I got such a fun note in my inbox a couple of weeks ago. Let me start at the beginning. When our kids were growing up, we lived in the small town of Hesston, Kansas. One of our favorite families there was the King family. Like us, they had four kids, except their oldest was in the same class as our youngest.
Still, Mike and Peggy let us oldsters be friends with them, and we spent many fun hours in the bleachers watching our kids play sports or perform in school programs, or celebrate homecoming. Our youngest, Tavia, and the King’s oldest, Erin, were homecoming candidates their senior year and have kept in touch even though they attended college in different states.
But my favorite “King” is not a King at all, but Erin grandmother, Peggy’s mom, Nadine Smith. Many of you inspirational writers reading this will recognize Nadine’s name because she is one of the biggest fans of Christian fiction around and has attended several events for writers, including coming to the 2007 American Christian Fiction Writers conference in Dallas! Nadine rarely missed one of her grandkids’ ballgames or school programs, even if it meant climbing bleachers when she’d recently had knee surgery! And many a Christian author has had a sweet, encouraging note from Nadine about one of the novels she read.
So I smiled when I saw Erin’s name in my inbox. And then I might have teared up a little when I read her note:
If you are a reader, have you ever written to an author or had a chance to meet one of your favorites? If you are an author, what is one of your favorite stories of meeting a reader? Isn’t it fun to share our love of books and reading?
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I LOVE this, Deb! That is a beautiful, heart-warming story worthy of your next novel. And Nadine knows great writers. Congrats=).
Thanks, Elizabeth. It sure warmed my heart! And meeting YOU was a real treat for me all those years ago. If I’d known then that I’d one day be in a wonderful prayer group with you and Lynn and others, I’d have been over the moon! 🙂
What a sweet woman. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Lynn. Isn’t she the best!
That is so sweet! I was able to meet Rachel Hauck and Colleen Coble at last year’s ACFW Conference in Nashville (my first). They were amazing to talk with. So gracious. Cara Putman only lives an hour away and I see her at least once a year at our local chapter meetings. I enjoy talking to other authors about their writing process and the characters and stories they create. It gives me insights and helps me with my own writing. Looking forward to meeting you this year!
You’ve met some of the best in Rachel, Colleen, and Cara! And I’m really looking forward to meeting you too! Just a few more days!
How sweet is this. I love it.
Thanks, Lucy!
I had the opportunity to meet Colleen Coble at a book signing a couple of years ago. It was the highlight of my summer. Colleen was so gracious and talking to her was like talking to a next door neighbor! Such fun!
Isn’t Colleen the BEST! She is as genuine as they come! I’m excited to get to see her at the ACFW conference this week! In fact, I get to have dinner with her tonight. 🙂
I love this, Deb! Nadine’s collection of your work is such a sweet example of her family’s support of your writing.
Thanks, Becky. They are a pretty sweet family all the way around!
Ok this made me cry because it was so sweet. Now that’s a fan to attend ACFW as a non-writer!
My fan story starts with ACFW. I joined in 2006 and participated in the ACFW Loop. I immediately admired that well known authors often answered this newbie’s question.
I was a fan of Jan Oke when someone gifted me one of her earlier books in 1994 of which the tv series now airs. It renewed my love of reading as a child. Next I discovered Susan May Warren’s books and immediately loved her writing. One of her books I purchased had pages missing and I emailed Susan and she apologized and kindly sent by mail a signed copy with a sweet note. She also encouraged me to attend a Writing Conference when corresponding on the Loop. I took that to heart and three years later attended my first conference at BRMCWC in 2010. And when I saw they had lined up Susie May for BRMCWC 2012 I had to be there. She was just as friendly in person. She has published multiple books since and won numerous awards.
I love Susie’s writing! I’ve known her for a long time through ACFW. She has been an incredible teacher and supporter/encourager of new writers.
Love it! What a sweet blessing!
Blessing is just the word! 🙂
Dear Deb, safe travels as we all wait for your latest book. I too am a huge fan, from your writing to your decorating LOL! I don’t have a huge library of Deborah Raney books, having given all of them to my former churchs’ library, Reno Christian Fellowship, when we lived there. I only have your most recent books from the Chicory Inn series & Reason to Breathe. Waiting with bated breath for Chasing Dreams! Take care & God Bless you for using your gifts & talents to enrich our lives with your beautiful stories (& decor ideas!)
Thank you so much, Brenda! And for sharing my books with your former church library. I love when readers share their books with friends via the library!
I attended Librarian’s Day during the annual Romance Writers of America (RWA) Conference here in DC several years ago. It was my 1st time attending an event like that. Since then, RWA has been in other cities so I haven’t gone.
In 2016, I met Rachel Hauck signing novels at her publisher’s booth during the American Library Assoc. (ALA) Annual exhibits in Orlando, FL.
I’ve written a few authors over the years–not all of them Christian fiction writers though.
I don’t think readers will ever truly understand how MUCH it means to an author to hear from someone who loved their book! That’s really neat that you got to meet Rachel. She’s a gem!
Deb, what state are you and Ken living at? I enjoyed reading this post for multiple reasons. I didn’t realize how many books you have wrote. It is neat reading the comments. The Kings are also near to my heart as I babysat them years ago. Do you remember me coaching the girls in 6th grade with volleyball? I am so blessed to read this. Awesome work!
Hey, Kara! How fun to hear from you! Of course, I remember! We moved to southeast Missouri near where Tobi and Tavia both graduated college. They married local guys and so 5 of our 9 grandkids are here. We miss Kansas, but it’s so great to be close to the girls. Thanks so much for commenting! Tell your family hello from the Raneys!
I got to meet Wanda Brunstetter and her husband Richard at her fan filled weekend in 2014 in Sugar Creek Ohio. It was a very nice get away and my husband got to go too.
How fun! So glad you were able to meet Wanda!