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Thank you to everyone that came out to see us on tour. I say us, because my husband, Jonathon and our security person were by my side at every event. Security person is nameless at his request. Jonathon especially got pulled into the limelight to help answer questions, but then we’re starting to plan our twenty year anniversary celebration, so we’ve been each other’s supplemental brains for a long time. Most of you married over ten years will understand exactly what I mean by that. Thanks to everyone that asked questions, that told us how much you loved Anita Blake and all the characters in the series. Thank you for sharing how much the books had touched you and your lives. I am still honored that my imaginary friends are your friends, too. I never planned or dreamed that my fiction could mean so much to so many people, and impact their real lives.

I am grateful to all the women who have told me that until they read Anita Blake they didn’t know that women could be strong, and that it’s helped them be more kick-ass. I’ve now lost track of the number of women who have told me they’ve left abusive relationships because they knew Anita wouldn’t take it. Blessed be.

I am thankful for the men who have told me that showing male characters that are abusive survivors has helped them find a voice of their own. When I first wrote Nathaniel Graison as a character I had no idea he would be as important to Anita, to me, to the series, or to all of you. He’s become not only a fan favorite but a role model for hope to real life people that have backgrounds of abuse or addiction. We’ve watched him grow healthier, happier and create a life for himself that is full of so many good things. It didn’t occur to me that it was a big deal for Nathaniel to talk about going to a therapist and how much it was helping him. I’ve benefitted from therapy and its just another kind of doctor. If you’re allergic to something you go to an allergist, if you break your arm you see an orthopedist, if you have an emotional wound you see a therapist. It’s just that simple to me. I had no idea that having Nathaniel talk about it on paper, and showing his own healing through the stories would impact real people. For my imaginary bestie Nathaniel and me, thank you to everyone that has told us that they’ve sought therapy because he did. To those women and men that told me they have gotten help for their addictions and gotten clean because if Nathaniel could do it, they could try – I am humbled and so happy that Nathaniel’s journey could help you along your own path.

To all those people over the years that have told me that my books have helped them through some of the darkest times in their lives, thank you, and you’re welcome. I had no idea that my stories would ever have that level of impact on anyone’s real life. The first few times someone told me that my books literally saved their lives, or their sanity, I didn’t know how to respond. I write paranormal thrillers, not self-help books, so I was confused. It’s taken me years to realize that I don’t have to understand what my books and characters mean to you, that it’s about you, not me on this one. You reminded me that books saved me once, too. They showed me better ways to live, to think, to feel, to be, and helped entertain me in the darkest of times. I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me that I might do the same for other people someday, but it didn’t. Thank you to all of you that told me how important this series, and the Merry Gentry series, has been and continues to be in your lives.

Thanks to everyone that bought my book the first week and helped us get on the New York Times List and the USAToday List! Thank you to all of you that wrote into my FaceBook page, or Instagram and said you were waiting for payday to buy the book. I remember when a hardback book was something I saved up for, too, so thanks for spending your hard earned money on Serpentine. Thanks to everyone that will buy the book and help us stay on the Lists!