First and foremost, God. Thank you very much for giving me the ability to type. :) It seems like such a simple task, but thank you very much enabling me to do this. Also, for gracing me with a talent I never actually knew that I had until most recently.
Mrs. D. R. (her name is withheld because I don't trust the Internet and she's a wonderful, wonderful person, and I don't want any harm coming to her for my putting her name on the Internet). Mrs. D. R., thank you for being my favorite Junior High School teacher. You were my favorite because you were the only one that challenged your student, especially myself. You were strict and firm, and you taught wonderfully. If I had some award to give to you, I would graciously give it to you. But, I don't. You were the one that first saw my ability to write in fifth grade, and I want to thank you for pushing me and encouraging me when the pushing and encouraging was needed. There were times when I wanted to stop because you pushed so hard, but you wouldn't let me. And, I thank you. You would praise me when I did something you thought of as excellent, and you... well... you were completely blunt when you told me that I was slacking and had been lazy doing an assignment I just couldn't get myself into. Also, how did you talk the principal into giving me a creative writing award in seventh and eighth grade? Those were the ONLY years that award was giving out, and they haven't been handed out since. And, why was I the only one to get it? There were students who I thought wrote far better than I ever could! I honestly feel sorry for the students that won't get to experience having your class... I swear you retired too early. C'mon... you aren't THAT old! I love you greatly, Mrs. D. R., have fun in Alaska hunting, and thanks for the Christmas Card, tell your husband 'Hello' for me.
To Karmah©. I had to put the © because the name is copyrighted to us. The three of you have blessed me with something I never knew could exist. Love and friendship. Manda, you're my little sister... okay, granted your only 18 months younger, you're still my little sister. I love you very much, even though I don't say it often enough. I also LOVE the fact that I catch you at 3:00 in the morning reading my stories that you say you hate so much to my face because you don't like reading things without pictures. I also LOVE you for the fact that you tell your friends how talented I am when your on the phone and I accidentally over hear it when I walk in a room. You don't know what that does to my ego.. heehee. Lesha, you're a writer as well. We both have two totally different techniques, and if I could write with your technique I would. It so laid back, and beautifully written. I want to thank you for reading my work and HONESTLY telling me what I should change, for giving me so many ideas, and for being the model for a couple of characters. And, yes, I will tell you the truth now, Lesha... the character of Matilyn in Burning Desires is based on you. But, I had to do it. (For those of you who don't know, I'm taking a stab at writing something more adult-like. And, the main characters best friend is basked on Lesha, even though I told her it wasn't. Nothing bad happens, it's just that she likes to know when she makes a cameo appearence in my stories.). Kelly, what can I say to you? You're blond hair isn't natural, but you could have fooled me. I'm kidding and you know it. You write in such a manner that... I don't know. You're so... there, I guess is the word. You write your stories, and say, "I can't do this anymore, Amy finish it." Heehee... that's always funny to hear... especially when you're in the middle of writing a sex scene. Girl, you saw me when I was writing the sex scene in Burning Desires, I thought I was going to die. That was the worst scene for me to write considering 2 things. 1) I'm a virgin and don't know what the hell I was talking about. And 2) I am a vigin and don't know what the hell I'm talking about. LOL! (Kelly and I both have trouble writing those things... for the pure fact that we don't know how much detail is too much or too little... I personally am beginning to believe during sex scenes any detail is too much!). And, thank you for reading and telling me my work sucks when it really does suck. To the three of you as a whole: You all my "sisters", and I love you all greatly. Those songs we have all writen individually and together are going to be on our CD's that's for sure. And, I can't wait until our Roller Coaster ride happens in the music industry... it's going to be one hell of a ride, but I know that with the four of us doing it together, we can make it through ANYTHING! Lord, knows we've done it already.
