Dear Author: Letters From a Bookish Fangirl by Laura A. Grace (Illustrator: Hannah S.J. Williams)

Book Blurb:

Think your words might not matter? Think again.

Words have the power to change lives, especially when they are used to create meaningful stories. In this collection of letters, bookish fangirl Laura A. Grace addresses topics related to every writer’s journey. From “character conversations,” to embracing one’s unique writing style, to celebrating a release day—there is a letter for every author no matter where they may be in sharing their story with others.

“Dear Author” includes six illustrations by Hannah S.J. Williams. 

I received this book from the author for free. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.

Meredith’s Review:

This is a short but uplifting read! Perfect for cozying up on the coach and taking in all the author’s sweet words of encouragement in one sitting. There truly is a letter to authors in every stage of the writing journey—those in need of patience during the publishing process, or celebrating on release day, or looking to overcome criticism, or searching for their audience, and so on. 

In true fangirl fashion, author Laura A. Grace also geeks out in several of her letters about things like rereading your favorite series, coping with the emotions you feel when reading a great story, reading an author’s conversations with their characters, and the dread of finishing your favorite series and wanting it to go on. All these things, I am sure, bring a smile to many an author’s face. 

By far though, my favorite is Grace’s final letter, in which she pleads with authors to be their authentic selves.

“You, dear author, never have to change your writing or your stories. You offer readers a special kind of magic only your fingers can create, and your books leave a special, one-of-a-kind touch only found in them,”

she writes. This wonderful, Mister Rogers-esque quote brings joy to my heart as a lover of writing with dreams of one day publishing my own unique story.

My only critique of this book is that it is sometimes apparent that Grace is writing to an “author in particular” rather than “authors in general.” As the reader, you want to believe she is writing each letter to you personally, but there are times when a letter is just too specific to suspend reality. I went into it expecting that all the letters would be generalized enough to apply to every author. Instead, I believe authors who read this book will find one or two letters that they feel were written solely for them.

Rated:

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