Page 24 of Touch My Shelves

I can’t help my chest puffs at her admiration. “That’s high praise coming from someone that owns a bookstore.”

She shrugs and her lips turn down. “Well, I did, but I don’t know anymore. Besides, I didn’t even own it for a year.”

I hate that I reminded her of her loss. “What did you do before you moved to the island?”

She gets an absent look on her face. “I worked at a very small, local newspaper,The Owlette Gazette, in my hometown, but it closed.”

For a split-second, I question the reason for her being in my home. I dismiss my concern as quickly as it came. Poppy isn’t the type to work an angle. “Were you working your way up to editor?”

She shifts in her seat, looking uncomfortable. “No, not really. I… I wanted to write the next bestseller.”

It seems to upset her to even admit that. “Oh, you write?”

Again my senses take notice of her self-deprecating demeanor.

“I don’t know if what I do can even be considered writing, but I really love it. I may be the only one to ever read my work.”

I know the feeling well. “You shouldn’t let anything stop you. If writing is in your blood, you shouldn’t give up.”

“I know all the ‘follow your dreams’ speeches. My friend Naudi is very good at boosting my confidence. Maybe I need to accept I don’t have what it takes. That’s why I opened the bookstore, to still be in the business.”

I surprise myself when I say, “I’d like to read your book.”

I never read aspiring writer’s work. Ever.

She’s instantly on alert, shaking her head negatively. “Sorry, that can’t happen, even if I was brave enough to show it to you. My computer was lost in the fire.”

The rest of my doubts vanish. I wouldn’t have to work this hard to read someone’s manuscript if they were really trying to use me as a stepping stone. “You didn’t back your work up on the cloud or in a writing program?”

“Yeah, I did, but without a computer I don’t have access.”

She seems much too happy about that. I make a note to look up some of her articles at the paper where she worked. “That’s no problem. I have an extra laptop or two around here. You can have one. I’m serious. I want to read it.”

Her eyes widen and her mouth drops. “Why? It’s nothing and it’s unfinished. Don’t waste your time. It’s not even in your genre. It’s sci-fi adventure for tweens.”

“Just what Freeya and I love to read. I expect your book on my desk in the morning.”

She crosses her arms and sets her eyes on mine. “You don’t have time to read it with your deadline. You finish your book and then I’ll think about letting you read my work. You do realize how intimidating that is, right?”

“I was unpublished once myself, Poppy. I know the struggle. Let me read it. I may hate it, but I may love it.”

She worries her bottom lip and appears ready to run out the door to keep from saying yes. “Only if you promise to tell me the truth. That’s why I moved here and opened a bookstore. I couldn’t keep the dream alive any longer. I need to face the fact that I won’t ever be at the top—or bottom—of any list.”

Why is she down on something that she obviously loves? I just have a feeling there’s a deeper reason for her inability to finish her book. “What are you going to do about the bookstore? Are you going to open back up once it’s rebuilt?”

She shrugs indifferently like it doesn’t matter, but I think it does. I think it’s very important to her. “I’m not sure. The town may or may not rebuild. It’s a corner lot and they may decide to put in a park or something for the community. It would be cheaper than rebuilding such a large building.”

Her gaze wanders to the clock on the wall behind me and she jumps from her seat. “Oh, my gosh, we’ve been talking for almost an hour. I’m so sorry to have taken up so much for your writing time. I came in for a quick question.”

“It’s no problem. I’ve enjoyed our chat. I’d have enjoyed it more if you’d given me insight into where the story is going after this book.” That’s the truth. I did enjoy talking to her.

She turns back around and offers, “Well, why don’t you end it like you planned and then write the prequel to the series for the next season on television.”

“Huh?”

She goes on to explain and I can literally feel the buzz take fire in my brain. “Book one started with Darstoff’s father being murdered and Darstoff ascending to the throne. You could go back a few generations and write about the people that formed the dynasty. I’m sure they have a story of why and how their reign ended.”

That’s not a bad idea in fact… “Poppy, you are a genius! I can have two storylines going. Darstoff’s and Meeka’s. Their ancestors. I’ll need to run it by my publisher and the network execs, but it might just work. The story before the story.”

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