What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
There are a lot of joys, and identifying just one is tricky. Let’s give it a shot, though. I would say one of the greatest joys of writing is the experience, the fun I get from creating characters, bringing them to life and seeing how they unfold. Through them, I can experience a wide range of life situations and fall in love with them and all sorts of people. They expand my world. So does reading books (which I do all the time), but doing so from the writer’s seat is a different experience. Not better, just different. It’s kind of like a game of chess where you play yourself.
What do your fans mean to you?
I can’t say enough how much a simple email or message along the lines of “Enjoyed your book!” brightens my day. And if there’s more to the message, great. In a way, writing is a lonely pursuit. Sure, you can take trips and research the heck out of places and attend conventions and meet lots of people, but the writing itself, the putting words on the screen or on the page—that’s you. You alone. (Even if you’re co-writing, chances are you’re by yourself when you type.) It really helps when people reach out and let you know that they love the piece of yourself you’ve shared with them. I love hearing from people and hearing their stories, how my stories made them think a bit differently or reaffirmed something or somehow enriched their lives or just plain simply entertained them. I’ve made many great friends through my writing.
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