We talked about you and Joan for another hour and a half after you left us, and we wanted to call you back and ask you these questions.  We compromised and I promised to email you:

In your research, did you ever discover the true father of Joan's baby?  Was there really a Gerold?

Was Woolfolk your given middle name or your maiden name?  What is the country of origin of Woolfolk?

We cannot thank you enough for speaking to us last night.  We had a great discussion about Pope Joan and we all really enjoyed the book and talking with you.  You were wonderful to talk to and we would've thought so even if your book was mediocre, but we also really loved your book!  Thank you for such a great experience, we will be remembering you for years to come. 

Thank you for our delicious talk and best of luck on the next book and the upcoming movie...We anxiously await both.

Name:         Del Mari Runck
Location:     Alexandria, Minnesota
Date:           Monday, March 10, 2008

Thank you so much for your reply to my guestbook post.   Despite not having you as part of our book group's lively discussion on the night we gathered, we talked for over 2 hours about the book as well as the "ABC Primetime" show that many of us had viewed through itunes prior to our gathering. I felt after watching that interview, I knew you!   

We loved Pope Joan.  In fact, in our poll of attendees rating the book on a scale of 1-10, it received a 8.9, one of our highest ratings ever! 

I must ask a couple questions . . . where are you currently living?  (With access to you via electronic methods, it seems like you are very close by!) Do you do book tours and if so, do you have any plans to come to Minnesota on one of those tours?

Thanks so much for responding to my guestbook post and for answering my questions!

Name:         Joan Donatelle
Location:     Eden Prairie Minnesota
Groupname:    Cardinal Creek
Date:         Monday, March 10, 2008

(Posted on the book and school group chat request page.) We have been together for 20 years as a neighborhood book club. Each year we vote on the books we select and have a different volunteer to present for each book. Each year we select a historical novel, and this year it's Pope Joan.

We have quite a range of ages in our group. We are all women. Mostly married. Many of us share these
books with our husbands, daughters and sons.

Name:     Taylor Harding
Location: Oro Valley, Arizona
Date:     Friday, March 7, 2008

Is this novel currently available on Audio cassette or CD?

.... Donna's Reply....

No audio version of Pope Joan yet exists.   You can help increase the possibility of one in the future by emailing  recordedbooks.com and asking the company  to consider Pope Joan for inclusion in their impressive list of titles!

Name:     Allison
Location: Cape Coral, FL
Date:     Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Name:     Jennifer
Location: United Sates
Date:     Monday, March 3, 2008

I just want to say that I loved your book! I had never heard of Pope Joan until I found this book at a book store. The story is amazing! I'm currently reading it for the second time.

Name:         Michelle Scott
Location:     Granger, In USA
Date:         Thursday, February 28, 2008

Each member of our book group takes a turn and chooses a book.  I chose Pope Joan because I
found it fascinating and something I had never considered.  I wanted to share it with my book club.

Hope you can join us by speakerphone on the night we discuss your book.

Name: Antonina Aall
Location: Russia
Date: Thursday, February 28, 2008

We would like to consider your work for publication in the Russian language so please send us on the right track:))) I do hope to hear from you or your agent soon.

About us: Arabesque Books is an imprint of AST Publishing Company, the largest Russian publisher. We are dealing mostly with translated fiction for adults and children.

Antonina Gall, Chief Editor
Arabesque Books
St. Petersburg, Russia

Name:     Anne Rohling
Location: Kansas City
Date:     Monday, February 25, 2008
Groupname:  Ruthie's Readers

Late in January, we invited internationally-known author, Donna Woolfolk Cross (Pope Joan, among other titles) to phone into our gathering, and it was simply the most fun and informative evening we’ve shared.

Donna was so gracious, entertaining and knowledgeable about the writing process and her experience with publishing a novel and watching it gain in popularity over the course of many painstaking years.

Because most in our group happen to be Catholic, “Pope Joan” was quite intriguing, especially for those of us raising young daughters. And our lively discussion (via speaker phone) with Donna could not have been more exciting!  We wish Donna could have joined us in person, because we felt she was a neighbor and fellow book group member by the end of our conversation.

[Want to request a chat with the author for your group?  Link here.]

Name:         Del Mari Runck 
Location:     Alexandria Minnesota
Groupname:    Between the Wines
Date:         Thursday, February 21, 2008

(Posted on the book and school group chat request page.) We chose Pope Joan because it was recommended to us by many other book clubs.  We have not read a historical novel previously and thought this would be a good selection for that genre.  And finally, we were intrigued by the idea of a woman disguising herself to become a success.

