Post-Launch Reflections: The Alpha Flame is Out in the World

I always imagined the moment The Alpha Flame would be released. I thought I'd feel nothing but excitement. Relief, even. But the truth is, it’s a lot more complicated. Now that it’s really out there, in your hands, on your shelves or screens, I feel a mix of gratitude, fear, hope, and a bit of raw vulnerability I didn't quite expect.

First: thank you. Truly. For buying it, reading it, talking about it, even for considering it. For taking a chance on an indie author who poured years of memory, emotion, and no small amount of fear into these pages. Every time someone tells me they connected with Maggie and Beth, it’s like I can exhale just a little bit more.

I know this book isn’t comfortable. It was never meant to be. Some of you have told me you found parts of it hard to read. Good. I’m glad you didn’t look away. Some have said they cried. Some said they had to take breaks. Some said they couldn’t stop turning the pages anyway. That’s exactly the reaction I hoped for. Because these stories, the real-life ones they echo, aren’t easy either.

I also want to thank the readers who’ve told me they felt seen. That means everything to me. I didn’t want to write something that simply entertained. I wanted to write something that mattered, even if just to one person who needed it. I hope you know I see you, too.

And to those who found it too dark, too raw, too much, I hear you. I won’t apologise for telling the truth I saw, but I respect that it isn’t for everyone. I knew going in that not every reader would want to take this journey. That’s okay. The conversations matter more than the comfort.

In the days since release, I’ve read messages that made me cry. Reviews that made me smile. A few that stung. And every single one reminded me why I wrote this in the first place. Not to play it safe. Not to make everyone happy. But to tell the kind of story I think deserves to be told, even if it hurts a little.

Seeing The Alpha Flame out in the world is surreal. Watching people hold it, talk about it, share quotes, it feels both thrilling and terrifying. Like handing over my private thoughts for everyone to examine. But I wouldn’t take it back for anything.

If you’ve finished it, thank you for giving it your time. If you’re still reading, thank you for sticking with Maggie and Beth. If you’ve shared a review, recommended it to a friend, or just said something kind, thank you for helping this indie author reach new readers. Every single bit of support matters more than you probably know.

And if you want to talk about it, really talk about it, reach out. Leave a comment. Send a message. Start a conversation. Because that’s the part of this whole journey that matters most to me: the chance to connect, to listen, to hear what this story meant to you.

, Catherine

• Honest reflections post-launch
• Thank you to every reader
• A conversation that keeps going