I need to preface this by saying that, by society’s standards, I’m a nice person. Truly, I am. By writerly standards? I’m not sure–more a goldfish in disguise.
My muse just giggled in the back of my mind and is shaking her head. Maybe as a writer I’m not entirely innocent. Why? Here comes the admission…
Because nothing thrills me more than learning that
I’ve made my readers cry when they’ve read one of my books.
There. I said it. Now, let me defend myself before I’m burned in effigy.
Very few books have made me cry. I have to be so invested in the story on a visceral emotional level that when the crisis occurs, or when dark moment comes or (particularly) when the book ends, I’m wrecked. It’s a thing. I can’t explain it. I only know that it has rarely happened. But when it does? Whoo boy. Let me tell you. I’m a fan for life.
I cannot (CANNOT) write about this without a specific book coming to mind: Me Before You by JoJo Moyes. Oh, crud. Get the tissues. See? I’m so totally invested that, eighteen months later, I’m still weepy. Best. Book. EVER. I can’t even… If you haven’t read it, realize that it’s a book that will change you on a fundamental level. It’s fiction, yes. But… Cellular. Level.
So, why do I get all giddy at tears–mine or my readers? I’m not (terribly) sadistic. (cough) When an author succeeds in making me cry, it means she has literally stolen my emotional investment within the pages of her novel and made me care. She has found the key to my emotional vault, opened that door and scrambled the contents–and I love her for it. Why? Because that novel will stick with me, like Me Before You. Ms. Moyes has done such an incredible job that I cannot hear the name “Will” without experiencing a Pavlovian response that involves tears and wailing and, at times, thumb-sucking. (Yes, it was–and is–that good.)
So why do I want to know I’ve managed to make readers cry? Moreover, why does it thrill me to know I’ve induced tears with my written words? Because if I’ve accomplished it, then readers have found a book that will stay with them indefinitely. It is a book they will think about, discuss, re-read. It has nothing to do with sales and everything to do with how well I’ve done my job in creating characters and situations that touch the reader on an emotional level. I know–I know–how hard it is to accomplish for an author to earn my tears. If I earn any reader’s tears, I have touched a part of their heart that not many have touched. It’s an incredible feeling, knowing that I’ve created characters, situations and solutions that draw my reader in on such a personal level. Ultimately?
It means I’ve done my job and given readers a good read.
So…where did this blog post come from (besides the dark reaches of my mind)? My third Covington brothers book in the Wild Western Heat series is releasing in print on February 23 (digitally March 1), and the pre-reads I’ve had? They’ve come back with creative invective at the fact, to a reader, I’ve made them cry. And laugh. And sigh. The characters within those pages have reached people, and that, my friends, is the greatest reward I could have as an author: to know that my words lingered after the last page was turned.
In that vein, I’m giving away two signed copies of Cowboy Strong. And I’m sharing a copy of the cover because the Art Department knocked this one out of the park and across the freaking BLOCK!
To enter, leave a comment and tell me about a book that’s really touched you (authors need good reads, too!). I’ll announce the winner on my blog (www.kelliireland.com) on January 30 and mail the books out on February 1.
May you shed a few tears over some good books in 2016!
