On April 1, 2026, the Between the Lines Book Club hosted a special video call with New York Times bestselling author Kathleen Grissom. During the discussion, she shared insights into all three of her novels: The Kitchen House, Glory over Everything, and Crow Mary.
The club selected The Kitchen House as its April read. The novel follows Lavinia, a white indentured servant, and Belle, a biracial enslaved woman, living on a Southern plantation in the decades leading up to the American Civil War. This powerful story was Grissom’s debut novel.
The inspiration for The Kitchen House came while the author and her husband were restoring an old plantation tavern in Virginia. During the renovation, she discovered an old map marked “Negro Hill.” Unable to determine its origin, and with suggestions from local historians that it may have been tied to a tragedy, Grissom began researching. Over time, she envisioned a scene that ultimately became the book’s prologue.
Her dedication to the story was extensive—spending over five years researching and another five years securing a literary agent before the book was traditionally published. Today, The Kitchen House remains a favorite among book clubs.
One particularly striking detail from her research was how isolated Southern plantations were, as well as the historical use of laudanum—an opiate commonly given to women for monthly pain. In the novel, both the plantation owner’s wife and Lavinia struggle with addiction to the drug.
Club members greatly enjoyed the opportunity to discuss the book directly with the author. Looking ahead, the club’s May selection is The Widow by John Grisham. The group will meet on May 6, 2026 at 12:00 PM in the kitchen of the DRS Community Center. All are welcome to join! For more information, please contact Christi at 757-332-3830/cschverak@yahoo.com