I just got this nice email, and it was attached to a gift certificate! Details redacted, though I am listed in the acknowledgements of the book so clever readers will discover it soon:
Hi, Nick--I'm certain you won't remember this but a few years ago, a mutual LiveJournal friend sent you excerpts from a [popular topic] novel I was working on, asking your opinion (I was too shy to approach you directly), and you made some very cogent critique/suggestions that I kept in mind throughout the next draft. That book, [title], is coming out from [imprint of a larger publisher] next month and while you're in the acknowledgments I also wanted to send a small token of appreciation, because your comments were not only helpful but encouraged me to think it was actually worth finishing and submitting to publishers. Thanks again.
PS: I actually did remember; I was reminded when I stumbled on the page for this forthcoming book, and thought, "Whatever happened to that book with the same idea that [old lj friend] sent me..." Well, now the similarity has been explained.
Hi, Nick--I'm certain you won't remember this but a few years ago, a mutual LiveJournal friend sent you excerpts from a [popular topic] novel I was working on, asking your opinion (I was too shy to approach you directly), and you made some very cogent critique/suggestions that I kept in mind throughout the next draft. That book, [title], is coming out from [imprint of a larger publisher] next month and while you're in the acknowledgments I also wanted to send a small token of appreciation, because your comments were not only helpful but encouraged me to think it was actually worth finishing and submitting to publishers. Thanks again.
PS: I actually did remember; I was reminded when I stumbled on the page for this forthcoming book, and thought, "Whatever happened to that book with the same idea that [old lj friend] sent me..." Well, now the similarity has been explained.