Thursday, November 24 is Thanksgiving Day in the US. Four days after that, on the 28th, I’ll be clocking my one-year anniversary as a blogger. In honor of these two significant events, I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone who popped over to my site to read my posts; to everyone who made comments or sent personal emails of encouragement; and most importantly to those who subscribed. From my experience, being a writer and a blogger can sometimes be a very lonely, bumpy road. There are good hits, but there are also lots of misses – but it all makes it worthwhile when there are people around you who cheer you on. It’s even more special when they are people that you’ve never met before…total strangers who take the time to pat you on the back, inadvertently giving you permission to keep going no matter what. I am most grateful to a benevolent God for those people.
I’d also like to celebrate the blogs/bloggers/writers that have truly influenced me this last one year. They may or may not know how much they influenced me (all in positive ways), hence my decision to announce a big thank you to them.
I’ll list them below in order of how I was first introduced to them.
- Tolulope Popoola encouraged me to try my hands at blogging (and writing short stories on my site). She even offered to design my blog. I’m grateful for you!
- Myne Whitman – met her through Tolulope Popoola. This woman with a generous heart taught me the importance of diligence and hard work as a writer. She also introduced the power of social networking to this book nerd. I’m grateful for you!
- Nana Twum Baah’s blog posts reminded me never to lose touch with the fun loving diva inside my womanly body and to write my posts as such. I’m grateful for you!
- Tolulope’s musings kept me grounded in my Faith as a blogger. Through his posts, I was encouraged to share my own Faith through my posts as much as possible. I’m grateful for you.
- Bukville’s blog, my Texan neighbor inspired me to write about my work and family and to remember to keep it real. No ‘honky-dory-everything-is fine’ here. I’m grateful for you!
- Kiru Taye inspired me to keep developing my romantic writing craft. Mediocrity in African romance is not an option, she’d say. One more thing she says, “Writing a novel is not what’s important but writing a best seller.” I’m grateful for you!
- Adura Ojo – wanna be like her when I grow up, lol. This woman’s posts inspired me to be passionate about promoting literary works by Africans like me living in the Diaspora. I’m grateful for you!
- Naija mom in London (met this fun blogger late) inspired me to socialize with other bloggers; to remember that no blogger man is an island. I’m grateful for you.
Have a beautiful thanksgiving holiday whereever you are reading this. And if you’re outside the US where this holiday does not apply to you, please take the time to appreciate those around you.
I’m grateful for you!
Lara Daniels 
Thank you LD. Thank you for the honor. Thank you for believing in me.
You are welcome Tolu.
We congratulate you Lara Daniels on your one year anniversary…we look forward to more intesresting and romantic writings that wiill continue to encourage couples and loving friends…
Your writing makes old love become new and fresh….good job!
Williams
Thank you so much sir for your second visit and this strongly encouraging comment. It means soooo much and I just want to say that I appreciate you! Happy Thanksgiving.
LD, congrats on your one year anniversary, you have done well.
My fellow Texan, you give me too much credit for nothing.
Thank you for your support and encouragement through out the year. Its an honor to know you and keep up the great job you are doing.
Continue to pursue your passion using all your God’s given talent. No-one can write the way Lara Daniels writes.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for this Buky. Again, you manage to encourage me ‘mightily’ through your comment which could be a blog post on its own. Looking foward to some more ‘Let’s-get-real’ posts from you. Happy Thanksgiving.
Congratulations and happy thanksgiving!
And happy thanksgiving to you too, Kiru Taye with the power to create the best of sensual stories. More good news coming your way 🙂
I posted this before but for some reason it did not appear.
I wanted to say congratulations on your one year anniversary. I am a fan and I know you are a star. Thanks again for counting me among so great a cloud of writers/bloggers.
Awww…Tolu, now you know how much you’ve impacted me with your posts. The blessings of those posts is all mine. Happy thanksgiving.
Congrats Lara and well done on your first year! Time flies, doesn’t it?
I’m glad I could be of help – hehe. I’m thankful for you too, and so many other wonderful people that I’ve met online who have inspired and encouraged me 🙂
Happy thanksgiving! 🙂
Hi there, my mentor! Time sure does fly by fast doesn’t it? Happy thanksgiving dear.
Lovely tribute Lara and congrats on your anniversay!!:) Thanks for the wonderful contribution to the African literary scene!!! Happt thanksgiving to you and yours!
Thanks Barbara for your visit. I have bookmarked your blog….I really loved my first visit and can’t wait to go back and read up some more of your posts. Happy thanksgiving.
I am touched Lara. I’m glad I met you too and I’m also encouraged by all the women on your list. May God continue to give us reason to be thankful, always.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family
Happy thanksgiving to you too dear Myne. Praying that you continue to be an inspiration to many writers for many years to come 🙂
Lara Daniels, your blog design is very nice, clean and fresh. I always like browsing your site.
Thanks Rodney. Thanks for your visit. Hope you come again.
Me too. I’m grateful for you too.
I am grateful for you too.
Lara,I’m loving your stories and I came over to let you know that I wish you a merry christmas.