Wherein I tell my readers what they mean to me...

In case you didn't see this when it first appeared on Herding Cats & Burning Soup, I wanted to repost, just to be sure...

An Open Letter to My Readers

I’ve just wrapped up my blog tour for my newest contemporary romance, One Night with a Hero. This book, my ninth, was the first one I ever had hit the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists, and I was just so utterly thrilled. And who do I have to thank for that? Well, a lot of people. I have maybe the world’s best editor. And I’ve got great critique partners. And I have a hugely supportive family. And I can’t overstate the importance of any of them. But who I really have to thank is you. My readers. And that’s what I want to talk about today.

Do you realize what you do for authors? What you mean to them? I’ll tell you.

You make me want to do my job. With every tweet you send me telling me you loved a book. With every Facebook post where you ask me when I’m going to write a sequel to that book you’re just dying for more of. With every message you send me asking if there’s going to be more to a series. With every review you leave. With every squee you share with me and milestone you celebrate with me and “good job” you say to me, you make me want to do my job.

And not only that, you make me want to do my job better. If you love a book, I hope I can make you love the next one even more. And what a challenge this has been with Hearts in Darkness being my first book. I mean, I know, for some of you there will never be anyone better than Caden Grayson. And that’s okay. Because even if I never surpass him, for you, you’re going to make me try. And I’m going to be a better writer for the effort. And if you don’t love a book, I’m going to do everything I can to win you over next time around. Either way, with your love and your criticism, you push me to do more, to be more, and I feel like I’m always learning. And it’s such an exciting, fulfilling thing to experience.

You also make me love my job. In fact, I love it so much, I don’t even think of it as work. Sometimes, when I’m out doing something totally fun, something I love, I’ll still find myself thinking, man, I wish I could finish that chapter. You do that for me. You’ve made it that way for me. Because you care about my stories and my characters, you’ve made it so that something I love has meaning. And that’s the best feeling in the world. Who could ask for more than that? Not me.

You make me feel like I’m a part of something much bigger than myself. Readers and authors, we’re a community of people who all love the same thing. We get excited about the same thing. We squee, we stalk, we talk fictional boyfriends, we drool over cover art, we cry when a series we love ends, we stand in line at midnight book releases, we whine because it’s still three freaking months and eight days until Lover at Last releases, and WE. ALL. GET. IT. And that’s an amazing thing, being a part of something with other people. Everything is more meaningful when you share it with others. And you make that happen, for me.

So, I just wanted you to know that I’m filled with gratitude to each and every one of you. Truly. YOU are the best Christmas present I could ever have.

I wish you the happiest holiday evah.

With love,
Laura