Lisa's 2nd Annual Book Club Party a Huge Success! Despite the buckets of rain Mother Nature dumped on the Northeast for four full days prior to Lisa's Book Club Party...and all the way up to just an hour before the event, the party was a huge success. The sun finally came out and the day turned out beautiful. Lisa is grateful to the 200 book club readers who braved the stormy weather and came to her house for an afternoon of fun. After carbing up her guests with tasty desserts and snacks, Lisa regaled the crowd with the stories behind her stories, as well as hilarious personal antecdotes. She then signed books and took pictures while the rest of the group grabbed some more snacks while meeting and greeting other book clubs. A house full of people talking about books. Nothing could have made Lisa happier. If your book club would like to attend Lisa's party next year, be sure to put Lady Killer on your Spring reading list and enter Lisa's book club contest. Winner Of The Daddy's Girl Book Club Contest The winner, through a random drawing, of the Daddy's Girl book club contest is: The Culture Club from Cranston, RI! Congratulations, and Lisa can't wait to take you out for an extravagant dinner! A special thanks to all the wonderful book clubs, both big and small, that entered the contest. Everyone who entered is invited to Lisa's house on Oct. 27th for Lisa's Book Club Party! Lisa is looking forward to meeting you and thanking you personally. Daddy's Girl Contest Entries Lisa received entries from book clubs big and small. Here are some of the book clubs who entered the contest. Thanks for all the wonderful and truly creative entries. Lisa appreciates all the time and effort it took to get together and take pictures, and she loves reading the truly creative names of the different book clubs! Questions For Book Clubs Lisa feels honored when one of her books is chosen as a book club read. But, she doesn't want you to work too hard, so she has provided the questions to get your book club discussion started. Click Questions for Book Clubs for conversation starters for all of Lisa's books. Signed Bookplates For All Lisa would love to send a specially designed bookplate for each of your book club members. You can simply click here to put in your request. Just provide the number of members. It is as easy as that, and your fellow book club members will love you for it! Lisa's Discussion Questions for Book Clubs Many book clubs have written Lisa asking for questions to guide their discussion, so Lisa came up with a bunch for each book. Her goal in writing books is to entertain, so it goes without saying that Lisa wants you to have lots of fun discussing her books, and has reflected that in her questions. She provides the talking points, and you and your group shape the conversation. So go ahead, get together, chat it up with your friends, discuss books, kids, and relationships, but by all means, have fun. And, even if you aren't in a book club, you can play along, too! Lady Killer: Questions for Book Clubs In Lady Killer, Mary's high school nemesis comes to her for help. How do you think you would have reacted if you were Mary? Why do you think Mary felt compelled to help Trish? How important is high school to shaping who we become as adults? What was your high school experience like? Do you think you were more like Mary, Trish or neither of them? Do you think you can ever shed your high school image without moving out of the neighborhood? How would you compare Mary's friendship with Judy and Trish's friendship with her friends? How are they similar? How are they different? Who do you think make better friends? Judy is very instrumental in getting Mary to push for partnership at the firm. What do you think Judy's motivations were? Was it good advice? Why or why not? Do you think Mary is ready to be a partner? Why or why not? What kind of changes do you see in Mary as the book progressed? Do you think she is starting to grow up and become more confident, or just being reckless? Why? Mary closely identifies herself with her neighborhood. Do you think this is a good thing, or a bad thing? Why? How has it helped Mary? How has it hurt her? How did you react to Bennie's treatment of Mary? Do you think Bennie was justified? Do you think Mary made the right decision? What do you think will happen next? Both Mrs. DiNunzio and Mrs. Gambone have very close relationships with their daughters. Do you think one is a better mother than the other? Why? Who would you rather have as your mother? How do they compare to your own mother? Lady Killer is filled with old and new characters. Which ones would you like to see again? Daddy's Girl: Questions for Book Clubs What was your reaction to the title of Daddy's Girl. Did it make you feel warm and fuzzy, or did it have a bad connotation for you? Do you think people's reaction to the title is influenced by their family dynamics or personal relationships with their fathers? Nat had a very close relationship with her family. Maybe too close for Nat. Do you think that Nat appreciated what she had? Was she being smothered by her family, or just loved a whole lot? Do you think anyone in her family really appreciated her, or the woman she had become? Is it natural in a family full of boys to overprotect yet disregard the only sister? Do we all take for granted our own family? Do you think Hank was truly in