Oh my. Goosebumps!!! What a magical and moving experience Courtney, I’m so glad you had this. It makes me want to say YES! I’m open, Universe, surprise me!
I am truly inspired by this story, Courtney, thank you. Even one reader, touched and moved in this very specific way, was reason enough to write and publish your book. Perhaps you and Louis had a soul contract? I often think of that, the people were destined to connect with in our lives. And he may have been one of yours.
.Oh, Courtney, I listened to your magical story as I folded piles of laundry. It was beautiful and important and true. iThank you. We never know how our words will touch another, and in what ways. This is why we write. To maybe change something, or someone, or ourselves. Xo
This story is, as you described, magical. I love how you share the importance of openness. It's an attribute I've been trying to reclaim from my childhood since I've pivoted from branded Catholic writer to learning how to reach a broader audience. I imagined the steps that took place when you wrote the novel and eventually built a friendship with Louis. We can't foresee anything like this when we are in the thick of writing and editing, can we? It's something we simply have to be attuned to, moment to moment, as it unspools.
This is lovely and so encouraging. I gathered from what you shared here that we can't fathom the distances our stories will travel, not just through time, but in the hearts of our readers.
I especially appreciated this: "I can encourage you to leave room for magic in the world of publication, to have faith that no matter how long it takes or what level it happens at, that your work will reach a reader and change them in some way, that your writing will have value and significance far beyond what you could have ever hoped for, and that that meaning will bring value to you, as well."
What a wonderful experience! Holding on to those unexpected measures of success is so vital, I think. While I haven't experienced anything to that extent, I had moment of awe when the teenage daughter of a friend of mine used my first novel in one of her class assignments. I mean...how cool is that!? Teenagers are tough critics, ha!
Love this story, and also the reframing of success as something qualitative and uncountable and related to human connection vs. boiling success down to numbers that are used in comparison against other numbers.
Love this story, Courtney! Such a special experience that you stayed with Louis and his wife. I know the advice is often that we should write for our ideal reader (which can often be ourselves and I remember you saying from your workshop experience saying it’s often 1-2 people among a group who « get » it that we should strive to write for) —and I can’t help but wonder if you’d ever considered Peggy’s family ever reading your novel? I imagine that must’ve felt incredibly moving. Thank you for sharing the story with all of us!
Some of them have (in addition to Louis) and have been in touch! I didn’t think too much about whether one of the Guggenheims would find the book to be honest. That might sound unbelievable, but I try not to get in my head about stuff like that when I am writing. I was so taken with the character I was writing that I just lost myself inside the book.
Courtney, this was such an amazingly beautiful story, and I loved hearing you read it! You should do voice work (on top of the million other things you do!) because your voice is so warm and inviting. My first book came out in the throes of my hard, messy divorce, and I didn't leave room for anything lovely to happen. But I will remember this story when my memoir comes out in 2026, and I will remain open to all the magic that might come. XO
Synchronicity rocks: I picked up Costalegre a few months back. I'll read it now with new appreciation for all the lives it touches - both when you wrote it, and after. Thank you for sharing the story. It widens my lens for magic.
i love this story, and the book that made it happen. it's so huge that costalegre brought louis some measure of empathy and peace. you gave him that gift, and what a gift he gave you—not just the drawing but knowing the impact your book had on him. truly extraordinary.
Agree. I’m also really impressed that someone who’d lived a long life, with firm beliefs about something that had caused him pain, was so open to re-examining those beliefs. That your book was the thing to crack it open for him - magical.
And kudos to you for being willing with the “sure, I’ll come visit a stranger for three days,” energy.
Oh my. Goosebumps!!! What a magical and moving experience Courtney, I’m so glad you had this. It makes me want to say YES! I’m open, Universe, surprise me!
What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful man! I love your reading of this post and I’m loving reading the book that inspired it. Thank you
This is an absolutely beautiful story. Thank you for sharing.
I am truly inspired by this story, Courtney, thank you. Even one reader, touched and moved in this very specific way, was reason enough to write and publish your book. Perhaps you and Louis had a soul contract? I often think of that, the people were destined to connect with in our lives. And he may have been one of yours.