Name:         Kris Thorne
Location:     Cedar Hills, Utah
Date:         Monday, February 18, 2008

The cover of Pope Joan looked very interesting. I had just
recently purchased a copy before our book group even selected it as a read.  I love
reading about Medieval times and historical fiction.  I read it two months
before the others and highly praised it at our last meeting.  So far
everyone who has read it has loved it! We all so hope that you can join us by speakerphone at
one of the meeting date choices we submitted on the request form!

Name:     hunter pynchon
Location: providence, ri
Date:     Friday, February 22, 2008
Time:     09:08 AM

My mother was enthralled with your book, and has promised to loan the book to me next (of her four daughters).  She mentioned an arithmatic/calculation tool or concept used by Joan, called "Bede," I
believe.  We would like to learn more about this calculus tool.  Could you please direct us to such a source?

Name:   Mara Sierchia
Date:     February 12, 2008
Location:  New York, NY

I just wanted to thank you again for joining our book group discussion by speakerphone.  The group had a great time and very much enjoyed speaking with you.  Having the "horse's mouth" join us provided such an unusual perspective and really elevated our discussion.  As an aside, the group thinks that you have such a wonderful and expressive voice, that you would be an excellent narrator for books on tape! 

Name:     Maria João
Location: Portugal
Date:     February 11, 2008

I am a Portuguese 16-year-old girl, and I read 'Papisa Joana' (Portuguese
title) when I was 13. It touched my in such a deep way, I can't find words
to describe it. It has a kind of strength that one rarely finds. I highly
recommend it to anyone who likes a good book.

Name:         Allison McCarraher
Location:     Cape Coral, FL
Groupname:    The Avid Reader
Date:         February 10, 2008

In our book group each member gets to select a book.  This month Angelika chose your book.  She is from Germany and originally read it years ago in German. She loved it so much she suggested it for our group.  We all also love it, and would be so happy if you could join us on one of the requested dates.  We have had a few "tough-read" selections lately,  and it is so great to read a book that beckons me through
the day.  It is such a great read and an amazing story.  We would be honored as a group to have join our chat by speakerphone.

Name:         Helen Holtzman
Location:     Boynton Beach, Florida
Groupname:    Palm Chase Book Club
Date:         February 9, 2008

I work in Barnes & Noble in Boynton Beach, and I also run my community's book
club.  After reading Pope Joan, which I loved, I scheduled it for our March
read because I found it fascinating as to historical background (as a
ex-English-history teacher) as well as the characterization and themes
relating to the Church. I

 have also recommended Pope Joan to many book clubs in my
area, as well as to my niece in New York City, whose book club is doing it
and which you are already scheduled to call in to.  She is the one who
told me about this wonderful opportunity to have you "join the conversation"
and my ladies are very excited - everyone loves the book.
I hope we can work something out.  

Name:         Dianne Butler
Location:     Jasper, GA
Date:         February 8, 2008

(Posted on the book and school group chat request page.) Pope Joan was recommended to me,  and I read it last year and loved it. We seem to be interested this year in the power of women, so at our book club planning meeting, I recommended it. 
 

Name:     Gail Halliday
Location: Grosse Pointe, MI
Date:     February 6, 2008

Thank you for joining our book group discussion by speakerphone.  We all loved Pope Joan
and enjoyed being treated to an insider’s view of its development.  Very interesting to hear how you took both historical facts and specific information on Pope Joan to develop a most likely scenario.  We look forward to seeing the film soon.  And to your next book!
 

Name:   Mara Sierchia
Date:     February 3, 2008
Location:  New York, NY

Our book group is very excited about our upcoming speakerphone chat with you.  Our group is about 8 women, all in our late twenties/early thirties, living in Manhattan.  The group is relatively new (this is only our third discussion), and very open to reading different types of books.  Most of the members have previously participated in book groups.   At each meeting, one member provides four suggestions for the next month's book, and the other members vote on which one they would like to read.  My friend in charge of choosing the latest book asked her husband's aunt, who works at Barnes & Noble, for help selecting a book.  Her aunt suggested Pope Joan, and last month the group voted in favor of reading it.  I am only about 150 pages into the book (which I am enjoying tremendously) and already I know that it will be a very lively discussion.  The majority of the group hold graduate degrees, and a number of us have taken courses in women studies.  Accordingly,  the issues regarding the education and treatment of women are of great interest to us. 

