3rd Place Winner in the Preditors and Editors Poll!

2016 was my first shot at writing. Okay, of course I had written since probably early middle school years, and I loved it! But this...this was my first shot at becoming a Published Author. And I did it! I started with just a short story, you know, to test the waters to see what the writing world looked like and if I could succeed at something small before I took the leap. And I did it! In October of 2016, my first short story horror book was published. Check that off my bucket list!

But yesterday, I was notified that I placed 3rd in the Preditor's and Editor's Poll for 2016. I couldn't have been more excited! It really does fuel the fire that I needed to plunge head first into the world of writing for 2017.

Am I going to have doubts? Of course! Am I going to second guess every word I write? You bet I am! It's in my nature to believe in myself last it seems. But am I going to accept this challenge with open arms and through all caution to the wind and run wild, chasing my dreams and aspirations this year? Absofreakinglutely I am!!!!

Thank you, to all who encouraged me, in big and small ways, to never give up on my hopes and dreams, no matter what!!!! I owe you the world! To my husband, for never giving up on me and always encouraging me through the doubts and fears, I believe that your words have held more power than any other force telling me I could not succeed. I want to make you proud! And I promise to continue encouraging you as well. We will make our dreams come true this year, I just know it!

To Mr. Art Smith, my creative writing teacher, and one of the biggest inspirations in challenging my mind to go further than what I thought I could! I remember your encouragement me in my early High School years, putting a hand on my shoulder and saying "just let it flow". You told me I was only holding myself back and that the possibilities were endless if I just let out what was in my head and in my heart. I watched you created masterpieces out of lost teens and broken dreams as we showed up every day and knew that it didn't matter what happened as long as we just keep going, because YOU told us you believed in us and that we could do anything we put our minds and hearts to!

We all have to start somewhere, right? No matter how small the steps are, no matter the mountain before us, we have to keep moving!

So I am choosing to move mountains this year. I am choosing to explore every single crack and crevice of my mind, to see what I might find, to help me grow as a person, to help me excel as an author, and to help me learn through doing both to spread my light to this broken world once again. It only takes one person to bring about change, and I choose to let it begin with me!

See you on the flip side!

Sadie K. Frazier