Who's Paying Attention?
What happened when my story met someone who loves me
Hi friend!
Much to my delight, my mother read Radiant last week — and she updated me as she went. There was a character she didn’t like or trust. And she shouldn’t! She read the story wondering if she had ADHD. I love hearing that readers are identifying with characters.
But her big question was about Dani’s mug in chapter 9. She wanted to know if it was real. Yes — I found that mug and thought it was so perfectly Dani-coded. (I did not buy it. I regret nothing. It is not “me.”)
There’s something about hearing a reader’s questions and reactions in real time that fills my writer’s heart up. She noticed things I planted quietly. She felt things I hoped she’d feel.
It made me think about the people in our lives who show up for us — who read our work, ask questions, and care about the details. That kind of witness matters. It’s actually something I kept returning to while writing Resilient, my next novel coming in 2026. The characters are still learning who in their lives is truly paying attention.
Who in your life pays attention to the details of you? I’d love to know.
If you have a copy of Radiant and want to share what you connected with — or what made you laugh or cry — please leave a comment. Or you could follow the link and get your own copy!
Be Well,
Beth Biss