[Want to request a chat with the author for your group?  Link here.]

Name:     Barbara Fenters
Location: Fullerton, CA
Date:     Friday, February 01, 2008

Dear Donna,
Our bookclub at Fullerton First Christian Church (we had a phone
conversation with you a couple of years ago) are wondering about the status
of your next book and the Pope Joan movie.  The club asks me everytime we
meet if I have heard anything.  We are anxiously awaiting.

Name:     Leonardo Blazevic
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
Date:      Thursday, January 31, 2008

Dear Donna, I'm marketing director in Ljevak Publishing, Zagreb, Croatia and we just published your book Pope Joan in Croatian. The most popular weekly magazine in Croatia is interested in doing an interview with you. Would something like that be possible?

Name:     Guiselle Padilla
Location: Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
Date:     Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Donna, I would like to thank you so much for calling our book club last
night.  We thoroughly enjoyed hearing your perspective as the author and we
are all looking forward to the movie's premiere.

Again, thanks for taking the time to call and for giving us such an enjoyable
evening. 

Name: Rosemary, Jocelyn, Bryn, Shannon, Alexandria, Suzette, Kelly, Barb, and Susan
Location: New Albany, Ohio
Date: Thursday, January 20, 2008

Thank you so much for your call to our book club on Monday night.  We were thrilled to have you attend the meeting by speakerphone. You really impressed everyone with not only your account of the characters and circumstances regarding the Pope Joan book,  but we also felt as if we were treated to history lesson snippets along the way. A truly nice journey for all the women present at book club that night.

We really enjoyed your sense of humor, your well-spoken and beautiful elocution, the dedication to your work, as evidenced not only by the research regarding your storyline but also with the personal calls to readers like us.... and if I may compliment you on your steadfastness and good humor regarding the making your Pope Joan come alive on the screen.

Many many thanks. We wish you all the best. We look forward to your new book's release as well as the Pope Joan movie! May it be true to your story!

[Want to request a chat with the author for your group?  Link here.]

Name: Anne Rohling
Location: Leawood, Kansas (Kansas City)
Groupname: Ruthie's Readers
Date: Thursday, January 10, 2008

I received Pope Joan as a Christmas gift in late 2006, and it became my favorite recommendation during 2007. Our monthly group rotates book selection by hostess, so this is my pick. I enjoyed reading about such a strong female protagonist, learning about the Dark Ages (as I knew little and would not have chosen the topic without outside influence). Our group is mostly Catholic from the same church and suburban Kansas City area, so a female Pope is quite intriguing. Thank you for your research and historical novel! You go, girl! What a special gift you and my sister-in-law gave me last Christmas! I look forward to recommending your book to my first-grade daughter some day. :-)

Name:  Sally Pyne Kennedy
Location:  Ann Arbor, MI
Date:  December 30, 2007

Every holiday I always have so much for which to be thankful--but his year I have a special thank you for having had the opportunity to meet you and to hear your exceptional lecture to our Waterman Alumnae Group.  Almost every day i am stopped in a store or on the street by people (some of whom I really don't know) to tell me what a special presentation you made.  Many have said that it was the best lecture to date! Thank you so much for being our Town Hall speaker this past November.

Name: Lisa Klossner
Location: East Amherst, NY
Date: Friday, December 21, 2007

(Posted on the book and school group chat request page.) We met during the summer at the performance of the play "Pope Joan" in Buffalo. My friend and I were sitting behind you discussing your novel. (I had lent my copy to a friend, never got it back, and you were gracious enough to sign and give me the one you were carrying.) Since your book is a favorite of our group, we have decided to reread it. If the above dates listed on the request form aren't good for, you please let me know and we'll reschedule. Thanks! Lisa

Here at the University of Vermont I have just been reading through 40 papers in which students offered comparative analyses of your novel with earlier treatments of Pope Joan (everything from 13th century Dominicans to Boccaccio to Caryl Churchill). Even though I didn't set up a chance for my students to chat with you this time around, they had a great discussion about your novel and continue to find it a great source and a great read.

I see the movie has hit some delays, but I'm still looking forward to it, and to your next book.

From: Eileen Kurtz
Location: St. Charles, Illinois
Date: December 15, 2007

I just feel compelled to thank you again for your time with our reading group today. It truly was a memorable evening.

