The other day I received an email from an English teacher in Brazil who loves cozy mysteries. She'd read some of the books in my Haunted Library series and asked if she could read a chapter of one of my books aloud on her podcast to encourage readers to read stories in English. I was thrilled with the idea, and after running it past my publisher for legal reasons, wrote back to tell her to go ahead.
I was at a library event for authors the other evening and stopped in the main reading area. They were featuring mystery series that take place in libraries. How nice it was to see one of my books was part of the display.
Hearing from a reader in South America, seeing my book as part of a library display have made me realize how far and wide our stories travel. Once a novel or a short story we've written is published it takes on a life of its own. We have no idea who is reading our work. I'm always delighted when readers let me how much they enjoy my books. Usually, readers contact me via email, my website, or social media. Once I was on the phone getting help with a problem I had with an appliance and happened to mention that I write novels. The woman told me she'd read one of my books years ago.
We write stories and send them out into the world. Though we get figures of how many copies are sold, this cannot tell the tale of how many hearts we have touched.
What interchange with a reader has made you realize that you've made a special human connection?
I love to hear about the satisfactions our writing can bring to ourselves and others.
ReplyDeleteWriting can be a "business" that demands quite a bit of attention to marketing, etc, but I think for many of us the most important factor is that we write our stories. And, if the stars align, we can share them with others.
Thanks, Kathleen. So true.
DeleteOut on a run one day, I came upon a bunch of guys clearing a beaver dam. They were temporarily blocking the road, so I stopped and chatted with one of the men, and when I told him where I lived, he said, "Oh, you're Seamus McCree." I laughed because I write the Seamus McCree novels.
ReplyDeleteSeamus lives!!
DeleteGreat points, Marilyn. Teaching, writing....both situations where we can help and/or entertain people.
ReplyDeleteYes. It's always about the connection to other people.
DeleteWhat a comfort to know that your books are appreciated in different places in the world. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Grace. I think this goes for all of us authors.
DeleteLove this, Marilyn.
ReplyDeleteYears ago, I received an email from a woman who had bought one of my first books as a Mother's Day gift for her mom. Her mom was battling cancer and would read the book while going through chemo. The daughter told me it helped distract her mom and made getting through the chemo a little easier. I found out this woman had her treatments at a hospital within easy driving distance from me and arranged to join her during her next chemo. The mom, the daughter, and I had a lovely visit. I signed her book and we took photos together. It was an amazing and humbling experience.
Annette, That was so sweet of you, to be there for the woman's treatment. Our books take readers out of their everyday lives and often provide comfort and a distraction in these stressful times.
DeleteI love any feedback at all from a reader, but I have been touched by a couple who told me they read one of my books when they were having tough times and my fiction helped distract them and get them through the rough patches. I'm so happy that could happen, and that they told me about it.
ReplyDeleteIt's so wonderful when readers shares stories like that.
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