Damn Straight

1. Truby thinks she might be a lesbian because her relationships with men haven't worked out well. How does a person know if they're gay?
   
   
2. Lillian feels that a new romance for her would have to involve someone who was "doing something exceptional with her life". Is Lillian doing something exceptional with her own life?
   
   
3. Lillian enters a world of glamour and celebrity in this book. How does that affect her?
   
   
4. Lillian visits Genie's home town, Pearl Center. What's your take on small town life? Cozy? Depressing?
   
   
5. Genie had a very unhappy youth. How much is a person defined by her past?
   
   
6. Todd sees a lot of action in Damn Straight. What do you think of Todd as a character?
   
   
7. Four people are obsessed with Genie: Lillian, Coach Handy, Dom, and Coco. What is it about Genie?
   
   
8. Compare Lillian rushing to aid her friend Truby and Coach Handy rushing to help Genie. How far should you go to help a friend?
   
   
9. Should Genie be forgiven for the crime she committed as a teen?
   
   
10. Does Lillian seem capable of sustaining a long-term relationship?
    
    
11. Have you ever been to "The Dinah"? Does this book make you want to go?
    
    
12. Readers often wonder about what might happen to the characters after the end of a book. Do you think that Coco and Lillian could get together? What sort of guy should Truby try to find?

From Damn Straight: CUPCAKES (see pages 28 to 30.)

"If you want to act fast, you're going to need a system to separate the—well, the Bordeaux from the Mad Dog. I've developed CUPCAKE. It's very effective."...

"You see a woman; something about her appeals to you. Maybe it's just looks, for the moment. Before approaching her, use this simple quiz. Does she look chipper? C for chipper: By that I mean does she look as if she likes to have fun? Is there a spark in her eyes, something there in her face besides just beautiful curves? Then, does she appear to be unattached? Any partner lurking around, on the way back with a cup of punch? U for unattached. P is for piercings."...

"Does she look as if she just escaped the Spanish Inquisition? Call me a dinosaur, but having an up-close conversation with someone with eyebrow piercings makes my stomach feel funny."...

"C and A are for cognitive abilities. This is beyond chipper. Is she just standing there waiting for something to happen, or is she engaged with what's going on? Could she sell you a set of encyclopedias? Does she look like the type who sends in her Publishers Clearing House entry?"...

"Now, a very important letter, K. Can you picture yourself kissing her? Yes or no? If the answer is yes, and if you're still E for enchanted, then go for it."

"CUPCAKE."

IN PERSON
Elizabeth loves meeting with book groups and writers' groups. If your group would like to have her for a visit, let her know. She lives on the West Coast and sometimes travels across the country, so who knows, maybe she could coordinate a visit to your group with other travel. (She does not charge for meeting with groups.)

BY PHONE
Elizabeth has "attended" book groups by speaker phone. If you'd like to arrange a phone call for your group email Elizabeth to request a date and time.

BOOKPLATES
You can request signed bookplates on the more page under signed copies.

Email Elizabeth: esims@elizabethsims.com

book group guides are available for the following books:
Holy Hell
Damn Straight
Lucky Stiff
Easy Street
The Actress