Everyone will be purchasing and reading your next book and we all wish you much success with that.

You are an incredible person - a true role model for all of us. Thank you for sharing a piece of yourself with our book club.

[Want to request a chat with the author for your group?  Link here.]

Thank you so very much for speaking to our book club yesterday.  Your book is wonderful and you are amazing.  We appreciated your call and will be talking about it for a long time to come.  I will sign up for news about "Pope Joan" and will naturally look forward to the movie (good luck).

From Marianna Kirikian
Location:  Oyster Bay, new York
Date: Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Thank you so much for the stimulating conversation with our reading group. It was a pleasure to speak with you and we all wish you continued and growing success with Pope Joan as well as with your new endeavor. (which of course we plan on reading!)

Name: Beth Trafton
Location: Alamo, CA
Date: Sunday, December 02, 2007

Our book group really enjoyed our speakerphone chat with you on 11/29. THANK YOU so much for making the call and giving us such insight into the book. It was a thrilling evening for all of us!! You are a brilliant author. We look forward to your next book.

[Want to request a chat with the author for your group?  Link here.]

It was so nice to hear you speak at the Waterman Lecture in Ann Arbor--and to visit with you afterwards. All of our book group that was able to attend last Tuesday were so happy to meet you and really enjoyed the time spent with you. You are amazing and wonderful! Pauline Druschel

Name: Chris Kaczanowski
Location: Grosse Pointe Michigan
Groupname: ABC
Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2007

(Posted on the book and school group chat request page.) Our book group meets the fourth Monday of the month and the date I've entered on the request form is the only one we have available for the discusison. Rotating meeting and sponsor selects the book.

 Our group sponsor has heard from another person that Pope Joan is an excellent read. Hope we can schedule a speakerphone chat with you!

Name: Linda Kay
Location: Parsippany, NJ 07054
Date: Sunday, November 11, 2007

 (Posted on the book and school group chat request page.) We often read book reviews from the New York Times and one of our members had read about Pope Joan several years ago and kept it in mind and suggested it for us to read. We are a group of women with a liberal perspective, and this book is of great interest to us. We also read very favorable reader reviews of the book online. We only just discovered this opportunity to chat with the author by speakerphone. We are reading Pope Joan as our November book club selection, so we are hoping we are not too late making this request.

• In the years since the book was published, have you continued to seek more "evidence" of Pope Joan's existence . . .  or, are you now content with what you've uncovered?
• When you were in Rome, did you see the street where Joan is purported to have delivered her baby?  In my own research, I found a picture of a small shrine on that spot, and I'm curious to know if it's still there?  If so, I would assume that it attracts tourists.
• Your book has been translated into several languages and is an international bestseller. How many copies have been sold worldwide?
• We're aware that you're working on a new novel about 17th century France. When can we expect that book to be published?  We'll be watching for it . . . eager to find out if the subject matter will arouse "controversy." 

From: Tanya Newgreen
Location:  Ottawa, Canada
Groupname:  Chicklit Chicas
Date: November 3, 2007

Now it's been over a week since you joined our bookclub chat by speakerphone and 2 more snow storms afterwards we've all had a chance to digest your information as well as share our exciting evening with a lot more people. Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with a bunch of girls in Canada about Pope Joan. It was an eye-opening and unique experience and we all really appreciated hearing from 'the horse's mouth'. Your enthusiasm about this beautiful novel was apparent to all.

On behalf of the Chicklit Chicas thanks so much for your time (which is a precious commodity these days) and we look forward to hearing about your next book. I have passed on your website info to the book club as well.

Have a very merry Christmas and may your new year be filled with much health and happiness for you and your family and may the kindest and most pro-active of publishers come your way for your next novel!!!!!

Name: Alice Lazzarini
Location: Mendham, NJ
Date:  November 1, 2007

Our book group's speakerphone session with you went beautifully, and I thank you again for your generosity.The entire group caught your enthusiasm. I even observed how you won over the one or two members who started out somewhat critical of the book as they came to appreciate the literary choices you made.

I blind cc'd you on a request we sent to recordedbooks.com to make an audio version of Pope Joan. Do get back to me if there is any further way our group might support your efforts. Meanwhile, I signed up for your mailing list and I look forward to receiving your updates on the movie... and on your next novel!

Thank you for an enjoyable three day read. I want more!

I so hope Pope Joan was real. I have a million writer questions--do you write from an outline? Do you still teach? Do you belong to a writer's group-did you?  Where is the next novel?

