A Bookplate

I received something rather nice the other day. A kind reader sent me several Acacia-inspired bookplates that he'd made himself. He requested that I sign them for him, sort of a way of personalizing a book without having to send the whole book in the mail.

Here's what it looks like, with the requested signature:

Isn't that cool?

Thanks, Roger. It's very gratifying to know my work inspires others to create!

A Book, and a Sprig of Heather

I got an email from a reader recently. I really enjoyed receiving it, and I asked him if I could post it here. He said yes.

First, the background... I've corresponded with this reader, let's call him JK, for a while now. He was kind enough to ask if he could buy a signed copy of The Sacred Band from me. I said sure, but cautioned that it would cost a bit to ship it from Scotland, etc. He deferred to his wife, asking her to make it a Christmas present. Reasonable man.

His wife, to her credit, played the whole thing wonderfully. To him she made it seem that the extravagance of buying a hardcover book all the way from overseas just wasn't something she was that into. But to me, she emailed and set up the purchase. I was pleased enough that I even picked a sprig of heather on one of my walks and slipped it inside the book.

Fast forward a few months, and I received this:

Sorry it has taken so long to thank you for sending me the signed book. Work has been crazy, and as I said I wanted to re-read the first two before I started the new book. Let me tell you how I got it: I got a few things for Christmas from the wife… NHL Bruins jersey… socks... Then I get a hardcover book shaped gift. I think to myself (SHE GOT IT!!).  I say, “I think I know what this is...” Open it and it's...

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini.

Apparently my expression changed. My wife said, “OH, were you thinking it was that book from what’s his name in Ireland?” I tried to cover the disappointment with, ”No, no, this is great. I really wanted to read the last book... But, oh it's Scotland not Ireland.” 

So the morning continued as my 3yr old opens all 45+ gifts. Finally, as we were cleaning up and my daughter was in an adrenalin induced coma, my wife handed me a wrapped book and said, “You really think after all the not so subtle hints I wasn’t going to get this! I know its Scotland, but I threw you off didn’t I?”

It was a very nice surprise. I wound up bringing the book to the Christmas family gathering to show off to my brother-in-law. He is reading book 2 currently. 

Anyway, the book was fantastic, I was sad to have the story close but happy to get resolution to all the plot lines. As I got closer to the end of the book I was concerned that there wouldn’t be enough time to tie it all up, but thankfully I was wrong. You have written a great story, David. When you think about everything that happened and all the detail put in, it doesn’t feel like it would fit in only three books. I truly enjoyed it and I know that I will read the trilogy again in the future as well as pass the books on to my daughter to enjoy... 

I can scarcely imagine receiving a nicer letter as a writer. To know that my books were part of such an elaborate plot, that they were that wished for, and that they'll be part of a Christmas memory going forward...

That's just terrific.

A Kind Note

Every now and then a note from a reader strikes me enough that I feel like mentioning it here. That happened today. I received this note:

Hello Mr. Durham,

During the spring semester a few years ago at the Univeristy of Maryland, I'd go to the bookstore in the Student Union between classes, and read Pride of Carthage. I was too poor to buy it, but it was so good that I just squatted on the floor for a few hours at a time until I finished it, missing several classes in the process. I've read it about 4-5 times since, repurchasing it every time because I give away every copy I rebuy to friends to share. It is, without a doubt, my favorite work of fiction ever.

I just recently picked up Acacia, and I like it, and so I went to your website to see what else you have done and saw you were working on another ancient Rome novel. Naturally, I pissed all over myself in excitement.

Please keep up the excellent work.

Sincerely,

B.

Now, there are few things that make me smile here. First off, I went to the University of Maryland and I read books on the floor of the student union. I don't know if he means College Park or Baltimore County, but it doesn't matter because I went to both campuses! I, of course, appreciate the multiple reading and purchases, and I blush at the notion of it being B's "favorite work of fiction". Ever!

I'm not so sure about the... ah... bladder control situation, but I'm glad it was excitement that brought it on.

And, more seriously, it's a timely note. Just yesterday I received my royalty statement for Pride of Carthage and Acacia. (They were accounted together, so the cash from them is intermingled.) What I seem to forget - but always get reminded of when I see the statements - is that PoC did rather well! It performed well here, but in some ways did even better in its Spanish incarnation, and it wasn't too shabby in Italian either. It's a pleasure to be reminded of that, and then to hear from B, and to be able to look forward for returning to the ancient world with my Spartacus book.

So, I'm all smiles this Friday. If any of you can be convinced to give old Hannibal's story a try, it's HERE waiting for you: Pride of Carthage!

Thank You, Shrader

Do you remember a few weeks back when asked if anybody was going to Brazil? I was wondering if somebody might be kind enough to pick up a copy of Jornada na Escuridão, the Portuguese Walk Through Darkness? I'd never received one from the publisher and didn't think I ever would.

Well, fast forward to today and guess what?


The very cool Shrader Thomas stepped up and delivered! Through an extended web of networking that included the band Faith No More, a trip planned and canceled, a favor called in, and several mail stops the book recently arrived.

My son, Sage, promptly tucked into it.

Thank you, Shrader! Honestly, I really, really appreciate it. I trust you'll be receiving the gift from me very soon.

Now... Anybody going to Russia sometime soon? Apparently, this is the Russian version of my novel Pride of Carthage, but I've never gotten my hands on a copy...

A Word on Fan Mail

You know what I think of fan mail? (Drum roll...) I think it's great. Absolutely beautiful stuff. I thought I should take a moment to say so, since I took a moment out to talk about negativity a little while back...

I'm very happy to say that I've had the pleasure of receiving a steady flow of emails from folks over the last year or so. I'm not talking heaps of letters, but every few days somebody is kind enough to drop me a note saying a few nice things. Most often it's about Acacia, but Pride of Carthage gets a mention regularly, and even the early novels seem to still find readers every now and then. Part of why the correspondence is so nice is that it's a reminder of that - something I wouldn't really notice otherwise.

The last one to come in was this...

Hi David, I just finished Acacia tonight, I really enjoyed it thank you! I think this has to be the most amazing fantasy book I have read so far. I can't wait for the next installment and to find out where you take the story next. I couldn't put it down and had to take a day off work today so that I could finish it. Thanks for writing such a wonderful story!

DS - Blue Mountains Australia

Had to take a day off work to finish? Awesome. There's nothing like hearing that you've helped hamper productivity to make an author's day. To do so on foreign soil is even better! And, no, hearing such things doesn't go to my head. I've got a computer in front of me, deadlines, much, much work to do. There are plenty enough things to keep me grounded.

What it does do, however, is remind me why I write. That's much appreciated.