Serendipity

I love the word “Serendipity.” The dictionary’s definition is: the accidental discovery of something pleasant, valuable or useful. But, to me, the word also has a mysterious, almost magical connotation. Something good happens out of the blue. We didn’t expect it, we couldn’t anticipate it but there it is: a gift.

There are many reasons I love being a writer and, a few weeks ago, I wrote three posts on the subject. But, I neglected to mention one of the most wonderful, unexpected parts of being a writer: meeting and getting to know so many other writers who support and encourage me. I consider this a perfect example of serendipity. 

Writing is hard work and, by its very nature, it’s a solitary profession. We writers sit at our computers for hours on end, searching for just the right words to tell the story we’re trying to tell. We want our readers to get to know and care about our characters and we want them to become engrossed in the plots we create. So, a good part of the time, we’re inside our own heads.

But, as John Donne so aptly wrote, “No man is an island.” We weren't meant to go it alone in this life; we all need each other. So, when another writer reads one of my books and writes a glowing review, it means the world to me. Because only another writer can fully understand what it took to get my book from one small idea all the way to publication. I have been blessed to know several such writers.

Recently, something happened that put a big smile on my face. BookTown, a site I’ve belonged to for some time, featured the book cover for Unfinished Business, my second Malone Mystery, and two of my blog posts on their Facebook home page. I was surprised and thrilled! Another example of serendipity!

Thank you BookTown and thanks to all my writer friends who continually enrich my life!