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City Castle Greeting Cards, Every Picture Tells a Story...

Remember, Introvert Book Club™ Products are inspired by The original Introvert's book Club, whose meetings are reported on this web site. Most Introvert Book Club products are useful for any book club- no matter what book club model they are founded upon.

"Please do not use, reproduce, or copy this review, or other information published on this site - please respect City Castles®, LLC copyrights."

A note to new readers:
Please note that the Introvert’s Book Club™  members review their favorite books for the benefit of the club. The books can be old or new. The Club members do not read the same book.

We review and discuss different books that we have enjoyed-and feel would be of interest to members of the club.

Linda Pilkington’s reviews usually will be printed-in full- on the Book Club’s web page. But this is the “Introvert’s Book Club™" –and so some of us may be apt to keep our thoughts and our ideas to ourselves.

In order to preserve our privacy and the freedom of sharing our ideas-other members of the club may choose not to offer a written review, or they may offer more abbreviated reviews on this web site.

(If there is a Book Club Review it is towards bottom of page)

Some of the inspiration for The Introvert's Book Club™ came from the men's clubs that once flourished, (and probably still flourish) in England.

A meeting place for friends, one with cheerful fires roaring in the fireplaces, the smell of leather upholstery in a room lined with books, tranquility, but also good conversation with cheerful, civil people- we longed for such a place.

The Introvert's Book Club is not able to offer the fireplace, or the leather upholstery- but we do offer good conversation with cheerful civil people- and that- along with the books - seems to be enough. 
For more information about the Introvert’s Book Club ™ please click to the “about us” section of the City Castles®, LLC Web Site

Please check out the Introvert’s Book Club™ –Guidelines, greeting cards, book marks, and note pads that are offered in our on line store. Start your own Introvert's Book Club ™ -by ordering the Start-up Package! The package makes a unique and inexpensive gift, or will help you start your own Introvert's Book Club.  Whatever form your book club takes, purchasing  Introvert's Book Club™ products will help your book club members  identity with their own club.   

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 To our visitors- a few words from Linda Pilkington

August 2004, and after the blessed cooling rains of June and July, the real heat of  summer begins for much of  Colorado.  

Mornings, people are up early, running, and walking in Utah Park, and trying to get home for a shower before ten a.m. when the real heat begins. 

As usual, during the summer I have been neglecting The Introvert's Book Club Page, and the City Castles web site-  as I work on, with editing and some re-writing for Arthur Collins and The Three Wishes (Arthur the Brave!).

If  I end up in the Guinness Book of  World Records - it may be for the longest (ever) editing job for "Arthur"- my book for ages 9-12 .

I've also been concentrating on some other work. Remember that every effort I make, whether for writing, or for new City Castles products- doesn't immediately show up on the web site... and to my disappointment lots of wonderful work ends up as wasted effort.

 However, I won't pass on more of  my regrets, my lapses or failures- instead I will write a few thoughts, and for the rest of the summer I will attempt to do better work for the web site, because this is the fun work. 

I also want to say a few words to the Book Divas who visit the City Castles Web site;  I'm so happy, and flattered that you visit here.  Sometimes I worry that you visit just to see if I've ever gotten back to the much neglected Catherine's Castles story.

Because you are faithful in your visits, I feel that I owe you this bit of explanation about how Catherine came about, and why it seems to be the last thing that is updated on the City Castles site.

"Catherine" began when I decided to sell the Stop Form on the internet.  It was obvious that a web site that would sell one business form to colleges and universities, and offer nothing else- wasn't a good idea. 

So I began to think, "What else?"

 I have never been short on ideas; they come in dreams, they pop up when I'm deep in conversation     (with someone who deserves my undivided attention), they appear after I've walked, or after I've been pondering another project, or have been listening to heart rendering,-soul stirring music.  Ideas have been a constant in my life.

I am grateful to the Creator for the borrowed creativity.  Creativity has always given me great joy;  my prayer continues to be: "Would God send me the means, (and the public to buy my products) to enable the ideas he gives me to come to life, and make my fortune".  An awkward prayer, as you see, even my prayers require editing. 

But I diverge and digress.

To continue, the "What else can I do for the web site?"  question - was answered:  a book club, and a serialized story, both would inspire, and be related to City Castle products.

 Well, actually, the initial idea wasn't quite so clear- it took a while.  I took steps, unsure where I was going- some steps were serendipitous.

Before I began the Catherine story,  I  worried whether I could write fiction again- after so many years of not writing anything.

I must confess that "Catherine" has never achieved the perfection that readers deserve.  I continue with it as I began it, each chapter is an experiment in writing; each chapter is my own writing exercise- a very public one.

 The chapters end up being a snapshot of the Emerson family- without much transition between the chapters. Above, I wrote of my Arthur Collins book, Arthur, and his brother, Lance, did a "walk-on" in the Catherine's Castle story; they are cousins to the Emerson girls.

The Catherine's story needs a great deal of editing, and much thought to make it a consistent whole.

 John Gardner (The Art of Fiction) would have a fit at the many lapses of "the fictional dream" that show up in "Catherine".

But I ask that you stay with me, and with Catherine. She and her family are real to me, and they come more alive each time I encounter them.

Catherine is a work in progress, and when I have time to think of the story it whispers that it can, and should be so much more than it is.

 "Make the effort".  "Take the time". Edit me" the story whispers.  "Go on with your plan, and the plot" it demands.  And so I shall. I will make the effort.

I shall take the time, a step at a time, some of them quite unsure, and unsteady steps. But fiction- that fictional dream that John Gardner (that perfectionist!) was so devoted to,  is worth every effort. Fiction is worth every step that it takes towards his vision of perfection.

But, there is more to my life and work than Catherine-so be patient with me, and come back to visit City Castles-  because as it says on our home page, " City Castles is more than a practical place- it is a kingdom- full of magic and imagination so tarry here awhile!"  __________________________________________________

 

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Respectfully submitted to The Introvert's Book Club.

As your mother kept saying, "Find something to do!" Read a book.

Check out the "Start your own book club" packets for sale in our online store. They are inexpensive, and unique!

Readers please come back and visit the Introvert’s Book Club™. Our opinions may differ- isn’t that wonderful?

Check out Introvert’s Book Club ™ bookmarks, notebook, and note pads in the City Castles®, LLC Store!

  Remember- www.citycastles.com – pass it on!