love with Nat, or the idea of being part of the Greco family? Can two people be in love, and yet, just not be right together? Do you think this was the case for Nat and Hank? Do you think Nat took the easy way out by dating Hank, who came already Daddy approved? Did you like Nat's mother? Did you feel she was supportive enough of Nat? By marrying Hank, would Nat have been creating the same kind of life as her mother? Would that be a bad thing? Do you think Nat and her mother's expectations are so different due to their individual personalities, or is it evidence of a generational gap? Nat faced a lot in this book and had to rely on her own instincts to survive. Is it just that she grew up, or did she find an inner strength that was being stifled by a family that took care of everything for her? Do you think parents should help their children with whatever they need, or should parents back off and let their kids learn the hard way? Where do you draw the line, and how do you know when it is time to step in or walk away? Nat had a real passion for her job, which ultimately helped save her. However, in the beginning of the book, her passion for her class, The History of Justice, was not translating into success as a teacher, and in fact, could have hurt her chances at tenure. How important is it to love what you do for a living? How much would you be willing to risk to have the job of your dreams? Does everyone even actually know what their dream job would be? Are you cheating yourself by taking a job just for the sake of bringing in a paycheck, or are you just living in the real world? Besides entertaining with her books, Lisa enjoys writing about things that interest her, and providing, perhaps, a little education as well. Do you enjoy this aspect of her books. Did you learn anything? Do you like the way it tied into the story. Did you find yourself wanting to read more about the topic? Did you like the end of the book? Were you surprised? Do you feel cheated by a book if you are not surprised? Did you agree with all of Nat's decisions? What would you plan next for Nat? Would you like to read more about her? Dirty Blonde: Questions for Book Clubs Okay, let's get the important stuff up front. My hair is only fictionally blonde. Under all these chemicals, I am a dirty blonde. Do you think there are any real blondes over the age of 30? Do blondes really have more fun, or is that a function of advertisers getting us to by home-dye kits? (Like "Nice & Easy," which I used for years in my starving-writer days. My hair looked great. In the front.) Now more serious. Do you like Cate as a character, despite her flaws? What are her flaws, as you see them? Was she really even doing anything wrong, or was it just a case of poor judgment? And let's talk about sexism. Do you think that a man would have been as harshly punished for the same actions? Do you think she deserved what she got? Should judges, in general, be held to higher standards? Do you think a judge's personal life and personal beliefs influence the way he or she rules from the bench, or do you trust that they will stick to the law? Is there a difference between federal and state judges in this regard, assuming that federal judges get lifetime appointments, but most state judges do not? Do you think judges should be elected rather than appointed? Are you really informed about the judges in your state? How many judges can you name on your state supreme court? On the United States Supreme Court? Moving onto justice and fiction, do you think Cate's life was fair game for a TV show? Do you like the law shows that are 'ripped form the headlines?" Why? Does TV cross the line when divulging the personal lives of public figures? Would you want to be famous and have the 24-hour scrutiny of the media? And isn't Al Pacino just great? Also Tom Cruise? Who would you rather have join your book club? Do you think the ruling in the Marz case was just? Do you understand why Cate didn't let the case go to the jury? Do you agree? Is justice always served by the law? Do you believe that Simone stole Marz's idea, or was Marz just looking to make a quick buck? Do you think that Marz was crazy for quitting his job to follow his dream? Are you better off risking what you have to follow your dream, so win or lose, you at least tried? Or are you better off not taking the risk and giving up your dream, no matter what the greeting cards say? Do you know anyone with an autistic child? Why do you think there are so many more cases of autism? Do you think parents of children with special needs get the support they need? Do you think they have it tougher than parents of "normal" children? Have you ever heard of Centralia, PA? Can you even believe that a fire has been burning underground for 60 years? Why do you think the government hasn't stepped in to contain this fire? Do you think the government worries more about the money than the health of the people? Were your surprised by the ending? Was justice served? Hot or cold? Devil's Corner: Questions for Book Clubs Did you like Vicki, and are you happy or disappointed that the book features a new character instead of the regular girls at Rosato & Associates? Did anyone understand about the straw purchase? Did I do a lousy job making it clear enough? In case I did not make it clear, a straw purchase is when someone buys guns for the sole purpose of