❌The ever-changing BookTok community (which values short attention spans) ❌Having ZERO community as a writer (I am so loneLYYYYY. I got noboDYYYY) ❌Finishing only a handful books a year since January (or none) ❌No one reading your work or offering feedback (it's a sad world out there) ❌Readers who clearly only use AI to review your work (gross)
Welcome HOME. You're in the right place.
A little bit about me...
My name is N.S. Elizabeth. Well, my pen name is at least. My mother doesn't call me N like a certain ex-royal calls her husband "H" (IYKYK).
I'm the author of The Forbidden Affairs of Buckingham Palace and 100 Nights in Beirut.
For the last six years I've lived in Canada, it's been quite a lonely existence (until my husband came to join me here).
As a Lebanese-Egyptian author who arrived to the West with a big dream of becoming successful in this career and making friends,
I instead found myself frustrated and defeated at how difficult it was to make connections.
It didn't help that I was a very hopeful teenager who used to watch The Greatest Showman on repeat.
I was an ultra-idealistic mess with a big heart and a bag full of dreams *cue tears*
Having your head buried in movies most of your life does that to you.
It distorts your view of reality and increases your expectations.
Needless to say, CANADA was not my cup of tea when it came to community.
The fact that I couldn't make deep, long-lasting friendships without going on Meetup.com or joining some local FB group was awful
(which I never did by the way because I felt like I'd be admitting to being a loser if I did—no offense to any FB group lurkers reading this).
It was just tough making connections as a young woman and even tougher as a writer.
My silver lining...
I once heard how J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis used to meet up often during their Oxford years in an informal literary group calledThe Inklings and I was amazed.
Not just by the beautiful idea but at how much SUCCESS each author went on to have because of their common interests and exchange of ideas.
Their writing group helped each of them grow into the wonderful writers we know them to be!
I wanted to build a similar community for myself and other writers who have been looking for an olive branch to support their careers.
And for the readers who can barely finish a book a year and need accountability (I'm one of them).
If you're looking for a faith-centered, book-loving community where you can - share your writing - achieve your reading goals for the year - grow your social network of sisters Please come and join me inside The Tea House Literary Society below:
✔ One book to read monthly (so you can have at least 12 books crossed off your to-be-read list instead of one-quarter of one) - The book will be decided after a poll each month.
✔ "Spill The TEA" Sundays 🍵 to create a sisterhood like no other. Imagine a weekly space to unwind through our stories (can be audio/text based, whatever you're comfortable with).
We'll chat about: - Personal wins & AHA life moments inspired by the book. If you experienced something that week that connected you back to the themes, characters, or emotions in the story, please share! - Creativity, faith, writing, or anything book-related (the floor is yours) - Your writing excerpts (max 2000 words) can be sent over once a week for gentle, supportive group feedback *optional*. Think of it as having a low-hanging beta-reader and book-club all in one place ✍️
If you’re in Alberta, we’ll even plan occasional in-person tea meetups and high teas!
✔ Quiet Writing Café - Every writer writes at a different time so if you happen to feel lonely and want a cozy co-writing room where you can write and/or exchange feedback with another writer à la Tolkien-Lewis style, there MIGHT be another writer looking for the same deal. You can mention the times you usually write inside the channel + your music of choice. If it's a match, get into a 1:1 voice room, put on some music and write together!
✔ Tea Companions for Each Book - For each book we read together, pair a tea similar to its vibe, drop a nice recipe from the relevant time period, and immerse yourself into the world of the characters ✨
✔ No-Pressure Discussion Nights (once a month) - I’ll guide our discussions on video using publisher-prepped Book-Club guides (a super fun and low pressure way to discuss the Book of the Month). If you haven’t finished the book yet, it’s totally okay to skip this call so you don’t catch any spoilers! 🩷 ✔ Pen to Paper Challenges (Time TBD): Enjoy 10-minute writing challenges that match the monthly theme. Super low pressure way to bring out your inner writer (and if it's good, perhaps it'll be an interesting story for your writer's newsletter, or social media!)
✔ Behind-The-Books Channel - This is the fun, juicy place where you get to ask me anything about my books. What inspired my scenes, which characters were based on real people, what I'm currently writing, etc. BE AS UNHINGED AS POSSIBLE with your inquiries.
I like a challenge, especially over tea...
Did I mention you also get FIRST DIBS access to my book giveaways?
That's right.
Exclusive, first-point access to you and all my email subscribers!
Let's face it.
You're not just joining a book club community.
You're joining a sisterhood of faith-centered women who will grow with you through every chapter you read and every story you write.
If all the above sounds exciting to you, please add your name to the waitlist below and you'll be the first to know when I open the doors to the club on January 1st!
