I am a firm believer in responding here on Medium, Mark. Responses are conversations and the best method to connect with readers and other writers. I have followers who read much of what I write but never respond. I appreciate their loyalty and their claps but I have virtually no connection with them, especially the ones who don’t write much themselves. I don’t know them and that’s sad.

Many years ago, I discovered an author who wrote many historical novels based in Florida. For several months, I concentrated only on her books. Each book included her email address in her author bio. In spite of not expecting an answer, I wrote to her. She replied and we engaged in a lively exchange of emails over nearly a year. At that time, I was writing and hadn’t written anything creative in almost two decades. Her encouragement and inspiration changed that. If it weren’t for the connection we made, I may never have returned to the writing I loved in my youth.