This is a reading group for writers, aspiring writers, or for anyone interested in what writers pay attention to when they read.

We will read one novel each month – contemporary literary fiction, thrillers, and science fiction/fantasy. Each meeting will focus on a specific craft element (for example: POV, voice, tense, tone, world building, the handling of time, structure, theme) within the context of that month’s selection. As in any book group, we’ll talk about how the novel affected us as readers. But we’ll also consider the construction of each book, what it seems the author was trying to achieve, and how craft helped them do it – or how it let them down.

I’ve deliberately selected novels that came out very recently. (I have not read any of them before, so most of us will experience them together for the first time!) We’ll touch on the state of the publishing industry, thinking about why these manuscripts were chosen for publication in 2020 and beyond. A few authors will join us for part of the meeting as guests, so we can ask them questions.

This group meets on the first Thursday of the month virtually via Zoom, from 7:00—8:30pm. Please note the final meeting is in April.

Thurs, September 5
James, Percival Everett

Thurs, October 3
Flores and Miss Paula, Melissa Rivero (guest)

Thurs, November 7
Bear, Julia Phillips (guest)

Thurs, December 5
Looking for Smoke, K.A. Cobell

Thurs, January 2
Monstrilio, Gerardo Sámano Córdova

Thurs, February 6
The Survivalists, Kashana Cauley

Thurs, March 6
How High We Go In the Dark, Sequoia Nagamatsu

Thurs, April 3
Deacon King Kong, James McBride

K Chess is the author of Famous Men Who Never Lived (Tin House Books, 2019). Her writing has been anthologized by the XPRIZE and has appeared in outlets including Salon and Tor.com. K has an MFA from Southern Illinois University and sometimes teaches fiction at GrubStreet in Boston. She lives in Providence with her wife and preschooler (who she will try to keep out of the Zoom meetings).