Virtual Book Clubbing is A-OKAY

New in town? Too hard to get the girls or your book club together for a discussion? Too much stress to gather at someones house? The act of sharing with others is an important one. We can usually find a way to do the things we really want to, but then again coordinating several folks for the same date is sometimes just too big of a challenge.

Be innovative.

FACEBOOK OR TWITTER:: Use your facebook account or twitter for a chat. If you use twitter, set up a hashtag like #WedNiteBookClub or something so everyone can find the conversation easily. Facebook is easy because you can post and then everyone can just pile on.

POSTCARDING:: Set up the book club right down to the "date", but rather than get together everyone in the club sends a postcard or card to each of the members with their thoughts. Good OLD FASHIONED mail ... it has a nice appeal.

YAHOO GROUPS:: You can always set up a yahoo group of your special friends. It's free and intuitive to use. You can even open it up to people you don't know.

SKYPE:: If your techno-savvy ... how about a skype meeting?

CONFERENCE CALL:: Did you know there are websites that offer free conference calls? Everyone will have to pay the long distance fee, but depending on your long distance terms ... that could be free, too. Try freeconferencecalls.com.

What's your solution?
I'd love to hear.
Nancy

Fa-la-la-lala Bon-Bons

For any holiday party, gift, or next book club meeting that you want to have a melt-in-your-mouth to-die-for chocolate treat . . .

This easy Chocolate Truffle will make you the star of the day.

You will need:
One Box Cake Mix (Dark Chocolate/Milk Chocolate - whatever your pleasure!)
oil and eggs as indicated on the box mix

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 cup apricot preserves (I promise you this is fab -- use it!)
1 tsp vanilla
2 pkg (8oz) semi sweet chocolate chips/squares

Step by Step:
Step One: Bake a chocolate cake following the directions on the box. Set aside and let cool.
Step Two: In a large pot slowly melt the butter.
Step Three: Add cocoa and sugar. Stir until smooth and glossy.
Step Four: Crumble the baked/cooled cake into the mixture.
Step Five: Add the apricot preserves, confectioners sugar and vanilla to the pot.
Step Six: Mix well blended and moist.
Step Seven: Roll the mixture into one inch balls or form small cubes. (You could use small ice trays or candy forms if you are feeling adventurous.
Step Eight: Place in refrigerator to chill. This makes dipping the treat into chocolate easier!)

DIPPING and DECORATING:
Melt the semi-sweet chocolate over low heat and stir until smooth.
Dip truffles into melted chocolate and place on wax paper. Let stand for an hour.

*Decorating:
You can drop sprinkles across the top of the truffles, or I like to get white chocolate and drizzle or draw a swirly circle on top. A wreath or holly leaf with berries using different colored decorating gels is a cute holiday theme as well.
If you are feeling especially adventurous, roll the still moist truffle in coconut or chopped nuts. The possibilities are endless!

Place them on a plate and wrap with cellophane and a bow, use a tin, or a little chinese take out box.

Pass along and share the delight!
~Hugs and Happy Holidays
Nancy

Cheeseball Recipe - Easy, Quick and Yummy!

I made the Adorable Thanksgiving Project that I posted over the weekend. The little Gobbler's turned out so cute! I'm putting one at each placesetting and iced the name on the back of the striped cookie (tail).

Is Book Club right in the middle of a million other things and it's your turn to bring the snack?
-OR-
Are you joining others for dinner? Did they say, "No. Don't bring a thing, just yourself." But the hostess in you is saying . . . bring something!

Here's a quick fail-proof recipe for a cheeseball. You can do it in a quick hurry!

CHEESEBALL RECIPE
INGREDIENTS:
2 8oz Cream Cheese
1/4 cup finely diced peppers (Your choice red, green for Christmas and yellow, red for Thanksgiving makes it festive!)
2 TB finely chopped onion
1 8.5oz crushed pineapple (drained)
1 1/2 tsp season salt
2 C chopped pecans

What to do?
Plop all the ingredients (EXCEPT 1c of the chopped pecans) in a big bowl.
Mix the ingredients well.
Form into a ball (or several small ones or make a shape!)
Roll in the pecans.

All done. Serve with Crackers, Pita Chips or Pretzels.

Presentation Ideas::
Option 1-Wrap in clear plastic wrap and tie off with a ribbon, pipe cleaner or bag twistie
Option 2-Get a cutting board from the Dollar Store and place your cheeseball on that with a hand towel as wrapping. The perfect hostess gift.
Option 3-Place the cheeseball in a pretty bowl that you can leave behind
Have fun with it!
My favorite wrapping tool:: Wide wire ribbon. You can't go wrong. It always looks pretty.

Have a delightful time, and enjoy this scrumptious appetizer.

