Friday, October 5, 2007

Hats off to the 101st Airborne Division

This post is for the 101st Airborne Division, with admiration and respect. Every now and then I receive an email that makes me proud to be an author. This is one of them:

"I am writing to you today about your book, The Tin Box. I am currently in the army in Kuwait waiting my departure to Iraq. I was browsing through some books in the USO and came across The Tin Box. I will admit I was skeptical about picking it up and reading it because it sounded like a book aimed more towards women. Well, thank God I did because it was by far the best book I have ever read. Currently it is being passed around my company and being read whenever we have down time. The way you intimately described each character made me feel as if I had been friends with them for years. All in all the book moved me and was exactly the thing that I needed to read when I arrived in Kuwait. I figured since you took the time to write such an amazing book I would take the time to thank you."

30 comments:

Janet said...

Very, very cool

Anonymous said...

I'm 100% behind you.
Those guys need all our support over there in Iraq. And that they are reading Tin Box is way kewl. It really is a great story.

Anissa said...

Wow. Holly. I can only imagine how it must feel to receive a letter like that. You truly deserve it.

Brandon said...

Just keep doing what you are doing. I know I'm looking forward to anything you put on paper.

SmartlikeStreetcar said...

Congratulations. I comment like that wouldn't make my day... it would make my year!

Anonymous said...

What a great email to get.
Isn't it wild to think a book you wrote is making the rounds in the USO and Iraq? Not to mention the good old regular people in France and Germany and all those other countries who have been bright enuff to publish Tin Box.
Great stuff.

Mindy Tarquini said...

This made it all worth it, didn't it?

Anonymous said...

Each day at work I pour myself a stiff cup of coffee, sign onto the network and read your blog before I dig in.

I like your posts a lot.
Thsi one especially.
Thanx!

Katie Alender said...

Wow, what a great email to get, Holly.

Anonymous said...

Hi Holly, Hope this catches the family all well. This is your cousin Brian, on your Dad's Brothers side. Catch my email. PS loved the book didn't expect to. Fussy ol' bugger.

Holly Kennedy said...

Janet -- I couldn't agree more.
It always seems like I get one of these emails on my worst writing days too, which is great because it spurs me on :)

Kyla-dale -- It really is an honor to know that a story you've written is being read by a broad audience of individuals.

Thanks, Anissa -- Your such a sweetheart!

Brandon -- Nice to have you check in on my blog. Hello again to all of you over there in Iraq.
Stay safe :)

Holly Kennedy said...

Smartlikestreetcar (what a great blog name, btw) -- nice to have you pop by my blog. I hope you'll come again.

Wordman17 -- It also makes me want to push harder to write the best possible story I can so I don't disappoint with each new novel. *gulp* There's lots of pressure in this business and no way around the fact that you're "out there" to be judged, you know?

Holly Kennedy said...

M.G. -- How are your edits going? I hope well. My clock is ticking down with Silver Compass and I'm seeing light at the end of this long tunnel. Y-E-S!

Friend from Toronto -- Every day, huh? Well, I wish I could post for you every day, but that's just not possible right now. Thanks, though. It's a great compliment to know someone has added me to their 'favorites'!

Katie -- How are things in your corner of the writing world these days? As soon as get Silver Compass off my plate, I will pop by and check out some of your old posts to get caught up, ok?

6-Wheeler -- It amazes me how many cousins and relatives I've had stop by my blog and/or email. Nice to have you do so! As for the book and liking it (Tin Box), thanks for taking the time to read it.
I appreciate the support :)

Anonymous said...

My wife loved your book (The Tin Box I mean) and now she has me reading it as well. i thought it was probably more a book for women too but I am amazed by the story. we both hope you keep writing stories liek these.

ORION said...

Way to go Holly!
I totally agree. These are the things they don't teach you in Author school.

Travis Erwin said...

Wow. You can't ask for more than that. And as another man who has read your books let me say, any they are that good.

It is a shame that a lot of men refuse to read books just because they think of it as a "woman's" story.

Heidi the Hick said...

That's awesome.

It's not a "woman's book" at all. It's a very moving story about people who feel very real. I hope Brandon and his friends have a good read. (And come home safe.)

Melissa Amateis said...

Wow. Just...wow. What an awesome thing to receive.

Larramie said...

The pen is mightier...at least in this case. You just never know when and how your writing will touch someone.

Kudos, Holly, to both you and Brandon!

Anonymous said...

OK, now that this Brandon has emailed you and other guys have posted here I guess I will too. my wife and i almost divorced 2 yrs ago. we have 3 kids. your penny tree novel came at a good time & touched us in a big way. i now have to read the tin box (ordered it for my wife's bday & she shoudl get it nxt wk)

keep writing your stories

Emily Fox said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Emily Fox said...

Well considering my brother only reads really good books and he wrote such a nice letter... i might just have to read it myself. Brandon, if you read this.. we miss you and stay safe!!

Anonymous said...

I am with Brandon,Travis, Mitchell & this Dave guy. My face got burned in a fire when I was 13 & I am now 35. My parents bought me a paperback of Tin Box for Christmas and I did not know what to expect but it was a fantastic story & it brought me to tears more than once & made me really think about my life. who could ask for more from a book?

LadyBronco said...

Holly -
That is just the coolest thing I have heard in a long, long time!

Here's hoping and praying Brandon and his buddies all come home safe and sound.

debra said...

Most of us never know the impact of our words. Kudos to you on finding out.

Wendy Roberts said...

Wow that brought tears to my eyes!

Anonymous said...

Wow, Holly, that's wonderful!

The Anti-Wife said...

Holly,
This is all so wonderful. You must feel very happy to know you have touched so many lives in such a positive way.

Anonymous said...

To know something you wrote has touched someone else like this must feel pretty incredible.
Great post!

Holly Kennedy said...

Thank you for your kind comments everyone. I greatly appreciate that you take the time to visit my blog as often as you do.