Today was a good day ...

... well, actually, the day ended well. I've struggled all day with creating videos and adding photos to the authors' links page on mandinampress.co.uk.

Most days you wonder if anything you write makes any sense to anyone but yourself. Then you receive a message out of the blue that says:

"I read your book some weeks ago and . hope you do not mind, put some thoughts on paper:

I was intrigued the way you set out your book with the link of the mysterious appearances of D’Arcy. My very early and mistaken assumption was that Beth’s letter was equivalent to Elizabeth’s refusal of Darcy’s proposal of marriage by Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. If you saw the production with Colin Firth, he became frustrated at this and was obviously haunted by her.

I was particularly interested in the “ snapshots “- I could see where the University scenarios came from and those concerned with human interaction showed your perception of how we mortals behave. You must have done a lot of research on some of the geographical visits – I have been to most places so recognise the authenticity. Many of these could be expanded into short stories and the you could have your own anthology.

Well done!"

The book is The Power of Persuasion. Not everyone understands the book, especially if they haven't read Jane Austen's novels. When someone "gets it" at last, the whole journey seems worth while.

Dear Shelagh,
What a beautiful letter and validation of your book, The Power of Persuasion.

I read Pride and Prejudice many years ago. My grand daughter loved the movie and has since read the book.

I always knew you were not just another pretty face. I am so proud for you!
Love,
Betty

Well done, Shelagh! Obviously, you have a fan in this writer, and they were impressed. Have a cup of tea or a glass of wine!

Thanks Betty and Zada! It certainly gave me a much appreciated lift. I only write to entertain and if my books are not entertaining, there doesn't seem any point in it. I know I won't be able to please everyone, but just pleasing a few makes it worth the effort.

Those 'lifts' are the things that keep us going!

Because of some rather graphic scenes in my novel I was almost afraid to sell it to my friends. The first few times I ran into one of them I was waiting for the worst. But the raves kept coming, and now I wait to see if I can get a negative comment!!

Yes, I am still working on #2, but with all the things I am learning (especially from the writers here), it promises to be even better than the first.

You deserved the kind words, Shelagh. Definitely.

Shelagh, I have read June Auston's Prude and Precipice and even though I don’t have any idea what your book, The Power of Percussion, is about, I suspect that the snapshots can be very useful in explaining how drum rolls and eye rolls can be used to place emphasis on certain points. I don’t ordinarily like picture books, but in this case I might make an exception.

I also noticed that Zada says her books are very graphic, and hope that they don’t have snapshots in them, unless of course they are graphic novels.

I wonder if Dick has any graphic snapshots in his war novels.

Wait, I see from Betty’s post where the discussion is about Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, so never mind.

Shelagh that is really neat, and shows you people are reading and putting it together. Cool!

Good luck with the second novel Zada. We never stop learning.

Thanks Dick, I don't know what I'd do without you.

Now, if I was half as witty as Don, I would fire back a pithy response about the ronky dunks or was that the dinky rinks? Some kind of southern humour anyways.

Thanks Pam, sometimes things are worth waiting for!

Those are the best kind's of accolades - the unsolicited ones that come out of the blue. I've had a few myself over the years, and those are the ones that keep me going and that I remember. Congrats!

Shelagh,
That is a fantastic amount of feedback and the best I've read for a long time on any one of our books here. Very happy for you.

Many kudos!

May I name-drop and tell everyone how I know you?

Thanks Peter ahd Abdul!

Thanks Chelle! Tell everyone you know and even those you don't!