A Letter to Readers Before Launch
What I want you to know before The Alpha Flame goes out into the world.
Dear Reader,
We’re getting so close now. In just a few weeks, The Alpha Flame: Discovery will finally be out in the world. And before that happens, I wanted to sit down, virtually at least, and say thank you. Not a polished, publisher-approved thank you, but a real one. From me to you.
This book has lived in my head for years. Longer than I sometimes want to admit. It grew out of memories of Birmingham in the 1980s, out of dark truths I didn’t want to look away from, and out of questions about loyalty, survival, and what we owe each other. It’s been one of the hardest things I’ve ever written, and easily the most important.
I know it’s not going to be an easy read. It’s raw in places. Uncomfortable. There’s violence that doesn’t fade to black. Sex that’s messy and real. Trauma that doesn’t get solved with a neat speech at the end. I don’t expect everyone to love it. But I wrote it because I believe stories should feel like truth, even when they hurt.
What’s kept me going is the thought that someone out there needs this kind of story. Someone who’s survived things they shouldn’t have. Someone who’s felt small and angry and lost, and who might see a little of themselves in Maggie or Beth. And even for readers who haven’t lived that life, I hope it’s a chance to understand, to feel, to care.
If you choose to read The Alpha Flame, know that I don’t take your time or trust lightly. I’ve tried to make every page count. I’ve tried to be honest, even when it hurt. And I hope that when you close the book, however you feel about what you’ve read, you’ll remember these girls. Not because they’re perfect, but because they survived.
To those of you who’ve followed along on this journey, thank you. For every comment, every early message, every bit of encouragement. Writing can feel lonely. Publishing, even more so. But knowing you’re out there, waiting, caring, means everything.
This letter isn’t marketing copy. It’s just me, Catherine Lynwood, telling you I appreciate you. Whether you’re planning to buy the book on day one or just curious about it, you’re part of the reason I had the courage to tell this story the way it needed to be told.
So thank you. Truly. And when you do read it, I hope you’ll let me know what you think, even if it’s hard to hear. Because the best conversations start with honesty.
See you on launch day.
, Catherine
- A personal letter to readers
- The truth behind The Alpha Flame
- From the author, before launch