One of the best things we writers can do to improve our craft (other than just writing) is reading the works of others. “Good writers read good writing”, I always say. And now See Jane Write is going to help you do just that with our new book club — See Jane Read!

The first book we will read together will be Four Spirits by Sena Jeter Naslund.

Here’s more on the book in case you’re unfamiliar with it:

Weaving together the lives of blacks and whites, racists and civil rights advocates, and the events of peaceful protest and violent repression, Sena Jeter Naslund creates a tapestry of American social transformation at once intimate and epic.

In Birmingham, Alabama, twenty-year-old Stella Silver, an idealistic white college student, is sent reeling off her measured path by events of 1963. Combining political activism with single parenting and night-school teaching, African American Christine Taylor discovers she must heal her own bruised heart to actualize meaningful social change. Inspired by the courage and commitment of the civil rights movement, the child Edmund Powers embodies hope for future change. In this novel of maturation and growth, Naslund makes vital the intersection of spiritual, political, and moral forces that have redefined America.

We will meet virtually via Zoom at 6:30 p.m. CT on May 22 to discuss the book. You can RSVP via the See Jane Write Network Facebook group here.

But, wait! There’s more! 

In partnership with Birmingham-Southern College, See Jane Write will host An Evening with Sena Jeter Naslund from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 23 at the President’s Home of Birmingham-Southern College. 

Dr. Naslund is a bestselling author, professor, and the 2005-06 Kentucky Poet Laureate. During this exclusive writer’s salon, Dr. Naslund will answer questions about the art of writing and her acclaimed novels, including Ahab’s Wife: Or, The Stargazer and Four Spirits – each named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

This is a free event, but space is limited. If you’re in the Birmingham area and would like to attend RSVP TODAY at https://bscsenajeternaslund.eventbrite.com.