Books as Gifts

Tis the season we begin holiday shopping. The economy is still trying to recover and unfortunately I read just last week that Walden Books is closing 100s of stores in January -- several in my 100 mile radius.

It's a shame, but don't let those closing stores deviate you from giving books as gifts. A book can be::

a dose of humor when you're sad,

a reminder you're not alone,

a friend when you're lonely,

a teacher of something new,

a treasure when it touches your emotion,

make you slow down and find balance in this hectic world

or a weapon in a pinch if it's a hard cover - I always keep one by my bed! haha.

I was delighted to see that my own step children had books on their wish list this year. I bet the folks on your list would love one too. Young Adult is hot this year - help connect the youth on your list to an author.
Large Print can make the seniors on your list feel a renewed love for the written word.
eBook Readers can satisfy the techno-gadget guy or gal on your list, and then there's always just a good old paperback. Paperbacks fit perfect in most stockings!

Add a pretty wire ribbon (even a regular shoe string bow looks pretty with glittery wire ribbon!) and you're all set.

Happy Gift-Giving.

Book Club Innovation

You have your book club in place. The group has a steady group of folks that are getting together and sharing. Meetings are getting predictable. What special thing can you offer?

How about inviting an author to speak with you about one of the favorite reads this year?

No budget?

No worries!

With modern technology it's easier than ever to get an author to your book club meeting. If you're technically savvy, invite an author via Skype. You can chat and see each other :) If not, speaker phone is the next best thing.

You'll be surprised that most authors are thrilled to give you the gift of their time for a 30 minute or 60 minute book club visit. Many will even forward some bookmarks or trinkets to share at the meeting.

So go for it. Invite an author to visit with you!

I can promise when my books hit a shelf I'll be happy to provide book club questions, share a call with you and your club, and forward fun giveaways. If you'd like to stay connected on my progress toward publication, just go to www.NancyNaigle.com and click on the Contact tab. You can sign up (or even unsubscribe) right there.
Until that day comes --- I'm thinking of you and wishing you great fun and new memories at your Book Club Meetings.
Nancy

Something a little lighter - for a change of pace

Hi Folks
It's August and that means the summer is coming to an end, parents are getting their kids ready for school, and the rest of us are praying for a little relief in the weather.

With busy schedules, and balancing everything we wanted to get done over the summer, why not switch things up in your next BOOK CLUB meeting?

Find an eBook that you can download for $5 or less (Amazon has some shorts for just 49cents!!) and bring a little inspiration and motivation to the table.

Here's what I found to share. At just over 100 pages it's a very slim volume to have handy, or you can download it for just $5. It's a collection of short stories, blurbs and poetry inspired by the Bible. The one that caught my attention right out of the gate was the one on WORKING TOO MUCH. Do you resemble that remark, too?

So, share a little wisdom, and inspiration with your friends and make it an affordable meeting that will be lite and no-stress. I recommend having a couple dozen assorted Doughnuts for this meeting. (My favorite are good old Krispy Kreme glaze if you pop 'em in the microwave for just a few seconds. YUM)

Here's the link to Twelve is for more than just Doughnuts
by Phyllis Johnson
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/twelve-is-for-more-than-doughnuts/7474085

Have fun!

Book Club Summer Swap

Looking for a little something new to stir things up at your next book club meeting? I've got a fun idea.

Aside from the book of the month that you've all read and loved or hated --- bring a favorite summer read from your dusty bookshelf. Throw them all in a pile and either blindly take turns drawing or do a swap with them. That game where you pick a gift, and someone can steal your book or pick a new one is always a fun way to swap. If they steal yours your stuck with theirs.

Fun-fun-fun and a great way to add a new author to your list. Some of my favorite authors have come out of happy accidents just like this.

Swappin' Summer Fun!
Nancy

July Book Club Planner Fun

It's July, and I have a fun suggestion for you for your bookclub meeting this month.

For the hostess of this month's bookclub, everyone bring one flower from your garden, and if you don't have one make one out of toilet paper or pick a dandelion ;).

Even, dandelions and wild weeds can look pretty in a cluster. Treat your hostess to this free little smorgasbord of color to set the tone and smiles for the get-together.

How will you top it in August? How about everyone bring one piece of their favorite candy .... and your hostess will have a pretty pile of sweets.

Happy bookclubbing,
Nancy

Beach Reads

I'm long past the days of baking in the sun on the beach all summer, but I still love a good beach read.

Give me a story full of quirky characters that I feel so close to I think I need to send them a postcard when I go on vacation. And, give me a town that I can picture in my mind. I love those kinds of books.

Mary Kay Andrews, Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods are just a few of my favorite "community" reads and I can settle in with those on the beach, on the couch, in the summer, in the fall :) Now that I have a kindle I seem to read even more of them at a faster pace, too.

