As some of you may already know, I sent out a newsletter on Monday. It’s always a Big Deal, and always A Thrill.
Here it is if you haven’t seen it: my September 2012 newsletter.
When people sign up for the newsletter—(here: do it!)—I have no idea what part of the world they are from. Now, because the newsletter mailing service I use provides stats, I know I have readers everywhere:
The newsletter was read by many readers in Canada, US, UK, Mexico and France—of course—but also by readers in Australia, Germany, Argentina, Italy, Brazil, New Zealand, Thailand, Malta, Norway, Ireland, Israel, India, New Guinea and Russia!
It’s wonderful—wonderful!—to see.
I also get to see which of the links in the newsletter were the most popular. On the first day, it was—surprisingly!—my blog post on 17th-century breast pumps. Perhaps it was the warning that the reader would be grossed out. How can one resist?
The second favourite was a blog post on the revision process with the ominous title “The Slough of Despond (the swampy middle)“—which indicates to me that there are a lot of writers on my mailing list. Nobody but a writer would really resonate with the words: Slough of Despond.
Not one person has responded so far to the announcement of the (likely) (so far) title of The Next Novel:
IN THE SERVICE OF THE SHADOW QUEEN
What do YOU think?
Sandra, I bet that you was quite astonished to find your fans in Russia! Yes in my country still there are no translations of Josephine B. trilogy but there are real admires of Her Majesty! You know I’ve begun to learn English only to read your novels. And of course I am happy to find a newsletter from you.
As for the title of your new novel I find “IN THE SERVICE OF THE SHADOW QUEEN” very intriguing one! Bonne chance!
Margot, when I saw that there was a reader in Russia, I knew it was you! I’m pleased that you like the title. I hope it “sticks”! Josephine, I’m sure, is very flattered that you study English to read about her!