I'm not there yet! But I have had a really positive reaction from acquaintances who were unaware I was a writer until recently and they've been incredibly supportive. To be honest, if I ever got recognised in public as an author, I think I would find it quite strange and awkward. But I do hope to meet readers who connect with and appreciate my work.
I started writing... pretty much as soon as I could read and hold a pen. Obviously I like to think the quality has improved since then! As a child, I found it very difficult to talk to people so I think that's why I turned to writing. I was able to express and articulate myself through the written word in a way I couldn't verbally.