Yes

Yes is my favorite word in the language. I like the way it sounds and I like to say it and hear it said. it's a nice word, is yes.

This particular yes is in response to a question that was raised on kindleboards. I had to think about it a bit, and my first response was no. But I don't like no, so I changed it.

The question was, more or less, has your writing process changes since you published. And my first, knee jerk reaction was: No. It can't. It's like an internal combustion engine, it functions because all the parts have a purpose and work together and if you change bits it stops working - like the car made out of confectionery in an advert I saw once; that car won't run, guaranteed.

But, here's the thing. I noticed a review for The Key To The Grave that raised the question of Sheo and other characters who were important to Sumto in The Last King's Amulet. What happened to them? Well, I know what they are doing and where they are and how their actions will effect Sumto later. Especially one of them. But, as this is a first person story and everything gets filtered through Sumto' direct experience, we don't know anything about that yet. He doesn't, we can't. Then I turned back to thinking about book 4 in the series, and I know what happens and how it ends and what happens next. Book 5 is vague in my mind but well enough shaped that I'm pretty sure Sheo (and the others) won't appear there. They won't turn up again until book 6... and that's too long a time to leave it. So, thanks to the reviewer, I found a way to re-connect that situation sooner, in book 4, so that the Readers don't wonder 'who the heck are these guys' when things start to happen because of them.

So, I get to use my favorite word in the language. Yes. My writing (or at least my thinking) process has been effected since I published. Readers leaving comments has changed that process somewhat, and I'm glad of it, and thank you for it.