Fanning the Creative Flames: Kim Fay on Fan Letters

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: I'm delighted to introduce Kim Fay, the author of the Edgar Award-nominated A MAP OF LOST MEMORIES, on fan letters — both receiving and writing. And the importance of kindness and support, and that amazing  connection to writers we love. Welcome, Kim!

KIM FAY: I was having a bad week. It’s what writers do. Along with writing, we have bad hours, bad days, bad weeks. Often (when we’re lucky), we can write our way through them, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t disheartening.

This bad week came along with its usual nagging voice—you’re a lousy writer, this is a stupid idea, give up and go back to ... teaching, bookselling, editing, fill in the blank. Then, a letter came in the mail. Remember those? Envelopes. Stamps. Handwriting on real paper. This real paper had a beautiful watercolor of an Angkor temple on it, and a note that contained these words:

“I’ve just surfaced from a cover-to-cover read of ‘The Map of Lost Memories.’ I absolutely loved it on so many levels.”

A fan letter.

My heart fluttered!

A fan letter from Dawn Rooney.

My heart soared!!

Dawn is one of the world’s eminent experts on Angkor Wat. Her books were my anchors as I wrote The Map of Lost Memories, ensuring that I got the facts right. I could not have written my novel without her. And she not only loved my book. She took the time to let me know she loved it.

Suddenly, my bad week wasn’t as bad anymore.

This isn’t to say that I rely on praise from outside in order to write. But let’s be honest: it sure is nice, because if you’ve ever been on other side, you know the passionate feelings that inspire a person to write a fan letter.

I wrote my first fan letter to an author when I was in junior high. I adored Betty Cavanna, and I wrote to her in care of her publisher, telling her how I wanted to be a writer just like you when I grow up. She wrote back. She told me to keep writing. She wished me great success. More than thirty years later her words of encouragement still inspire me.

I wrote another fan letter again when I was in my early twenties. The Los Angeles riots had broken out and I was depressed. I picked up Letter from New York, by Helene Hanff (of 84 Charing Cross Road fame). It’s a slim book of her BBC broadcasts about living in New York—vignettes about how her relationships with her neighbors, many formed around dog walking, created a sense of community. Her tales of friendship and kindness compelled me to write to her.

She responded: “I was very touched that ‘Letter From New York’ brought you back from the L.A. abyss. I spend half my time diving down, into murder mysteries to escape the horrors of Sarajevo and Los Angeles, and the new one waiting to happen somewhere else.”

There was more, words that made me feel less alone. I tucked this note inside my copy of her book and I take it out from time to time, when the world gets particularly ugly and mean. And I think about it often now that I am a writer receiving letters from people who have read my novel. Most fan letters come by email these days, but that makes them no less valuable:

I have just finished reading your extraordinary first novel. Thank you for providing such an enjoyable learning experience. 

Although I have not yet finished reading your book, I could not wait to contact you. There are many passages that I have re-read, as the content stirs many ethical quandaries. 

The plot and characters drew me in, but what I appreciated most was your skill in capturing the sensual details, the sounds, smells and feel of the places you describe. By the time Irene reached the temple I REALLY wanted a bath! Nice work!

Sitting on my Arizona patio in the summer, reading your book, and imagining our heat coupled with humidity made the books' environment seem very real. I read quite a lot and must tell you this is one of the best books I've read in a long time. 

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute reading "The Map of Lost Memories" and didn't want it to end.  

I’m not sharing these emails to toot my own horn. I am sharing them because they touched me. I have about 30 notes from fans at the most. This may not seem like a lot to many people, but to me it is a fortune.

In these days when it’s too easy for every Negative Nellie out there to Tweet, Facebook and Goodreads their complaints, a fan letter is a gift. It is an intimate moment between writer and reader. It is a moment of understanding and being understood. I am grateful for each one.

So, Reds and readers, how about you? 

Have you written a fan letter? 

Have you received one? 

What inspired you to write one? 

What unique joy did you experience when you received one?

Tell us in the comments!