Years ago, I read a novel I loved by a new-to-me author. So I looked up other novels by the same author, chose one, and tucked it (a hardback, mind you, because this was before I was using an e-reader) into my carryon. Six-hour flight? No problem. The time was going to fly as I relished my new book.
About thirty minutes into the book, something awful (horribly awful!) happened to an animal in the story. And there I was, strapped in at 36,000 feet with a dreadful image searing my mind—and with nothing to read for the rest of the flight. I felt as if the author had betrayed my trust.
That experience is one reason I write stories that are free of graphic violence. It’s one reason I made a promise to protect certain characters.
It’s one reason I created Wren Island—to honor beautifully sensitive readers like you.
And my readers tell me they enjoy a bit of suspense! In the spring of 2023, I published an installment of The Wren Island Series that ended with a worrisome cliff-hanger. Here is what I wrote to my readers afterward:
How much worrying, really, is called for? Should you wonder if something awful (horribly awful!) has happened? Should you worry we’ve lost something precious that cannot be reclaimed?
No, my friend. There’s no need for that kind of fear. This is Wren Island. You’re safe here.
This is Wren Island. You’re safe here.
Will you run into detailed descriptions of unnecessary violence? Harsh, offensive language? Bedroom scenes that leave nothing to the imagination? Not here.
What will you find on Wren Island? Three eccentric aunts offering you espresso and a buzzy brownie. A silly doggie who sometimes sort of acts like a watchdog. An aspiring songwriter loved much more than she knows. Deep forests and high cliffs. Roaring windstorms. Starry nights. A hydrophone that lets us listen as nearby whales sing.
And, yes, a bit of suspense.
The Wren Island Series is interactive serialized fiction, which means the story is published one installment at a time, and readers influence what happens next. It’s free entertainment, and it’s easy and fun to catch up! When you subscribe to receive my emails, you’ll receive a link to stories that have been published. Then, watch your inbox for behind-the-scenes updates and other fun opportunities. Or, subscribe to my podcast and read the story with me.
I’m glad you found Wren Island, because this island was created for you.
[Photo courtesy of Unsplash.]
