First off, I would like to thank everyone involved for this very kind honor. As I haven't written anything for the P/J fan fic world in a while, it was so nice to realize that people still remember me! Hee. But, in all seriousness, there couldn't be a greater compliment in my opinion than to know that you wrote something that might have some lasting significance, or that people can still read and enjoy even long after you wrote it. So, thank you.

All that really inspired me to start writing fan fic, beyond the fact that I enjoy writing stories in general, was that I wanted to change the ways certain things happened on the show and to shape them into what I personally would have liked to see play out on screen.  Dawson's Creek was, for the most part, a notoriously frustrating experience for most longtime suffering members of the viewing audience. To say I was inspired doesn't seem to quite fit, because it was more like I was driven to write these fics in order to salvage my own sanity. There will certainly never be another show like it for me - where I could become so obsessed, and grow to love and hate it in equal measures. (And, to quote Joey Potter, that's a good and a bad thing.)

Of course, I suppose the all-consuming, overwhelming crush I had on my TV boyfriend Pacey at the time played a small part as well, and I guess you wouldn't have to look much beyond that to find the main motivating factor behind my fic, The Beginning of the End.

Although I no longer take an active part in the fan fic world as an author, it was a really fun experience when I was writing. People were always so generous with their comments in feedback, and I got to 'know' some great people, which made it all worth it. I used to post on some of the DC-related message boards back in the day, specifically PaceyPorn and Fan Forum, and so I also need to thank all of you witty and wonderfully snarky people out there who used to make me laugh on a daily basis. Recalling that fateful day those last spoilers were revealed as to the P/J ending in the finale can still get a giggle out of me, because all I can think of is the endless string of trophy pictures posted in the FF thread, which I'm sure anyone who was around at the time will remember, too. (We won! And in case that wasn't crystal clear from the show that aired on your television, watch the DVD edition, because: we still won! Hee.)

So, again, I am so grateful for, and appreciative of this honor. It's really wonderful to know some people might still be out there enjoying my fics, or even finding them for the first time. There are so many people to whom I would love to send shout outs, but I don't know if any of you are still out there. (But, if you are, you know who you are! LOL.)

Thank you to anyone and everyone who took part in these awards, congratulations to all the other authors, and thanks so much for reading!

Kaitlyn (DeepBlueSea)