Thank you, Rob, for the honor, and thank you, everyone, for your kind words.
If I may be immodest, since the founding of this showcase this is my seventh appearance. I think that is worthy of comment, because I have never believed I had much ability to create memorable characters. One reason for going forward with 'A Special Providence' was that I wanted to drill down on certain skills, characterization among them. I am terrifically pleased that the forum has seen fit to notice my progress (however feeble it seems to me).
'A Special Providence' of course resides in what is now a backwater forum, and SP is both very long and very long-running (somewhat ironic because another of my goals was to make it brief and to the point). But while it pleases me that it continues to receive mentions for the AARland Choice and occasional mentions in the weekly showcases, I am puzzled that almost no-one seems to be reading or commenting in it. (My few loyal readers - I certainly do not consider you to be nobodies!)
One of the original purposes of this forum, now AARland, was to serve as a writer's workshop, and in that I believe it has been spectacularly successful. But this place has two rewards, two - if you will - forms of currency. Awards and showcases are very nice and provide an addictive ego-massage. But the greatest of all rewards is a comment... If a reader thinks he (or she, however rare) has nothing to say or believes the author does not care whether anyone comments or not, be advised that writers OBSESS over every - single - word of every comment. My greatest pleasure is to see if my friends 'got the jokes', appreciated the phrases, found the clues and Easter eggs... Best of all, it is a way to know that they are still interested, and folks - there is no payment for an amateur author better than interest. Don't believe me? How many of you would offer up your first book for free if it meant you got to be published? :mellow:
In short, comments are the payment that keeps us authors pounding on the keyboard. If you read an AAR (mine or anyone else's), you need to occasionally stop and drop a comment in the toll-booth slot. You'll get another post on your count and the authors you follow will be even more motivated to write something for you to enjoy...
And really, who doesn't like that?
Thank you all. I am not worthy, but I do enjoy the recognition. Bless you all.
The next installment of 'Providence' is up and it starts with Theodore Roosevelt on the bridge of a dreadnought - enjoy!