Well, dear readers, today’s post is a thank you to those of you who have posted positive, thoughtful comments about my latest novel, A Touch of Promise, on Facebook or Instagram, or sent me a note via the email link on my website. I want you to know how important those comments are and how much I appreciate you as a reader. Read on to gain an understanding of how those comments impact me and my future work.
The novel “A Touch of Promise” took years to complete. Much of the work was done in the isolation of my office. Sure, there was input from friends who acted as pre-readers or helped me problem-solve when I was stumped about how to move the story forward. But most of the time, I was alone in my office with my characters rambling around in my head. And there were a lot of characters to keep straight in A Touch of Promise!
As many of you already know, I am the kind of writer who does not plan the story before writing. I have a beginning and an end in mind, but the exact path between the two comes to me little by little. I write the chunk of the story that is clear to me and then park the writing while the next part emerges. As I walk through my day, the perfect scene to take the story to the next level suddenly appears in my head. Some authors say their characters talk to them, but I don’t hear their voices; I just suddenly visualize the scenes that will enhance their life journeys. When I do, I hurry back to my office to capture it before it disappears. Or if I can’t get to the office soon enough, I will jot down notes of the idea in an app on my phone.
When the story is finally complete and has been through the various levels of editing to ensure it will be clear to my readers, I press the button to publish it and pray that it strikes the right chord with those who read it. There is a knot in my stomach until the first reviews start to appear online. It’s a joyful experience to open my computer and find a note on Facebook or Instagram, or an email sent to me via my website’s email link, that tells me just how much a reader appreciates the story. Those notes make the work all the more satisfying! So thank you to those of you who have made such comments. For others who have been shy about expressing their opinions, please consider dropping a comment somewhere where I can find it or sending an email via my website. Reviews on Amazon or Goodreads also help others find and make a choice to read my novels. I appreciate the time it takes for readers to give a thoughtful review.
If you have questions about the novel or storyline, please ask them using the comment section of this post … I’ll be happy to share my thoughts. My readers are important to me and I enjoy the dialogue!
Have a happy day!
Marie.
