Dear Mr. Davis,
Your books have saved my life. They really have. I remember when my mom brought back Raising Dragons and The Candlestone. You see, as a kid who grew up with a mom who collected fairies, I became a mythical creature lover as well, but dragons were my favorite, so when I saw the first two books of Dragons In Our Midst, I was excited! … And didn’t read them until two years later! Aren’t I cool? But I finally was bored one day in June and decided to browse my shelf, and still new and unopened sat Raising Dragons. I finally opened that one. And sat on my bed and never left my room until both books were finished twice. I couldn’t stop! I barely got up to go to the bathroom, I was so far deep into this world you had formulated! And I begged and begged my mom to take my to Family Christian Bookstores to buy the rest, and she caved and bought the rest of Dragons In Our Midst. The cycle repeated! All within a week, I had read Dragons In Our Midst at least 3 times with minimal sleep.
I slowed down some for a while until I was able to get to the library across town, and then found that our library didn’t hold Oracles of Fire, but I could order it from another branch- and have it come in the next month. It was killer. But that month flew and I went back and got my hands on them. Guess what happened? I freaked out because questions I didn’t even realize existed from the previous series were answered by Eye of the Oracle! I was extremely happy, I had never expected it, and I had never read such an amazing set of books as I finished Dragons in our Midst and as I continued through Oracles of Fire.
A couple seasons went by, and the books sat proudly by themselves, on their own shelf, I still only owned the first four. But dust collected on everything as I went through the hardest time of my life. When I was thirteen, maybe a year or so after discovering your books, I went through major depression and anxiety, and many suicidal thoughts, and an attempt that had went unnoticed. I had started self inflicting harm, and cried every day and night, feeling so lost, dark, and lonely. And in August that summer, my father betrayed me. He came into my room and molested me. He abused me. And just walked out. Drunk and possibly on drugs. I didn’t have anyone to go to, didn’t have anyone who could listen at 12:30, 1:00 in the morning. So I say and cut my arms and wrists. And cried more in that hour than I ever have in my life. I was terrified, then something tilted my chin.
The books sitting on my shelf, all alone. Bonnie. Billy. Walter. Ashley. Karen. All of them. What would they have done? What would Gabriel have told me right now, sitting behind my bed with a pair of open scissors? And I grabbed my phone and ran. I ran outside in the cold, and I sat in my moms dead car and dialed the police. My dad was arrested, and I was taken to Pine Rest, a Mental Health Hospital here in Michigan, and I was helped. I haven’t cut in three years and my dad still hasn’t seen prison, or my baby sister and I.
But that wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for your books. If it weren’t for me being somewhat connected to each character, and each chapter. I would’ve attempted suicide within a few days, or sat around letting my father to continue to abuse me, and move on to my sister, or cousins. Your books saved me. And indirectly my sister and mother.
So thank you. Thank you so, so much. These books have truly meant the world to me and more.
I’ve also read I Know Why The Angels Dance, and just bawled for hours, loved it! I have recently purchased Eye Of the Oracle and Song of the Ovulum, and hopefully tonight my mother will send out an order for From the Mouth of Elijah tonight!
Again, so many thanks for everything!
Many prayers and blessings (and did I mention thanks?), Jessie M. , 16