Questions for Week One for The Twenty Dollar Bill Book Club

[Elmore Hammes]

Hello again from your friendly neighborhood author (yes, I was a big Spider-Man fan as a child, and still enjoy the films).

First of all, thanks so much for joining me in my first ever book club. I am glad so many people have downloaded the book for free from Smashwords - so far about 100 downloads - and I hope that many will share their reading experiences within the Book Club discussions.

I've got the first set of questions - and please note #10, it is an open invitation to ask me your own questions, whether it is about a specific scene from this week's readings, about writing, or anything else that you might be curious about.

Without further ado, here's the questions:

1) How did Joe know Claire’s name?
2) How did the skateboarders get beer?
3) Why does Mrs. Cranston want to buy 100 watt light bulbs?
4) Who wins the poker game?
5) Susie meets two different people in her scene. Why do you think the encounters went so differently?
6) How was the reading experience of going from character to character in short scenes?
7) Which of the ten scenes was your favorite (and why)?
8) Was there a scene – or character - that you could have done without?
9) What made you decide to join the book club?
10) Any other comment you would like to make, or question you would like to ask the author!

Thanks again, I look forward to reading your posts.
Elmore Hammes
Author, The Twenty Dollar Bill (and other novels of various natures)

[Paul]

1) How did Joe know Claire’s name?
From her name tag...

2) How did the skateboarders get beer?
Stole (sort of, actually left the Twenty with Mrs Cranston) it as the other member of the group created a distraction by knocking over a display of cans.

3) Why does Mrs. Cranston want to buy 100 watt light bulbs?
Because the hall way in her housing unit were so dim.

4) Who wins the poker game?
Hugh

5) Susie meets two different people in her scene. Why do you think the encounters went so differently?
Miles the Cabbie is looking for a favor, Donald is just hung on himself! Susie's just looking for love in all the wrong places!

6) How was the reading experience of going from character to character in short scenes?
Awesome, I didn't want to stop at the end of the assignment for the week.

7) Which of the ten scenes was your favorite (and why)?
Ganesh in the Quicky Mart scene. This was right out of the Simpsons and I had to laugh because even though Ganesh was a Headline character, he never laid a finger on the Twenty!

8) Was there a scene – or character - that you could have done without?
Donald, he was just a self righteous jerk, I just didn't like him...

9) What made you decide to join the book club?
The opportunity to read different books and met new people.

10) Any other comment you would like to make, or question you would like to ask the author!
Yeah, Did Mrs Cranston win the lottery? Did Donald win his bet? The next question will have to wait till next week!

[Roxie]

1) How did Joe know Claire’s name?
Claire was wearing a name tag. I was pretty surprised he knew her name as well!

2) How did the skateboarders get beer?
One of the skateboarders knocked over a display while another one ran out with a case of beer. The boy that ran out threw the $20 bill at Mrs. Cranston on his way out.

3) Why does Mrs. Cranston want to buy 100 watt light bulbs?
Mrs. Cranston wants to brighten up the dark hallway in her apartment building.

4) Who wins the poker game?
Hugh wins the poker game. He came into the bar pretending he was drunk with his two drunk friends. They dupe the locals and Hugh ends up winning the pot.

5) Susie meets two different people in her scene. Why do you think the encounters went so differently?
Susie meets Miles and Donald in her scene. I think that the encounters went so differently because she perceived them both differently at first glance. She thought that Miles looked like a cute cab driver and she trusts cab drivers to pay when they were done pumping their gas. So she didn't ask him to prepay. Since she thought Miles was cute she fantasied about getting asked out on a date by him. When she sees Donald she immediately tells him that he needs to prepay. He seems annoyed that he has to prepay and that she is daydreaming when he gets ready to pump his gas.

6) How was the reading experience of going from character to character in short scenes?
So far it has been a very interesting read. I have enjoyed the changing perspective in the story as each scene changes.

