Thankful for #MFRWauthor

MFRW author 52-week blog challenge

 This week's writing prompt asks authors to express their gratitude.

Living where I do, I have much for which to be grateful. Watching the news or reading the newspaper brings home that dismissive expression of "First World problems" when I gripe about something that annoys or inconveniences me. Because my list of gratitude would be exhaustive (and exhausting), I'll restrict it to a few key entries.

I'm grateful for:

• My husband. It's got to be said, right? I'll admit that he wasn't supportive when I expressed a desire to go freelance; however, after losing my job three years ago, he's been extremely supportive. I truly appreciate him for that. I'm also grateful for being able to justify not going back to being a corporate wage slave. I'm a (much) happier person and he sees that. (So does everyone else.) David may not really understand what I do or why I like doing it--and that includes the menagerie of four-footed critters--but he's there for me.
• My publicist. Dee really goes above and beyond the job description of social media marketing guru. She serves as a sounding board, sometimes as an editor or critic, and often as a friend.
• Cindra and Jeanette. We met less than a decade ago, but they've become my best buddies, my riding companions, my readers, my fans.
• My editor. Every writer should have an editor who fits his or her writing style as Cindy does mine. I rely on Cindy to correct my typos and other errors, to give me virtual dope slaps when my story goes off-course, and to help me make those manuscripts shine.
• The Mastermind Group. This mere handful of fellow "solopreneurs" share my pain. They commiserate and offer intelligent and empathetic insight, suggest solutions, and generally provide the like-minded support we all need.

Of course, I'm thankful for the readers who enjoy my stories and even plunk down their hard-earned money to buy the books. I'm even thankful for the readers who leave less than flatter reviews: I learn from them what works and what doesn't work. Writing and publishing stories is an evolving process.