Thank you for answering fan questions. It’s so amazing to be able to have a connection to your favorite authors. Had you ever written a fan note or email a question to an author before you became one yourself?
I have! I wrote three books that were never published before I sold what would become my debut novel, Without Sanction. Those three books took me almost seventeen years to write, largely because I would quit writing for long periods after each novel failed to sell. During one such period, I read My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I knew of Jodi through her numerous columns in Writer’s Digest Magazine, but I hadn’t read her books. My Sister’s Keeper blew me away. After I finished reading, I emailed Jodi to let her know how much I’d enjoyed the story. I also confessed that I was a struggling writer and asked if she had any advice for me. Jodi very graciously responded, and we exchanged several emails on the topic of writing and her thoughts on the publishing industry. Her encouragement really helped me weather a dark time in my writer’s journey, and I’m eternally grateful to Jodi for her kindness.
