One of the most fun things about being a writer is getting notes, messages and letters from readers. When I had my first book published a long time ago, any message I got from a reader came by mail since that was before internet days. So a reader had to take pen to paper, add a stamp and send the letter off to the publishing company who would forward the letter on to me. But I appreciated every letter I received and probably still have all of them stuck away somewhere.
But these days it’s much easier to contact an author. I still get the occasional letter in the mail forwarded on by my publishers, but most messages these days come faster than that. It’s the rare author you can’t hunt up on the internet. Just like me. I have this website where I share about my books, talk with all of you on my blog posts, have a sign-up place for my newsletters and have that contact page where anybody can type in a message, hit enter and in minutes I can be reading what they have to say.
Sometimes what they have to say is “what happens next?” So here are some snippets from a few of those messages.
Cecelia wrote, I received a copy of the book, River to Redemption, from Karen Lange’s blog, “Write Now.” … I fell in love with the character of Adria. Ruth touched my heart. Louis and his way of living for the LORD have given me a new focus on how I pray. I wonder, do you have in mind to write a sequel to this book. I wonder how their lives turn out.
Pat M. says, Just finished reading the series on the Merritt sisters and would love to read on about Tori and Clay, and Lorena Birdsong. I am hoping you will continue this and add to your three book series, at least with a book 4 as the possibilities could be endless. All these books have been marked as “KEEPERS” so I am probably going to need extra shelves as you continue writing. I feel like I know all of your characters, personally. Also I hope you don’t leave us not knowing what occurs with Adria in RIVER TO REDEMPTION.
Barbara M. had many questions. 
I wanted to let you know that I just finished reading These Healing Hills. I think it might just be my favorite book of yours to date! I enjoyed every minute of it … We need more!! Did Carl stay on the mountain? Did he build a house for Becca and the baby? Did Ben and Francine get married? Was she able to continue nursing? What about Woody and his young girlfriend? We have to know! Haha. I think I could read these stories for generations.
Liz W. had some fun ideas about my Hidden Springs mysteries. I love your Hidden Springs mysteries. I hope you will continue writing about this community. You could have Michael and Alex work together on mysteries. And Maggie and Anthony could be another sleuthing team. I have recommended these books to our policewoman friend who does security at our church.
I do appreciate every reader who takes my characters to heart and wants to know more about what happens next after I’ve written “the end.” I think about that sometimes too. My characters become family while I’m writing about them so of course I want them to have a fairy tale ending and live happily ever after. With a few challenges along the way.
Last G.W.’s message had me smiling for several reasons. First because she tackled the internet to send me a message in spite of not being that comfortable with the whole internet thing. Here’s what she wrote. I often want to contact an author after feeling moved through the written word, but I seldom have taken the time. I discovered you quite recently, as I read the Rosey Corner series, which I found so touching, relatable, and inspiring that I did not want it to end. REALLY!!! I vowed that I would not read another book (and I’m always reading), until I found a way to contact you, as I felt I simply must express, if possible, how much I loved the trilogy.
Although I read all of my fiction from Kindle these days, I’m not much for the internet otherwise. It was a feat just sending this message. But I have signed up for your newsletter. I will be trying to check out your blog. And I hope to leave reviews, as a Thank You, which is something I don’t believe I have ever done.
I appreciate her, and all of you, signing up from my newsletter. (I need to send one out soon.) And I especially appreciate her leaving reviews. In this internet book world, reviews are very important. So if you’ve ever left a review for one of my books on Amazon, Goodreads, Christianbook.com, Bookbub or other places, thank you so much. That is much appreciated.
And of course, as always, thanks for reading.
Do you ever think about what happens next to characters in the books you read?