7) Which of the ten scenes was your favorite (and why)?
My favorite scene was with Joe. It is my favorite scene because I was so touched by it. Joe was so happy for human contact. I was moved when he still felt “the warmth of the angel in his arms” even after he had the money stolen from him. I keep thinking about Joe and wanting to know how he is doing.

8) Was there a scene – or character - that you could have done without?
No. So far I am really enjoying myself. I think that the concept of following the $20 bill is very unique and interesting.

9) What made you decide to join the book club?
I really like the idea of having a book club. I participated in the last two and I liked reading everyone’s responses to the questions.

10) Any other comment you would like to make, or question you would like to ask the author!
Are any of these characters based on people you know?

Roxie

[Astoria]

) How did Joe know Claire’s name?
Her Name Tag
2) How did the skateboarders get beer?
Took it and through a 20 doller bill at Mrs Cranston
3) Why does Mrs. Cranston want to buy 100 watt light bulbs?
To make it Brighter
4) Who wins the poker game?
Hugh
5) Susie meets two different people in her scene. Why do you think the encounters went so differently?

6) How was the reading experience of going from character to character in short scenes?
Once I started reading I did not want to stop.
7) Which of the ten scenes was your favorite (and why)?

The one with Mrs Cranston I love how she wanted to put 100 watt bulbs in the hall.
8) Was there a scene – or character - that you could have done without?
None so far I like all the scenes I have read


.
9) What made you decide to join the book club?
I love being part of a group reading the same book.
10) Any other comment you would like to make, or question you would like to ask the author!

[Elmore Hammes]

Yeah, Did Mrs Cranston win the lottery? Did Donald win his bet? The next question will have to wait till next week!

Paul, what comes next for each character is something I have purposely not divulged. I have my own suspicions of course, but haven't committed to writing any of them down. However, Mrs. Cranston did win the lottery, the numbers in her scene did match her ticket. Donald's bet is up in the air!

Are any of these characters based on people you know?

Roxie, there are some people in this book who are influenced by people I have met, but none are direct representations of a real person. I've definitely taken little personality traits, speech patterns and events from my own life experience and incorporated them into the novel. I would say this book, out of all my novels, has more of "me" in it even with having 40-some different characters telling the story.

Thanks so much for participating!
I will check back in tomorrow for any additional questions.
Elmore

[plumboz]

1) How did Joe know Claire’s name? Name tag. Nice touch, showing that Joe knew how to get someone's attention and he wasn't so far into his own little world as to be unobservant.

2) How did the skateboarders get beer? Distraction and grab and run.

3) Why does Mrs. Cranston want to buy 100 watt light bulbs? It is dim in the entryway to her apartment.

s4) Who wins the poker game? Cruddy ol' Hugh.

5) Susie meets two different people in her scene. Why do you think the encounters went so differently? The attitude and circumstances of the two men. One was a nice guy having a tough night, not the sort to take it out on the people he encounters, and the other was dollar-centric interested only in impressing and acting like Somebody.

6) How was the reading experience of going from character to character in short scenes? It works well. So far lots of variety, a lot of the Human Experience is on display here.

7) Which of the ten scenes was your favorite (and why)? I like the first scene best so far. It starts things out with a ray of hope which I am hoping will happen again before things are over.

8) Was there a scene – or character - that you could have done without? Never partial to puking drunks, but he served a valid purpose. None of the scenes seemed extraneous.

9) What made you decide to join the book club? I feel bad about being so slow to read Emma!

10) Any other comment you would like to make, or question you would like to ask the author! I admire you for attempting this sort of literary adventure. The toughest part in something like this, at least from how I see it, is to give each of these characters a distinctive voice. Did you ever consider or experiment with writing this in third person instead of first person?