*sings* JohnNathen, JohnNathen, JohnNathen... LOL! I HAD to do it, boyie. You are so talented, have I told you that lately. Oh, I have? Yeah, I remember now... when we all went out for coffee Wednesday. Heehee. Your second album is awesone buddy, and you have yet to give me the rough cut of the third one that you promised. I want to thank you John, because your albums have inspired several characters and plots that you just will never know. There are even more plots that are raging through my mind with Track 10 of your first album. Listen to it again. Yes, I know you wrote the lyrics and music... but have you LISTENED to it? Gosh! It's amazing. You're an amazing friend, an amazing musician, an amazing writer, an amazing listener... and even your hugs are getting better. :) (Inside joke between Karmah© and John). Also, thank you for laughing at me everytime I do something stupid, say something stupid, question you about things I could never ask my own parents, or write about Nsync in the fiction that I have written. I sooooo enjoy your sarcasm. I think you're jealous 'cause I don't write the fiction 'bout you... j/k. So, when is the next time we're all going out to coffee? Call me... better yet, have your people call me people.. heehee... Why do you ALWAYS have your mom call me, so YOU can talk to me? And, when will you quit avoiding that question? Also, for yours, Lesha's, Kelly's, Manda's, your mother's and father's, and, my mother's, and my own sanity... get rid of Autumn! You deserve SO much better... you can't see what we see, John. Open your eyes and see/ the two of you aren't meant to be/ If you can't hold her close and feel the pain of love and care/ that's when you know/ my friend, it's time to get out of there. JohnNathen, you've helped me so much, given me so much advice, and I took it. You see how much better off I am now, right? Please, listen to all of us. She's hurting you, John. And, you don't deserve it. You deserve happiness just as much as the next person.
Momma, thank you for telling me that I have a way with words. You've told me several times that I have a way with words that make people listen, even if I can't find the voice to speak them. You've told me that since I was a little you have seen that speaking verbally was difficult because I wasn't confident enough in my voice, but that my speaking with words on paper made everyone stop to listen. I want to thank you for giving me space when I needed it to find the words to write for all the situations that I've had to do it in. Thank you for knowing that I have a love for writing that goes beyond doing it to get on your nerves and the Internet. It's a love that I can't ignore or stop... because if it did, I would stop. It's my outlet. Thank you. Thank you a hundred times more, Momma, for helping me be confident enough to speak the words that I write and for helping me find the voice that I needed to find not only because I had to learn to speak my mind, but it helped me in joining Karmah©. You helped me find the voice inside of me that lets me sing the words that I now write and perform. And, even though, at times, it's still difficult for me to speak the words, you always understand.
Daddy, thank you for being a pain in the butt. I'd say ass, but I know how much you hate it when I cuss. LOL. I know you don't like the fact that I love to write. I know you don't like the fact that I love to sing. I know you don't like the fact that I'm studying Psychology instead of Nursing. I know you don't like the fact that I'm persuing my career as a writer and musician, because you don't think either career is stable. I know you love me, though, Daddy. I know you're looking out for me. So, I want to tell you something you'll probably never hear from me again. Thank you for being there and being that pain. Because without you where would Richard have come from in Fire? You know you're the bad guy right? LOL. I'm kidding. You were the one that instilled my love for travel, you helped me find my love for photography, you helped me love cars and tools, you helped me love building... but Daddy, you also helped me love creating. You create thing with electricity, wires, hammers, wood, and everything else. You create with your hands. I could never do that. I only create with my mind. I don't have the talent to create with my hands. Daddy, I also want to thank you for understanding my love for writing and music after you heard and read "Good-Bye". Thank you for taking the pictures of Karmah© for the demo and everything, even though I know you didn't want to. They turned out beautifully, didn't they? Why didn't you pursue photography? You have an amazing gift with a camera. Thank you for being my father. Thank you for standing behind me, even though I know you'd rather stand farther off in the distance... that shows just how much you really care how Karmah© does, even though you say otherwise.
To all the writers past and present (fan fiction, novel, song, play, etc.), I thank you. I thank you because you have helped me and encouraged by your words, whether they've yet to be written or not. I'm your fan, and I'm amazed by every word you've written and haven't written.
To all the readers, thank you. I thank you because without you, why would I be doing this? YOU are the reason I enjoy writing, because you are the ones I'm doing this for.
Thank you EVERYONE. I love you all greatly.
Amy Liz