reselling them for drugs or cash. Do you think that drugs are a major factor in the decline of American cities? Do you think that we are doing enough to control drugs? Are we doing enough drug education, and does it work? How strong do you think is the correlation between drugs and crime? Do you believe in legalizing drugs? Do you think it would have a negative or positive impact on the crime rate? Is it fair to sacrifice a few innocent people to stop many crimes with projects such as Clean Sweep? Do we owe restitution to those who are unjustly accused? Did you like the girlfriend connection between Rehemma and Vicki? Do you think that two people from very different backgrounds can find a commonality for a lasting friendship? Do you think Dan and Vicki make a good couple? Do you think that people who work together should date? Do you think that Vicki crossed the line with Dan while he was married, even though they never had sexual contact prior to his wife leaving? Do you think that Vicki has finally earned her father's respect? Why, even as adults, do we strive for our parents' approval? Do you think that Vicki owed it to her father to join his law firm, or did she owe it to herself to follow her own path? Do you think that one or two people can make a difference and actually change a neighborhood around like Vicki and Rehemma? Do you think that there will ever again be a day when we can just send our children out to play, even in the wealthiest neighborhoods, the same carefree way our parents could? Were you surprised by the ending? Killer Smile: Questions for Book Clubs Mary feels a little bit like "everywoman" to Lisa. Do you think this is true? Does it make her more believable? How about more likable? Can you see a bit of Mary in the women you know? Do their necks get red splotches when they are nervous too? Mary has reluctantly agreed to go on blind dates, most of which don't go well. Do you believe you can find true love on a blind date? Do you think your friends and family would be able to pick out the perfect mate for you? Do you have a horrific blind date story that you are willing to share? Did you like Mary with Bachelor #1, Bachelor #2, or Bachelor #3? Lisa got the idea for this book when she discovered her grandparents' alien registration cards. Were you surprised to learn that Italian Americans were interned during World War II? Do you think the government was justified in going to such extreme measures to allay the fears of Americans who were feeling threatened and vulnerable? Do you feel safe today, in your country? Where do you think the boundary is between the government's job to protect its citizens, and personal civil liberties? Mary and Judy have been through a lot together and have remained faithful friends. How far would you go for your best friend? Should your best friend accept you just the way you are, or do you rely on them for honest constructive criticism? Is it time for Mary to try and talk Judy into some fashion sense, and should Judy try to get Mary to let her hair down a bit and act more her age? Mary still seeks her parents' approval, although she is old enough to be a mother herself. Do you ever outgrow the need for your parents' approval? Mrs. DiNunzio faces a personal crisis that really gives Mary pause, and changes the whole dynamics of the family. How hard is it for a parent to relinquish the role of caregiver, and is it natural for the child to step into the role of the parent? Do you think Mary is ready to wield the wooden spoon? Is it time for Mary to get a boyfriend, or does she just need a pet? Do you think she was too obsessed with Amadeo and his case? Do you think she continued to work on the case just to satisfy her own needs, or do you think it was her desire to be a people pleaser, and not let down the whole neighborhood that drove her? Dead Ringer: Questions for Book Clubs Coming up with good titles is very hard for Lisa, but she thought that Dead Ringer was the perfect title for a book about twins. However, after the book was done, she found out her kid and her kid's friends had never heard that expression. Did you understand the phrase? Can you think of a title that would have been better? In Dead Ringer, Alice does some really terrible things to Bennie to try to destroy her. In the process she even tries to hurt Bennie's dog, Bear. Is someone who would hurt a dog unredeemable? Does Alice deserve a second chance? Does everyone deserve a second chance? Is Alice a sympathetic character? Do you feel sorry for Alice because she was the twin who was given away? Does this make Alice's actions any more forgivable? Do you think Bennie's mother made the right decision in giving away one twin? In Dead Ringer, David comes to Bennie and Bear's rescue. Have you ever had a total stranger come to your rescue, just because they were a good person, and not because they were looking for something in return? Would you be able to willingly accept this kind of help, or would you be reluctant and suspicious? Alice is driven by both competitiveness and jealousy, which has led her to do some harmful, even horrific things. Some envy between siblings is normal, but where does it cross the line? Is it usually the parents' fault when siblings are so envious of one another? Is there something parents can do to promote greater harmony between siblings? Bennie takes a huge risk by putting her