Intro
Each of my books asks a version of the same question: what does it cost a person to refuse to falsify who they are? These guides are meant to help you and your book club explore that question together.
Every guide is a free PDF. Download it, print it, and share it with your group. Each one has discussion questions and some background on the book.
Hardship Alaska (2023)
A memoir of two years of alternative service as a Vietnam-era conscientious objector. It begins in Anchorage on Halloween night, 1970, and takes me from group homes and emergency shelters to an Iñupiaq whaling village north of the Arctic Circle.
The Object of His Affection (2024)
Pianist Billy Pine is content with his music and his quiet life in a small New Jersey town, until a chef from his past reappears and a renowned music director sees ambitions in him that he never dared to dream of. A novel about love, music, and the courage to follow your heart.
Scapegoat (2025)
Bruges, 1558. Two men branded as sinners are hunted by a ruthless inquisition in a city where justice serves power above truth. Historical fiction inspired by actual events, about persecution, loyalty, and love that endures.
A Name Unbroken: The Archive and the Body (2026)
Historical fiction about my ancestor Susannah North Martin, one of five women hanged at Salem on July 19, 1692. The book weaves three voices together: Susannah’s imagined defiance, the testimony of the neighbor whose deposition helped condemn her, and my own reflections as her descendant. The guide includes a short “Before You Begin” note on the book’s unusual, liturgical form, so you’ll know what to expect before you start reading.
Leading a book club?
I’d love to hear how your discussion goes. Contact me at info@donaldproffit.com with your feedback or questions.