I first joined Wattpad because of my ravenous appetite for books of every genre. I'm not exaggerating; I swear if you cut me I'd bleed ink. Today I'm celebrating my Haven Series attaining 70K reads and this is just the beginning of my journey. And trust me when I say: it has been a long road. 

It's has taken me a lifetime to finally find my tribe and that is how I have come to see all of you -- my big beautiful reading and writing family. I've wasted many years doubting myself. I lament at my folly. 

Who would have thought just a year ago I'd be where I am today, but I wouldn't be here without you, so I want to take a moment to share with you some inspiration a writer friend of mine shared with me.

I had the good fortune of meeting Farley Mowat when I was very young and I told him of my plans to become a writer. He chuckled and said, "You've chosen a difficult path for yourself. A path rife with pitfalls, rejection, and criticism of almost everything you do, but," he said," as long as you never let any of that discourage you from loving what you do; you'll do just fine."

I took his words to heart. And now I want to tell you all never let rejection discourage you. You've already done the bravest thing possible. You poured your heart out in the pages of your stories, and you laid yourself bare to your readers, you opened yourself up to criticism from your peers, and rejection from your betters and you still continue to love what you do. 

And most important of all, you are an inspiration to the young writers that will come after you. 

Whether any of us go on to find success in the traditional sense we've already succeeded in doing one thing, we can proudly proclaim to the world, "I AM A WRITER!" I've succeeded in telling my story and no one can ever take that away from me. 
So remember be proud of your work.
Never stop believing in yourself.
Eventually, you'll make it.
Never give up on your dreams.

The very universe is a blank canvass and you are the painter.