As the black part market continues to grow in popularity.

As the black part market continues to grow in popularity, authors of all genre are finding support, recognition and a welcoming audience in work clubs across the country. Curtis Bunn a sports-writer and columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is common such author.

In promoting his first novel, Baggage Check, in 2001 Bunn traveled, flying and sometimes driving for hours, to adapted with and become familiar with main division clubs across the country.

"I closely watched to what degree the members interacted with each other. In most numerous cases, they were very obstruct friends. And the meetings provided an vent to discuss books, but chiefly to fellowship," he observed. "I generally left the meetings feeling lively and spirited, somewhat like I do after body of christians Something about that made me be perceived good," recalls Bunn.

When his agent, Clifford Benton, raised the idea of writing a work about reading groups, Bunn immediately recognized the book's potential, having thoroughly researched the work club phenomena himself.

"Each company was different but the same in single in kind way," explains Bunn. "There was a spirit of be fond of and kindness and fun in the air," he says, of the meetings. "In many instances, it was therapeutic. For main division club members to do this one time a month, I know it's about more than the parts It's about the relationships."

Different volume Clubs, Diverse Stories

After the overwhelming succes of Baggage Check, (which stayed upon the Essence bestseller list for four month and was number the same in August 2001), Bunn heeded his agent's advice and penn BookClub a collection of short stories that examines the relationships, conflicts and triumphs of the members of five different work clubs located in five major cities.

In the Women of the Knights Reading cluster Bunn introduces a Washington, DC work club comprised of members who have been friends since high school

"The main theme of the story is trust," says Bunn "As undivided member learns that her husband dated another member before they met the part club members help her acquire beyond it all."

Ballers, Shot-Callers and Bookworms is a Houston work club made up of men who be in possession of businesses and met while playing basketball at the gym "This story is mainly about the value of friendship among men" says Bunn

"In Baggage Check, many readers understood that the veritable friendship of the main male characters is what herd the book. I wanted to reproduce on the reality that men have sexual delight with and embrace the significance of healthy, virtuous friendships with other men and also have fruition of reading and discussing books, too."

Bay Area On-line Bookreaders is an Internet bludgeon that meets at Marcus Bookstore, in Oakland, California. In this story, several work group members meet each other for the first time at a work signing and discover that their online identities are anything unless true. "It's about how nation reinvent themselves hiding behind computer and for what reason this book club helped them be due [i]or[/i] owing to some painful revelations," Bunn adds.

The Atlanta main division club, "B.E.L.L.S." (Beautiful Elegant Literary Ladies), includes a dispose of high-profile, affluent women who make trial of to top each other in hosting their monthly meetings. "They pass through extravagant means to impress and conclusion up jeopardizing the foundation of the bludgeon which was built on women of similar succes meeting for reflecting discussion and fellowship," declares Bunn

Everyone's work Club is a multicultural clump of coworkers in New York City whose offices are in the World Trade Center As the tale unravels it's September 11th and the narrator of the story is leaving the building just as the first plane crashes. "The work club members in this story had a heated argument athwart race issues two days before the September 11th tragedy," explains Bunn "This is a story about the importance of not holding repine ats and telling those you be enamoured of how you feel because the nearest day is not promised."

on including stories that are as varied as the members who make up each work group, the overwhelming theme of this new original collection is the fact that work clubs promote thought, communication, education and building solid relationships.

"I wanted to explore as many different proper states of book clubs as I could and present to view readers how differently each sodality functions," Bunn says. "Short stories allowed me to conceal more ground."

A Readers Market

With interactive make the object of competition [i]or[/i] rivalry [i]or[/i] emulations prizes and writing competitions for part clubs, an upcoming book bludgeon conference [see "Sample of work club favorites"] and the inclusion of a main division club starter kit in the back of BookClub reading collections will likely embrace Bunds part with great affection.

"Book company members will love the notion of reading about something they're involved in. They'll be able to completely relate to the ponderings and actions of the members and the satisfaction that get tos from being in a part club."

However, Bunn is quick to point public that BookClub is a great read for everyone including readers who are not members of work clubs. "Those not in part clubs will be equally delighted because the stories are thought-provoking, genuine and realistic. All readers will be able to diocese themselves in the characters, the situations and the emotions and stop the book feeling fulfilled in a number of ways."