The Power of an OPINION, a RESPONSE, and a RECOMMENDATION ... cool things do happen.

The master mind behind Sam Brighton

That's right, one of the valuable lessons my dad taught me was that opinions can be powerful or at least matter. I remember once while checking out of a condo, my dad filled out the "opinion card" before we left, and while doing so, gave me some advice, "if there is an opinion card, fill it out." Yeah right. Do hotels, companies, restaurants , or people who provide services really read those things? According to my dad, they do, and gauging on my years of experience in corporate America I agree. How else do we know how to better our services?

Which brings me to the point of my story. Think your voice isn't heard? think again.

Late last year our book club began reading a phenomenal set of books titled "The Great and Terrible" by Chris Stewart. Phenomenal doesn't even come close to describing these books nor their content. How about thrilling, thought provoking, life changing, insightful, intense, gripping, eye opening, and moving, to name just a few. At times I felt that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Stewart has this incredible ability to weave a myriad of characters from different situations into a riveting story. These six books are at the top of my list of all time favorites. I could write an enormous blog post on the books themselves, but for the sake of time I'll leave it up to each of you to just pick up the books and enjoy them yourselves. You won't be disappointed.

I digress...As I said there are 6 volumes to this series. The sixth and unfortunately last volume, which was as well written and amazing as the previous 5, turned out to be my least favorite in the series. Why? well, because I just didn't want the story to end, nor end so quickly. It left me feeling like a freight train hitting a brick wall. Not a good feeling. In fact while reading the 6th volume I kept turning to the dust jacket reading the painful words "the exciting conclusion..." Really? how in the world can it end?

This brings me back to my dad's advice that those who provide services do listen to opinions. Well, ok, this is stretching it a bit, but hear me out, it's got a great outcome. Due to my complete unwillingness to accept that the series had ended I decided I was going to write a letter/ e-mail to this author, thanking him for writing the books AND "is it really over?, can't you write a few more?" As if my opinion would actually be read (wait, didn't my dad say it would?). Realistically what were the chances of me even finding his contact information let alone my letter getting into the right hands or even being read? Since the worst that could happen was my letter not being read, I figured I had nothing to lose. So off I went and wrote a letter.

The gals in the book club chuckled when I said I was going to write a letter to Chris Stewart. Now don't misunderstand, they weren't chuckling because they thought I was lame - because every one of them felt the same way I did about the books. They chuckled because they knew if there was anyone who would actually brave doing that, it would be me. In fact I think their words were "You should do it!". I'm not afraid to take the time to find a needle in a haystack and eventually found Stewart's work e-mail address. "Great" I thought. Bother a busy man at work, I'm sure he will appreciate that. My purpose was not to elicit a response. I really just wanted to express my enjoyment over the books and wishful thinking that the series was not over. So wasn't I blown away when I received an e-mail back from Chris Stewart replying to my "sob, sob, is it really over?" e-mail. How completely cool is that!

This brings me to another important point.

The power of a RESPONSE. Or better yet, kudos to Chris Stewart. Here is a man who is obviously busy. Owns his own company, has a family, writes books, speaks at Deseret Book programs, and most likely has a church calling. Yet amid that busy schedule, was willing to reply to some fan of his books, which he wasn't obligated to do. I'm probably not the first but who's counting. If I didn't have a huge respect for this man already as an author, well my respect for him multiplied tenfold. This guy knows the importance of his readers and didn't seem to spare any qualms about responding, which really made an impact on me that he takes his talent seriously. Wait... there's more. As it turned out Mr. Stewart was going to be in town for a Time Out for Women event sponsored by Deseret Book , where he would be one of the speakers. Not only did he respond to my e-mail but said he would be happy to meet our book club.

Meet the Book Club? Imagine the ideas brewing. If he's willing to meet us, would he be willing to meet "with" us? The prospects of meeting with an author of some super great books to ask any question you like was too tempting to resist. That's when Jen said "you should invite him to lunch." Thanks Jen, glad the pressure is on me again.

I sat at the dinner table discussing this with Ken. "I don't want this guy to think I'm stalking him, he's probably going to regret answering my e-mail. What do you think?" Ken looked at me like I was from another planet (because when it comes to being outgoing, Ken and I ARE from two different planets. But that's ok, I think Ken is often amused with my "I'm not afraid to talk to a stranger" attitude.) Then he said "Why not, you should do it." Ok, so the husband doesn't think I'm out of my mind, and again I figured the worst response I could get was a "no".

The "Book Club" with Chris Stewart.

Ultimately the quality of person that Chris Stewart is, continued to be top notch. Obviously he wasn't coming here to solely meet with some fanatic book club, we knew that. He had a lot on his plate with the day's events, but made a stellar effort to meet with us and somehow never tired of our multiple attempts. Lunch was probable but not possible. He invited us back behind the scenes, signed our books, answered what questions he could in the limited time frame that he had, and made every effort to meet with us after the event for a picture taking opportunity. Remember when I mentioned that he was a busy man. Well, to add to my "I'm already impressed with this author's willingness to reach out to his readers", in his e-mail he mentioned that he would bring something for dreamer-pilot- to- be-Dustin, Stewart himself being a previous Air Force pilot. Now I don't know about you but sometimes I can't even remember what I was supposed to be doing five minutes ago, let alone have some huge function to speak at and still remember I promised some 7 year old boy I would bring him something. Chris did remember and brought an autographed picture taken from the B1 bomber flight he was part of during his huge world record flight around the world, for Dustin. That now hangs on Dustin's wall next to all the other fighter plane pictures. It doesn't end there. Since Chris was unable to meet with us for a discussion, he said that any questions we have we could e-mail him. Seriously, it doesn't get better than this. Imagine how different this story would have been had he not responded. Well, ok there would be NO story.

Which brings me to my two last points.

The power of a RECOMMENDATION. This all started with Janalen, who met Chris last year and encouraged our book club to read the Great and Terrible series. One person. One recommendation. Guess how many people in our little circle have read it? TWENTY-THREE and counting. I can't seem to keep my copies at home as I continually get requests to borrow them. I'm hoping that my 4th volume that was autographed will make its way back to me! Recommendations can be a powerful tool. I hope we are helping keep the bread on the table Chris.

.....The power of CHANGE

I joined the book club at church for one reason. To get out of my comfort zone. I am purely a non-fiction reader who thinks that two of the best books ever written are John Adams by David McCullough and Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell (if you haven't read those books and you are an American, you SHOULD, every American should read them). I could read those books over and over again. Give me a book/biography/magazine on political/military/world history and you've got my attention. Sure I've read a handful of fiction before but it just doesn't wet my appetite.

However, while nursing my wounds that the Great and Terrible series was over, I realized that I liked Stewarts style of writing. He has primarily written military techno thrillers. So on a whim I ordered one, then the other, then all of them. I've not been disappointed. They are just as well written, enjoyable and as intense as the Great and Terrible's. The characters are believable, likeable, and sometimes sinister. In the process I found something new about myself. That I can actually enjoy fiction, well military fiction that is. I've always been able to soak up military stuff, and think I've found a new genre that I truly enjoy. Tom Clancy here I come?? who knows.

In the end, it would be really cool to have a couple of hours to sit down and be able to pick Stewart's brain on military, political, and religious stuff, but I won't push my luck and will just enjoy the fun turn of events that sending one "opinion" e-mail has brought about.

Thanks Chris! for writing super appealing books and valuing us as readers and answering my endless e-mails! Two years and counting dude, two years... and maybe.... possibly more GREAT...... and TERRIBLE??