Hello Barb!! No, it is not Venus Day but Arbor Day (according to my bank whose employees were planting a tree in the park across the street from the bank branch--no pun intended! Thanks for the guest blog too!!

Julie Garwood has been doing phone-in's for Book Clubs who read her books, especially the latest, Fire and Ice. Try juliegarwood.com.

my book club has have many phone author conversations through the years.Frank Delaney (Ireland) Marisa de los Santos, (Belong to Me and Love Walked In), Andrew Davidson (The Gargoyle). Very fun and informative -- getting the authors' point of view. Some members who didn't like the book walked away liking the book after the conversation. Many other book clubs have used Reading Group Choices to set up phone author conversations -- Cassandra King, Masha Hamiltion, KIm Edwards, Barbara Delinsky, Chris Bohjalian. There are some general guidelines to assist the book club and the author have a lively discussion -- have a few questions, one member speak at a time, etc. SKYPE and web cams are becoming popular. Author conversations are great assets to the book club experience.

my book club has have many phone author conversations through the years.Frank Delaney (Ireland) Marisa de los Santos, (Belong to Me and Love Walked In), Andrew Davidson (The Gargoyle). Very fun and informative -- getting the authors' point of view. Some members who didn't like the book walked away liking the book after the conversation. Many other book clubs have used Reading Group Choices to set up phone author conversations -- Cassandra King, Masha Hamiltion, KIm Edwards, Barbara Delinsky, Chris Bohjalian. There are some general guidelines to assist the book club and the author have a lively discussion -- have a few questions, one member speak at a time, etc. SKYPE and web cams are becoming popular. Author conversations are great assets to the book club experience.

As an novelist, I love doing book club chats! I've talked about The Wednesday Sisters with groups all over the country, and in preparation for the launch of the paperback May 5, I've added a What Book Clubs Are Saying... page (at megwaiteclayton dot com) that includes photos of some of the groups I've visited, including one where I'm represented by the phone. I think it's something that works well both ways: for readers and writers.

Wow Barbara! How fun to have your guest blogger have an author at the Book Club meeting! Sure enjoy your blog!

I'll be doing virtual visits to readers groups when IMMORTAL OUTLAW come out in June. Full info is going out right now to group leaders and bookstore owners, but if there are any readers here who would like me to call or Skype in to their group, just pop on over to my website at lisahendrix.com and click on the Readers Groups page. You'll find a form especially for you, and we'll get a date lined up.

Don't be shy. I'd love to meet every one of you!