For years, I have heard about Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella’s Big Book Club Party and had wanted to experience it to share more about it with our readers. Last weekend, they hosted their 13th annual event. On Saturday, my son Greg and I were invited to Lisa’s 44-acre farm in Pennsylvania to attend the first day of what is a two-day celebration of book groups. One hundred groups attended each day on Saturday and Sunday, bringing somewhere between 500 and 600 people each day to Willow Farm, which is the name of Lisa’s farm.

It was everything I hoped it would be --- and more.

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Last week, Carol Fitzgerald, President of The Book Report Network, was invited to join members of The League, a New York-based book group, as they met with author Daisy Goodwin and discussed her latest book, THE FORTUNE HUNTER. The event was hosted by St. Martin's Press, and was a wild success: "an easy, fun night." Here, Carol shares her thoughts on the experience, including some insight into Daisy's writing process, The League's book group background and feedback from the group about the book! Make sure to read all the way to the end to see The League's past reading list, as well as their "Reading Bank,"  a list of books that are suggested by members for more reading.

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A few weeks ago on Facebook, I saw author Brian Freeman mention that he was doing a book group event at a women’s prison, something he had done in the past. He mentioned that these readers asked some of the best questions that he has been asked when speaking with book groups.  Intrigued I asked this author of seven thrillers, the most recent of which is SPILLED BLOOD,  to share his thoughts on this experience with us.

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