Dear reader of Lost and Found,
If you’re one of the readers who pushed through and continued on with the series, this letter is not for you.
This letter is intended for the countless readers who say they’re too sad to keep reading after they finish Lost and Found.
Semi Spoiler-Alert Below
I can totally appreciate where you’re at. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to write Time Stands Still, and my friends had to endure weeks of actual depression while I faced Emi’s journey with her. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever written, but after the first few chapters, you start to cheer for Emi. You start to hope that she can get past the shock and sadness. You meet other people that not only give Emi hope, but they give you hope, as well.
I can accept that there are people who won’t read on because they flat-out didn’t like the book, or they didn’t like Nate, or they didn’t believe the relationship between Emi and Nate. I’m not trying to convince those people to keep going. This is meant for the people who Nate won over in the first book. You have an emotional attachment to him, and that’s why you can’t move on. But a few days ago, you didn’t know who Nate was at all. In a few hundred pages, I not only introduced a flawed hero to you, but I also convinced you to love him–or at least like him so much that you don’t want to let go.
If I–as an author–was able to do that, why not have a little faith that I can heal that pain you’re feeling? There are people who’ve read the entire series and still choose Nate, and that’s fine. The good thing about them is that they’re happy with the ending regardless, and feel like what happened was right for Emi in the end. You may not really understand Emi right now… you only knew her through Nate, but I encourage you to get to know her. She’s a woman just like you and me. She has good days and bad ones. Yes, she has a struggle ahead of her, but there is happiness in her future. You may not believe it any more than she does–but it’s true, and it happens.
Another man is introduced later in the series, but Emi is not forced to move on. She has a choice. But he’s a good man, a gentleman who knows about Emi’s past. He wants to help her. He has to convince her to give him a chance… which is what I’m trying to do to you. Please, give me a chance to make this right!
This series is called Emi Lost & Found because it is her life that we follow. I decided to go a slightly different route and introduce the guys as narrators, because it’s the only way you can know for certain their true feelings for the woman they love. Sure, Emi could have narrated the whole thing, but you wouldn’t have that bond with Nate that you do now. You would have only seen his misguided attempts at romance from Emi’s point of view. You wouldn’t have lived his love like you did. You would have missed out on so much.
Please don’t stop at Nate’s version of events. There is so much more of the story waiting to be told! I believe in Happily Ever After, I do. If you do, too–if that’s what you were looking for–then please see this through to the end. You will mourn, but you will celebrate victories big and small, too. And even if you learn to like the other hero better, you never have to let go of Nate. He can stay with you forever.
If you want to read more about Nate, check out this post. If you want to read more about Emi, start with Time Stands Still.
Lori L. Otto, author 
I only made it through book one and the first chapter of book two. I must say throughout the entire chapter, I just couldn’t wipe my tears away. I am an emotional reck over this book right now that I couldn’t continue. Because of that, I must say, you are an amazing author. You have an amazing way of pulling your readers into your books, so much that I got so involved and I feel like these are real life events happening to me. I would never turn away a happy ending book and I just love romance novels. I have every intentions on finishing this book and moving on to the last book. But for now, I am going to get my emotions back in order. Congratulations on writing such an amazing series. You are one of my favorite authors now.
P.S. You made my hate for drunks and drunk driving increase on a whole new level.
(((so many hugs))) Lisa. I’m happy to hear you’ll continue on with Emi’s journey. I would hate for it to just end with such heartache. There is so much more to the story. (((more hugs))) I’m here if you need me.
Thanks for writing back. It is amazing to me you spend so much time writing back to your fans. I finally finished. After getting through the first 100 pages I was able to finish the second book and the third (in a week!!). I just couldn’t put them down. It was such a wonderful ending. I wish you the best in your writing career and I hope someday the right person will see what you do and make your books come to life.
Thank YOU, Lisa. I’m so happy you liked the ending. 😊 If you want to know something else, you should at least check out the Amazon sample of Contessa, even of you don’t buy the series. 😊 There’s a nice little tidbit revealed right away. It makes most people who liked Emi Lost & Found very happy.
When people a) take time out of their loves to read my long books, and b) reach out to tell me about it, I want to make sure they know how appreciative I am… because I am. There are a million things you could choose to do with your time, so it means a lot for people to choose to invest their time in my stories!! So thank you, Lisa!!
I think it is great when an author takes a risk, and I will continue with the series. It is too good not too. Life isn’t all pretty and tied up in a bow. It is good to know that there is hope after heartbreak, and even though you think you might have lost your happily ever after, something unexpected comes along. I’m going to continue with the series, even though I will probably do some messy crying.
Thank you, Jeannie! There is a facebook group that’s full of supporters if you need us… the group does allow spoilers for all three books, but the biggest shock is definitely behind you.
The group is: http://www.facebook.com/groups/emilostandfound
So many have been where you are and found comfort from others, so feel free to join us there!
