I received this e-mail on March 10th and if you say I was pleased, well that would be the understatement of all times. I was simply ecstatic!
My dad will be 100 years on April 15th and he is one of your biggest fans and probably the oldest. He loved your Vegas series and is looking forward to your Undercover FBI series. He says he hopes you write fast because he knows it will be a great series and he looks forward to reading it but at his age he doesn’t even buy green bananas anymore. He has a great sense of humor and is still in great shape and has a very sharp mind for someone his age. I would like to ask you if at all possible could you send him a note, card or whatever for his birthday. I want to give him a big surprise and a note or card from you would do that.
Lucille
As you can imagine, I had plans to send Norris his birthday card until I came up with something a whole lot better.
Just a month earlier, I was involved in the London Book Fair with a bunch of other authors from the Freepartay group. We needed to have actual books to give out to publishers and agents. So… I had been forced to overcome my childish qualms about dealing with the pitfalls on Createspace, and get my book “Together Again” published.
Just a month earlier, I was involved in the London Book Fair with a bunch of other authors from the Freepartay group. We needed to have actual books to give out to publishers and agents. So… I had been forced to overcome my childish qualms about dealing with the pitfalls on Createspace, and get my book “Together Again” published.
You see, some years back it had been a nightmare for me trying to get “My Cheeky Angel” published there. Rather than dealing with the situation and learning how to do it right, like any card-carrying techie wuss, I backed off and decided e-books were just fine. Who needed a paperback anyway? They were going out of style in the next twenty years–right? So, no one would even care. (Well – except for my mom, but that’s another story.)
Move forward to the Fair and now I had no choice. I needed a paperback to promote in London. So, I girded my loins (whatever that means:-) and I forged ahead. Much to my surprise, either the site had been upgraded or my brain had, but I found it relatively simple and voilà! I had me a real live paperback.
Since “Special Agent Francesca“ was ready for releasing on Amazon, I quickly wrote a note to Norris as my dedication. Thanks to my wonderful formatter, I had enough time to get the story published on Createspace (I’m such a pro!!!) and rather than sending him a card, I sent him a copy of the book for his birthday.
Dedication:
I want to dedicate this book to my oldest and most adored reader, Norris Smith. Recently, his family notified me to share that he would be celebrating his 100th birthday in April and that he loved my Vegas Series and hope I’d be releasing the first of the Undercover FBI series soon. Excerpt from the letter – “He says he hopes you write fast because he knows it will be a great series and he looks forward to reading it but at his age he doesn’t even buy green bananas anymore.”
My first reaction was ahhh! Then I laughed. Finally, it dawned on me what a wonder it was to have someone of his years enjoy a book I created. Obviously this very wise man knows good quality story-telling when he sees it!!!
Happy Birthday, Norris
A big mushy hug from your friend, Mimi.
Much to my delight, Norris’s daughter sent me a picture of him holding my book. With his permission, I just had to share.
Thank you so much for the book you sent my dad for his birthday. Dedicating the book to him was just over the top. He got the biggest kick out of you using his green bananas story. He was laughing so hard he had to stop reading. He received the book Monday and has already finished reading it. He said it was a real “barn burner.” I’m sending you a photo I took of him this morning when he was officially 100 years old. I can never thank you enough for making this birthday so special for him.
Lucille
***This experience will be a pinnacle in my career as an author. Thank you, Norris. As far as I’m concerned, it just doesn’t get much sweeter!!
Hi Mimi
See what happens when you gird your loins!
Great story.
anna
Oh Mimi!!!! That is the greatest story ever! I love this so much! Thank you for sharing!
Yep! Guess I'll be doing more girding in the future 🙂
Thanks for commenting, Lisa. xo
I loved this story, what a great thing to happen and how nice to connect with your reader this way. Isn't he cute! Good for you, Mimi.
Sylvia
Wow! Talk about one thrilled reader. When he opened his present, he must have almost fallen over. What a special moment for Norris and his family. You have truly paid it forward!
I bet that was as much a present for you as it was for him, congrats Mimi, very cool 🙂
Thanks Sylvia. He's a handsome devil and I'm blessed 🙂
Thanks Jodie, I'm thrilled he liked his present. But we both know, my gift was priceless!
Jacqui – you are so right!!
Definitely one of the sweetest stories I've ever heard! Thanks for sharing this story with us, Mimi.
Signed, another one of your fans-for-life 🙂
Hi Jacqui, you're right. It is a sweet story. Too sweet not to be told so I got permission from Lucille and decided to share.
Ditto!! on the fan comment. Can't wait for another of your books….ahem!
The best true story I have read and a great review from him! Looking forward to reading this book!
Rebecca
Mimi
What a heartwarming story. Talk about connecting with your readers! I've always said there's a bit of angel in you. It's really hard to find a gift for a man turning 100 and you created a perfect one for him. Oh my. Gives me goosebumps. Thanks for sharing the story. You continue to amaze and inspire me.
Best
Jo-Ann
Thanks Rebecca! How nice to hear from you. Hope you have the best Easter and enjoy Francesca. Since you were a great fan of the Vegas bunch – I have no doubt this one will be perfect for you. xo
Thanks Jo-Ann. You're right – this is the ultimate. A memory I'll be storing on a little shelf in my heart for when the writing gets hard and the work piles up.
Have a lovely weekend! xo
How wonderful!!!
That's just awesome!
What you have experienced with your "oldest reader" is Absolutely Fabulous!! How very fortunate you are to have a fan such as Norris! Your gift to him made his Life, I'm sure. 🙂 Congratulations!!
It is, Gina! He's a gem 🙂
Thanks Anna, can't get much better!
Hi Janette, Thanks for the kind words. It's nice to hear from you and you are so right about Norris. His gift has made all this work worthwhile.
That is a precious story, Mimi! I love his sense of humor! I can just imagine what it means to you to have a fan like him. Thanks to you for sharing and to him and his family for giving permission for the sharing. It's moments like this that make writing worthwhile!
Judith I just had to share this with as many people as I could. Getting that e-mail made me feel as if I was writing to a person and not just for myself – kind of woke me up. And you know – it's made the creating of a story less work and more of a joy.
What a wonderful thing…for both of you!!!
Many Happies for Norris' birthday. 🙂
And many congrats to you on your book.
Thank you Ann. I really appreciate your note and I'm sure that Norris would also xo