A few days ago, I received a fan letter. I don’t get a lot of them, so I’m always excited when a reader takes the time to send me a note. I was eager to check it out when it arrived in my inbox, but in no way was I prepared for the words I read.
As an author of cozy mysteries, I keep my stories light. I love the gentle genre that promises a few hours respite from the real world. But I also try to add a note of sincerity, of grace, and maybe a bit of optimism as well. Yes, like many of us, I want to save the world.
I usually have no idea if any of these subtleties come through to my readers. Then this letter came:
Dear Ms. Hunt,
I am in the middle of The Ghost Cat of Ocean Cove, and it’s such a perfect book for me I don’t want it to end. Camellia’s dream is my dream too, leaving the big city and moving to a cottage on the coast with my cats, so I am reading very slowly, especially since it’s the first book of the series! I can’t wait for the next one.
The world feels like such a mess right now. Getting lost in a mystery with a cast like a Miss Marple Mystery, and a ghost cat (!!) helps me cope. You remind me that it might someday be possible to take a different path in life.
Reading your book feels like sitting by the fireplace with my furry ones when it’s pouring rain outside, (my favorite thing to do) even while riding a city bus in Seattle. That’s quite an accomplishment!
Thank you for the comfort and joy you have given to me through your writing. It really is a blessing.
Jennifer
After I stopped smiling and crying, I wrote back to Jennifer,
whom I’ve never met. I told her how much her letter meant to me. And do you
know how she responded? She sent me pictures of her cats!
Have you ever received a fan letter that’s stopped you in your
tracks? I hope so, because this one made my day year!
You can find Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer on her blogsite: https://
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Twitter: @MollieHuntCats