house up as collateral to save her business. Was this a smart move? Would you have been able to take that kind of risk? Do you think she would have made a different decision if she had children? Do you think that you have to take risks in order to be successful? Bennie does forgive Alice, despite everything she had done. Is this because Bennie is just a good, forgiving person, or do you think she is partially motivated by the guilt of being the chosen twin? Could you forgive Alice? Do you think she can really change? Do we let family get away with things that we would never put up with from others, or are we harder on them? Would you like to read about Alice again? Courting Trouble: Questions for Book Clubs Anne Murphy is the newest addition to the all-female law firm of Rosato & Associates? How do you think she fits in? Would you like to work with all women? Would you like to have a woman boss? What are the advantages? What are the disadvantages? Anne is young and drop dead gorgeous, even though she doesn't see herself as beautiful. Is it possible to be that pretty and not really see it? How do Anne's looks work in her favor? Do beautiful people have it easier? Mary and Judy are not particularly nice to Anne? Why? Do they even give Anne a chance? Does Anne give them a chance? Is this an example of the usual getting-to-know-one-another when a new person starts at a firm or is something else going on? Anne can have almost any man she wants. Does this make her truly happy? Do you think that Anne can ever have a friendship with a girlfriend as close as that between Judy and Mary's? Can it be with Judy and Mary? Is three a crowd? In the book, Kevin suffers from erotomania. Do you buy into it, or is it just a fancy name for women-obsessed men? Do you believe that someone with this disorder can become violent enough to kill? How would you compare this to stalking? What do you think would work against a stalker? What do you think of Anne's playing dead? How do you feel about her letting the Rosato girls think she is dead? What reaction do Mary and Judy have to Anne's "death"? Do you think that Anne, Mary and Judy would have eventually formed a friendship without this experience? Do you think Anne will be able to trust a man again and if so, why? How can she protect herself better in the future? What kinds of things should women and men watch out for when deciding who to date? Were you surprised by the ending? Who else did you think it might be? Should Anne give her mother another chance? Will it help give Anne a sense of family and of belonging? How important is it to feel like you belong? The Vendetta Defense: Questions for Book Clubs What is up with the pigeons? What kind of new kick is Lisa on? Why does she tells us so damn much about pigeons? Will she ever shut about pigeons? Does this matter to plot or character at all? Hint: Lisa is far smarter than she looks. Or acts. Should this book start on Chapter Two? Would we like it better? No hints. I really want to know what you think. Email me and sound off. Was Pigeon Tony right to do what he did? Would you have? Do you understand? Do you love/ hate the flashbacks? Why is Judy the star of this book? Is she good/bad/better/worse than other Scottoline heroines? Do you like her? Does it matter if you do? What about the Tonys? Are they in there for purpose or just wacky? What could possibly be the purpose? Should Judy trespass in the junkyard? Can you spell sfogatelle? How hunky is Frank? Does someone named Frank automatically come out hunky or is just me? Is it relevant that Frank is my father's name? Or is this just plain sick? Are the Coluzzi's, the Tonys, Frank and Pigeon Tony Italian stereotypes? Does it matter? Why? Does the Italian-ness of these characters matter, or is Lisa just trying to make a point about identity to further characterize her already sensational characterizations? Like the courtroom scenes or are you bored? Agree with the verdict or not? How would you have voted if you were on the jury? How many Scottoline characters are owned by golden retrievers? Moment of Truth: Questions for Book Clubs In what way is the title Moment of Truth appropriate for the book? What do you think was the "moment of truth" in the book? If you think there was more than one, which was most critical to the book? Jack was willing to give his life in order to protect his daughter. Do you think that he was doing this for Paige out of love or just out of guilt, and why? To what lengths do you think a parent should go to protect their children? What do you think was Mary's obligation to her client? If she thought Jack was innocent, do you think she was legally, ethically, or morally responsible to prove him innocent? Why or why not? What do you think Mary should have done once she realized she was attracted to her client? Should she have stayed on the case, or passed it on to someone else? In what ways do you think being a child model helped Paige, and in what ways do you think it hurt her? How do you feel about children being models? What kind of regulations do you think should be in place to protect them? Do you think most child models are pursuing their own dreams or their parents' dreams? Do you think Paige should have been legally emancipated from her parents? Why or why not? Besides money, what other factors should be used to decide when a child is capable of living on his or