It was an unexpected encounter and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It was a warm winter day as I walked in the door on Thursday morning. Not knowing what to expect, I took my laptop, books, and props into the building and asked for directions. Some friendly faces greeted me and took me to the activity room.
Who would I be talking to? What would be the cognitive abilities of those present? I knew there would be quite a range. Would I be able to reach them, encourage, and comfort them? Could I make them smile and laugh? I was to speak at a Senior Living Facility about my latest book, NUDGED: Moved by God and read some stories from it. I was used to presenting. I had been an instructor the last fifteen years of my career. I was used to interaction with my audience and responses from the audience. That helped me gauge if they were connecting and getting anything from my presentation. It helped me know if I needed to make adjustments. I knew this would be different.
As the aids started bringing in the residents who wanted to attend and felt up to attending on that particular day, I circulated the room greeting them and making small talk. Some talked, some did not.
One petite woman sat in the front row clutching a tattered looking book close to her chest. As I approached, she smiled at me. She dropped the book down to her lap. My eyes grew wide as I recognized the book. That tattered looking book was a copy of NUDGED: Moved by God. The same book I was there to talk about and read from. I said, “I know that book! Where did you get it?” She told me that one of the employees had helped her get the copy. She held out the book and a pen to me and asked if I would sign it. As I reached for the book, I was in disbelief. This tattered looking book had sticky note page markers on about six to eight different pages. She had written notes inside the book. I took the book to a counter to sign it and returned it to her. She clutched it to her chest again, smiled and said, “It is such an honor to meet you.” She told me she was ninety-three, but she looked younger. She said she had been living there for nine years.
After the presentation and reading stories to the residents, my newest fan spoke to me again. She thanked me for coming, took hold of my hand and said, “Please come back.” She said, “I have to give you a hug!” We hugged. Before she left, she had given me three hugs.
What is my point in all this? As a writer or an author, without feedback, we can’t be sure how our readers connect with our writing. If we are heart-centered, faith-based writers we can’t be sure of the impact we make or do not make with readers without feedback. I can’t imagine being a writer or author for a lifetime. Why? It can be a lonely road to walk filled with isolation in your office and at your keyboard. It can also be invigorating and very rewarding to learn that you have touched someone deeply with an important message. When an author writes fiction, it can be uplifting to learn that you have entertained someone and brought sunshine to their day or distraction from the cares of the world. Books can take readers to another world. When the world feels heavy and people need a break from it, stepping into that other world found in books can be so very appealing. As an author, I will never know of all the people touched by my book. Not unless I have an unexpected encounter with some of my readers.
With two million new book titles published on Amazon every year, it is easy for books to get lost on Amazon. That’s where readers can help. Without reader feedback, the author can’t be sure of their impact. Without reader reviews, the purchasing public can’t be sure if buying a particular book is worthy of their hard-earned dollars. Finding something good in this world is worth encouraging. Support your favorite authors to keep the good books coming. You can support them with your purchases, your online book reviews on Amazon or Goodreads, and through telling others about the book.
Thank you, dear readers for your love and support of my books. It is greatly appreciated. As an author, I must say, there is nothing quite like seeing a ninety-three-year-old reader clutching a tattered copy of your book to their chest.
If you would like to know more about that book she held so tightly, you can learn more here https://www.amazon.com/Nudged-Moved-God-Susan-Brownell/dp/1940826055/ or here Books – Susan Brownell.