Page 25 of Slow Burn Summer

Alice went quiet. “But I love him more, Mum.”

“Long distance can be romantic,” Kate tried, hearing the creep of desperation in her own voice. “Please, Alice, just say you’ll think about it some more. Don’t do anything rash without talking to me and Dad?”

The answering huff was more teenage than grown-up, reminding Kate how young her daughter still was, how impressionable. She could only hope that they still had some sway over her now that she didn’t live at home anymore, and that she wasn’t as headstrong as her mother at the same age.

14

Dear Kate,

(I’m not sure if Kate is your actual name or your pen name. Don’t tell me if you don’t want to.)

I wanted to let you know how grateful I am to you for taking on this assignment. I realize it’s out of the ordinary, but I hear you’re a very out of the ordinary kind of person, so hopefully you and the book are a good match.

I have to confess to not reading the final edit. It’s so intensely personal to me, I cannot imagine I’ll ever crack the spine.

If I can be of any assistance to you in a general sense, just ask—I’ll help if I can.

Yours in gratitude,

H

(I hit a random key on the keyboard with my eyes closed. H is as good as any, isn’t it?)

Hello H,

I cannot tell you how glad I am to be in touch!

Firstly, it’s me that needs to thank YOU, not the other way around.

The Power of Loveis the most extraordinary love story, I cry every time I read it. I so wanted Leanora and William to get their happy ever after, but then it wouldn’t have felt so raw and real and human if they had, would it?

How I wish I had the talent to write something so pure and poignant, it’s unforgettable. I hope you will still feel a glow of pride when it’s published, even though your name won’t be on the cover.

Thanks for offering to answer some questions for me, I’ve attached a list here so as not to clutter up your email. I haven’t sent too many, there’s plenty more if you’re in the mood! I just thought it would be cool to embroider some of your (unidentifiable!) truths into interviews and things for authenticity.

All my best,

Kate

(I am a Kate, just not Darrowby)

Dear Kate,

As promised, the answers to your questions…

What would I be if I wasn’t a writer?

Six feet under, probably. Writing has been both my joy and my salvation, my way of making sense of the world. I’ve written my way through my best days and my darkest nights, my celebrations and my solitude. I confess to wondering of late what it’s all for. Words for words’ sake.

My favorite writing snack (REALLY?)

I used to have licorice every now and then, the proper kind, not those hideous multicolored kids’ things. These days I tend to write late at night in my study, so just black coffee and the occasional Scotch.

My inspiration for writing the book?

If there was a “prefer not to say” box, I’d tick it. As there isn’t…the unexpected end of my love story.

Music, coffee-shop hubbub, or silence when writing?

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