Dear Author,

I’m writing because I wanted to say thank you.

I know that we haven’t always gotten along. Sometimes, you say things that make me shake my head.
Sometimes, you aren’t all that nice to the people who write about your books. And sometimes you write
a book that just doesn’t seem to work for me. I hope you aren’t offended that, at those times, I opt to
put your book aside for one that is working better.

But Author, I’m not writing this open letter because I want to think about the bad times. I’m writing
because I want to thank you for the good times. I want to thank you for the books that made me think
and for the books that made me smile. There have been books that made me laugh out loud, and even
more that have made me cry. Those books, your books, dear Author, have left marks.

Most recently, there have been the books that just made me feel grateful. This isn’t something I
experience all the time. Often, I finish a book and immediately start to think about what I’m going to
read next. I jot down a couple of final thoughts about the finished book in my notebook and start
scanning my shelves for my next reading fix. It’s a fast-paced reading life, but I do love it so much.

The last couple of books I’ve read, Author, haven’t been like that. I’ve closed the last page and just
paused for awhile, settling in with a feeling of being deeply and profoundly thankful that you took the
time to write this book. I’m grateful that you put yourself out there through your words, sharing a deep
and profound experience of your own or of another character. I’m grateful that of all the books I could
have read, your book managed to make it through the whole publishing-industrial complex and into my
hands. I’m grateful that I was able to make the time to read your book, Author, and that it touched me
so profoundly.

You don’t really know me, Author. I don’t often reach out to you to tell you personally about how much I
loved your book.

ut I still wanted to find a way to say thank you, to let you know that your work is valued. Your books,
whatever the subject, have an audience somewhere. When that magical confluence of the right reader
finding the right book at the right time happens, your book will be read by someone who will feel
forever grateful to have experienced it.
That’s pretty awesome, and I just wanted to say thanks.

Most sincerely,

Mary Honeylene Echon