"Your Biggest Fan!"

"Your Biggest Fan!"

This week I received a darling letter from a teenage ballet dancer. A friend of mine had given 84 Ribbons to her and she was writing to thank me for writing Marta's story.

"This books speaks to me in so many ways; one is injuries... Another thing I related to was, for lack of a better word, illness." She went on to explain how her friend and fellow dancer had suffered as Bartley did and how she ended up leaving dancing.

My young ballet friend also related to having an injury much as Marta did and how hard it was to regain her ankle strength. She also appreciated the bond Marta and her mother shared, saying she and her mom were also close.

It excited me to know that a young dancer enjoyed my story enough to take the time from her busy life of school and dancing at a ballet academy to write to me. Then, when I read her closing, I felt I'd truly succeeded. She said, "This novel truly filled my heart and soul with joy."

Thanks, Ryley. You made every moment I spent writing the book worthwhile.