Book Discussion Guide

I am always amazed how each reader focuses on something slightly different within the same book and comes away with different questions or conclusions. I suppose that is the power of our imaginations and our personal experiences at work. The exact same words can have many different meanings and nuances. I have received hundreds of letters from readers and I am often surprised by things they saw in my story that I hadn't seen! I don't own the words, I just put 'em down.

I answer a lot of questions but I don't often get to ask my own. Here are a few questions about Scribbler of Dreams, that if I had the chance to sit down with other readers, I would want to discuss and get opinions about.

1. Have you ever wondered about your own prejudices? Ever discovered ones you didn't know you had? I think we all can see biases in other people, but they are very hard to see in ourselves. I know I have them. We all do. Kaitlin gets a chance to recognize hers. Have you ever had an opportunity like that? What happened?

2. As a writer, I like exploring gray areas. Few things are black and white, and in Scribbler of Dreams I explored the "gray" area of Garner Malone's guilt or innocence. I had one reader ask me, "Well, was he or was he not, guilty of the murder?" This reader expected me to have the "right" answer. I didn't. I don't think there is one. Certainly in the eyes of the law he was guilty. But in his own mind I think he felt he was innocent–he truly felt the "murder" was really a terrible accident–but even in that innocence there was a huge load of guilt he carried. And Kaitlin was torn somewhere in the middle of it all and had to learn to move on, believing she would never know the answer for sure. What do you think? Was he guilty? Is it possible for a situation like that to be "gray?"

3. Besides Kaitlin, did you have a favorite character or one who intrigued you? Who were they and what did you like about them? I was kind of partial to Becky. She was loyal, had a little attitude and knew how to lighten up tense moments with humor. That's a good quality to have I think. She's the kind of girl I would like to have for a friend. I was also intrigued with Garner Malone. He was a complex man who seemed to have a story all his own to tell–but for Scribbler I had to stick with Kaitlin's story. Is there a character in Scribbler that you can see as having their own story to tell?

4. When I was writing Scribbler I wanted to explore how our actions can have far-reaching effects. So often we have a "live-for-the-day" attitude, which under certain circumstances might be a good way to think, but "live-for-tomorrow" or even stranger, "live-for-the-next-generation" are phrases you aren't likely to hear in this "now" and "today" world. Have you ever thought of how something you have done–good or bad--might reach into the next generation? Does it matter?

5. Did you have a favorite part? I did. I liked the scene at Bram's birthday party when Bram found out who Kaitlin was. My daughter was appalled that that was my favorite part. "But it's so sad!" she said. Yes, sad, but for me as a writer I kept waiting for this point to come, and was glad when I finally got to write it. Her favorite part was at the end when they got back together. What was yours?

6. And how about those Bookends, huh? Enough said.