Musings on ‘Reunion: Coda’: Despite Some Imperfections, I’m Proud of My First Novel

Late Morning, Saturday, April 19, 2025, Miami, Florida

Write what you love, and love what you write. You are your first audience, and if you don’t love it, why should anyone else? – Caroline Linden

At 6:11 PM Eastern on Friday, April 18, 2025, I received the email from Amazon that I’d been eagerly awaiting since last Monday afternoon – the one that informed me my package had arrived. My heart skipped a beat as I read the message: my copy of Reunion: Coda’s first hardcover edition was sitting by the front door of my home in Kendall. I was overjoyed; this was a monumental moment for me—the first hardcover edition of anything I’ve ever written.

If I were still 15 years old—the age I was when I first dreamed of writing a novel—I would have let out a loud “Woo-hoo!” of joy and even leapt a few feet into the air, much like I did when I found out I’d gotten my first byline in Riviera Junior High School’s student newspaper, The Ram’s Horn. But alas, I’m now 62, and these days I rarely jump for joy, much less let out a happy whoop. Nevertheless, my heart swelled with pride and excitement as I held that hardcover edition, a tangible testament to two years of passion and perseverance.

Although I am keenly aware that Reunion: Coda is far from perfect – there are a few things I’ve noticed while perusing my hardcover edition that I’ve missed when reading the Kindle version – I’m immensely proud of how my first novel looks in print. The story, which my younger self might not have appreciated right away, is a heartfelt blend of coming-of-age, history, and romance. Its 529 pages are infused with nostalgia, humor, and just the right touch of drama. Most of all, the characters – Jim, Mark, Marty, and Maddie – have become dear friends. I’ve carried Jim Garraty in my thoughts since college, and Mark and Marty have been with me since ’98. Maddie, the newest addition, joined the cast on March 9, 2023, but she feels as though she’s always been part of this journey. Seeing them come to life in hardcover brings a warmth and joy that words can’t fully capture.

The few issues that do irritate me about Reunion: Coda are mostly confined to typos or formatting goofs caused by the way the Kindle Create app handles subheadings in the text. I write my manuscripts on Microsoft Word and proofread them both with my own eyes (which at 62 are probably not as keen as they were in my college days) and Word’s spellchecker. I usually catch mistakes that the software misses, but sometimes a few slip through, especially in passages where I tried to be clever and innovative. Plus, there were times when my often tired and stressed brain played tricks on me, making me see things on my computer screen the way I expected them to be, rather than the way they actually were.

Yet, despite these small imperfections, holding the hardcover edition of my first novel fills me with a sense of accomplishment and joy that words can barely express. Every page, every character, every moment spent crafting this story has culminated in this beautiful, tangible testament to my dedication and passion. Seeing Jim, Mark, Marty, and Maddie come to life on the printed page is like welcoming old friends into my home – a feeling that warms my heart and makes all the effort worthwhile.

To address the most glaring issues, I have uploaded a set of corrections to Kindle Direct Publishing. While I am not attempting to fix every flaw, these changes have already taken effect for the Kindle edition and will be live on the print editions by tomorrow morning. I sincerely hope that readers who don’t typically delve into fiction or coming-of-age stories give Reunion: Coda a chance – you might find yourselves pleasantly surprised. Plus, I must admit, I could use the royalties.

To all those who have purchased any edition, please accept my heartfelt thanks. Your support means the world to me.