Jessalyn

At the risk of cutting loose with a Sally Field-ish "you like me, you really like me!" cry of rank giddiness, I'd like to thank all of you who have written, both publicly and privately, to express how much you are enjoying Blue Light Special. Never would I have believed that such an off-the-cuff, blog-like diatribe would evolve into the kind of story that has evoked this kind of response, never mind an award. To be frank, I'm not even sure this story would have hooked MY attention, but I'm grateful to all of you who have given it a chance and who have stuck with me during the long, drawn-out process of birthing this thing. I've written fiction for a very long time, but I've always kept it under wraps, not even allowing those closest to me to read my work. Through your feedback and encouragement, I have become braver and more confident, and for that you will always have my gratitude.

My head-long descent into the world of Dawson's Creek did not happen until the show ended. I had seen a few episodes here and there, enough to keep up with the general flow of the storyline, but nothing really captured my attention until I saw the last episode. Even then, my attention was divided, as the finale aired on the same night as the Clay/Ruben American Idol showdown (an important episode for us here in NC), so I was flipping back and forth between the two. The WB re-aired the finale the following week, and I was h-o-o-k-e-d. I immediately turned to the Internet, found PoTL, and dived in with full force. The characters of Pacey and Joey and the Dawson's Creek universe in which they live struck a chord with me, and the more fanfic I devoured, the more fired-up I became about writing again. Prior to this, I hadn't written fiction in 15 years...a long, dry spell that has, thankfully, come to an end. Through the help and support of some wonderful people, I have realized that I don't have to sit here and wonder if my writing is strong enough to take it to the next level and become published. That is my goal, however far off that may be.

Blue Light Special was never intended to be a full-blown story. It started, believe it or not, with the scene early on in Dawson's bedroom, with the "Posters go up, posters come down..." line and took off from there. That's how it is with all of my stories...they are born with a single vision of a scene we haven't seen before, or one that has been changed, or one reflecting the repercussions not fully explored. The SnarkyJoey that emerged in BLS is really my inner smart-ass going full-tilt, so writing in her voice came naturally to me. In fact, it was the early episodes of the show that really cultivated that voice, those wonderful glimpses showing that Joey could be vicious and spiteful and retaliatory and downright mean. Such goodness! I missed that from the later years and decided it would be interesting to re-birth that snarkiness and get her take on the things happening to her and around her. It has been a wonderful ride...I truly love this story, and I'm so grateful that you do, too.

There have been several points in BLS where I thought I'd have nothing left to give, where I felt like there was absolutely nothing original or different or compelling I could come up with. Enter my exquisite editor and wonderful friend, Jen (LJ212). Without her, BLS would never have become the story it is now (cue "Wind Beneath My Wings"). I know that sounds totally cheesy, but that's what she is to me when it comes to this crazy passion of mine, this unbridled need to play stealthy observer and documentarian as these characters develop minds of their owns and stray from the plotlines I have planned for them and make decisions that I don't necessarily agree with. She understands my need to guide the storyline instead of dictating it and how doing that sometimes lands me painted smackdab in a corner. She throws me a lifeline, a nugget, a seed, and I dig my way out of it one word at a time. Jen knows exactly when to give me an encouraging word, and she knows exactly when to kick my ass in gear. She has answered many a plea for help, never once making me feel like the pain in the ass I'm positive I am. I can't thank you enough for all you do, Jen.

I would like to thank the members of the TLA Academy and Judges Council for selecting Blue Light Special for this wonderful recognition. I do not envy the task of choosing, but I'm very grateful to you for the time and effort you put into this.

Finally, I dedicate this award to SnarkyJoey and her incessant pottymouth -- may you live on in the hearts of your fans forever!