Dear Dad,

There are a lot of things you’ve done for me I am thankful for: you helped raise me to be the person I am today, you've been there for me when I need to talk or a shoulder to cry on, you’ve supported me when I needed it most, and so much more. However, there’s something, in particular, I don’t think I’ve ever really thanked you for and it’s probably one of the most important things you ever did for me: You gave me the power to write.

In fact, it was you who introduced me to the literary world. I still remember the day when I first learned to read. We had been working on a whole set of children’s “learn to read” books, but there was a specific one which I took a strong liking to: “The Fat Cat”. And after weeks of listening to you read it to me, I was finally able to read it out loud by myself.

Ever since then, I have bought or rented as many books as I could get my hands on. You opened the door to a whole new world to me that day and it has become a passion which I’ve decided to make a career out of. I can honestly say I have no idea where I would be today if you hadn’t been there to show me how amazing literature is. But what’s more is you helped me to become a writer.

You were still working on your novel which you were finally able to publish after twenty years and gave me one of your ideas. It was about a powerful witch who could disperse into spiders: I ended up entitling it, “The Spider Witch”. This was the spark that ignited the fire inside me to continue writing for years to come. After “The Spider Witch” was finished, I went on to write my second “novel,” “Prediction”. From then on, I’ve written countless short stories and even finished another novel after high school. You’re the reason I still write today, the reason I want to become an editor and author once I graduate college, and the reason I’m even writing this article right now. You gave me an incredible gift and I can’t tell you how thankful I am to you for that.

But you’re not just the person who fostered my ability to write. You’re also my inspiration. You began writing your first novel before I was even a thought in the big blue sky. You started it but had to put it on the back burner when I came along and when Rachel followed suit only three years later. Even though becoming an author was your ultimate dream, you had to put it aside to raise us. And you were there for us whenever we needed you: for every school project, math question, skating practice or competition, father/daughter dance, school events, graduations, or even just to hang out to watch a nostalgic Disney classic or horror movie. But as we got older, you eventually were able to find the time to continue writing. And even though it took a few more years after that, you finally finished it. Your first novel was called “The Nameless One.” I remember how excited you were for having written your very own novel. I was so happy and proud that my own dad wrote a novel; I still am. And the most admirable part, in my opinion, is that you never gave up. Even when agency after agency refused to publish your work, you never gave up. Instead, you went and created your own publishing company, “Sankaty Light Press”. From there, you designed your book cover and finally self-published your novel you worked so hard on for twenty years. That’s one of the amazing things about you, Dad. You never give up. You always push through and try your absolute best. That’s what I love most about you. I like to think you passed that trait down to me, too.

I’m just so incredibly thankful to have a father like you in my life. You inspire me everyday, and even though it’s been hard to go back to my own novel to rewrite, I just have to think of you. You never gave up, even in the face of defeat. You just found another way around your obstacle and you were finally able to achieve your ultimate goal. As I continue writing and pursuing my dreams, I will always keep you in my mind and heart to remind me what persistence looks like. I promise to make you proud, Dad.

Thank you for everything you’ve done and everything you continue to do.

Love, your littlest pup, Michelle