Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominique Duque
Hi Dominique, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Originally from Wichita, KS, I have always loved reading growing up but when I started graduate school for my MBA in Kansas City, MO, I was extremely busy between that and working full-time. When I graduated in 2019, I had a goal to read 50 books and would share those books on my instagram and twitter accounts. As I was doing so, friends would want to read along with me. What started out as book recommendations grew into a virtual BookLIT book club due to Covid. The focus is on diverse stories, specifically Black authors but we have also read Asian, Latinx, and indigenous stories. We began our first book, Homecoming by Yaa Gyasi, in May 2020 and it’s been so fun because members have joined from Kansas, Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Maryland, and even Japan! I was able to have 2 in-person BookLIT brunches in Wichita, KS before moving to Houston in 2022 where I continued virtually. In February 2025, I added the in-person element again, called BYOB: A BookLIT Social where I have teamed up with Besocial Houston and their literary lounge located within Social Status in Citycentre. It’s a fun take on BYOB for Bring Your Own Book, we read for an hour, then share our books with each other. This will be every second Monday of the month. For the virtual side, this year is packed full of joint meetings with other virtual book clubs and authors are joining in as well!
I consider BookLIT Bookclub to be a low pressure hybrid book club where we read black/diverse as growing up these stories were overlooked. I want you to read when you can but even if you can’t, because life gets busy, showing up with your glass of wine and creating community is just as fun. We are so grateful for everyone who has joined and been a part of this journey!!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In May, it will mark 5 years of running this book club and I don’t think that people understand how much effort goes into this. It’s more than just reading the book. I run the IG page, make reading schedules, come up with discussion questions, choose wines to pair with the books, etc… I have tried so many formats to get to what currently works. We started by having multiple meets a month discussing sections of our chosen book to meeting every other month to now where we are meeting once a month virtually. There have been days where 20 people show up virtually and others where 0 people show up. I have gotten burnt out and taken an 8 month hiatus. It was easier when we were all stuck in the house due to Covid measures in place but now I have found my tribe where people who genuinely want to read show up regardless and that keeps me going.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I actually work in a corporate setting as a Trade Compliance Specialist importing and exporting products and making sure shipments are compliant with customs regulations. BookLIT Book Club is a great way to escape the everyday hustle and bustle because we read mostly fiction (I would say 80/20 fiction to nonfiction makeup).
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I loved reading, listening to music, and going to concerts! I remember my first concert being a Scream Tour when I was in 6th grade lol. My grandma was a big reader and every Saturday sat at the dining table with a cup of coffee and a book. While she was reading Terry McMillan and Maya Angelou, I would read and re-read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and then Harry Potter came out and changed the game! My mom also signed me up for a reading subscription that came with Junie B. Jones, The Baby-Sitters Club and some Nickelodeon series like Goosebumps, etc and I always wanted more. I was also stuck with 4 brothers during the summer time so reading was my escape from those crazy kids! 😊
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booklitbookclub
- Other: https://bookclubs.com/booklit-book-club/join/
Image Credits
Personal Photo courtesy of Cherie Onianwa (@cherie.photos)
