thank you

Giving Back

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In this the first year anniversary of my adventure in independent publishing, I am swimming in gratefulness:for the readers who have read my books–especially those who have provided reviews and ratings of same; for the readers who call themselves fans and who have told me they eagerly await each new title (have they seen the newest in the ON GENEVA SHORES series, entitled Choices, now available on Amazon.com and also on Kobobooks.com?); for my friends and acquaintances, who have been unstintingly encouraging as I explore what it’s like to be a writer; and, for those individuals I consider my consultants, whose expertise has provided me with sufficient information to avoid major errors when including certain technical elements in my stories.

This is the month I have also made a first contribution to the American Cancer Society as a result of the sales of the two books that include characters who battled cancer. While the check is not huge, I was happy to send it on, knowing in that small way, I’ll be contributing to the research to find cures and perhaps even preventive measures against these diseases.

It has been a rough-and-tumble year, one in which I’ve learned lots and am eager to learn more, even as I continue working toward my goal of ten books published by the end of 2013.

Foremost in that quest is putting each title out in paperback in addition to their ebook configurations.

What else can I say? “Thank you” seems inadequate, even as I say it loudly. Thank you, anyway.

Gratefulness to “background” experts

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The end of June has been all about how thrilling it’s been to see my first two titles available as e-books. At the same time, I am so grateful to the many people who have served as background consultants when I’ve had questions about the accuracy of certain elements in those titles and the ones to come.

Specifically… I feel the need–almost daily–to thank these people. I so appreciate their willingness to answer my questions, sometimes too numerous to dare to ask in a single email, and to refrain from laughing when I ask what has to be a really simple, perhaps even ludicrous, question.

So, to all them, here goes: THANK YOU! (and yes, I mean to be shouting so they can hear me from many miles away)

Jeanne – my favorite nurse consultant; Pat and Jim – my police consultants, who are so good about distinguishing between very urban forces and those found in small towns; Terry and Kathryn – my beta-readers, editors, and cheerleaders; website and epubbing cheerleaders Pam and Karen; Roberta and Montrew, each of whom dared to read very early drafts, suffering along with me, when I realized how much I needed to go back and start over on many scenes; Jim and John, each of them extraordinarily generous physicians with their time in answering questions, both general and specific; Laura and all the other cancer survivors who preferred to remain anonymous, but who shared often very painful experiences with me–I was happy to share my tears with them;  the many realtors who served as “models” for certain characters in my three-book series (not yet ready for publication); and Joy, whose experience with Hospice and step-parenting was a real godsend.

I know I’m forgetting others, and to them, I beg forgiveness. I’ll update the above list as soon as my memory improves.

Please know that any errors of presentation are my own and not that of the many consultants whose expertise and advice I have sought.

Writing may be a solitary activity, but it can never be said that it involves only the author.