July Book Club

Claiming Moon

I’m writing this book club for you on the beach near my home in Northumberland. Tomorrow I am taking my children on a holiday to France to explore lavender fields and the world of Vincent Van Gogh. All of this ties in beautifully with the theme for Claiming Moon, which is the chapter in Twelve Moons where I manage to escape with my daughters to the far north of Scotland on a wild adventure.

If you haven’t read Twelve Moons, it is structured so that it covers a year in my life, and each chapter is named after the moon I write under. This bookclub has been created as a way to connect with readers and writers and share some special extras and inside information about the writing of my book, as well as further exploring some of the themes within it.

Lots of readers have told me they are reading the book chapter by chapter, under different moons, slowly and intentionally. Others have gobbled it up in less than 48 hours. Many of you are enjoying the audiobook, recorded on two chilly days in a Newcastle basement. Others have written to me to tell me they are going to read it with friends in a book group. So many different ways to absorb one story.

When I really get into a book I want to delve deeper, try to understand where the story came from and consider why it has affected me. What is it about these words that has made me feel this way? This Substack bookclub offers you the opportunity to meet other readers and writers and dive into a different world. Get cosy with a drink and maybe a cat on your knee. Join me every month to think about the big stuff. Ask me questions, tell me your stories. Each monthly bookclub includes the following:

• A video of me reading an extended extract from Twelve Moons

• Written words about themes within the book

• Background information about my creative process during the writing of the book

• Writing prompts

• Q&A opportunities

• Creative recommendations

• Archived book club episodes

Claiming Moon is the seventh chapter in Twelve Moons. It is summer, and I am feeling lighter. The Mermaid’s health is improving and there are less restrictions on social distancing so we can escape from Northumberland on a holiday. I am used to travelling alone with my four daughters, but I still feel ‘other’, and wonder how long it will feel until I am comfortable in my brave new world. My divorce has yet to be finalised, and the after effects of my messy marriage continue to take their toll.