Thursday Thanks - 2012

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked! Today we usually do #ThursThreads, but since I'm official visiting family this week, I didn't want to let you all down by not being present for my own challenge. So instead of the usual post where you write as story for a judge, I thought I'd give my thanks for the many writers who have touched my world this year, and especially those who come back week after week to tie on a tale.

I've listed them below (and while I can't mention all of you, know you're in my heart), and if you don't know them, check them out by clicking on the links on their names. These people have encouraged me, befriended me when I was just another name on Facebook, and promoted me for no other reason than their generosity. Some have been participants of #ThursThreads, others only judges, but all of them have made my year in one way or another.

Cara Michaels has seen it all, blogging, editing, writing, rewriting, de-wasifying ;) and even website reconfiguration. But most of all, she has helped me when I asked for it, edited me without pity :D, and helped me write better stories. She has also judged #ThursThreads and won a few (six) times. :D Thanks, Cara, for everything.

Three gentlemen who have made my #flashfiction career so fun and rewarding are Jeffrey Hollar, J. Whitworth Hazzard, and Wakefield Mahon. Not only have they routinely come to #ThursThreads to write some #flashfiction, but they also have shouted my name into the Twitterverse and made me laugh, but they've also cheered me on when things looked bleak from this end. I suspect they have no idea when they've done so, but just know I'm grateful, gentlemen. Thanks so much! :)

To my long lost Canadian cousin Kris Norris, honey, without you, AADNOLA would have been downright staid and proper. You lit up my trip and made me laugh so hard I could barely take a breath. May your holidays be warm, your company warmer ;) and remember, you can't outrun a bear in snowshoes, but you can outfly them in a helicopter. I'll go with you! :D

There are three ladies who have enticed me with their stories, encouraged me when I swore I'd throw in the towel, and chatted with me online a few times. Two have joined me on Six Sentence Sunday (which is where I found their books and had to go read them!) and the third shared time on Second Life with me. Gem Sivad, I'm still waiting for River's Edge! :D Karla Doyle, how about a game of Scrabble? I'm sure you'd kick my butt at it. ;) And Nara Malone, thank you so much for all your help with negotiating an avatar in a mall. Who knew it could be so difficult to get dressed? :D

One last author I want to thank is Goran Zidar. He has judged #ThursThreads and participated in Six Sentence Sunday by writing a serial story six sentences at a time. If you get a chance to see his tale stop by his blog on Sunday and catch up on the story. But most of all, he has been so encouraging and fun to talk to (even if he's halfway across the world in Australia.

I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season and may your New Year be filled with joy, good friends, and great adventures. Happy New Year and happy reading! :)