Summer Smiles, Winter Tears did prove to be a blockbuster, with sales exceeding those of any of Rossi's individual books.
"A new universe has been revealed," one reviewer enthused. "A mystical place where even flawed heroes can soar and shine."
"An amazing first effort for this unknown writer," another reviewer raved. "With her soaring prose she has created a world in which generosity of the spirit can lead to redemption and where doing the wrong thing for the right reason can still result in good winning out over evil in the end."
"Waiting in anticipation for her next effort," was another comment. "Even if this author doesn't continue building on the world of faeries and sprites she has created, whatever new world she opens up will undoubtedly be a treat for the reader."
"With the clearly drawn characters and the mystical landscape, I foresee a popular video game in the future," was a common theme.
And, as Rossi's publisher had anticipated, the unknown identity of the mysterious author resulted in additional sales.
Rossi pestered his publisher, his editor, and his publicist on a regular basis, but got nowhere.
Garcia dug and dug into banking records from the publisher, with no result. "It appears that the money is going into an unnamed trust fund and just sitting there," she reported to Rossi. "And, they must be communicating by passenger pigeon because I can't find any electronic communications trail either."
The book and its success did not go unnoticed by the other members of the BAU. The second month it topped the Best Seller's List, Blake bought a copy and began reading it. Ten pages in, she closed the book and, despite the fact that it was Saturday, promptly telephoned Hotch at home.
"I have been reading an interesting book," she began the conversation.
"Oh – Really?" Hotch wasn't quite sure where the conversation was going.
"It's called Summer Smiles, Winter Tears and, despite what the publisher says, the author is definitely not a mystery to me," Blake continued.
"Oh – that book," Hotch was hedging.
"Aaron, I am a linguist," she reminded him. "When were you planning on telling the team? Specifically, Spencer?"
"I don't really have a plan," Hotch admitted. "Rossi has been checking into it."
"Does Reid know?" she demanded.
"Not as far as we can tell," Hotch told her. "Rossi and I haven't been able to decide whether or not we should tell him."
"What are the odds he will read the book on his own?" Blake wondered.
"Probably very low," Hotch replied. "He's not exactly into modern literature, let alone alternate universe fiction."
"Let's hope he doesn't take it into his head to start updating his reading list in anticipation of the twin's growing up," was Blake's commented before hanging up.
