Cozy Mysteries discussion

I had a pen pal for at least 55 years and she passed away this last January. I really miss her. Has anyone else ever had a penpal and visited them? We vacationed a few times. by the way, she lived in the Isle of Wight, England. I live in Minnesota. I can't begin to say how much I miss her. We met only a few times but the friendship lasted.

That’s awful that she passed away. I’m really sorry you lost her. I had a pen pal in Ireland when I was a kid — it was during the heyday of the Bay City Rollers and we were both fans. But it was not a good time to be living in Belfast—1970s. We eventually lost touch but I’ve several times since wound up with people I consider friends whom I know only through correspondence. It’s a special bond.

I'm so sorry about your friend. I haven't had penpals specifically I've had internet chat pals that I met in person a bunch of times. I first met them on a virtual university site while I was in college and my professor let me do a research project on it. After interviewing them online I ended up chatting with them for years! I still chat with them after about 20 years.

I have online friends that I have never met but would like to very much.

I'm very sorry about your friend, that's a long and wonderful friendship to be really proud of. I've had a virtual friend for over 20 years, but instead of letters it was email. Now it's FB. She and I clicked over our love of dachshunds after meeting in a Yahoo fan group for the show Diagnosis Murder of all things--I feel like she could be my older sister, since we're quite a bit alike. We've never met and probably never will, but she currently shares pics in her private FB dachshund group with other like-minded dachsie fans, and we share pics and articles back and forth of mutual TV shows via FB or FB Messenger.

Barbara, my heartfelt condolences for the loss of a long-time friend/pen pal. I've had pen pals, but never for that long. The gals always stop writing and I wanted to continue. What a wonderful memory to have!

I had pen pals back in the nineties but I never actually visited them nor did they visit me. I lived in the UK and they lived in Ghana, Mexico and Switzerland. They wanted to improve their English and I wanted to improve my French and German so we wrote in each others languages. I did do an exchange when I was sixteen with a German girl through our schools. We were friends and stayed in touch for years.

Yes I write to penpals and have done since I was about 10 years old and wrote to a brownie in another country so I could get my World Friendship badge.

If anyone would like to be penpals with someone living in Australia, especially if you would like to chat about all things book related then I would be happy to be penpals.

With modern technology and the speed in which you can respond with text and emails or chat live online nothing still quite beats opening the letter box to find a hand written letter waiting for you to read.

My condolences for the loss of your pal, it's really sad!

I've had and still have several pen pals (some are also my contacts here on Goodreads), in different countries and over the years I managed to meet with some of them, visiting or having them as guests and they were all great experiences and great trips. Friends from England, France, Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, Turkey: meeting them in person was really special. But with some of my oldest penpals we're still to meet... hopefully one day :)
But having them as friends, even if distant and only through letter, is still a priceless and true form of friendship just the same.

I live in Philadelphia, PA and would love an old fashioned snail mail pen pal

Shaz wrote: "Yes I write to penpals and have done since I was about 10 years old and wrote to a brownie in another country so I could get my World Friendship badge.

If anyone would like to be penpals with some..."

Hi! Yes, I would love to be book pen pals. I live in the USA. Anyone interested?

I agree. It's such fun to write actual letters and receive them back. I have had various pen pals 2 in England, 1 in New Zealand and various friends I used to correspond with. I've just retired and have more time to do those things I enjoy and writing, reading and journaling are all part of that. Oh & I love to write with a fountain pen. Anyone else do that? ☺

It's been a long time since I've had a pen pal. Not since I was a teenager.

I had a pen pal for 55 years. She passed away 18 months ago and I miss her dearly. She lived on the Isle of Wight, England and I live in MN. We saw each other five times. I was as close to her as with friends that I'd see on a daily basis, maybe closer. You pour your heart out in letters and especially when you're young.

I've had penpals at different times of my life and miss them. I love sending and receiving letters.

It’s hard with Chris gone. I think of the fun we had together and also how she knew everything about me through letters. I plan to write a book about our relationship and possibly a play.

Barbara wrote: "I had a pen pal for 55 years. She passed away 18 months ago and I miss her dearly. She lived on the Isle of Wight, England and I live in MN. We saw each other five times. I was as close to her as w..."

That is wonderful and sad all at the same time. I think it is so awesome that you were able to meet in person. I had a penpal in elementary school, but we lost contact after I moved at some point. I just signed up to be a card angel for Chemo Angels. It isn't exactly a pen pal, but I will be writing someone weekly who needs encouragement.

Renee’. I never heard of a card angel until now. I might look into it. Thanks!

I would love to be book pen pals with someone. Maybe even meet someday if that's possible for both of us. Anyone interested? I'm looking for someone to only discuss our love of reading.

Doreen, how would a book pen pal work? I’m interested.

I am so sorry for your loss. I remember an English teacher made us have a Penpal with kids from a different country when I was in middle school, but I can’t remember what happened :(

My condolences for your loss. I too have a penpal from Germany. .We started wrting about 40 years ago with ball point pens on aerogrammes. Now its e- mails. We have met up a few times and we are still keping in touch.

I had a great Pen Friend from the UK for years. I always loved hearing from her, and we often traded packs of tea, candies, bookmarks, and more. I haven't heard from her for over two years now and regularly worry over what may have happened. I would also love to have new pen pals going again as I have missed it so much! If anyone on her is interested, please reply here! I'm a cozy mystery/romance/fantasy/romantasy nut from a small town in the mountains of Virginia, USA.

Janet wrote: "I agree. It's such fun to write actual letters and receive them back. I have had various pen pals 2 in England, 1 in New Zealand and various friends I used to correspond with. I've just retired and..."

I love writing with my fountain pen! It just makes the whole process even more fun!!

Sorry you lost your friend. It's good you guys got to be in each other's lives.

I actually met my co-writer online when we were teenagers and we kept in contact ever since. We have met a few times face-to-face but the distance makes it difficult. That was what started me writing letters, originally just to her in Canada.

Now, I travel a lot, so I love to send physical letters to my friends and family. I feel it is more special and intimate than an email/message and gives the person a tangible keepsake. I like to include little scraps, stickers, and doodles too. Sometimes cards if it is a holiday or their birthday. I also love Love LOVE postcards and mail one whenever I get the opportunity.

I personally hate sorting mail because 90 percent of the time it is just bills and ads. Letters are my way of giving my friends a surprise whilst they are in the midst of that otherwise thankless chore. It's also not very expensive.

My friends seem to like it anyway. They always send me a photo and message when they get their letter. Many tell me that no one else sends them anything in the mail. One even told me the only other person who'd ever sent her a card in her entire life was her grandmother!

I'm sorry again about your friend. If she wrote you for so many years, she must have really treasured that connection. I'm sure you made her time here happier. Good luck with your book! That's a great way to honor your friendship.

I know this post was written awhile again but is anyone interested in writing to each other or even emails or something??