The Real Reward of Writing

The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy

I’m redoing my website and bopped onto Amazon to check a fact about one of my books. I noticed that it had a new review. I froze. This is a tender moment for an author. I’ve gotten reviews that were so complementary that I practically levitated. And––like any author who’s been published for more than two weeks––I’ve gotten reviews that expressed the thought that tar and feathering was too good for my book––and me.

I was in pretty good mood. Should I look at the review and chance wrecking it? Yes. No. Yes. No. Well, what the hell.

As I read the review, my eyes filled and I started to tremble. I’ve gotten lots of very good reviews by wonderfully articulate readers, but something about Glenda A. Bixler’s review moved me.

I thought about it. Why was this review so touching? Because Glenda got me. She understood me and my writing. I am quirky (in a good way.) She captured and expressed her insights in a very deep way. I thought about my reaction to her review some more and realized that the connection that Glenda and I shared through The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boywas a heart connection. What I want more than anything is that kind of connection from my readers.

THAT’S THE REWARD OF WRITING FOR ME.

I talk about writing from the heart, living from the heart on this post from my blog. There’s even a video so you can see what I look like.

I’m going to quote a bit from Glenda’s review. Not only to I want to share my books with you, I want to share Glenda’s words. My husband just read her review and said, “She does the best review writing I’ve ever seen. Wow, can she write.”

Here are a couple of paragraphs from Glenda’s review of The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy:

“Sandy Nathan had a dream–and she named it! You are now reading my thoughts about this quirky little book telling that dream–

‘something that is strange, not normal but cool’ according to the Urban dictionary. Strange, for one thing, because as I read, the word quirky came to my mind! I’ve never used it before! Certainly there are other books out there about the end of the world and I’ve read quite a few recently due to the “2012” scare… But I don’t think there is ever going to be another like this one! . . .

“[Paragraphs removed]  This dream goes on and on…until we learn how the end of the world had started, moving across the earth, a city or a country at a time, was being destroyed…

“This dream also includes a love story like no other–really!

“Enchanting, fascinating, and heartwarming are the words I am left with as I think about the story. The end of the world? Yes, it did happen…

“Highly recommended!”

GABixlerReviews

Phew. It will take me days to recover from all that praise! But the operative word here is “quirky.” She names the distinguishing characteristic of my work. It’s unusual. Things aren’t what they seem. You won’t know what’s going to happen. My stuff isn’t like a mainstream novel where there’s a tough, but basically good-guy hero and you know what he’s going to do. I don’t write books that come out of some publisher’s standard formula. (Though I am enamored with love stories!)

That’s the joy of the indie author. We can be different. In a good way.

PS: Here’s a secret. The Angel’s sequel will be out in a couple of weeks. Lady Grace is a thrilling, action-filled adventure wrapped in the embrace of epic love. The link will take you to the Tales from Earth’s End Series official blog. Check it out: The blog has lots of information about the upcoming books in the series. Scroll down and you’ll find an “interview” with Sam Baahuhd, the headman of the village. It’s a fun interview and captures Sam perfectly.

The real secret is . . . people are telling me that Lady Grace is better than The Angel.  

All the best! Keep going for the real rewards!

Sandy Nathan, Award-winning Author

Sandy Nathan is the winner of twenty-one national awards, in categories from memoir, to visionary fiction, to children’s nonfiction. And more.

Sandy’s  books are: (Click link to the left for more information on each book. All links below go to Kindle sale pages.)
The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy
Numenon: A Tale of Mysticism & Money
Tecolote: The Little Horse That Could
Stepping Off the Edge: Learning & Living Spiritual Practice