The Innocence of a Novelist

A novelist can be accused of many things but innocence hardly seems likely.

It’s such a peculiar life, sitting at  a desk typing stories into a keyboard and screen. Real life goes on around you, but while you’re in the story, that’s where your focus lies.

You start feeling proprietary about places and events. Whenever someone mentions the Coronado Bridge, I stand taller and bore then with facts (“did you know it’s number three for suicides in the United States?”).

I can tell you all about the Hotel del Coronado; point out fine restaurants in Coronado and  discuss the challenges facing Navy SEALs in their domestic life. (Did you know they can’t carry cell phones on their mission? GPS will give them away.)

You’ve probably studied craft, may even have a critique group to review your work. Your spouse knows you’re writing and your kids do, too.

Your friends and relatives may even ask from time to time how things are going.

All of that happened to me when I wrote my novel Bridging Two Hearts.

I even blogged about the experience in a number of places. (Coronado? Maps? Kindness of Seals? Need for  Massage?)

When my novel was published. I held the paperback in my hand with my name on the front cover.

Who knows how many times I’d read it, taken it apart, thought through the events and talked about the story line?

One day, Bridging Two Hearts launched into the world like an eager child and was gone. Strangers picked it up and read the story of Josh and Amy. Friends from church read it. Several relatives read the book. A group of my on-line friends read it.

And then they all began to talk to me about it.

I’m not really sure what I thought would happen. In my innocence, this extrovert hoped people would like the Navy SEAL story and gain insight into that difficult life. I expected some women would savor the scenes at the spa.

What I didn’t expect is they would talk to me about my novel.

The first time I overheard someone at church talking about “this Navy SEAL Josh and his girlfriend Amy,” my head whipped around.

“Yeah, I really liked your book,” the friend said.

Why was I shocked? Hadn’t I sold it to him?

At my launch party for the book, we set up the gelato cones and my neighbor exclaimed, “You’re not going to do that scene are you?”

How did she know?

“As soon as you invited me to the party, I bought your book. It was fun and I loved that scene.”

In all innocence, I guess I was surprised people would actually read it, much less comment.  Reviewers were kind, friends sincere, and even the ones who didn’t care for a “guy romance,” were complimentary.

I got several reviews that disappointed. Several delighted me. People asked me to write another Navy SEAL story.

(I’ve got another planned).

I took six copies to Zumba on my birthday and gave them all away within minutes. Dancers nudge each other even now, “she’s the writer.”

It makes me grin like a silly woman, but it also feels odd–the people who lived in my mind for all those months of writing the book are now known to total strangers.

I’m humbled.

Surprised.

And I agree with everyone.  Mrs. Admiral Martin was my favorite character, too!

Tweetables

Why was I surprised people had read my novel Bridging Two Hearts? Click to Tweet

What a surprise! My friends read my novel! Click to Tweet

Do novelists a favor–talk to them about their books and watch them flinch. Click to Tweet

 

Note: While Bridging Two Hearts was published three years ago, it lives on. Last week a reader wrote to thank me: Josh’s words on fear had been meaningful to her and an experience in her life.

An email like that for an author is extremely gratifying and a real blessing. If you like an author’s book, send them an email telling them–and post a short review on Amazon. Thanks!