Thank you YF-23 for this award!
I've sat here for the past fifteen minutes trying to think of something clever or wise to say, but having just come off of work I'm not feeling that clever nor wise. I suppose that's why I tend to update on the weekends. So, with your forbearance, I'll skip to the point of whatever clever or wise thing is lurking somewhere behind the dull stupor.
Thank you. Everyone.
I can say with absolute certainty that without AARland being such a welcome place, and without my fans posting comments, I wouldn't be here. I'd have wandered off long ago.
I imagine many of our writers would say the same, especially since people tend to like more than one AAR, but my readers are awesome. They will find interesting bits of history I can incorporate or at least read about, take pictures of ancient ruins (yes, I still want to see them!) or speculate on what I've written and often come up with ideas I never would have dreamed of on my own. I then quietly pretend their speculation was right all along and head in that direction which usually leaves the story much richer as a result.
Writing isn't always easy. Incorporating the level of detail I like to add sometimes takes hours of snooping through different websites, trying to decipher my own handwriting (the Rosetta stone helps here), and then picking though screenshots to see what I can use. It's not easy - but my readers make it worth it.
They are the ones who made this award possible. When I carry it around this week, I do so in their name and with my gratitude.
Thank you.