On a frigid November night along the shoreline of south Quebec’s St. Lawrence River, Cheryl Gale found inspiration in a ghost story surrounding an old sea captain and a murderer.

The story haunted Gale so much that she turned it into a historical fiction novel called The Fateful Voyage of the Empress of Ireland, published in October 2024 by FriesenPress.  The book is the focus of Chapman University’s next Town & Gown “Bound by Books” book club gathering on January 29.

“There are many themes in the book that make for great discussion,” says Valerie Smith, chair of Town & Gown events.  “I have no doubt there will be lots to discuss. Having the author attend our discussions enriches our get togethers immensely.”

Smith, a longtime fan of book clubs, developed Bound By Books because she felt it would be a great forum for community engagement. “I have been involved in book clubs for more than 25 years, with various groups of friends,” she says.  “When I joined Town & Gown several years ago and was tasked with developing new programming ideas for the group, I immediately thought of a book club.”

Bound by Books, launched in January, showcases Chapman and Orange County authors.  The meetings provide a richer experience than standard book clubs, giving attendees meaningful opportunities to hear directly from the authors, Smith says.  The group supports Chapman’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with the surrounding community.

Most members are from the surrounding Chapman community, but the group also hopes to gather members among Chapman students and university employees.

Town & Gown President Susie Willits, a member of Bound by Books and retired Chapman faculty member, enjoys the gatherings for their interesting literary discussions, but also because of the various settings where meetings take place.

“Bound by Books is the brainchild of Valerie and has been very successful, as well as fun,” Willits says.  “I’ve been able to attend most of the meetings.  My favorites were the ones during the summer, where we went to a local restaurant to discuss the books.”

For the upcoming event, the organization will meet at the historic Chapel of Orange at 215 North Grand St.  The Gothic-inspired 1909 building was previously known as Trinity Episcopal Church.  Gale and her husband purchased the property from Chapman University in 2014, renovated it and began renting it out for church services, weddings, funerals and film productions.

Gale says she enjoys speaking at book clubs because people who attend focus on the book and the characters rather than her personal experiences and background.  But her personal experiences do influence the book in some ways, she says.

“Perhaps the hardest scene for me to write was near the end of the book when the captain was dying, as my own mother who I was caring for was dying at the same time in much the same way,” she says.

She hopes that readers will find empathy for all the characters of the book and realize that everyone is trying to do their best in this life.

“My hope is that the readers will finish the book feeling both moved and uplifted, knowing that even in the darkness of tragedy, there remains compassion,” Gale says.

Information: Valerie Smith at [email protected]

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Bound By Books meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month at 7 pm in Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University when a Chapman author is featured.  The group meets at 7 pm on the last Thursday of the month off site when they are reading an Orange County author’s book.