Last week’s
shopping trip left me feeling elated and deeply satisfied. Now if you know me that is quite a
statement! Unlike many women, shopping
for anything other than books, is not my favourite thing to do—not even weekly
grocery shopping. However last week
turned out to be quite different. This
week I had an identical experience—all the more exciting because of the two
happening barely a week apart.
Last week I
had walked past the meat department and had rounded the corner past the laundry
detergents. I was headed for the baking
goods when the new clerk behind the meat counter came rushing up to me.
“Ruth?” she
smiled with delight and assurance.
“Yes.”
I wondered
how she knew me and what she was so excited about.
“You don’t
know me. I am a friend of Mike and Sarah’s and I just started working
here. Sarah let me read your book that
she bought several years ago and I just love it. I laughed and cried through it and was so
sorry when it ended. I could have kept reading if it was twice as long.
Sarah said it was you when you passed by and I
wanted to come tell you how much I loved your book.”
“You’ve
written more than one book?” she asked with eyes aglow. “I’m sorry, I can’t remember the title. I just know that I almost lived in the story
as I was reading it.”
That
statement of her inability to remember the title was rather comforting to me,
for much as I enjoy stories I read, I often am ashamed to admit that I can’t
remember the title either. Sometimes
even the author’s name escapes my mind.
Once we had
established that it was my first novel, Not Easily Broken, I informed this excited and affirming
reader that there was a sequel.
“Oh-hh! Where can I get it?”
“I have one
in my van right outside the store. If
you’d like one, I’ll bring it in to you when I take my groceries out.”
I finished
my shopping and as I promised, brought the book to her. She thanked me profusely.
“I took Not Far from the Tree home last week and I kept reading for a full day and into the night to
finish it. Again, I laughed and cried
and lived with the characters until the book was finished. You have a way of writing that takes you
right into the setting and makes it feel so real. I felt as though I was living right with
them. Could I get one of the first books
from you so I have a matching set? I
just love your books! ”
Somehow the
chore of shopping felt much lighter this week.
I came out of the store smiling and I’m still basking in the glow of
knowing that someone enjoyed what I had written.
Not Far from the Tree was based on Freda, a wonderful woman who
became my dear friend when she was in her nineties. Not Easily Broken was based on her mother's life. Freda had a real sense of humour and a genuine
interest in people. I feel quite
confident that she would have been pleased to know her life story and that of her mother meant so much to this reader and many more. She may even have been pleasantly surprised that her life
could be that inspiring to much younger readers. We do not know what influence our lives have
on others.
Nor do we,
as writers often know what effect our writing has on people . Getting occasional feedback like I received can
renew our passion and give us new vision for continuing to tell stories.
4 comments:
Haha! That's my kind of shopping trip, too. That is so neat that this girl recognized you and took the time to affirm your writing and story-telling ability. I totally agree with her. Love your books, Ruth. Keep at it! (Writing that is ... and shopping when you have to!)
What a wonderful experience, Ruth! I love this statement from your reader, "I just know that I almost lived in the story as I was reading it.”
That's a sure sign of a story well written. Well done!
Thanks Glynis and David! Writing is in me, I don't think I could stop if I wanted to, unless my eyes or other parts of me give out! : )
Ruth, it really IS a wonderful experience to learn that our writing or other expression of God-given creativity has inspired and blessed someone else. Thank you for sharing this instance, and may you continue to receive further encouragement and continual inspiration for your writing ministry. ~~+~~
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