Authors write books to readers and once in a while a reader will write to an author. Here’s an imagined letter from a reader. As you consider viewing your work through their eyes, maybe taking a moment to actually see inside their world would change the way you approach your work.

Dear author,

I am no one special, I just like to read. The first books in my life were read to me, and it got me interested in reading for myself. I read about one book a month, which I am told makes me a pretty frequent reader. (At least it makes me important for something!)

My life has had its ups and downs. I have a family, a job and a few close friends. I don’t read the Bible or go to church as much as I should, but family, job and friends take a lot of my time. I’ve had some health problems off an on and so there are times when everything is hard. But I’m fine now.

At each point in my life where I needed something, whether it was help, encouragement or just distraction to get my mind off my problems, it was usually a book or something written that filled whatever need I had.

I am not a complicated person, but I do tend to like to read one kind of book this week and another type next week. Whenever you ask me what I like to read, I usually give an answer true for that particular day. Come to think about it, maybe I am complicated! Guess I never considered myself that way.

I like being connected to you in social media, but I sort of wish you spent a little more time telling me about you and your spiritual journey and maybe a little less about what book you wrote and where I can buy it. Maybe being “friends” in social media is just another word for “customer.”  I am okay with that…I guess.

When someone asks what I like about a book, I have a hard time explaining what exactly it was about a particular book that made me like it. It is sort of like trying to explain why I liked a certain song or a particular flower. I just did.

Does that make me weird? (Don’t answer that question!)

I can’t imagine how much work it is to write a book. This letter took me a long time to write and still, I probably misspelled some words or used the wrong punctuation!

Anyway, I appreciate it if you think of me when you write something. I’d like to think I’m not the only one struggling with things in this world.

Mostly, I wanted to write today to thank you for your work. I’ve read many books over the years and sometimes I will think of a scene or some words from one of them at the strangest times. They have become part of my life.

With Kind Regards,

A reader