Gratitude for a "Best Book of the Year" that almost wasn't written

I almost didn't finish writing my latest novel, Annie and the Wolves. Even after finishing it, and despite interest from my agent, I put the manuscript away, back in 2012, and never expected to look at it again.

(I changed my mind in 2018, rewrote it from page one with drastic changes, and published it in Feb 2021!)

Knowing how easily this book almost didn't come to fruition, I'm even more grateful, TODAY, that Library Journal picked it as a Best Pop Fiction Book of the Year.

It might be smarter to hide one's struggles and near-failures, but I like to share them because I know how many fellow writers have a draft of something they are ready to give up on--and how many readers underestimate the challenge of getting *any* book into print. When we receive an honor or prize, a good review or an authentically enthusiastic email from a reader, it means the world to us. It might even be the difference between us continuing to write and publish or giving up completely.

So, if you're working hard on something, keep working! And if you're one of those readers who takes the time to write honest reviews (which doesn't mean they all have to be 5 stars) and send encouraging notes, thank you.