I’m doing this now for the second time – releasing a novel into the wild, wild world of readership. I’m very conflicted about The Recluse Storyteller, and I’ve gone through many different ups and downs concerning its content.

Honestly, I have no idea how it will be received. It’s different from Beauty Rising – that i know. I’m just not sure how different and what it really means.

As I’ve mentioned before, the idea of The Recluse Storyteller came to me most unexpectedly. I was about to write my second novel after Beauty Rising when this image of a middle-aged woman, watching a man in a red hat, came to me. I didn’t know what it meant, but it quickly took on a life of its own. Within a couple of months, a draft of the entire novel was complete.

I slowly and cautiously allowed a couple people to read it. Positive. A couple more. Positive. A few more. All positive.

That made me more nervous. Were they just being nice? This recluse woman is kind of weird. And there are so many stories flying around. Does it make sense?

I read it again. I liked it and became excited about it.

I read it again. I became nervous.

I read it again, revising and editing. I thought it had promise.

I read it again. What was I thinking?

Back and forth it went for a long time.

One reader wanted to understand the beginning better, so I added the prologue.

Once I had the prologue, I felt I should have an epilogue. That definitely made some readers happy.

And still, I don’t know.

But I suppose that’s how it is supposed to be. I’ve done all I can with The Recluse Storyteller. Now it must stand or fall on its own. Whatever does happen, I’m happy I wrote it. It was a lot of fun, and after all of my backs and forths, I am proud of it for what it is.

And what is it exactly?

I have no idea. That’s for me to know and you to find out.

And once you, the reader, do find out, I’m sure you’ll let me know what I have on my hands.

It’s with great pleasure and trepidation that I release into the public my second novel, The Recluse Storyteller.

I do hope you enjoy.