Thank you for reminding me I love historical fiction. How could I forget that????

Name: Diane Kane
Location: Clear Lake City, TX
Groupname: GI Book Study Club
Date:  October 29, 2007

(Posted on the book and school group chat request page.) We are a group of women (12-20 at present). During this fall we focussed on books about women and their use of power. We were most impressed with the humanity of Joan despite the brutality of the age.

Name: Dr. Kathryn Moore, RN
Location: Nashville, TN
Date:  October 22, 2007

I recall reading in your novel Pope Joan when a monk was cold, wet and injured a statement from Hippocrates said there was a deadly chill associated with trauma. I am trying to find a reference for that idea. I would like to include it as the final statement in an article I am writing about hypothermia in trauma.

Name: Tanya Novo-Verde
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Groupname: Chicklit
Date:  October 15, 2007

(Posted on the book and school group chat request page.) Each member of our reading group puts a book choice in our "can 'o books" and then we randomly pick one out.  Pope Joan was the last book left in the can. We're looking forward to the discussion.

Name: Graz Tinney
Location: Munich, Germany
Groupname: International Book group
Date:  October 14, 2007
 

Can you send me a list of suggested discussion topics for this book? We are a group of International women living in Germany. I chose Pope Joan because a past book club member who has since returned to the states thought that it might be a good book for us to discuss.  Thank you.

Name: Alice Lazzarini
Location: Mendham, NJ
Groupname: Oak Knoll Reading Group
Date:  October 14, 2007

My apologies for this long shot attempt. I am 'presenting' this book next Tuesday to a group of mostly Ivy-league educated readers and, in doing last minute research, I JUST found the Reading Group site! The book had been unanimously selected for reading by the group whose members would be thrilled to have the opportunity to discuss it with the author.

How can I possibly THANK YOU enough for the wonderful chat our reading group had with you last night?! Gaining such a wealth of insight directly from "the horse's mouth" added sooo much to our appreciation of your book. Prior to your call, our group discussion was lively, with a lot of give and take ~ proof positive that your book had aroused a lot of feelings, beliefs and skepticisms, mixed with a generous dose of controversy. By the time the phone rang, the group was ready and eager to meet the author! We do have a few more questions, Donna.

* In the years since the book was published, have you continued to seek more "evidence" of Pope Joan's existence . . . or, are you now content with what you've uncovered?

* When you were in Rome, did you see the street where Joan is purported to have delivered her baby? In my own research, I found a picture of a small shrine on that spot, and I'm curious to know if it's still there? If so, I would assume that it attracts tourists.

* Your book has been translated into several languages and is an international bestseller. How many copies have been sold worldwide?

* We're aware that you're working on a new novel about 17th century France. When can we expect that book to be published? We'll be watching for it . . . eager to find out if the subject matter will arouse "controversy."

It was a pleasure speaking with you, Donna. We hope to see you on TV someday, being interviewed when the Pope Joan movie is filmed. The members of the Peachtree City Library Book Club say "Thank You" again, and we wish you continued success.

[Want to request a speakerphone chat with the author for your group?  Link here.]

I am a member of two different book clubs. In the first group, your book was selected - and voted the best book read that year. So, I've selected Pope Joan for the other book club.

From: Betsy Maguire
West Simsbury, Connecticut
Date:  October 4, 2007

THANK YOU so much for the highly informative and entertaining speakerphone "chat" on October 18th. Our group could not stop raving about both your deep knowledge of the times, and the lighter "tidbits" you so humorously shared. We have each recommended _Pope Joan_ to many friends and family members and we greatly anticipate the movie. Best of luck with that challenging process.

Name: April Killins
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date:  October 4, 2007

Pope Joan is the most inspiring and exciting book I have ever found. From the very first sentence I discovered for the first time in my life what it is like to be addicted to a book! Thank you for that experience; I have yet to find another book that I am so sad to have finished.

Name: Jeanne Latour
Location: Peachtree City, Georgia US
Date:  October 4, 2007

(Posted on the book and school group chat request page.) Ms. Cross, I regret that I'm unable to provide other dates, so I'll certainly understand if you're not able to meet with us by phone ~ but, we'd LOVE to hear from you! I heard about Pope Joan from 3 people, who all RAVED about it. Your book is fascinating... and as a Catholic myself, I found it VERY thought-provoking. My husband is reading and enjoying it now.