Every month the WBHS Book Club led by Mr. Steven Palizzi, Media Consultant, meets after reading a novel to have snacks, discuss the novel, and share their enthusiasm for reading. For the month of March, Book Club read The Night She Disappeared by April Henry. This gave Book Club a very unique experience, as they usually do not get to meet the authors of the novels read.

Henry started off by sharing stories from her childhood, including a letter written to her by famous children’s author Roald Dahl. Henry had been writing since she was a child, and was proud that she could now be a full-time writer. She shared stories about rejection, remarking that one of her novels got about fifty rejection letters before an approval letter. She stressed the importance of not giving up and that readers make the best writers.

Henry is a mystery and crime writer. She showed pictures from experiences she had while researching for her novels. Henry has visited a “writer’s police academy” where she learned the ins and outs of being a secret agent. Henry expressed the importance of doing research for novels, noting that now that she has written so many crime and mystery novels, she is able to tell if an author did not do their research.

After Henry’s presentation, members could ask questions. This was an exclusive opportunity for book club, and gave the members inside access to aspects of the novel such as what went into writing the novel, decisions made for writing certain scenes, and also general writing tips.

To learn more about author April Henry, visit her website, www.aprilhenrymysteries.com. Book Club will be reading Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins next and having the meeting on April 15, 2014 with the French Club. Sign up with Mr. Palizzi in the media center to pick up your novel and join!