“I loved your book.”
“I really enjoyed your book.”
“Your book was wonderful.”
It’s always a treat to hear comments like that. And whenever I read a wonderful book, I usually tell the author those same things. But now that I’ve heard some more specific comments, I realize what a difference the exact words make.
“I liked where they’re fighting in the kitchen and the kid comes in.”
“Nobody’s ever surprised me in an epilogue the way you did.”
“My favorite scene was the one in the restaurant where she’s trying not to sit too close.”
Those comments are a joy! Not only do I know that someone read my book, I know they enjoyed something in particular. I feel as if we truly shared something — I put together a scene that I thought people would like, and they actively appreciated it.
Looking back on all the fan letters I’ve written, I regret not having been more specific. It’s one thing to tell Nora Roberts, “I really liked Dance To The Piper.” It’s another to tell her, “I really liked how Reed takes care of Maddy’s plants.”
So next time I want to compliment an author on a particular book, I’m going to tell her what I especially enjoyed about it. And hope that it gives her a moment as pleasurable as what she’s given me.
