Since I can remember, reading has been something that I run to when life gets hard. That seems silly, I know. A bunch of paper with various permutations of 26 letters made who I am today. For that to even be possible, authors have to have a reason for writing. They write with a goal in mind, whether it be just for fun or to change lives. I choose to believe that they write to have a significant impact on readers, to help imprint some form of wisdom upon us. This is a thank you letter to every author who decided that their life’s goal was to write and to unknowingly change my life for the better.

L.J. Smith, Richelle Mead, Jodi Picoult and Charlaine Harris are just a few of hundreds of authors I’ve encountered over the years, but their respective novels and series have brought me the most enjoyment, heartbreak, anger, fear and relatively every emotion in between. The work of these women has taught me many things: reading, no matter the subject, is the perfect getaway. Some of the stories they tell demand you to feel your heart break into pieces. Some bring frustration, mostly because I read the books too quickly. I finish the new one before they even finish writing the next one. I cannot tell you how many months I went insane not knowing what was going to happen next.

Thank you all for changing my personality every time I pick up a new book. When reading certain powerful books, the characters seem to come to life right inside my head. I almost see them as real people instead of fictional characters on pages. I always feel a sense of déjà vu whenever I go see a movie that I’ve read in book form first. If I feel a connection to a strong character, I tend to pick up their personality traits. For example: Rose Hathaway, from Richelle Mead’s "The Vampire Academy," has had the most impact on me than has any other character, ever. Why? Not only is she beautiful, but she has a witty personality. She’s fiercely loyal, she’s stubborn and she proves that she’s stronger than just about any male out there. She’s an incredibly intense character, one that I will always deem as my favorite.

Thank you for creating my safe place. I’ve always struggled with bullying, anxiety and depression. Books give me the feeling that I don’t have to live in the real world all the time, and that really helps when I’m dealing with something hard. There are millions of worlds out there, and that comforts me. Knowing that I can pick up a book and feel like I don’t have to be me anymore is the most incredible thing in the world. I don’t have to be sad. I can be Rose Hathaway, if only for a few hours.

Thank you for teaching me creativity. Getting to know and understand a character based on an author’s words and description is something that everyone should feel excited about. This person just created another being with their mind and different arrangements of letters. It takes a truly talented writer to create something like that. A truly impeccable writer can make you feel every emotion in the spectrum. With a thought, they can rule your emotions. They create intense plot twists, deep characters and mesmerizing storylines. They do all of this with their mind. I would give just about anything for a chance to pick the mind of a famous author, if only to see how their creative process works.

Thank you for teaching me that words matter. Because of my love for reading, I’ve expanded my vocabulary exponentially. Finding new words and reading them in your books has given me a taste of what I want my future writings to be. I want them to have depth. I want them to stand out. I want to use beautiful words that not every other average Joe uses in their writing. I have a love for words, and that’s all thanks to you.

Finally, thank you for showing me which path in life I should take. I plan to pursue a career in reading and writing, and that’s all because you have shown me how magical books truly are. You all have changed my life so much, and I want to be a part of that. I want to be part of the change. I want to be to other kids what you all have been to me. I want to provide a shelter. I want to provide creativity and emotion. One day, I’m going to be part of something amazing and I want to thank you for showing that to me.