Love Letter

Lynne:

It was the day of the announcement. I had never been to a press release for a novel or any book published. It was two days before Thanksgiving, just like Jimmy said it would be. All he had sent out was that it would reveal details of Cannon River's life. I had been curious who had picked out Ian's pen name – I was going to ask the next time I saw him.

Ian had picked me up on his way to it. As soon as we stepped into the lobby of the auditorium, I was ushered off to the front row of chairs that were sitting out in front of the stage, and that was the last time I had seen Ian.

"Do you have any clue what they will be revealing today?" The journalist next to me was asking her camera crew. I gawked when I saw that there were six camera crews already set up when I walked into the auditorium.

"Maybe he is making an appearance?" The man holding the camera tripod was saying.

"Why are there so many cameras?" I ask, tapping the woman that had asked the first question.

She laughs at my question at first. "If this is the first time that notorious Cannon River makes a real-life appearance – we want it," she says, looking away from me, already bored with my question.

Twenty minutes later, a petite blonde lady in black trousers and a silk purple dress shirt takes the stage. She had seemed familiar, but I couldn't place a name to her face. The screen behind the stage lights up with Regina Atwood, and I know she is part of the Random Play House Publishing board.

"Good Afternoon. I know that many of you have questions about what this press release is concerning, and we will get to that" She steps forward as the screen behind her reveals the seven novels Ian had written. "I am sure many of you want to know who is Cannon River." There were a few whoops in the room. She takes another step forward, commanding the audience as the screen behind her shows the cover for Love Letter behind here. The room is silent before Regina starts again. "With further a due, I would like to introduce the one and only Cannon River," she says, stepping to the side of the stage.

The room is silent, and everyone is waiting.

Ian steps out onto the stage in what looks like the grey suit I had seen him wearing the first time in Jimmy's office. The spotlight sweeps over to his body, and he looks like a million dollars. The room erupts like I have never seen. The lady beside me shouts out question after question trying to get Ian to answer them.