Very cool surprise about my book

My 5-year-old grandson excitedly reported over the phone last Saturday, “Grammy, when we went into the library we saw your book. It was right there on a table!” Very cool, especially his excitement! My daughter wasn’t sure why Sunday by Sunday III was on an exhibit kiosk. Maybe a display of local authors?

Excited myself, I took a Sunday afternoon stroll to the main Richland County Public Library in downtown Columbia to behold my work. As I entered, however, my mind was centered on a book I was seeking, and I forgot to look for my own. But after finding and checking out Joseph Cardinal Bernadin’s The Gift of Peace, I remembered to check for S by S.

Not there anymore. So I checked the catalog and found that it was checked out with one person waiting. And book I was “In transit,” which means en route to a branch where it had been requested. Book II was also checked out. Yee-haw. What fun to know that they are circulating.

In the challenging and oft frustrating context of marketing and promoting, this development was a nice and needed boost. Other welcome boosts lately include a couple invitations to speak and notes from readers, including this from Sandra Penrod in Melbourne FL:

Cristy,
I just finished reading Sunday by Sunday III. I wish I could have read your books as intended, Sunday by Sunday, but once started I just couldn't wait for Rose's next journal entry. I looked up some verses as I went along but mostly read them as novels. I've marked special sections to use as devotions. Our Adult Sunday School Class is studying Mark and I got a new and enlightening look at some of the scriptures we are studying… Thank you for your delightful and thought provoking insights and for Rose.

Wow. Thanks so much, Sandra! Doubts and anxieties concerning my writing enterprises are common and powerful—and, I think, typical of the writing life. The affirmations are equally powerful, though, and how grateful I am for any and all encouragement!