“People will come, Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. ‘Of course, we won’t mind if you look around,’ you’ll say… They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack.” ~Field of Dreams

It’s been a heady few days: over twenty-thousand copies of Foreseen given away, followed by escalating sales for both Foreseen and Choices. It is hard not to get wrapped up in it and check each hour to see how many more have been purchased. But the words from Field of Dreams, spoken by the indomitable James Earl Jones, keep coming back to me.

The lines are spoken as Ray Kinsella faces financial ruin for having pursued his calling – building a baseball field where his crops should be growing.  You could say this is a promise of riches for listening to the mysterious voice, but for me, it is a reminder to stick with my faith and passion, regardless of money.

I could write quick and easy novels with the aim of making fast money, but it would leave me in one of the cars lining up for the mere chance to see Ray Kinsella’s ball field. I would have money and lack peace.

So I will stop obsessing over sales now, and get back to writing the type of quality novels I’m drawn to. I can’t imagine I will never be wealthy, but I will get by. And I will have a peace that money can’t buy. And for that, I am grateful.