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Chapel Bay Secrets, by Julie Snider

Chapel Bay Secrets cover

Available now in Paperback and eBook

Julie Snider

Julie Snider, the author

Why I wrote this book:

Chapel Bay Secrets weaves together complex social issues — book bans, the Japanese American internment, and finding family — together with the story of three unlikely characters who live in an idyllic small town. A Japanese American lesbian librarian, a retired psychologist, and a wealthy widow each hold secrets. These secrets will only come out when they collaborate as a community. There’s mystery, romance, and heartfelt drama, too!

Applause! Applause!

Chapel Bay Secrets features an engaging plot and complex chatacters against the badkdrop of thought-provoking issues. And there’s a litttle mystery also! A very satisfying red theat feels cozy, but takes on weighty issues under the surface. Well done.

Lisa Montanaro, author of award-winning “Everything We Thought Was True”

Don’t let “Chapel Bay Secrets’ sweet coastal facade fool you — the novel brims with depth and complexity. Snider’s protagonists face off with the small minded bigotry that so easily co-exist in a small community, uncover past secrets, embrace their truths, and find that sometimes connection is closer than you think. An uplifting, optimistic novel perfect for these times.

Jordan Rosenfeld, author of “Fallout” and “The Sound of Story: Developing Voice & Tone in Writing”

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Talk a Little, Talk a Lot

All great reads, like this one, have themes or ideas, or just hints, for discussion topics in your book club. Here are a few ideas for you:

Chapel Bay Secrets opens with a threatening email from would-be book banners. What is the significance of book bans in today’s social climate?
The protagonist, Brenda Kato, has never known her father and was raised by a single mom who was incarcerated in Tule Lake Camp as a child. How much of an impact does generational trauma have upon those whose parents suffered such indignities?
When a nefarious author threatens to blackmail several of the main characters, they become fearful that the community will reject them if their secrets are revealed. If you were in a similar situation, to what lengths would you go to keep your secrets?
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Or choose one of these topics:

Africa Alcoholism Anthology Art Atlanta Bicentennial Birds Book Banning Book clubs Brooklyn Chronic illness Early 1900s Ecology Family Relationships Faraway Places Historical Mystery Japanese Internment Jazz Legends Magic Medieval Mexico Midlife Native Americans Peace Corps Poetry Prostitution Scotland Siblings True Crime Women Sleuths Writers/Poets

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