[pstroh69]

1) How did Joe know Claire’s name?From her name tag
2) How did the skateboarders get beer?they distracted Ganesh then ran...but not before throwing the $20 bill to Mrs. Cranston.
3) Why does Mrs. Cranston want to buy 100 watt light bulbs? To make her hallway brighter
4) Who wins the poker game? Hugh...who i actually disliked greatly
5) Susie meets two different people in her scene. Why do you think the encounters went so differently? One of them was actually considerate and seems like a nice guy. The other one couldn't care less for anyone but himself.
6) How was the reading experience of going from character to character in short scenes? I like the experience. Seems like the book moves along.
7) Which of the ten scenes was your favorite (and why)? I actually liked the very first scene. It really set the tone for the entire book.
8) Was there a scene – or character - that you could have done without? Hugh's scene I could have done without...and I thought Ganesh's scene could have been combined into the other two scenes right before and after it.
9) What made you decide to join the book club? I have never done anything like this and thought it would be fun.
10) Any other comment you would like to make, or question you would like to ask the author! I am really enjoying this book. It is both humorous and touching in some of the scenes. Is this your first book?

[anijh12]

1) How did Joe know Claire’s name? Claire was wearing a name tag.

2) How did the skateboarders get beer? They stole it by distracting the store owner. They knocked down his drink display.

3) Why does Mrs. Cranston want to buy 100 watt light bulbs? She wants to make the hallway of her apartment complex brighter.

4) Who wins the poker game? Hugh.

5) Susie meets two different people in her scene. Why do you think the encounters went so differently? She meets Miles and Donald. She's a little attracted to Miles but the reason why the encounters are different is because of Miles' job as a cab driver. She trusts cab drivers -- she says it's been her experience that cabbies are ok and that they pay in cash.

6) How was the reading experience of going from character to character in short scenes? It's been a fun read.

7) Which of the ten scenes was your favorite (and why)? The scene between Claire and Joe.

8) Was there a scene – or character - that you could have done without? No. I think each scene sets up the next character nicely.

9) What made you decide to join the book club? I've never taken part in a book club and this was the first opportunity to do so on my nook.

10) Any other comment you would like to make, or question you would like to ask the author!

[Elmore Hammes]

The toughest part in something like this, at least from how I see it, is to give each of these characters a distinctive voice. Did you ever consider or experiment with writing this in third person instead of first person?

Alan, I did not. Since I knew from the start I wanted to show how people can see the same situation from different perspectives, I was pretty confident that first person point of view was going to be the right way to tell the story. I did work hard at trying to make each one distinctive, if not always in voice then at least situation. Hopefully, I achieved that.

I am really enjoying this book. It is both humorous and touching in some of the scenes. Is this your first book?

Pstroh69, thanks! I've written seven novels - five of those I have finished and self-published - four are available in Nook editions, five in Paperback through Barnes & Noble online as well as by order at most bookstores. The Twenty Dollar Bill was the fifth one written and fourth released. I've got a couple others that are still being revised.


I will continue to check out this thread at least once a day to respond to questions - it is very nice to receive some feedback on the novel, and I am glad you are enjoying it.
Elmore Hammes
Author, The Twenty Dollar Bill

[craftyott]

Hello! I'm late for class but I still want to participate! Since most of the questions have been answered expertly, I'll put in my 2 cents for the last few:

6) How was the reading experience of going from character to character in short scenes?
I love the flow of this book, seeing how small acts and encounters can affect the other characters.

7) Which of the ten scenes was your favorite (and why)?
All of them were great glimspses into a moment in a character's life, but Joe's scene was my favorite. His act of calling Claire's name in Claire's scene is what started this (would she have stopped for him if he didn't say her name? She really didn't see him until then.). And so far, he seems like he has gotten the "most" out of the $20 (the warmth of an angel).

8) Was there a scene – or character - that you could have done without?
Not really, I think they have all contributed to the story in some way.

9) What made you decide to join the book club?
This was one of my first ebooks that I downloaded, and it sounded very interesting. Since I'm a homeschool mom, reading is my "break" during the day (when I sit on the couch with my nook or a book, the kids know I'm in the "teacher's lounge" and I'm not to be disturbed). I am always looking for great books for my teens to read so we can discuss them. I think this book will be added to my senior's required reading list!

10) Any other comment you would like to make, or question you would like to ask the author!
I can't wait to read some of your other books! (And I'll try not to be late for the next class.....)