Ms. Mitchard,
When I first read "The Deep End of the Ocean", I was frustrated by the ending because I wanted to know what happened to the Cappadoras and Sam and his other father. However, I now realize that my frustration was a sign that I really enjoyed reading the book and didn't want it to end. With "Cage of Stars" (which I finished early this morning), I liked how you allowed us to see into the future just far enough to give the story closure. If you had ended the book before Ronnie saw Scott & Kelly in the ER, it still would have been an amazing book but we wouldn't know that Scott had survived and that he and Kelly had continued to try and live their lives despite what had happened. On the other hand, if you had ended the book when Ronnie died at the age of 85, that might have been a bit too "frank". I guess I mean that I like books that end somewhere between "frankly" and "leaving more to the imagination", leaning more towards the "frankly" ending.

Hi Jackie,

For me, when reading books, I like a more realistic ending which usually means a bittersweet feeling. I don't think the happy endings do as much for me, although I certainly don't want a horrible tragic ending. Bittersweet with some sprinkling of hope...does that help at all?

Good Luck,

Jana

I have to admit I do so love a happy ending! However, it seems the books I read that I remember the most are ones that did not necessarily end happy but also did not leave me hanging. The book Cold Mountain stands in my mind as a book with no happy ending but definitely closure.I absolutely do not like to be left hanging unless there is a promise by the author of a sequel.Two cents from a KY gal!

I'll jump in and play, since I don't really have a choice but to make happy endings in the books I've been writing for the new mystery club coming in 2007.
What I like to read, what I like to buy, what I like to ponder and what I like to talk about with fellow readers are all different things. A story can have a finished feel but still leave me creeped out. A story can have a nice, tidy, clean ending and I know there isn't going to be a sequel, so I can go ahead and daydream about what I'd do if I was writing one. (Yeah, yeah... Scarlett O'Hara was fine where she was in my head.) Then there's the happy ending that you race to, knowing it's going to be there - the story that you gobble up while you're in the tub with your favorite glass of wine and no interruptions. You might cry and that's cool.
Then, if you want to leave me thinking "eww" with a story that I wouldn't buy because I'm never planning to read it again, you can certainly do what you want. It might be a little gasp for the couple of months you're allowed of shelf time; a book club might dis or love it up and forget about it, or you'll leave a lingering taste of bug spray that people will remember when the next one comes along.
My all-time favorite book is a bump in the road of a young man's life. It doesn't need anything to finish it because it will always live on - it remains a perfect bubble the way it is.
If you're content with what you've done and your editor agrees, and your pre-readers generally think it works, that's what will sell it.
Lisa

As sappy as it probably makes me, I like endings with hope. Life as we know it has enough mystery in it, thankyouverymuch.

Best.

Marta

Personally I like the loose ends all tied up neatly, but on the other hand, if you leave the ending open, it gives your reader something to think about, and it's more of a challenge.

Have you resolved the ending dilemma to your satisfaction?

I've been hesitant to respond because I don't like sending my e-mail address out there into cyberspace.

Tis perhaps a fine line, trying to give the readers what they seem to want and yet satisfy your creative vision.

I'm not a big fan of having everything neatly tied up, but I do appreciate experiencing that satisfying sensation that there has been resolution.

Although I will be traveling some next month, I am looking forward to the Barnes & Noble discussion of CAGE OF STARS.

Hi Ms. Mitchard. I'll see you in Maui.

I'm not "pitching" anything at the conference this time. I'm one of those terrible SPA's - self-published authors - who gave up after 10+ years of banging on closed doors. I'm now trying to promote my four novels via the net (www.marlenebaird.com).

I have a sister with MS and have just finished, and enjoyed, The Breakdown Lane. Thank you for using your novel to educate.