The new digital bookclub download for Sunflower Sisters makes putting together a bookclub night so much fun. Full of helpful things like discussion questions, a Woolsey family tree and recipes and beverages inspired by those in the book, it’s a great bookclub partner. Click here to download the Sunflower Sisters Book Club Kit right now.

One of the best things about writing Sunflower Sisters was researching the Civil War bonnet. All three main characters wear them and Anne-May the plantation mistress is especially frantic when the war cuts off her supply of new ones.

I was surprised at the many different types: mourning, casual, dressy, sunbonnets, bonnets for field work, bonnets for short social calls, for longer social calls, special bonnets for church, for young girls, bonnets for every season. I love these old photos of women in their bonnets and the pics at the bottom of those that have survived from the period. Can you find my very own bonnet?

One of the best memories I have is of my sister Polly Simpkins surprising me at the book launch party for my first book Lilac Girls, by coming down from her home on Martha’s Vineyard to The Corner Bookstore in New York. She’s one of those people who do those kind of things, goes out of her way to make other people’s lives better.

Though we couldn’t do in-person events this year, she’s supporting my new book Sunflower Sisters at her local bookstore, The Bunch of Grapes in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, our mother’s favorite bookstore when she was alive, and is bringing books to all my mother’s friends. I think my mom would love that she’s doing that.

If you’d like a little shot of bliss in your day visit Polly’s blog here: https://acupofkarma.com/ Don’t miss her amazing bead page.

Do you have someone in your life who goes out of their way to make people happy?