Being Thankful

 

 

 

 

 

              I want to say "Thank-You" to every person out there that has believed in me, bought my books, took the time to like and share my page, comment on my blog and crazy posts, who have given me their advice and took the time to read when they had a hundred other things to do, and I want to thank everyone who has weathered each and every storm right there with me and held that picture of Jack Sparrow high to keep me inspired when the inspiration was low. Each of you mean more to me than you know!

 

                So, what's all this mushy stuff about?

 

 

 

            I promise each of you that I am not sick or retiring from writing anytime soon. The Grim Reaper is keeping his distance and yes, I am fully aware that it is too early for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I was on Facebook today or it might have been yesterday to be more accurate, and I was reading a posting by one of my favorite authors when I came across a critique from a woman who was going to cease being a fan of this writer because the author had addressed why he or she could not basically write every story the fans wanted them to. As an author, I know how important it is to create the story that is in your head first. It is great when fans truly fall in love with your characters-even your characters who are nothing but supporting or bit characters. I hope to one day have that with my fan base. (Yes ANGIE, I KNOW YOU ARE AWAITING DASH'S STORY-I'M WORKING ON IT BUT THE DANG CAJUN KEEPS PUTTING ME OFF. THIS WEEK HE WAS TOO BUSY WATCHING WWE'S RAW) Anyhow this woman felt as if this author cared nothing about the fans and how much each dime mattered and how fans go to great lengths. Now I want to stop right there seeing as I am still a HUUUGE fan of many authors and I will say that this particular author goes all out for the fans! I went to a book signing and this author who had been traveling in a huge tour bus many miles over night just to get to my state, came in and took her time. She left no one fan-which by the way there were well over one hundred people-the bookstore was almost over capacity and that is not counting the ones that stood outside just to be able to catch a glimpse and get their books signed, with a question unanswered. This author and the one traveling with her met with everyone well into the night after the store had officially closed signing books, taking pictures, and speaking to fans. Some fans had heart breaking stories and this author hugged them as if they were old friends. To me that is just going above and beyond a book signing. I hope to have one of those too, a book signing.

 

 

           After reading her tirade and telling this person in the nicest way that I could to get over herself that no author can just put books out like an assembly line. I mean, would we have ever discovered that starry night had someone told Van Gogh to paint the sky from their point of view? Would we have ever fell in love with Chopin's Nocturnes or Van Halen had they just composed or wrote what the masses told them to write? Fans, you are so important but come along for the journey and I promise you that you won't be disappointed! Let's take that adventure wherever it leads together and I promise that we'll make all the interesting pit stops and thrill rides along the way. I also realized something else, I have never truly thanked any of you for purchasing and reading any of my books and stories. I want to do that now.  I thank each of you! I want to thank all my readers all the way up to my publisher, XoXo Publishing (Penny, Gina, Ana, Shannon,  and crew). I also want to thank my fellow authors especially those like Denyse Bridger who have been mentors in one way or another and to Kayden Mcleod who renewed my faith in cover art. Had it not been for her, Cursed Awakening would have probably just had a black cover with red lettering. Thank you all so very much and I hope that my readers and fans will keep on reading my books and stories! You all rock!