Tori Whitaker

When I first started writing years ago–alone in an upstairs bedroom with no critique partners, beta readers, or book deals–I had no clue how my life would one day be enriched by the writing community at large. I’ve made so many friends with fellow authors, readers, and teachers who take their time to support us because they care so much about stories. Last night, I spent time with two special women: authors Lynda Cohen Loigman (right) and Kimberly Brock (left).

Lynda traveled to Georgia for a book tour stop at FoxTale Book Shoppe for The Matchmaker’s Gift. Today I can start page one, yay! I devoured her two previous novels, her debut The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters. Like me, she writes dual timeline historical fiction.

Kim is local. I first met her years ago at the Decatur Book Fest where she taught a writing course. We ran into each other over time at other book events around Atlanta, and I had the pleasure of attending her book launch party last spring for The Lost Diary of Eleanor Dare.

Both women write with such passion and warmth and sensitivity. The characters and sense of place in their stories are beautiful. I am honored that when I was a debut author in 2020 with Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish, they each took time out of their own lives to read and provide endorsements. Doing that is a special gift and I’m forever grateful.

Today, I’m still in an upstairs bedroom that’s now morphed into my full-time home office, but while I am in solitude, I’m not alone. Beyond these walls or a finger-click away, are others doing the same thing: writing or reading. I can feel their presence. We are bonded!