I’ve had a blast in the past few weeks, visiting with wonderful book club readers of Slivers.
Writing a novel is trippy. I still can’t believe I did it; following a thread of ‘what if’ from Surviving Sue, spinning a tale of familial intrigue and supernatural fun.
My mom, Sue, was ultra-intuitive. When the spirit (or slivers?) moved her, she could read people with great accuracy. She had a knack for people-pleasing and secret-keeping, too. Skills that worked well in tandem, pulling people close, gaining confidences. But if she was foiled, she’d deliver emotional blows in a tirade. Words spewing like kill shots. It didn’t take much…Sue could detect subtle shifts in unspoken thoughts and the tide would turn. Friends becoming foes in a blink.
Life with Sue. Great fodder for a first-time novelist, you see.
Writing Slivers allowed me to explore the ways in which secret keeping and spooky levels of intuitiveness are harmful across generations.
I’ve done three book clubs since the launch of Slivers and each time, I take meticulous notes about the scenes, characters and storylines discussed.
The night before a book club, I barely sleep…first day of school vibes. Excitement and curiosity about readers’ interests…what they enjoyed. What was memorable. What was forgettable or unnecessary, too. I crave all the input.
My Book Club Discussion prompts are a good starting point, and I make sure to send them in advance, with a reminder that I’m happy to receive feedback and listen in and/or answer questions.
I’ve got two “Peek Inside” segments to share with you today, thanks to book club chats: a revealing snippet about an unexpected, yet favorite character and feedback about a particular scene that sent me skyward, feeling blissful.
First up? Let me introduce you to a stuffed bunny named Suds.
Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 35, where we learn Suds is no ordinary toy:
Her five-year-old daughter’s behavior was creepy—talking to her dolls and her stuffed bunny, Suds. Too enticing. Sliver bait, Maggie worried. Especially if Suds and the dolls talked back.
“Stop that,” Maggie snapped, instantly regretting her bite. “I mean…please put Suds down. You’re fine, you’re just hungry. Annie was here and we’re making breakfast for all the kids! Mrs. Murphy had a little accident, but she’ll be fine. You and Suds, you can help me.”
Jane sat at the kitchen table, just as she had a zillion times before, but Maggie sensed a difference. A weariness in her little girl’s movement, cautiously patting the seat of the chair several times before she sat down, as if it was a mirage. Then she placed Suds in the chair to her left, propping him up and adjusting his placemat.
“Suds would like eggs, too, but no bacon.”
Maggie hadn’t said what she was making. Not to Jane, anyhow. With her back to her daughter and her bunny, Maggie nodded in reply but missed the moment. The exchange between Suds and Jane when they winked at each other.
“Katie’s coming over now, Mama.” Declarative—not a question. As soon as Maggie turned to say no, they were taking breakfast to the Murphys, Katie walked in and plopped without saying a word, glaring at Maggie. Five-year-old Katie had presence. The most disconcerting sort.
Jane stood and adjusted her chair so it was closer to Suds’s seat before grabbing the step stool and positioning it against the counter. Working together, Katie held the bottom legs as Jane climbed to get plates, handing them one at a time to her friend. Maggie watched the girls’ methodical movements, retrieving silverware and then napkins. Katie’s furrowed brow conveyed her concentration, doing her best to line up the forks next to the plates to please Jane, but Jane adjusted them anyhow before turning to Maggie. “Are you going to eat with us? Suds says you’re in a mood and will say no.”
Suds pops up periodically and we learn he’s more than fluff and stuffing, especially for our heroine, Jane.
Comments from Readers:
- “I loved Suds! Creepy and protective. If only I’d had a Suds as a kid.”
- “Jane talking for Suds is funny and spooky. Kids do that, don’t they?”
- “You write with whimsy. I hear your voice coming through.”
Next up? A look at one of the most unconventional relationships in the book.
Maggie and James try to make their marriage work, despite otherworldly interference. Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 42:
Turning off the lights in the kitchen and padding upstairs, she glanced at the attic door and saw James’s face, shadowy and outlined in the burled wood. Whispering and beckoning her to come closer.
“What the hell are you doing?” Maggie hissed. “Jane is right there—in her room!”
James’s head nodded. “I’m aware…but I’ve got intel. You and Allison and your barbeque schtick. You didn’t fool those kids—not for a second! Jane keeps pacing in the hallway —right here—walking by my door. She hasn’t detected much of anything, but she’s being drawn to the truth, Maggie.”
Tell me something I don’t know, she thought. Hoping he hadn’t heard. Placing her hand on the outline of her husband’s face, she softened. Longing for James in three dimensions, more than a narrator and part-time protector in their upside-down lives. Tracing his cheeks and chin with her index finger, she said, “You cannot do this again, my love. It’s too risky. You’re due back from a ‘trip’ soon. Can you pull yourself together so Jane can lay eyes on you tomorrow? It might quell some of what’s brewing. Change up your wardrobe, too.”
James closed his eyes, thinking. Maggie knew it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to materialize and they both knew his next appearance needed to be as convincing as possible.
The silhouette-that-was-James sighed. “We’ll see…I just never know what obstacles or interference I’m gonna face…you know what I mean. There’s a lot more ‘traffic’ for me to navigate.”
Gingerly moving her fingertip from her mouth to the outline of his lips, she gave James a kiss the only way she could. As convoluted as their situation was, she refused to get a splinter on her lips by planting a smooch on the damn door.
Comments from Readers:
- “The scenes with Maggie and James were so sad. I like how you wrote about Maggie’s heartache: Longing for James in three dimensions, more than a narrator and part-time protector in their upside-down lives.”
- “This visual was super cool: James’s face, shadowy and outlined in the burled wood. I could see it. His face appearing in the wood grain.”
- “Parts of your book read like a love story with bursts of humor. Maggie and James separated by the slivers? Her longing to kiss him? And Maggie refusing to get a splinter by kissing the door!”
You can imagine my delight. There’s nothing quite like receiving input about your creation. I’ve also received helpful, insightful notes about where the story lagged and sagged. Where I could’ve sped up or slowed down, to build more tension. I take it all in with gratitude!
How about a couple of book club pics? Thank you to my friend, Linda Kolbusz for arranging a memorable evening at the Palatine Public Library:
Book club discussions via Zoom are fun, too! I’ve had the honor of popping into two virtual discussions, talking to readers across multiple time zones.
So here we are. Thank you! If you’ve read Slivers and wouldn’t mind offering a review on Goodreads, I’d be mighty grateful. If you haven’t read, well…I’d love it if you would. Slivers is available exclusively in paperback from Eckhartz Press and you can learn more on my website, Atkinson Group Solutions.
If you’ve got a book club interested in reading, let me know and we’ll coordinate some fun.
Many thanks!
Vicki 💝
Hi – I’m Victoria, Vicki, Dr. Vicki. I hold a doctorate in Adult Education and I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and author of Surviving Sue and Slivers.
Check out this link to learn more about my book Surviving Sue – all about resilience and love. Check out this link to order Slivers…a ghost story with surprising twists. Click here for the interview with my publisher, Rick Kaempfer from Eckhartz Press.
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