutes read from the last book club meeting. I enjoyed lovely carrot cake and sweet iced tea in a beautiful, historic home, and a great discussion of the first book of The Broad River Trilogy, On the Eighteenth of May, with a lovely group of women. Thank you to Price Thrower for inviting me, and to Mary Sumner for hosting this in her beautiful home!
April, 2021: Had such a great time with “The Happy Bookers” Book Club discussing On the Eighteenth of May! They had great questions and an amazing spread of food! Also, they later chose Across the Broken Bridge as their club selection, and I’m visiting again in May of 2022 for their discussion of In Fields of Daisies! I made so many new friends with this group, and I absolutely loved my time with them! Thank you Cindy Garrison, Amy Pearson, and all the ladies of this amazing fellowship!
