Hey! I’m sure you get a lot of messages so no worries about responding to this. I just wanted to say I finished your book. It was incredible
I hit send before I have a chance to overthink. And then I feel the instant regret seize my stomach in a white-hot clench. She’s probably going to think this is weird and creepy, because it is weird and creepy. I’ve heard from my author peers that they get a lot of unsolicited, unwanted, horribly prying messages.Iget a lot of unsolicited messages. I’ve gotten messages suggesting where I can go and what I should do with myself. But I’m a big boy and nobody hates me as much as I hate myself, so none ofthem can hurt me. The messages I lack, however, are ones I’ve heard many women in the profession get. The ones from readers asking about their sex lives, if their sex scenes are inspired by true events, if they practiced certain positions to get it right. The ones from men, soliciting acts nobody asked for, asking for dates and personal details, threatening when they don’t get what they want. Sure, I’ve gotten messages about how much someone hated my book, but I’ve never been propositioned in my DMs.
In the grand scheme of things, I know my message to Adelaide is nothing like that. I just assume the moment you see a man’s name pop up as a notification there’s a certain blip of anxiety.
Which is why it’s so surprising my phone buzzes in my hand not even a minute after I send the message.
Adelaide
Thank you so much!! Text me on my personal so I don’t miss any messages, okay?
She attaches her personal account.Holy shit. At the very least that means shewantsto talk some more. I heart the message then shift to the new account. Instead of her name withauthorat the end, it’s a mixture of her initials (I assume her middle name starts withL) and numbers. Her profile photo is of her with a bright bouquet of flowers just below her chin, the camera so close I can count every single one of her freckles. I request to follow. It’s accepted a moment later and I get a message.
Adelaide
Is this your only account?
Zander
Yeah. I’m not on here enough to justify having more
Adelaide
Oh you're one of those guys ;)
I’d laugh if I wasn’t the kind of guy who only had one account because my “brand” involved me using my real name. I couldn’t publish a memoir without using my real name so people could look up my real story. My agent probably took me on before she should have, but she always says shesawsomething in me. She helped me build the following I needed in order to sell the book. And now, yes, I just don’t have the energy to have a personal and private account. I’m only here to post publishing updates anyway.
Zander
Lame? Low key? That’s my vibes
Adelaide
Lol whatever you say Mr. Browning. Welcome to my finsta
Zander
Finsta?
Adelaide
Dude, I’m the one who writes HistFic, not you. Get up with the new lingo
I smirk. Aforementioned instalove feelings seem to be growing.
Zander
I will do better
Adelaide
You better. Anyway! Thank you for saying such nice things about my book. I’m not even halfway through yours and that makes me so mad. I haven’t had time to sit down and read but I want to!! Look!!
She sends a photo of herself curled up on a white and pink plaid couch. Her legs are covered by a fuzzy blanket and a book with an ivy embroidered bookmark sits in her lap. My book.
Zander
This was definitely not me nagging you to read. I’m a fast reader, always have been, and I needed to tell you how much I love it
