Cold Tears

[John Foxjohn]

I’ve been writing novels for several years, but most of that time, I had to fend off the dreaded rejection letters.

This is nothing new to writers and a part of the process. Then one day, I broke through. When I did finally get to the pinnacle, so to speak, I had two novels completed and one floating in the recesses of my mind.

My first published novel, Code of Deceit, has done well. Actually, it is still doing well.

It took me a while to figure out why no one wanted the book. I started it with a prologue, but not just any prologue. Mine really did nothing for the plot of the book or characterization.

After a while, I decided to cut the prologue. The reason it took me so long to do it, I really loved that prologue. I considered it as some of my best writing.

I cut it, but I sure didn’t get rid of it. I figured it would be the perfect opening to the book floating in my head. I did all the usual writer things—I outlined the new one, did my character charts, and plugged in the conflicts and turning points of the new book.

Again, I had two completed novels, but the new one seemed different. I struggled with the other two, but the new one flowed like anything you have ever imagined. Every word I typed brought about a feeling in me I had never experienced.

Bells rang in my head telling me I was in the midst of writing a book that people would consider special. There is no way in this world that I could ever explain what was going on in my mind when I wrote this book. You’d have to experience this yourself to understand.

I loved my first two books and still do, but this new one gave me the feeling that this was the book I was intended to write all my life.

When I finished it, my editor went ballistic over it. She absolutely loved it. Started saying things that don’t come out of editor’s mouths often—best book she’d ever read, I could never write a better one than this. She told me on several occasions that she couldn’t edit it because she got too caught up in the story.

My critique partners had this kind of enthusiasm over it, too.

I must admit that I did, too.

When the novel came out, the reviewers began their praise of my book, followed by readers—e-mails from hundreds of readers. I’m hearing words like this was the best book they’d ever read, better the second and third time they read it.

Naturally, I am walking on clouds. If you haven’t experienced this kind of deep satisfaction, I sincerely hope you do.

In a recent Predators & Editors worldwide reader’s poll, they voted my novel the best mystery in the world.

If you don’t know by now, I titled the new book, COLD TEARS.