Do you run a book club or participate in one?
If your club would like to read The Fifteenth of June, I may be able to provide you with a few complementary copies. Depending on my availability, I may also be able to join your club for a 30-minute teleconference. Please contact me for details.
Here are some sample discussion questions based on the book:
- The author does not reveal in what city or state The Fifteenth of June takes place, and the locations described throughout the text—Palmer Heights, Northwood Park, and Hillcrest Cemetery, for example—appear to be fictitious. Based on clues within the story, where and when do you believe it was set?
- Despite only a slight difference in age and a largely shared history, Drew and his brother Logan grow up to be two very different adults. Why do you think that is? Why do siblings often end up with such drastic variances in character?
- Do you believe Drew’s video diary help him cope with his negative emotions? If so, how?
- Drew wishes for his mother to guide him from beyond the grave. Do you believe she had a posthumous influence in this story, or was this merely wishful thinking on his part?
- Sierra seems to understand a great deal about Kara without actually meeting her. Is that because Sierra and Kara share some similarities? In what ways are these two characters alike and different?
- Why, after paying all the medical bills and funeral expenses, did Logan insist that Drew keep their father’s entire estate?
- Do you believe Sierra’s initial intentions with Drew were as altruistic as she claimed? If not, why do you really think she first approached him?
- What influence, if any, did Sierra have over Drew? Would he have found a reason to change without her?
- Drew is characterized as an alcoholic prone to self-destructive behavior and burdened with social disorders. Is it really possible for him to live happily ever after, or do you believe he will forever be battling his demons?
Have another question you think should be on this list? Leave it in the comments below.
Hi Brent,
I just took a look at your book on Amazon, and it looks amazing. And from the questions that you have posed above, I can only imagine how beautiful the story is going to be.
I have added your book in my must read list. And will read it real soon.
I have a question for you; you have mentioned that you haven’t referred to the name of the city but left clues. It is nice to know, how would you feel about a story which has no name for the characters?
I have started writing a story where I haven’t named the characters, do you think people will enjoy reading a story which has no names?
Would love to hear back from you. 🙂
Regards,
Imran Soudagar
Hi Imran,
Thanks for checking out The Fifteenth of June—I hope you enjoy it! If you haven’t already purchased it, I’ll be giving the Kindle version away for free on March 6.
I think it would be tough to tell a full story without giving characters names. Even nicknames might work well, if you don’t want to assign common names. I came up with names for neighborhoods and locations in my story, but they could apply to just about any city in the United States. It’s up to the reader to make an educated guess as to where the story might have taken place.
Good luck with your story, and when you read my debut novel, please remember to rate it even if you hate it.
Thanks for commenting,
Brent
Hello Bernt,
Thank you for the reply to my comment. And yes I would love to get a free Kindle copy of your book. I will be waiting for it.
And thanks a lot for sharing your views on the nameless characters. As an experiment I posted part of the said story on my Facebook profile and few people read it and responded, but none of them realized that I had not mentioned the names of my characters.
I will try to complete the story and put it on wattpad or somewhere where I could get opinions of many people.
Thank again for sharing your insights. 🙂
Regards,
Imran Soudagar