How about you?
What makes a book one of your favorites?
Nancy

Clever Titles

So maybe your club is one of those that doesn't like the structure of a discussion about the book that involves questions and answers. That's okay.

It's your club, it can be what YOU want it to be.

Here's a more relaxed alternative. Once everyone is gathered give everyone an index card or sheet of paper and have them rate the book. Use a 1-10 scale like your Dancin' With The Stars judges, or maybe a 1-5 star rating. Whatever works for you.

THEN -- rename the book. Get your wheels turning and come up with a great new title. Authors hardly ever get to keep the title they come up with. Marketing gets that honor. See if you can do better.

Have fun!
Can't wait to hear what you come up with.
Nancy

What will we talk about?

For some reason folks are always worried about what they will talk about at a book club meeting. Trust me. If you start with "Who liked the book?" things are going to roll right along. Books are like husbands, there's a perfect one for every reader but every reader won't like every one.

If you want some help, however, there is help out there.

Many of the publishers do a really good job of including Readers Guides or BookClub Notes for their books, and some authors take care of it on their own. Check out your author's favorite website. You might be pleasantly surprised that they'd be happy to send you some free bookmarks, have a link to a downloadable Bookclub Guide, or even offer to call in to chat about the book at your next meeting!

Authors work long and hard to bring those characters to life and get them on a shelf for you to enjoy. They'd love to hear from you, and know that they've touched your life, or sparked a memory for you.

In the link section below are a few places to start looking for reader guides.

If all else fails --- here are some basics.

Who liked the book?

What was your favorite character in the book?

Did you connect with any one place or scene in the book?

Is there a character in the book that reminded you of someone you know?

Talk about the cover art.

Did the blurb about the book hold up to the story?

Would you read another title from this author?

Have a great read!
Nancy

Self-Pub vs Big NY Pubs

You may have already heard about the self-pubbed top selling book, THE SHACK. If not, though, let me recommend it.

It's not a perfect write, but the messages are clear and deep and really leave you thoughtful and it's all done through a story that reaches your heart.

I'm not usually one to read those self-pubbed books, I tend to lean towards those I KNOW I'm going to love like the Mary Alice Monroe, Mary Kay Andrews, Nicholas Sparks, Carl Hiaasen, Barbara Delinsky, well okay so the list goes on ... but I know what I like and usually stick to it.

Anyway -- don't be afraid to wade out into something new. You may just find a wonderful new read.

Wishing you many friends and smiles through books,
Nancy

A Book by its Cover

A fun thing to discuss is the book compared to the cover art.

Did you know that most author's have very little influence in the cover art of their books? It's true. That's left to the marketing team and most of the time they do a fabulous job.

How do you think they did this time?

Did the cover make you pick this book to begin with?

Did the inside of the book deliver the goods promised?

Did you get what you expected?

After you read the book, did you look back at the cover and connect to the story?

What about the blurbs from other authors or reviewers...did that influence you one way or the other? Did you agree with the blurbs?

Does a certain color catch your eye? or foil letters? or pictures of dogs or landscapes?

Have fun chatting about the cover.
Happy Reading.
Nancy

Fun Snacks

How about making a Friendship Bread for a Book Club evening or morning treat? You've never heard of Friendship Bread? Oh my. You've been missing out.

It's an Amish recipe for a sweet cinnamon bread that you use a "starter" to make. (That's where the friends come in!) You can even snazzy it up with nuts or fruit for your own unique twist on things.

It's easy and yummy, too. You can get the starter recipe and several variations (chocolate and lemon, too) at the All Recipes website allrecipes.com

A nice pot of coffee or your favorite tea, and you're all set.
Have a great Book Club meeting.
Nancy

February Book Club Fun

February - the month of love, romance, and to-die-for chocolates!

Of course, this month will be a romance, right? What do you mean you don't read romance. Puh-lease. So don't pick up a historical if it's not your cup o' tea, or an erotic pub if it will make you blush, but there's romance in nearly every story you pick up. Even the occasional thriller. :)

So let's talk about the romance in your book club book this month. If you are determined there wasn't one --- then let's turn the discussion to who we COULD have hooked up! A little matchmaking never hurt anyone.

Have fun!

Happy New Year

It's 2009 and I can say I'm glad for the invention of the Debit Card ... because right about now I'd be trying to remember to write 09 on all checks and now I have one less worry :)

How about another one less worry --- what to read?

A fun and fair way to keep the list of books appealing to all is to have each member of your book club write a recommendation on an index card (okay, so they can have more than one card if their indecisive) then pull the book of the month from the hat. No bargaining, no discussion!

I'm currently reading THE SHACK. You've probably heard about this wildly successfully self-published book that has sold millions and millions. It's been a really good and thought provoking read. If it's not on your list, maybe you'll want to add this one.

Happy Reading.
Nancy