MTM forwarded an email to me yesterday, a response to what he termed ‘a modest request.’ I’ve reproduced it below.
Good Morning Michael,
I downloaded “To Live Forever” to my Kindle. I finished it yesterday afternoon. It was outstanding! I hope your wife is planning another novel soon.
Best Regards, Deborah
I sat in front of my computer screen and cried. Not because someone read my book and liked it, but because of the thought and effort MTM put into his ‘modest request.’ He apparently sent out an e.mail to many or all of his contacts. An extract of his message:
“Today I am once again dedicated to helping someone reach a goal, and I am asking you for your assistance.
If I have ever in any way been helpful to you, I am asking you to help me help my wife, Andra Watkins, who recently had her first novel published. If I didn’t believe that To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis was a magical and enjoyable book, I would not ask you to consider this; I truly believe in this book and its author, and hope you will consider buying one (or more) copies so that you too can enjoy it and support her efforts. For the cost of a Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte (or some such) you can help a new author reach for her dream.
You may have seen the article in the Post and Courier about Andra walking the full 444-mile length of the Natchez Trace, which is the setting for the novel. She finished in Nashville on April 3, and is now back in Charleston.”
And after I cried, I laughed. My husband is a better writer than I am. Behold, his amazing list of reasons to read my novel.
“If that is not enough for you to hit BUY on one of the links below, then I offer to you the Top Ten Reasons You Should Read To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis
1. You aren’t really certain what happens after we die.
2. You worry that you will be forgotten when you are gone.
3. You are the father of a daughter…or the daughter of a father.
4. You thought Hwy. 61 was the only famous road in Mississippi.
5. You figured Lewis and Clark just fell off into the Pacific Ocean when they made it to the west coast.
6. You did not realize there was a worse American traitor than Benedict Arnold.
7. You thought that the Natchez Trace was a precursor to the Etch-a-Sketch.
8. You liked Huck Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird and always wondered what happened to Elvis Presley’s twin brother.
9. You believe in magic.
10. You want to play a part in discovering a new great American novel.
More info on To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis can be found here. To Live Forever is available in paperback or e-book on Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Nook, Kobo, iBooks. If you buy, you have my thanks; if you read it, I hope you’ll thank me.”
Thank you, my Dear MTM. You are all I will ever need.
65 Comments
Damn! Its not even Valentine’s Day and he’s making most other men look bad.
Definitely a keeper my dear!
He’s my Valentine every day, but you know how many frogs I had to kiss to find him. 🙂
What a guy! And a fabulous partner, husband and promoter to boot! You have your own personal cheerleader. You are both excellent with the writing skills, Andra, and I wish you much success with your next book and every one that follows.
I couldn’t do this without him. He’s the best. Even when I want to quit, he won’t let me. 🙂
That is a great and highly accurate listing! Bravo MTM!
I’m going to have to use it elsewhere.
Reblogged this on Poetry by Pamela and commented:
I can’t add anything, except I thought this was a great book. You should give it a try.
Thanks for the reblog!!
What a sweetheart. I do believe in magic. I believe in fairies, too, but that wasn’t on his list. Big hugs to you, Andra.
Fairies are magical, right? 🙂
Good point. Except the Febreze fairy. She’s bad news.
That kind of gesture is better than diamonds, sweeter than cupcakes
Wow. Your book was incredible and magical. It was.
Thanks for posting such a great review. (I will not go back to the cupcake shop. I will not. I will not…….)
Always knew he was a good guy! I think you should keep him.
No question.
That is the most amazingly romantic and loving thing. And totally hot! I hope you thank him properly when you next see him, Andra. 😉
I’ve missed him a lot during this forced isolation. I’m sure he’ll know how much when I see him. 🙂
🙂 Atta girl
That is the sweetest thing I have heard all year. (MTM needs to be cloned!)
He was right to invest in your book though. I’m glad to see that so many people love it.
Most of the people who read it love it. As with any author, it’s getting people to read that’s the challenge.
MTM really does rock! You both are the best!
Thanks for your notes today.
Yep, MTM has once again set the bar too high for us mere mortals.
