Blind Date Book Club

I never thought I'd say this...

But shrimp is better than lobster?

Definitely not.

Pulp fiction is taste, not a measure of talent.

Closer, Alice, but not that either.

The phrase "let’s table this for later" is the worst.

Really? Why?

Can I get back to you after my aunt gets here?

You still don’t know why she’s coming?

All she said is it’s been too long

and we need to talk about the shop.

I don’t know, Alice.

My Aunt Renee hasn’t been here in three years.

What if she doesn’t like the changes?

What?

Fresh paint, Apple Pay, a new filing system?

Or your Blind Date Book Club?

I think you mean Blind Date with a Book Club.

That’s not as catchy.

But either way, they’re all the reasons why you’re thriving.

You mean surviving.

And why National Public Radio’s Raina Breem

wants to interview you.

I guess.

It is free publicity on National Public Radio!

You made reading social, fun,

and mysterious enough to bring in a whole new crowd.

Hmm.

So I’d take it if I were you.

We really need to get a doorbell.

We really do. Go ahead.

Raina, hi! I’m Meg Tompkins.

You’re early.

Or right on time.

Or right on time.

Great, so let’s get started.

I think we should set up right over here.

Great.

So, I’m guessing he read it?

He didn’t say either way

but I don’t think he’d call me if he hadn’t, right?

Hm?

Good talk.

Graham Sterling!

Oh, hey Terrence.

Hey! There he is!

Hey, come on in.

I can’t remember the last time we met here

instead of your racquet club.

Oooh, my game is on the rise, G.

Not sure you can keep up anymore.

I got a spicy backhand.

I’ve been keeping up since college.

Remember that one time when you even let me win?

That’s ‘cause your mom paid me.

Anyway let’s talk.

You read it?

I liked it.

Yeah?

But uh, I didn’t love it.

Huh.

Well, I bet you didn’t love the Great Bixby at the time either,

but it’s sales sure paid for your boat.

True story. But you’ve written a romance.

I mean, your audience is not women.

That’s not a romance.

That is a historical epic

that happens to centre around a love story.

It’s a modern day Gone with the Wind.

This is uh, less traditional.

I consider that a selling point.

Except we don’t know where to put it.

It’s all about shelf-ability.

Look, G, you’re a terrific writer, you always have been.

You’ve spent enough weeks

on the best seller list to know that.

But for these, right?

Seminal coming-of-age books.

I mean, you don’t wanna turn off your fan base

with something more mature.

Exploring Huxley Allen’s embarrassing world of firsts

is where you excel.

Why don’t we see what Miranda says first?

She liked it.

Yeah?

But she’s not gonna publish it. For the exact same reason.

Shelf-ability?

You know I’ve always fought for you, G.

But this is--

You know what? Actually, Terrence, it’s fine.

Ah, see? I knew you’d get it.

Yeah. Maybe I’ll just publish it myself.

Oh, what? Wha- under a pseudonym?

Yeah.

I’ll uh, I’ll call myself Dylan Turner.

Wasn’t he the captain of our football team?

Was he?

OK, but then what? Right?

Where do you think this is going with no name recognition?

We let the readers decide.

Publishing houses are still downsizing.

Publishers don’t want one book anymore.

They want 20 in a series.

Yeah, because it’s a fear-based operation.

But you remember the whole Dickens story, right?

With A Christmas Carol?

Ah yes, the gothic holiday novella

that no one wanted to touch.

Until it was a hit.

I think this is a little different.

How so?

You want me to say it?

Listen, Graham.

You’ve carved out a killer niche for yourself.

You have two more books to fulfill this series.

Do you know how many writers would give their left for that?

Heck, their right foot? I’d give both feet.

Yeah. I do.

And Terrance, I’m grateful. But I wanna do something else.

I wanna do something great.

The teenagers think you’re great.

Although, I think they call it "lit" these days.

And anyway, they’re hungry.

You gotta keep them well fed or you might have a revolt.

I think you mean keep everyone well fed.

It’s just food for thought.

Alright.

See you on the court.

Yeah, you will.

Bring your A game.

Bye, have fun.

Thanks.

Thank you very much.

I hope you don’t mind, I just need to switch this on.

As far as I know I’m only camera shy so go right ahead.

Mmhmm, okay.

Mimi’s Book Corner,

in the cozy seaside town of Nantucket, Massachusetts.

That’s our coffee stop for today.

I’m sitting here with bookshop owner, Meg Tompkins.

Hi, Meg.

Hi.

Naturally, I have to ask you about the name.

Mimi, is that your nickname?

No, Mimi was my mom’s name.

She opened this store before I was born.

So it’s a family business?

It is.

You don’t have to lean forward.

Oh, I’m sorry.

Did you always know you’d take over?

No, I started in real estate in Boston and I really loved it,

but life happens and things change

so now I’m in a new chapter.

A very colorful one.

Mmhmm.

So let’s talk about the book club.

Or better yet,

all the fun events that have made the book club

into a dating craze.

No, no. It’s not a dating craze, it’s about the books.

At least, that’s what I focus on.

Mmhmm. Okay.

Shelf-ability? That’s not even a word.

And even if it was, you can’t stop a great novel

from being read.

Why is your pizza in your hair?!

Lizzy, you still with me?

Let’s get your pajamas on.

Earth to sister... sis...

Is this a bad time? Sounds like a bad time.

Nope, it’s just dinner time.

I’m sorry, do you want me to call back?

No, it’s always crazy in Connecticut.

Like, I get you’re frustrated, G, but you’re a great writer.

You’re a best seller.

Doesn’t make me a real writer.

I just wanna put something out there that matters.

Well, they matter to me.

I’ve read every single one so far.

It matters to everyone,

not just my sweet and very biased family.

Something that people would call

a great piece of literature, you know?

Like Gone with the Wind or Pride and Prejudice.

Pretty sure those have all been written, Graham.

Yeah, they have. And they matter.