.Oh, Courtney, I listened to your magical story as I folded piles of laundry. It was beautiful and important and true. iThank you. We never know how our words will touch another, and in what ways. This is why we write. To maybe change something, or someone, or ourselves. Xo
Thank you for listening! I’m so glad the VoiceOver worked.
Courtney,
This story is, as you described, magical. I love how you share the importance of openness. It's an attribute I've been trying to reclaim from my childhood since I've pivoted from branded Catholic writer to learning how to reach a broader audience. I imagined the steps that took place when you wrote the novel and eventually built a friendship with Louis. We can't foresee anything like this when we are in the thick of writing and editing, can we? It's something we simply have to be attuned to, moment to moment, as it unspools.
This is lovely and so encouraging. I gathered from what you shared here that we can't fathom the distances our stories will travel, not just through time, but in the hearts of our readers.
I especially appreciated this: "I can encourage you to leave room for magic in the world of publication, to have faith that no matter how long it takes or what level it happens at, that your work will reach a reader and change them in some way, that your writing will have value and significance far beyond what you could have ever hoped for, and that that meaning will bring value to you, as well."
Thank you.
Thank you for these kind and generous thoughts, Jeannie. They mean a lot to me.
What a wonderful story, Courtney. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you for reading!
What a wonderful experience! Holding on to those unexpected measures of success is so vital, I think. While I haven't experienced anything to that extent, I had moment of awe when the teenage daughter of a friend of mine used my first novel in one of her class assignments. I mean...how cool is that!? Teenagers are tough critics, ha!
VERY tough critics! That is extremely high praise.
What a beautiful and inspiring story! Thanks for sharing.
Love this story, and also the reframing of success as something qualitative and uncountable and related to human connection vs. boiling success down to numbers that are used in comparison against other numbers.
Thank you! That is so well phrased! That’s exactly it. The human connection is what makes it feel truly worth the hard work and the doubting.
Love this story, Courtney! Such a special experience that you stayed with Louis and his wife. I know the advice is often that we should write for our ideal reader (which can often be ourselves and I remember you saying from your workshop experience saying it’s often 1-2 people among a group who « get » it that we should strive to write for) —and I can’t help but wonder if you’d ever considered Peggy’s family ever reading your novel? I imagine that must’ve felt incredibly moving. Thank you for sharing the story with all of us!
Some of them have (in addition to Louis) and have been in touch! I didn’t think too much about whether one of the Guggenheims would find the book to be honest. That might sound unbelievable, but I try not to get in my head about stuff like that when I am writing. I was so taken with the character I was writing that I just lost myself inside the book.
What a story....I'm gobsmacked.
Courtney, this was such an amazingly beautiful story, and I loved hearing you read it! You should do voice work (on top of the million other things you do!) because your voice is so warm and inviting. My first book came out in the throes of my hard, messy divorce, and I didn't leave room for anything lovely to happen. But I will remember this story when my memoir comes out in 2026, and I will remain open to all the magic that might come. XO
Maybe some magic can still happen for your first book when the second one comes out? So so excited about your book deal!
Thank you so much!! :)
Synchronicity rocks: I picked up Costalegre a few months back. I'll read it now with new appreciation for all the lives it touches - both when you wrote it, and after. Thank you for sharing the story. It widens my lens for magic.
Thank you for reading the post, and also buying the book!
It reminds me that we have no idea of the impact of the words string together and put out into the world. I love this story!
i love this story, and the book that made it happen. it's so huge that costalegre brought louis some measure of empathy and peace. you gave him that gift, and what a gift he gave you—not just the drawing but knowing the impact your book had on him. truly extraordinary.
Agree. I’m also really impressed that someone who’d lived a long life, with firm beliefs about something that had caused him pain, was so open to re-examining those beliefs. That your book was the thing to crack it open for him - magical.
And kudos to you for being willing with the “sure, I’ll come visit a stranger for three days,” energy.
That’s such an astute observation— thank you for sharing it. (I mean about Louis being willing to examine a held grudge.)