After this year’s Calabash Literary Festival, where I did three days of reading from my book Lulu: Adventures in a Dog’s Life, someone suggested I do a book club. I’ve never done a book club before, though I have been a participant in one.
I thought more about the idea, and thought it would be a great way to support the research I’m doing for my third book. I’ve decided to start the club in 2026, giving me enough time to organize, order books, and find members of the club.
I’m using ChatGPT as my virtual assistant on this project, and so far, I’m pleased with the help I’ve received. I started working on the flyer this week, and once I confirm the details, I’ll begin sharing it on the various social media platforms I belong to.
I’m excited about starting a book club, mainly because I know that reading books helps make me a better writer. Although my second book was a lot shorter than the first, I know that my storytelling has improved since 2013 when I wrote Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve!
I’ve read a lot more books since 2013 and written more than I did before writing my first book. Since then, I’ve written (almost) weekly blogs and have done paid freelance writing on a variety of topics.
The feedback from the various editors, and writing about topics from jet skis to the top ten espresso machines available on Amazon, has sharpened my writing skills.
I’m looking forward to reading books about Jamaican culture and discussing them with locals to gain a deeper understanding of the topics I aim to cover in my book. As I type this blog, even Grammarly has helped me sharpen my grammar usage and stop using so many passive sentences (they used to be my weakness)!
It’s been years since I’ve done any group activity, and this will be my second attempt in my new neighbourhood. The one thing I haven’t decided yet is whether the club will meet in person only or if people from far can participate virtually. In the next few weeks, I’ll be putting together a survey to gauge interest in virtual events. 🤓