Western Fonts by Font Meme
A couple of nights ago, my mom sent me a message via Facebook asking if she could call. (It was past 8pm, she didn't want to wake the little ones.) I figured it was something important since it was late, and was a little bit worried, but not panicked. When I called her, she sounded excited. She said something along the lines of:*Names left out to protect the innocent and/or introverted*
"Your uncle took your grandmother to the doctor's office in Zachary (Louisiana) the other day and overheard the nurses talking about a book by a Jessica West."
There was much gasping on my part, and a tentative, "Are you sure they meant me? There are a lot of Jessica Wests." I was uncertain, but giggling at the prospect nonetheless.
"Yes! She said they mentioned the main character, Cat, by name and the name of the book, Red River Rangers."
There was a bit more (okay, a lot more) giggling and gasping and ohmygoshing, and then she went on to say that my grandmother proudly announced that her granddaughter was the author. And the women proceeded to ask if there was another book featuring Cat coming out.
Can I just, take a moment to squeal like a little girl again? Eeeeeee!!! They liked Cat!?! I love her, of course, but I've spent a great deal of time getting to know her. But someone I don't know, a complete stranger, read her story and liked her! And wants more! Imagine that. It really is a small world after all.
I'll admit, I've gone back and forth a few times, trying to decide if revisiting the weird west was something I wanted to do. I left myself an opening at the end of Red River Rangers so that I could write another, if I chose to do so. I've even outlined the next short story/novelette/whatever it turns out to be.
To the ladies in Zachary, I hope you see this post and know that your words not only reached me, but moved me. What may seem like little bit of encouragement is actually a HUGE deal to a newbie author, especially to an independent author who's going after it with little more than grit and determination and a few good friends and family at her side.
Since Cat doesn't seem to be quite finished with us, I'll begin work on the sequel tomorrow. I have an outline, a daily writing schedule, and Catherine Cartwright - everything I need to write the sequel. I'm aiming for a February e-book release, another Amazon exclusive the same as Red River Rangers. I'd like to offer both parts together in a paperback, but that will depend on several factors.
For now, I just want to say thank you to everyone who's bought my book, reviewed it at Amazon or Goodreads, shared a Facebook or Google+ post, Tweeted, or just made it a point to say how proud of me they are. I can't thank you enough. Your kind words really do mean the world to me.
Thanks again,
Jess
P.S.
If you haven't read Red River Rangers, you can pick up a copy at Amazon. If you read it and enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review there, or at Goodreads. Feel free to drop by my personal blog for free short fiction or to contact me. If you'd like to be among the first to know when I release a new book, you can sign up for my newsletter here.
