So, I received the loveliest message yesterday from a reader who had just finished reading Human. Essentially, she took the time to reach out to me and tell me who much she enjoyed the book.
For the record, stuff like that always makes my day. I was so happy to receive the message. After all, it can kind of get a bit disheartening when you feel like no one is reading your stuff. She even sent me a screen cap of her review, reproduced here with her permission:
I am continually blown away by the reception Human has been receiving. It's been overwhelmingly positive. It really has boggled my mind.
And here's the thing, as many readers of this blog will remember, I hated writing Human. I hated it so, so much. I thought the characters were cliché, the story was tired and uninspired, the vampire market was oversaturated and on and on. I hated writing it so much, it took me a full year to complete, when most of my books up until that point took between three - six months (Skylark took me one month).
As most of my writing experience up until that point had been relatively simple (I mean, writing is hard, hard work, but I've never hated it before), I did not have as deep an understanding of all those writing quotes about bleeding at the typewriter as I do now! It just goes to show - finish that thing you hate. You never know what good can come of it!
So, if there is anything I've learnt from all of this it's this:
Finish what you started, even if you hate it.
It might just end up being the best thing you've written.
Oh, and I have more good news!
I've been invited by The Chiaroscuro Reading Series to read for the first event of 2016. Of course I said yes. Like I would turn that down. If you're interested, pop on by for some awesome readings. You can R.S.V.P. via their Facebook event, if you like. It gives them a good idea of what to expect, and they can prepare accordingly.
Otherwise, do pop by. You can find us on the 30th of this month from 7:00pm at The Pour Boy.
I hope to see you there!
Ciao!