The original post can be found here on Sarandipity's blog.
Have you ever hosted a themed party? Like a themed movie night where you string up decorations and make food that all ties into the movie. Or when a group of D&D enthusiasts dress up as their heroes to make the imaginative game more immersive.
I think that themed experiences should extend to books as well. For avid readers who can read a book in a day – go forth and have a full themed experience with food and drink! But for those of us readers who can only squeak in a few chapters a day – what of us? What of our experience?
I give you – mini themed activities.
At whatever frequency you wish, plan out a movie night or board game that ties in with your book of choice. If the characters play a specific card game in the book, learn it! Sure, you could be reading instead of doing these activities, but this is a way to bring your loved ones into the book.
My lovely wife and I sit down at the end of a busy day and talk and spend time together. Evenings are when I do not want to read as I want to spend time with her! By having themed activities tied to my book, we can do something other than watch TV, and I can share with her what I am reading.
Below I’ve rounded up 10 activities you can enjoy to fully immerse yourself in my newest young adult/cozy mystery title Lucky Secrets. Enjoy these as a countdown to the release date June 23, 2025, or as a way to kick off the release date. The most important part is that you have fun!
Play the boardgame classic Clue
Like Clue, Lucky Secrets has a colorful cast of characters all stuck inside an exquisite mansion for an elaborate contest. Kirkus Reviews put it best with “There are lots of unnerving, shady characters to speculate about, even better than Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, and their cohorts.”
Each contestant is not quite who they seem, as they hide a secret worth killing for. When one ends up dead, anyone could be the killer. Was it you, with the candlestick, in the drawing room?
Watch the 1985 silver screen classic Clue
Not into boardgames? Pop some popcorn and watch the 1985 cinematic masterpiece Clue instead! Don’t forget to watch all the alternate endings!
Knives Out
For those who prefer more recent movies, might I suggest Knives Out? If only for Daniel Craig’s southern accent.
Visit an Escape Room
Contestants must solve a series of riddles and numerical puzzles to advance in the competition. Step into their shoes by participating in an Escape Room with your cleverest of friends. Can you escape in time?
I have to thank Joslyn Vann of the US Review of Books for her suggestion: “Fans of escape rooms, the board game Clue, and the Netflix murder mystery franchise Knives Out will enjoy attempting to solve the riddles and clues alongside the characters.” – US Review of Books, Recommended
Learn to play Poker, Chess, or Backgammon
Pretend to be a contestant enjoying the amenities of El Sueño by learning to play poker, chess, or backgammon.
“A poker table, chess table, and backgammon table populated the left section, and a stylish bar with high-backed chairs and pub tables filled the right. In front of us, in the center section, sat a red-felted antique pool table on a blue oriental rug beneath two crystal chandeliers. On the table, billiard balls were racked and ready.” -Lucky Secrets, pg. 205
Complete a Jigsaw Puzzle
Bring the cover to life with an evening of jigsaw puzzling. Bonus points if it is blue based!
Play Riddle Me This
Keep your mind sharp with the game of words Riddle Me This. You can purchase a premade game, install it on your phone, or even DIY it!
Go Bowling
Bowling? Really?
Yep! And if you can, get an orange bowling ball. Mum’s the word!
Complete a Sudoku
Main character Sara Donovan has a math whiz for a brother. Channel your inner Matt Donovan and become one with the numbers in a game of sudoku. Make it a family friendly affair by racing one another – or even setting up an entire Sudoku tournament.
Play the Lottery
Afterall, that’s probably the only way us regular folk have a chance to win millions upon millions of dollars.
So there you have it! 10 ways to immerse yourself in the world of Lucky Secrets. Tag me if you decide to do any of these activities in celebration of Lucky Secrets’ June 23rd release! And if you haven’t pre-ordered yourself a copy, be sure to do so wherever books are sold. You can also pre-order a signed copy on my website, btpolcari.com.
Thank you so much to Sarandipity’s and Goddess Fish Promotions for letting me share my book and ideas with you all! Comment below with any other activities, or if you’ve ever done something like this before!