her own? When do you think children are mature enough to manage their own finances? How did you feel about the tough decision Paige had to make at the end of the book? What do you think you would have done in her circumstance? Did you agree with her decision, and what do you think it says about her? What kind of father was Jack? What do you think his mistakes were? Do you think Jack let Paige down? Why or why not? What kind of relationship do you think Jack and Paige will have after everything that happened? What do you think parents have to do to make up for past mistakes they have made with their children? Where does Mary go to find refuge, and why do you think she goes there? Where do you go when you need extra support? Mistaken Identity: Questions for Book Clubs Read the Acknowledgements. How weird is it that Lisa didn't know she had a half-sister? How often does this happen and not make it to Montel? Did it happen to anyone you know? And if something like that happened to you, would you put it in a book for the whole entire world to read about? Where do authors get their ideas and why don't they come up with better ones? When is a good story an invasion of privacy? Would you defend your twin on a murder charge? Should Bennie? Do you understand why she does? Is Grady hot enough for you? Is it weird that he's younger than Bennie? What is justice? Is it justice if Alice goes free, or not? This book is told in the third person, unlike Legal Tender which has a single point of view. Like it better or worse? Why did Lisa make this decision? Anything about the story, or was she just in the mood? You know how silly she can be. This boxing thing is a big part of the book. Do we like it? Why is it here? Does it inform character? How did Lisa do with her boxing lessons? Is it okay to say "sucks at boxing" in a book club? Do we like Lou? Why does Lisa put us through a parent's death? Is she just a big meanie? What did we think of the courtroom scenes? Agree with the verdict? Where did Alice go? Is she dead or will she come back? Hint: Heh heh. Legal Tender: Questions for Book Clubs What do you think of Bennie? What do you like about her? What would you change? Who would you cast as Bennie, if they ever made Legal Tender into a movie? What likely caused the problems between Bennie and Mark? How do you think Bennie and Mark would have worked together after the break up? What does the way Mark handle things tell you about him? Do you think he has another choice, and if so, what? What do you think about the kind of work Bennie does? What impact do you think it has on the way the police handle her case? How do corrupt cops affect the legal system and why do you think some cops turn bad? Why are people so passionate about animals' rights? What cause would you actively fight for? How far would you go for your cause? How do you feel about violence in the name of a cause? Is it ever justified? To what extent is Bennie is responsible for her mother's care? Do you think she does the right thing by allowing her mother to be electroshocked? Why or why not? Do you think Sam is a good friend to Bennie? Why or why not? When a couple breaks up, how hard is it on the friends they share? How do you decide who gets to keep the friends? Do you think it is possible to remain friends with both people? What should Bennie do now? Do you think her experience has helped or hurt her relationship with the police? What kind of trust issues do you think Bennie will face? If you were Bennie, whom from the firm would you trust? Running From the Law: Questions for Book Clubs Running From the Law was Lisa's first hardcover book. Do you prefer to read hardcovers or would you rather wait for the paperback? Is the print in the paperbacks too hard to read? Do you keep or pass on your books? Would you give away a hardcover? Lisa incorporated poker in her novel long before it became a new national pasttime. Are you as interested in poker as Rita Morrone? Why does she like it? What does it tell about her? Why are more women beginning to play? Are you worried about the new popularity of poker, especially among teens? Did you think Rita's stunt in the courtroom verged on dishonesty, or was it just good lawyering? Is all fair in love and lawsuits? Rita defends a judge against a sexual harrassment suit. Are these types of lawsuits out of control or are they important for protecting those who are being mistreated? Do you think people abuse the sexual harrassment laws, thus making it more difficult for those with legitimate complaints? Was Rita obligated to defend her boyfriend's father? Is it smart to defend a close relation? Do you think a client will be as honest with a lawyer with whom there is a personal relationship? Does it put the lawyer in a compromising position? Rita attends a funeral of a child killed by gang violence. Gang violence isn't funny. Consider this: Lisa went to an actual funeral of a child caught in gang crossfire, to write this chapter. She had her pick. That summer there was one funeral every weekend. Is enough being done to control gangs. Is better education the answer? Can the promotion of reading help keep kids off the street? What did you think of the gang of elderly poker players? Did they ring true? Were they important to the story? What do you think Rita got from their relationship? What did the old men get from the relationship? Does Rita