I attended a lovely memorial service last Sunday for a friend who recently passed away. It was marvelous to hear friends and family share memories of how this man had touched their lives. The room was spread with wonderful photographs, keepsakes, and items of significance that stood as a record, in part, of a life well lived. What a sustaining and worthwhile way to spend my Sunday afternoon, and I’m grateful I had the opportunity.
It made me think about how each of us affects those around us in so many ways—ways we are not even aware of, in many cases. Each of us has a story to tell. A whole series of interconnected stories to tell, in fact. And if we could see, and actually know, how our stories intertwine with the stories of other people, I’ll bet we’d be fascinated beyond all expectation. But we don’t often get a real glimpse of how that happens.
I just finished reading a book called The Husband’s Secret. It started out sounding like a gossipy, daytime talk show and I almost gave it a pass, but I went on Amazon and read some of the reviews. People loved the book, and the reviews made it clear there was more to it, if I’d just give it a chance.
I did. And there was.
Threads in an intricate tapestry
It turned out to be the sort of story I love, where a number of seemingly unrelated storylines progress until they weave together, each affecting the others in surprising—even shocking—ways. It was poignant and thought-provoking, as well as suspenseful. Perhaps the most powerful lines of the book came in right at the very end, where all the unseen connections—both those that were made and those that were missed—were revealed, in a way we never get to see in real life. I find it utterly enthralling to think about these unseen links.
We need each other—and while we’re on the subject, I’d like to make one more relevant point. Without those Amazon reviews, I never would have gone on to finish the book, reap those insights, enjoy that ending, and share this experience with you. That kind of social proof is critical to the success of a book in today’s marketplace.
You can do something big to help me
And so I’m asking for your help. If you’ve read and enjoyed any Joslyn Chase book available on Amazon and haven’t yet left a review, please take a moment to do so. It’s easy to do and only takes a couple of minutes. Simply go to the book page of the book you want to review and scroll down to where you’ll see the review bars. Click on the box that says “Write a customer review” and it will take you to a page where you can choose your star rating, write a simple headline, and leave your review.
It doesn’t have to be long or fancy, and you can leave a review even if you didn’t buy the book on Amazon. As long as you read the book and have an opinion to share with others who are looking for a book to read, you can leave a review.
Each review is a tremendous and much needed boost to my efforts to help new readers find my work. I so appreciate readers and friends who generously share my posts here or on Facebook and do what they can to help spread the word. Bless you!
We are all connected—in some way, big or small. Our lives impact the lives of everyone around us, and the effect of that reaches far beyond what we can ever know. We—each one of us—matter.
How about you? Do you see ways in which your life touches those around you? Can you think of times when your life has been influenced by someone else? If you’d like to, share with us in the comments.
