I continue to be amazed at the number of people from at least 25 foriegn countries who log onto my blog. I’m dellighted to hear from some of them, such as the following letter from a woman in Germany.
She read the German translation of my “An American Adventure” series when she 10 or 11 years old. Her first letter to my website said she had vainly looked for 10 years or so to find the books so she could re-read them. I hope you enjoy reading her second letter, both of which she wrote in English.
Dear Mr. Roddy:
Thanks a lot for your reply, which made me very happy. It’s a great feeling to know that someone who wrote a story that meant a lot of me in one time of your life actually takes notice of your existing.
What you said about books influencing lives is true, and it shows in this case, too. How many books have we read which just passed by and we never remember them any more?
And then are books – like the ones you wrote - which I remember fondly years later, despite the fact I never owned them myself and thus didn’t just see them by chance in the shelf to remember. (That was also my main problem about finding them again.)
I didn’t remember your name, and most the character’s names are spelled differently in the German verrsion, or renamed.
I remember them because they drew me in when I read them. These are the books that truly mean something to me.
Yes, I am writing, fiction, too, and I hope to be able to publish something sooner or later. For now, I’m writing for the story, for the pleasure of writing and for the experience of exploring the world of the story and the characters that live inside them.
And I sure do hope that maybe one time, the things I wrote draw someone into the story and the characters that live inside them.
Also, I’m very glad to say that I found a copy of “Overland Escape,” (translated backfrom German , the title would be “Two Escaping”) on Ebay from a seller who would also ship them overseas. I’m looking forward to receiving the book and rereading it, and meeting the old characters again- and in English this time.
Yes, of course you may put my email on your blog. Than ks a lot for your email. It truly brightened my day.
Charlotte Engels