Thank you for reading!
Hi Lori, I owe you an apology. I read your first book right before christmas and at the end thought to myself, what?! NO! how could you do this to me?! i was sad. i mourned. i wanted to pretend it didn’t happen. even when you offered the series for that unbelievable price i said, nope, i just can’t do it. i wasn’t ready. but then i wanted to learn more about who wrote this book. I just couldn’t stop thinking of it and what lay ahead for Emi. How she could move on. I didn’t think it possible. i found your site and read this blog post and thought, wow, you are right, I need to have some faith. So I purchased your book (at full-price by now), took a deep breath and prepared myself, and read it straight through in one weekend. And I am so glad I did. Worth every penny and then some! I was now crying tears of joy by the end of it. And felt so completely satisfied. So I am sorry for ever doubting you. I never will again. You are brilliant! Thank you for being patient with a reader like me who just needed some time and encouragement. Sounds like someone I know from your book. 😉 I can’t wait to read more from you!! Keep them coming!!
Audrey,
This has to be a first! No one has every apologized for doubting me! 😉 I have to thank you for being brave and taking a chance. I wish I could convince everyone to read on, because I think the payoff is satisfying, too. I’m happy I wrote this post, because it does seem to turn some people around.
Thanks for trusting in me and believing in Emi. That means so much to me.
Hi Lori,
I just wanted to say thank you for writing this post because I think I fall into the group of people you wrote it for. I totally understand why you wrote the first book from Nate’s perspective and I appreciate it. He definitely won be over, even though there were times I was frustrated with him (as there were times I was frustrated with her). And yes, when I read the first two chapters of book 2, it had me sobbing and thinking why would you do this? I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to keep going, but I think you have convinced me to try.
And yes, I am one of those people who likes to read romance novels to escape reality and have everything end happily, wrapped in a nice, neat bow. But I also think to a certain extent that these stories are imitating life, and in real life, sometimes people lose the ones we love. And I’ve read at least a few novels where the hero or heroine lost someone they loved, and you always empathize with them or feel bad for them, but ultimately you just see it as the back story for the characters. You don’t FEEL it. Well, I can tell you that I definitely feel Emi’s loss. And that is saying something because, as you pointed out, two days ago I didn’t even know who Nate was. That is really an amazing skill to write someone so wonderfully that we, as readers, feel as if we knew him and even feel like we lost something too. Thank you!
Hello, Lauren. I’m very happy that you were able to connect with Nate… and I’m thrilled that you’re going to keep reading. I’d love to hear your thoughts at the end. I swear I’m not the masochist some people think I am!
sorry… I can’t move on. I respect you as an author to tell your story…but there is a legion of readers who do not read for us to fall in love with the Hero only to have it completely and utterly taken away from us. I am a passionate reader and I am known to read my favorites over and over because of how it makes me feel…and Lost and Found left me feeling hopeless instead of hopeful. My head is more logical thinking…perhaps Nate was never meant to be “the one” but because the book was from Nate’s point of view..you did allow us to see his heart and true feelings and to take that away… stops me in my tracks as well in continuing the story. Regards, Sorely Disappointed.
It was my choice as an author to present the books in such a way. I knew it was a risk, but it was worth it to me, to put the reader right in the midst of each character’s emotions as he/she felt them. (You saw Nate’s heart and true feelings… you said so yourself, and you wouldn’t get that had Emi been the sole narrator.) I know it’s very outside-the-box in Romancelandia, but to many of the fans of this series, the love story is much deeper than what they get in a typical Romance novel. It’s deeper because the story feels real.
Emi Lost & Found is definitely a journey with a rewarding finish. It only saddens me that some readers aren’t able to make the trek. I have no doubt I mourned more than any reader, and I continue to mourn for the loss of one of my favorite characters. When writing these novels, my motivation was never to sell books. I wrote them because I believed in the characters and in their rich pasts, tumultuous present, and promising futures. Characters dictate their lives to me. I can have the best intentions and ideas for a book, but I don’t always feel in control of the characters, their actions, or their destinies. I consider myself a conduit that merely translates their story for other people to read.
Although I will probably always lose a handful of readers over the ending of Lost and Found–and I don’t take that lightly–I wouldn’t change a thing. I stayed true to each of my characters, and whether people see it or not, they all get their HEA. That could never have happened had Nate lived.
((Hugs)) to you, and thank you for sharing.
Oh I hope people continue the series…. Book 2 was my favorite. Yes I spent the first half ugly crying….but jack is perfection. Loved it!!! So, I just finished the series and saw that you have released contessa…. I am sort of lame and hate reading books if the whole series is out so I was wondering if you had any idea Shen the other 2 in the Olivia series will be released? Thanks! I absolutely loved all 3 in the emi lost and found. Loved them!
Lindsey, thank you for hopping into the discussion, and for urging people to keep reading! 🙂