Milestones: when a stranger writes you an email, thanking you for writing your books...

There are many milestones on the road to Authorhood: finishing your first book, publishing your first book, your first genuine review, hitting the #1 spot in a certain category, etc etc etc. The list goes on and there are probably many that - like me - you are completely unaware of and have yet to experience. But the one I had today was the most unexpected and an extremely welcome one, and one that makes me want to write even more!

"Dear [Diem], I saw your post on the [Facebook page] this morning. I wasn’t aware of your books and have just spent the day reading volumes 1-4. As a fellow survivor, now retired from TVP [Thames Valley Police] and Suffolk [Police], which included some time at Ashford [Police Training College] as an instructor / trainer / facilitator (depending on the day of the week), I just wanted to write to say that I enjoyed reading them very much. Best regards Bob C."

Priceless.

Thank you, Bob, so much, for taking the time out of your day to send an email to a complete stranger. You have no idea how much this means to me.