You Never Know Who’s Reading Your Books

by Beth K. Vogt @BethVogt

You never know who’s reading your books.

I texted that message to a group of writer-friends earlier this week. Here’s the reason why: 

My husband Rob called me mid-morning this past Monday. That was odd because Rob’s a family physician and he’s usually too busy seeing patients to stop and chat with me. 

The reason for his call? Rob had just seen a patient who’d happened to read my Thatcher Sisters Series. She asked Rob to tell me that she enjoyed the three novels, explaining how she’s the youngest of three sisters and she liked my characterization of the sisters’ relationships. She also told Rob she liked the faith element because too often novels don’t have any spiritual message. 

I have no idea who this reader is because Rob never reveals patient information to me. This unknown woman’s encouragement made my day, my week, and likely the rest of June for me.

You might be thinking, “Oh, come on, Beth, it’s just some nice feedback.”

Yep, it is.

But let me share some perspective on how powerful her feedback is for me—and for you too. 

The Thatcher Sisters Series was published by Tyndale and is comprised of three women’s fiction novels: Things I Never Told You, which released in 2018, Moments We Forget, which released in 2019, and The Best We’ve Ever Been, which released in 2020.

In other words, it’s been a while since these books hit the shelves. As time passes, it’s all too easy to think my books are forgotten. Maybe you feel the same way about some of your published books.

But you never know who’s reading your books—even the ones you published years ago. You never know if your book is still on someone’s To Be Read (TBR) pile. Or if your book is being handed off to someone’s friend as a recommended read. Or if your book is being checked out of the library. Or if—yes, even this!—your book is being found at a garage sale. 

I pray over every book I write. One specific prayer I always pray over a finished manuscript is that God will use my novel to somehow draw the reader closer to Jesus, wherever they are on their faith journey. 

Monday’s phone call was a sweet moment of encouragement, yes. But it was also a reminder that my prayer has no expiration date on it. God can still use my books long after they’ve been released into the world … into the hands of my readers.

The same is true for you, my friends. 

TWEETABLE

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Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” She’s authored 15 novels and novellas, both contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Beth is a Christy Award winner, an ACFW Carol Award winner, and a  RITA® finalist. Her newest contemporary romance novel, Dedicated to the One I Love, released June 20, 2023. Her novel Things I Never Told You, book one in her Thatcher Sisters Series by Tyndale House Publishers, won the 2019 AWSA Golden Scroll Award for Contemporary Novel of the Year. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Learn How to Write a Novel and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people. Connect with Beth at BETHVOGT.COM.