IN THE DARK

DELAYED.
No! Not my flight! I stared at the arrival board, blinking to make sure I’d seen it correctly. Yep. It was my flight, all right. I glanced through the window in disbelief. The weather was clear and sunny. In fact, according to the news report I’d heard that morning, most of the nation was reporting decent weather. So what was causing the delay? I can never find anyone who knows.

I couldn’t help but wish someone would develop a little asterisk system that would show up beside each Delayed warning, with the key at the bottom: *The crew overslept. **The plane fell apart. ***We’re toying with your mind.

A check at the airline desk didn’t turn up any useful information. In fact, the attendants got testy when I asked for an explanation. So I sat for an hour reading the magazine I’d brought for the plane, waiting for some word on when I’d be able to board, feeling helpless and frustrated at being kept in the dark.

Then there’s the delay that happens on the tarmac, when the pilot come on to say, "Air traffic control says it’ll be about an hour until we can taxi out. Sorry, folks."

Well, sorry just doesn’t cut it. Tell me why I’m being held hostage in a user-unfriendly environment. I can handle the truth. Honestly. Because the worst part of being stuck is not knowing why – being kept in the dark.

The same holds true in our daily life. People need feedback. They don’t want to work all year only to be told in their annual review that they’re doing it all wrong. But at least employees have some form of feedback in their weekly, or bi-weekly paycheck. If you’re really lousy, you won’t be getting them for long.

And then there are book authors, who get feedback when: a) their manuscript comes back from the editor for revisions; b) their book is released; and, c) they make public appearances to promote their books. But in between those occasions, for months and months and months on end, authors work in the dark, not knowing if what they’re laboring over will be enjoyed or criticized.

I’m not whining – well, okay, I am whining – but I know it’s nobody’s fault. This is the career I chose, and the job I love, and the system I must work within. But if you read a book and love it, don’t be afraid to send the author a quick note. It’s truly what makes those long, lonely months rewarding.

In a few days I’ll be back at the airport, praying for no delays, as I set out for Malice Domestic, a mystery readers/authors conference in Arlington, VA, where, for a few days, I’ll get lots of feedback from devoted mystery fans. For that weekend, I’ll be basking in the light and loving it.