The Lovely Miss TK would say you do pretty well, Lou.
Wow! What a sweetheart!
He is.
Wish I were clever enough to compose such a list . . . I’d be working on ’10 reasons you should keep him around.’ He’s unbelievably special!!
I’d never finish that list, Karen. It’d be too long.
Kind. Loving. Generous. Thoughtful. Unexpected. Intelligent. Get that man a COFFEE.
He’s earned several COFFEES.
That is a truly great list. I’m saving this one.
I will definitely use it again.
I don’t know about anyone else, but MTM made me sob today…and there was a reverberation in my chest…no, not sexual – sheesh, but it’s where your insides shudder and there’s a catch in your throat before the moisture wells up in your eyes and travels down your cheeks.
You weren’t alone, Lori. I did the same thing.
Honey, you have got yourself a keeper! And with the analytical mind of an architect, he listed lasting, resonating reasons to read your book, just the way we visit an historic building or monument. For no, I did not know what happened to Lewis and Clark, that there was a worse traitor than Benedict Arnold, that the Natchez Trace ends in Nashville , nor that Meriwether Lewis died on the trail. Art makes us think, and madam, you have hit the mark!
And all this sort of in your backyard!! I hope your feet are feeling better.
I love y’all’s love. I’m glad you shared. 🙂
What a sweet husband! Lucky girl, you are, Andra 🙂
It’s even better because of how many yucky men I went through before he found me.
Well, I laughed my ass off reading MTM’s reasons for buying your book, soooo… this is for you two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjloX_EvYiI
corny, but you know… I now need an Etch-A-Sketch…
And they aren’t together anymore……….Love didn’t do it for them. 🙂
Well, he sold me! I just ordered it on my Kindle and am looking forward to reading it.
I hope you’ll let me know what you think. Thanks for taking a chance on it.
Awesome! I have in on my Kindle and I started reading it this past weekend!
Please let me know what you think, Jim. I love hearing that people have it.
I shall do that!
Aw, now I’m going to start crying in front of my computer…
I’m right there with you, Lisa.
What an awesome “personal request” and a tremendous list! He is a tender AND creative guy–translated as “special” and you already know that! “You figured Lewis and Clark just fell off into the Pacific Ocean when they made it to the west coast”–I didn’t probably think much about Lewis or Clark before your wonderful novel! To Live Forever really touched me and continues to inspire my interest in Lewis, but also Clark. You and MTM are a great team. ox
I read a whole biography about Clark as part of writing this book. A complete rabbit trail, but I enjoyed it. In my view, Clark’s tragic in his own way, because of all he did to deprive Native Americans of their lands, and even when he felt like it was wrong, he was too good a soldier to not follow through. It’s hard not to like him, because some of his writing was pretty hilarious.
Oh that is sooooo beautiful.! It made me tear up…good tears 🙂
Good tears are the best tears, Rose.
Three cheers for MTM! What a tribute to you, the book, and now, this tribute to him, Andra. Well done !
I still love the list to death. So creative.
fantastic. and you are both so lucky.
MTM comes through again! What a sweetheart. You’ve definitely got a keeper.
Goose bumps and all hair rising from my whole body! What an incredible man! 🙂 🙂
Wow
Okay, you’ve made me feel horrible for not reviewing your book after I read it….I’ll get on it
(that was great)
Ah, that is so incredibly sweet I can hardly stand it. What a great guy! And you so deserve him, Andra!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
You couldn’t ask for a more perfect love. And now that my hubby starts his new job Monday (after being unemployed 5 months) I can buy your novel too!
I remember an Australian copy writer in London who drove a De Tomaso Pantera…..is the Cinnamon Dolce Latte from the same stable?
I’ll remember to pull out this post for my husband to read if and when I publish my first novel 😉
I said this in a return to a comment you made on a post of mine, but I know sometimes you don’t get those — but this post damn near broke my heart with its sweetness. All my best to both of you — you lovebirds, you.
It’s awesome that he’s so supportive of this craziness.
That was a nice top ten list! I thought #5 was what happened. Yeah, he’s a good guy.
Nice usie!
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