Thank you for the opportunity to share my writing journey with Heartsong readers. My love of writing goes back to my childhood days, but in the late 1990s I stumbled upon a group of online Christian writers. (I now realize it was the Lord's leading, and not a happy accident.) A few of the writers in that group suggested I join American Christian Romance Writers, now known as ACFW, and that's where I met the most wonderful group of writers who welcomed me, a newbie, into their critique group. I'm eternally grateful to those women who took the time to teach me the basics of writing and then some. But lo and behold, I was into writing my first God-inspired romance when Meniere's disease hit -- I just went to sleep one night in great health but awoke with tinnitus and vertigo. Thank God for the Lord's grace in getting me through that two-year tormenting episode. Though I couldn't see straight to write, the Lord's love and light prevailed, and my friendships with ACRW members grew and blossomed. One day I received an e-mail from prolific writer and dear friend, Kristin Billerbeck. She asked if I'd like to co-write a Heartsong romance with her. Would I ever?! So my first published romance was LOVE ONLINE. Then came ANNA'S JOURNEY, another Heartsong romance. Now these three books with Candice Speare, set in Washington State. I'm very grateful to Heartsong for giving new writers serious consideration, and I appreciate the input from Heartsong readers in taking their time to fill-in the tear sheets in back of the book and giving writers their valuable input.
Have you ever written to an author?
I have. I know how much I appreciate those words of encouragement, so I hope to offer the same to others when their stories touch me.
ReplyDeleteI just got a stack of reader response sheets in the mail today. It totally made my day!
ReplyDeleteI love to email authors and tell them how much I enjoy their work.
Congratulations, Erica! Communication from our readers is the sweetest thing. Some even suggested great ideas for new storylines.
ReplyDeleteI've written (snail mail) and also e-mailed quite a few authors to let them know I appreciate them and have enjoyed their writing. They always seem very grateful (and I've actually become friends with some of them too, which is an honor for me!). ~ Blessings from Georgia, Patti Jo :)
ReplyDeleteHi Patti Jo,
ReplyDeleteI do the same. I e-mail the author to let him or her know that something they wrote knocked my socks off. LOL And I love posting 5-Star reviews on Amazon and elsewhere.
Nancy