Hello, Protagonists! In this post, you’ll find:
🎥 The video replay of our September meeting
📚 Your invitation + discussion questions for THE WATCHMAKER OF FILIGREE STREET, our next Book Pick
🗓️ Book Club schedule for the rest of 2025
💛 RSVP & Zoom link (below the paywall)
xo,
Joanna & Evelyn
Who is Joanna? - In case you missed it:
“Read Like a Writer” Book Club is for our community members who want to dive even deeper into how great books work. Come nerd out with us! 🤓
🎥 Replay: Orbital
If you missed our last Book Club meeting, you can now watch the full replay above.
We had such a fantastic discussion of Orbital by Samantha Harvey and talked about:
How does the lack of a traditional plot arc (conflict → climax → resolution) influence your reading experience? Would you still call it a story?
Did you feel the characters were individuals or more like archetypes representing humanity? Does that choice matter for the book’s goals?
How does the rotation between astronauts’ POVs affect the book overall? Did it make it harder to connect with them?
Some of the book felt very grounded, and other parts felt distanced. Why, and was this done on purpose?
During the “behind the scenes of writing” portion, we explored:
Editor-author relationships
Working with editors in traditional publishing
Working with freelance editors
Developmental Edits vs Line Edits vs Copyedits
Writing Retreats and Freelance Editors mentioned in our discussion:
As always, the replay is available to paid subscribers to keep our discussions cozy and private.
📚 You’re Invited: The Watchmaker of Filigree Street
Whether you’re a curious reader or a fellow writer, we’d love to have you join us. No need to be “an expert”—just bring your thoughts and your love of books.
Our next Book Club pick is:
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley
This mind-bendy historical fantasy is from one of my auto-buy authors, Natasha Pulley. She’s a master at creating atmosphere out of words, and I admire the intricacy of her plots. This novel takes us to Victorian England and Japan during its civil war. I’m excited to share and discuss one of my favorite writers with you.
Meeting Date:
Sunday, October 26, 2025
8pm ET / 5pm PT
Zoom link below
💬 During the book discussion, we’ll chat about:
One of my favorite things about this author is her skill in writing not just setting, but ambience. Did you notice the difference?
Setting vs Ambience: Here’s a piece I wrote a couple years ago on the topic, in which I highlighted a different Natasha Pulley book:
The book mixes historical realism with magical elements.
Did you feel the pacing shift between those modes?
Did the historical and magical element feel cohesive?
Thaniel is often described as ordinary, while Mori is eccentric and enigmatic.
How does the author balance those contrasts in their characterization?
Fate versus free will
How does the author use Mori’s foresight and Thaniel’s choices to complicate that theme?
What do Grace’s chapters reveal about agency, gender roles, and independence in Victorian society?
How does the watch itself—and the act of watchmaking—function symbolically in the novel?
💬 During the “behind the scenes of writing” portion, we will talk about:
Whatever you want! There’s no set agenda next time, so we’ll do an Ask Me Anything-style chat.
✨ Introverts welcome: Cameras on or off. Your presence is enough.
I think this is going to be a wonderful conversation!
📅 Book Club Picks for the Rest of 2025 - UPDATED WITH DATES
This list has been updated to include the meeting dates, in case you want to mark your calendars!
In case you missed it, here’s what we’ll be reading next:
🔐 RSVP & Zoom Link
To protect the privacy of our discussion space and prevent Zoom-bombing, the RSVP and Zoom link are posted below the paywall.
If you’d like to join us in the Book Club, you can upgrade to a paid membership here:
Or refer friends to receive complimentary months:
1 referral = 1 month free
2 referrals = 3 months free
3 referrals = 1 year free
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