W3 Book Club-“Never Close Your Heart”

by Teri E. Popp & Laura Chin, Tastemakers in Residence - Book by Author Monica F. Anderson

Book clubs love guest speakers. And something that’s easy to do virtually is host a book club featuring a guest author.

For one of our most recent book clubs writer Monica F. Anderson-affectionately called Dr. mOe (yes, she does spell it this way)-W3 Book Club entertained, and was entertained by, Dr. Anderson when she spoke to us about “Never Close Your Heart.” A follow up to her 2005 novel “When a Sistah’s Fed Up,” this book focused on now ex-Mayor Faith Henry, her family, and her close knit circle of friends and church members.

Dr. mOe regaled us with tales of her writing process, as well as discussing the details of her current novel “Never Close Your Heart.” Consisting of rich characterizations and sparkling, believable dialogue, the book catches readers up to speed on the on-going life struggles of Texas born Faith. Dr. mOe took the time to answer all of our members’ questions and was an absolute delight!

Continuing in the now on-going tradition put in place by previous W3 hosts, our host for “Never Close Your Heart” once again doled out fun gift baskets—or, in this case, gift buckets. Working with the theme Texas BBQ, the bucket included fun items such as: a bottle of wine, BBQ potato chips, Boursin cheese, Ritz crackers, Crystal Light flavored lemonade mixes, Mrs. Miller’s Homemade Hot Pepper Jelly, Pure Leaf Unsweetened Black Tea, and bee themed glasses & coasters. Everything one needs to enjoy a good, home-style barbecue session (minus the ribs and fixin’s, of course).

All of the members of W3 left the evening enriched by Dr. mOe’s eloquent words and her humble giving spirit. And we’d all highly recommend both her books and her virtual visit for your future book clubs!