Hello, Mr. Davis. I’d like to tell you thank you for your books in a rather long-windedish way, if you don’t mind me doing so!
I was pretty young when I first saw them, and the ideas were rather entrancing and let’s face it, whoever does your cover art does a good job! Whenever my mum would go off to find some Yancy book or another, and my dad would go and listen to the latest music, I would stay with one of them (my parents) for a few minutes, and then scamper off to the fiction section of the humble little bookstore where your books always met my elated eyes. I was and still a tad book loving!
It was funny how many times I determined to get your books for my own and that there turned out to be a new album from one of my favorite artists that I had to choose between. The music won out…sorry to say-I am a sucker for good contemporary Christian music.
When I was starting 7th grade, my parents and I moved churches to better supplement our spiritual needs. I was a little nervous because this church was vastly larger compared to the one we had just left and on top of this, I was changing schools. The school turned out fine, and it’s the one I’m presently attending, as well as the same goes for the church!
At the point in time of the half way point of my 8th grade year, things were looking bleak. I had a few friends, but even fewer were beyond the point of knowing my name and simply saying Hi. <You’re probably wondering what what this has to do with your books-you’ll see pretty soon>
Then I decided to go on this little church retreat to Disneyland and Mum promised me she would pray for me to meet a new best friend, one who would be with me forever.
On the last night, I decided to go for a swim in the hotel pool to clear my head and just enjoy the rush of water. I was *holds fingers a cm apart* that close to not going swimming, but then I figured It’s your last day, you might as well go anyway. That and the serious “God nudge” to go do it. Not in that order!
It was there that after 15 minutes, all but me were swimming still in the pool <My family calls me a fish for good reason>. Or so I thought.
I kept trying to touch the bottom and swim along it (one of my favorite things). But each time, I did so, I felt something the water swoosh into a direction like someone was swimming over me, several inches above, like a shark.
I didn’t know what it was until I jumped up for air and heard a boyish voice say from about five feet away “Sorry that I bumped into you!” I responded with a polite “It’s okay, you didn’t bump into me, you’re fine!” This happened about three times before I decided to get out of the pool and not risk hypothermia for the sake of my parents.
When I got out of the pool to dry off, he got out as well. Then he started talking to me about everything. I noticed that we had a lot of common interests, and kept talking to him in the hallway between our rooms until it was bedtime.
The next morning I was on the bus, with no one to sit next to me, and wondering if I was going to just sketch with no one to talk to. Suddenly a cheery bright smile and chirpy voice asked if he could sit next to me (yes, it was the boy from the night before) because he was looking for someone to sit next to.
As we began talking, he mentioned that he liked fantasy books…especially those with dragons as well as comic books. Suddenly we got on the topic of “What superpower would you want to have the most?”I mentioned that I particularly wanted flight. It would be so wonderful to soar whenever I wanted. His face lit up as he mentioned that he had a book series that had a girl who could fly in its cast of characters. I gave him a moment to breathe as I showed him some of the poetry I had written and some of the sketches I had done during the ride down. Then his face lit up even more. I didn’t piece it together until as we were having lunch together he mentioned that Bonnie also did a seemingly inordinate amount of creative writing and writing in general. Then he talked alittle bit more about the main characters-Billy and Walter.
Then as I was munching on a fry, the icing on the cake was just flung at me. “And you know what? You actually look like her too!” I nearly got the fry stuck my throat. First he said I acted a lot like her, now he was physically was comparing me to her. “What?” “No, seriously! You look exactly like her!” Minus the dragon wings, I mused- that was a severe disappointment.
As we were a couple hours away from home, he interrupted our conversation for a simple request. “I’ve never really ask anyone to do this, but would you be my friend?” “Yes, why wouldn’t I? You’re very nice and fun to talk to!” After I said that, I suddenly recalled my mum’s prayers!
He promptly loaned me the first book. It was then that I recognized the cover, and became exceptionally eager to read. After all, Michael had mentioned there was Arthurian twists, as well as fantasy, and with his rave reviews, I really couldn’t resist.
I’ve read the first four- he still needs to loan me the others. Don’t worry, I’ve pestered him. And yes, he is my best friend, so he can handle it, being also the good sport he is.
During my reading of The Candlestone, (I finally got what he meant when he said I was like Bonnie in character when I read the prayer she had written for Billy and started crying due to the emotion that evoked, thankfully no one else was home!) he mentioned that he had an email correspondence with you. And then he mentioned, after I finished Tears of a Dragon, that he knew the starting point for the next book- “He’s going to put Billy and Bonnie in some sort of prison.” “Why would he do that? Waiit..I don’t think so!” Turned out he was right.
I’ve enjoyed your books immensely, they’ve helped me deal with some of my struggles (low self esteem and such) and Michael did turn out to be right on every account. So I wanted to send you this email as a way of thanking you for your writing, as you can see, it was a long time in coming.
Sincerely yours,
Rebekah