I Love Your Emails!

Well, it looks like I'm going to live - huzzah! I've had a particularly bad smack-down from pneumonia, which meant I had to cancel one of my trips to Florida. But I'm on my feet enough to fly out tomorrow (still coughing, but standing!) and my hair once again will frizz in the Florida moisture! In the meantime, I got one of my favorite emails that I just had to share:

Dear Alane Ferguson,

My name is Lydia and I have just finished reading your amazing series the Christopher Killer and the other ones in it and was wondering if you could answer some of my questions about the books.
First of all, I would like to say your series is quite superb and has made my top favorite books, which is saying a lot because I read a ton of books. You use amazing imagery. Way better than the Twilight series and Harry Potter series combined.
My questions are approximately how long does it take you just to research all of the facts needed in your books? Where do you get your inspiration from? What gave you the idea to write this series? Why did you have to leave me hanging at the end of The Circle of Blood? Why, Why, Why!? How many books will been in this series? Your series is way more addicting then Twilight. If you have this answers please e-mail me. I understand if you don't reply and thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Lydia A most addicted fan of yours(does that make since I hope it does)

It takes me quite a long time and a lot of research to complete a book, which should take six months but in actuality takes up to a year - ask my editor if I'm always late! My inspiration comes from so many places, but I think in the end it just boils down to the fact that I just love making up my own world! And any of you can do the same thing, because I've seen superb writing in your messages! One of the reasons I shared this email is that I was just so honored by Lydia's comparison between my work and the work of my favorite writers, so THANK YOU LYDIA! I will share more emails and answers upon my return (I'll fly in this Friday) but I wanted to thank all of you who kept me in your thoughts and prayers during this nasty illness. Please keep it up, because this will be a tough week when my lung is still crackling and wheezing....hope I make it!

Hugs fro me to you!

Wisconsin ROCKS and Now I'm Off to Florida!

I LOVED my time in Wisconsin - I was taken to a creepy cemetery where I heard some great ghost stories (I traveled from Madison to Manitowoc) that might make their way into my new book. At one point I totally spooked the principal from Wilson Junior High when a reading specialist named Marcia Morgan (she is a new BFF!) took us to a tombstone statue that supposedly looked like a demon at night. Even though it was only beginning to turn to dusk I could see how strange the face looked above the grave, and imagined how enhanced it would have looked if viewed in the dark by way of a flashlight, which was, according to Marcia, the only proper way to view the face. It was simply fantastic! Upon my return I spoke in Colorado, which was followed by a family reunion here in Elizabeth where the whole clan gathered to celebrate Easter and baby Katelin's first birthday. My ADORABLE grand baby Katelin brought the flu along with her and passed it to everyone. The family is currently falling one by one, including my daughter Kristin, my son-in-law DJ, my son Danny, my husband Ron, and now I'm feeling a bit yucky as well. Must stay strong for my trip to Orlando, which begins this Sunday! (Please send good non-flu thoughts my way!) Anyway, while I am still upright I wanted to share a wonderful email I received from Dr. Judy Lasher, who thought I nailed Kyle's psychological problems to the tee. Here's what she had to say:

I am new to your website so I did not know about your friend, and, I am deeply sorry. However, those wounds change us and motivate us in numerous ways. It is interesting that you never stop asking the “why” question when you have acknowledged the mind of the (Axis II) personality disordered person has the absence of conscience. But, in reality…we ask why because it was too close to home. We can understand the dynamics of certain personalities but it just flies out the window when it directly touches us.

Dr. Lasher is exactly right, not only about the kind of mind that would allow a murderer to kill, but the endless 'why' questions we who have lost loved ones ask ourselves. You'll see these issues hit head-on in The Dying Breath. I'm so pumped for that book to come out! Also, it's been interesting writing Dragonfly Eyes, since I use my friend Savannah's name and I picture what she would think from the other side. One thing facing death makes you remember, and that is to enjoy every day we are given! One thing that makes me happy is hearing from YOU! This email just arrived while I was writing this post:

Hi.....My name is Micera, and I am 17 years old...

I just finished your book, The Christopher Killer, and the moment I picked it up at my school library, I just had to read it....What attracted me to this book was that I love forensics, and I always wanted to be something that involves the dead...Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down!!!.....It only took me two days to read it, and I'm looking forward to your other books....

Thank you for creating this fabulous book, and I'm sure your other books is a great success...

I am your biggest fan!!!!! And I am so excited to get my hands on the next book I read of yours...

God bless, and keep writing.

When you all take a moment to write me or another author, remember that you are spreading some serious joy! Thanks so much, keep smiling, send on the good thoughts and ghost stories, and I'll see you in the Sunshine State!