Dear Ms. Featherwhyle,
I'm sure you must get letters like this all the time, and I imagine that you don't get a chance to go through every single one of them. However, I still wanted a chance to tell you how much your books mean to me.
Growing up in my household wasn't the most pleasant experience. I had strict parents that forced me to live up to their standards as well as two older siblings who constantly got under my skin. I was even forced to break things off with my best friend and instead hang out with kids who were deemed "suitable". As the years went by, it all became so routine that I guess I sort of became numb to all of it.
Then, about a year ago, I was browsing through my local bookstore and came across the first book in your series. The moment I saw Azura on the cover, I was immediately intrigued. So I decided to read a bit, just to see if it was worth my time. Before I knew it, I had read through the first five chapters before the store owner told me that they were closing up for the night. So I decided to buy the book so I could finish it later.
Between schoolwork, grudgby *crosses out last word* volleyball practice, and my after-school job at the local library, I didn't have a whole lot of free time. But in the time I had, I couldn't find it in me to look away from the pages of that book. I managed to get through it in just a little over a week. So I went back to the bookstore and purchased the next three installments. I even found out that the first few movie adaptations were available as well.
For months, your books were the most positive part of my life. Although, to my surprise, I couldn't find anyone else who was just as passionate about them. But then, a few months ago, I met someone whose love for Azura possibly rivaled my own. Admittedly, we didn't get off to the best start. I had been rather hostile at the time, mainly due to a number of misunderstandings. But then, after a crazy night involving a mess at my job, she helped me clean up a rather large mess, and even loaned me her copy of the fifth book. It was because of that small gesture that I started to reconsider my opinion of her.
In the following weeks, we got to know each other more and more. And with that, my life started to change for the better. I became closer with my siblings. I started to make things right with my friend that I had to break things off with years ago. And after so many years of having to keep my head down, I finally stood up to my parents when it had become too much. However, there was one other development that I didn't see coming.
In the time that I had gotten to know my new friend, I started to realize that I liked her as more than just a friend. At first, it was so scary. I hadn't really felt this way about anyone before, and I had no idea how to deal with it. Then, after doing me a huge favor after such a hard day, I got caught up in the moment and before I realized what I was doing, I gave her a kiss on the cheek. Immediately after, I hurried inside and avoided her for over a week, worried that I screwed up so much and that she wouldn't want to talk to me again.
Then, one night, a friend of hers brought us together. After some misunderstandings, she told me that she felt the same way. And by the end of the night, we sort of asked each other out. It was still scary, but at least I knew that she was just as scared as I was.
It's been over a month since that night. A lot of craziness has happened in that time, but we've been able to get through it together. And honestly, right now, I think I'm gonna need her now more than ever.
Recently, my friends and I had to leave our home. We don't know when we'll be able to go back, or how much will have changed when we return. I only recently started to reconnect with my dad, and I have no idea how he's doing during all of this. In the meantime, my girlfriend's mom has taken us in. We're all still getting used to this new situation, but we're working to get through it one day at a time. I actually recently found out that your next book is set to come out in the coming weeks, so I at least have something else to look forward to in this difficult time.
Anyway, thanks again. I know it doesn't seem like much, but your books helped me through some hard times. And of all the positive connections I've made over the last few months, the one I made with my now-girlfriend was the one that set it all off. And while I don't know how it would've turned out if we didn't bond over Azura, it certainly helped. So thanks for helping us find common ground.
Your grateful fan,
-A.B.
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