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Dear Reader,
I'm on vacation this week and some of my friends have graciously offered to fill in for me while I'm gone. Today's column is written by author Nate Kenyon.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.DearReader.com
Today's guest columnist, author Nate Kenyon...
It was nearly a year ago today when my editor called to let me know that DearReader would be featuring my first novel, Bloodstone. As a long time DearReader fan, I was ecstatic. It was a thrill to think of thousands of faithful readers receiving "my" novel in their email inbox, the same way I'd received so many in the past.
I emailed DearReader to thank them. Later, as I was returning to work from a lunch meeting, my cell phone rang. Imagine my surprise to find Suzanne Beecher on the line!
I told her how much I admired what the book clubs do for book lovers. It wasn't long before we were talking like two old friends. Suzanne told me a story or two about her life that made me realize that what she wrote in her columns was absolutely genuine. She made me feel utterly at ease. At some point I pulled over to the side of the road so I wouldn't miss a word. Her love for books and for her subscribers came through loud and clear.
Something we talked about stayed with me long after we'd hung up. As a writer, I had the same concern she did: what will happen to that time-honored tradition, passing the hours during a rainy day curled up in a nice, soft chair in front of a warm fire, reading a good book?
Encouraging a love of books is so very important in this day and age, when the numbers of readers are declining, when technology demands more and more of our time and so many are becoming obsessed with instant messaging and online chat rooms. And it was all hitting closer and closer to home for me. You see, in my own life I'd noticed a change of late. I'd always been a voracious reader. But as Bloodstone's launch date crept closer, I was spending more time answering emails, working on my own website, and visiting message boards. I found myself unable to concentrate for more then ten minutes before having to check my inbox.
And so I decided to pay my own tribute. First, I emailed everyone I knew with a link to DearReader. I posted about it on those message boards I frequented. I called and raved about the service with my local libraries.
After that, I had one more thing to do. I unplugged my television. I shut down my laptop. I turned off the ringer on the phone. And then I took my favorite book into the den and curled up in our big overstuffed easy chair to read.
****
I'd like to thank Suzanne and the rest of the DearReader crew for the opportunity to write this column. I'd also like to keep the conversation going, with anyone who is interested.
I'm hosting a special Q&A for DearReader subscribers at my journal:
http://www.natekenyon.com/journal
Go there to post any question you like: what's my writing process, where do I get my ideas, what's it like publishing a first novel, how can I write that 'creepy' stuff, advice for new writers--I'm an open book, so fire away!
I'll also be giving away a few goodies, plus one special prize: a signed copy of my brand new manuscript, which hasn't even hit an editor's desk yet. So drop on by anytime: I'll be glad to talk with you.
Oh, and one more thing: keep reading!
Nate Kenyon
[email protected]
AUTHORBUZZ: Amazing contests this week including a chance to be a character in a novel, and of course signed free books from these terrific authors: Will Staeger, Public Enemy; Brandon Massey, The Other Brother; Carolyn Haines, Bones to Pick; Gayle Lynds, The Last Sypmaster; and Robin Parrish, Relentless. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader
READ THE CLASSICS: The Recognitions, by William Gaddis, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=20
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