1. Book Bloggers and Reviewers. These amazing folks read your book and write clever things about it. Then they tell other people. Can you say best thing since sliced bread! There is something magical about reading a well written review of your work. Reviewers like Fiktshun, That Bookish Girl, Word Spelunking, Abnormally Paranormal Reviews, YA Book Haven, Lady Reader Bookstuff, The Bookish Babes, Two Chicks on Books, I Devour Books, and Me, My Shelf, and I, as well as others, have meant the WORLD to me as a debut author.
2. Readers and Parents of Readers. It's a beautiful thing to have someone read your book. It's a supernova of joy to be contacted by a reader who just wants to tell you that your book changed them. Or to be contacted by a parent to say your book is their child's favorite and they love it, too. I've had the privilege of some great moments with readers this year and I'm so thankful for you.
3. Fellow Authors. I can't begin to tell you how my relationship with DarkSide Publishing authors Megg Jensen, Karly Kirkpatrick, Angela Carlie, and Magan Vernon have changed my life. But I'm also thankful for the many authors I've known across the twitterverse who have openly shared their knowledge, experiences, and encouragement. The FridayFlash community has been especially supportive and more recently, so have the group of authors whose covers are in the right margin. (They're called the Indelibles and you'll be hearing more about them soon.)
4. Librarians and Teachers. How cool is it to find out libraries have ordered your books? How much cooler is it to know your book is frequently checked out? I deeply appreciate those librarians and teachers who have ordered my books for their classrooms and libraries and told me about their success. And to the people who coordinate author fairs, you are amazing!
5. Writing and Critique Groups. I've been so fortunate to be part of two amazing writer's groups in town, the Central Illinois chapter of SCBWI and Heart and Scroll, a local RWA chapter. The members of these groups are a godsend, brimming with helpful information and experiences as well as writerly camaraderie.
So, who are you thankful for this holiday season?
Next week, what I'm thankful for in technology!
