Thank A Writer

The surgery is over with. I didn't do as much reading as I thought I might, but I got most of the way through Diane Gaston's A Reformed Rake. It did the job admirably. So, thanks, Diane Gaston.

Maybe I'm too polite, but I'm always tempted to thank writers whose books I enjoyed. I almost never do it, though, so when I'm rich and famous I'm going to institute Thank A Writer Day. On Thank A Writer Day, you think of one book that got you through a hard time, or made you laugh, or improved your vacation, or made you forget about your problems for a while, or inspired you to become a writer yourself. Then you write a note or an email and thank the writer.

Judy Blume would be buried in mail that day. So would Beverly Cleary. If Georgette Heyer were alive, she would be completely shocked. Stephen King would get notes from a few of us, for On Writing alone. J.K. Rowling, of course. I wonder if Strunk and White would get anything but curses?

Think about it. Who would you thank?

Abby