really just need a good girlfriend? Do you agree with who Rita married? Was it clear at the end who she chose? What do you think made Tobin so attractive to Rita? Would you like to read more about Rita? What about her poker buddies? Is Rita the kind of person you would like to be friends with? Why or why not? Final Appeal: Questions for Book Clubs Final Appeal is a winner of the Edgar Award, the highest honor for a mystery novel. What did you like the best about the book in terms of its plot, character, and structure? For example, did you think the characters were complex and the chapter endings suspenseful? Why or why not? What do you think about Grace's decision to have an affair with her married boss? If she had waited even one more day, until after divorce papers were filed, would that make you feel any different? How risky is a workplace romance, and where do you draw the line? Did you like Armen's character, and why or why not? Was he really a good guy? Did you agree with all of the decisions he made? How much of a factor was his Armenian background and upbringing on his decisions? Did you like the idea of Grace and Armen as a couple? Do you think he really could have fallen in love with Grace after only three months? All of the parents in Final Appeal are flawed, although some more than others. Grace has to face an ugly truth about her own parents and reevaluate her childhood. Did you agree with Grace when she questioned her daughter, or did you think she was being disloyal? How do you think her own childhood impacted her role as a mother? Should Grace forgive her father? Is it ever too late to rekindle a relationship with a parent? Why do you think Eletha is such a strong character? Did you like her, respect her, or agree with all her decisions? How did her decisions affect her child? Do you consider her a good mother and a good friend, and why? Sarah says "The death penalty is revenge masquerading as justice." What do you think about this statement? Do you think the defendant in the book deserved a second trial because the judge misread the directions to the jury, or is it just a loophole that will cost the taxpayers more money? The Hightower case plays an important role in the plot. If you were writing the end of the book, how would you have resolved the Hightower proceedings? Is it possible to separate law from justice, or law from morality? Why do you think Final Appeal has such an interesting cast of characters? Who was your favorite character, who did you dislike, and why? Do you think Grace and her new love have a future together, or it will be difficult for her to date while she has a young child? How soon should you introduce your child to someone you are dating? How hard is it for a single parent to find time for themselves, especially if they are working? Do you think judicial misconduct is widespread, or is it just a few bad apples? What do you think would help cut down on judicial bribery? For example, would it help if we gave judges a higher salary? Do we need to have a better system for tracking judiciary conduct, and if so, what would that system be like? Everywhere That Mary Went: Questions for Book Clubs Everywhere That Mary Went is Lisa's very first book and it was nominated for an Edgar Award. It didn't win (but she did win for her second book, Final Appeal) but People Magazine called Lisa the "Female John Grisham." Do you agree or disagree? What makes you pick up a book? Cover? Endorsements from other writers? Reviews? The description on the book? Lisa believes you should write what you know, so Mary is a lot like her. In fact, Lisa and Mary both get red splotches on their necks when they are nervous. What else do we know about Mary? What kind of person is she? Is her character believable? How strong is her faith and how has that influenced her as a person and as a lawyer? Mary's family is the true center of her life. Is this a good thing? Can you be too close to your family? Do you like Mary's parents and do they remind you of people you know? How do you think Mary has been affected by her twin sister joining the convent? Mary and Judy are best of friends, despite how different they are. This friendship seems unshakable, but is it really? What kind of things must you agree on in order to have a solid friendship? Should you share everything with a best friend, or is it best to keep some things to yourself? Justice is a common theme that runs through all of Lisa's books. Is the law always just? How does Mary's conscience play into her sense of justice? Does justice matter? Is there justice in this book? Mary has suffered the loss of her husband at a very young age. How do you think grief has influenced her life? Do you think grief can help build character or destroy it? How long should someone grieve before they begin dating again? Are true friends measured by their availability during the grieving process, or is it understandable if people have difficulty dealing with death? Do you like Ned? Do you like Mary with Ned? How smart is an office romance? Is Mary really ready to date? Will she ever be able to move on from Mike? Should she? Lisa thinks she made a huge, rookie-type mistake in this book. This is in addition to Too Much Cursing, which she has eliminated in her later books. What do you think it is? Contact Lisa at by clicking here and take a guess at what she thinks was a mistake.