Randy Cassingham's Blog

After nearly a year and a half of publication, and commonly getting about 300 e-mails per day from readers, I finally actually publish a few letters to the editor.

They're from the first buyers of the first This is True book, and the "reviews" are great!

"My wife was very chuffed ... and so was I."

I didn't even publish the reader's name with his note! Sheesh. It was from David in Australia.

"I've got the book today. It's great!" --from Ljubljana, Slovenia (!!)

"I feel it is my duty to order this book as I have been enjoying your free e-subscription for some time now. I guess it is your way of responding to 'How could I ever repay you.' What a cheap ploy for those of us who are Catholic." --Texas

"I'd like to order 5 copies. Christmas shopping made easy!" --Colorado

So, yes: I do see -- and appreciate -- the notes put in with the orders, and the follow-up e-mails and notes. Thank you!

It hasn't occurred to me at this point that people find the letters -- feedback from readers like them -- interesting in their own right, so I don't run very many even after this. It's not until I get huge criticism for a story and start publishing "pro" and "con" replies that I have that forehead-slapping moment.

I did later post a lot of basic feedback to a reader feedback page, but haven't updated that in years; I just don't find "out of context" letters to be all that compelling, even though they're awfully nice.