What I’m Thankful For This Year

Hello everyone,

I hit a pretty big milestone last year at this time: A couple of days before Thanksgiving, I sold my 1,000th copy of On the Island. I was still working my day job in human resources at Wells Fargo and my co-workers rang a cow bell to celebrate (we were always pretty noisy, in general, so this was not as disruptive as you might imagine it to be). 

I was thankful for those 1,000 sales. Eternally, unbelievably thankful. I’d read all the statistics: most self-published authors are lucky if they manage to sell 100 books. I’d already surpassed that and daily sales were starting to trend upward. I had no idea what the next six months would bring, but I was having a blast and connecting with readers all over the world.

As most of you already know, things got a whole lot better and I was able to make the transition to full-time writer. And to show you how thankful I am, I’d like to give one of you the gift of reading (or more specifically, a new Kindle Paperwhite with free 3G and Wi-Fi).

In the comments, tell me what you’re thankful for. And please know that I am truly thankful for you.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

xoxo,

Tracey

This Post Has 152 Comments

  1. Hi! Im so thankful for the basic needs of my family and myself that are met daily…food, water, clothing, shelter. People in the world literally dont have these things.
    Just wanted to add that i read your book last year well before it skyrocketed to fame…i have good instincts and taste. 🙂 Its one of the most beautiful books ive ever read. I re read it right when i was done and have read it again since. Congratulations to you!

  4. I’m thankful everyday of the year for my family, health, and home. But on special days I think of other things I am thankful for, like discovering my love of writing.

  5. Well actually there are so many things to be thankful for each day. But when talking about certain things that just happened this year, it would be me making bookblog and having new work. My bookblog, http://readinginthemorning.blogspot.com was created on February this year and currently has 170+ members. Through it, I found a lot of new people that love books like I do or more. I’m so grateful for it to happen to my life. Also, on February too, I moved to a new company with new people who are more friendly than my former office and the working environment is definitely better too. I think I can consider myself as very lucky since not many people can enjoy their works as much as I can. Well that’s all. My life is great and I am very thankful for it.

  8. I am not actually eligible to win this as I live in Canada but I have a very significant thing to be thankful for this year.
    While I have spent a good chunk of the past 5 years traveling and calling other countries home and being back home has proven to be somewhat of a challenge for me (wanderlust and all that!) I have never in my life been so thankful for my home, family and neighbours.
    2 months ago I witnessed something that has forever changed me and at the time I didn’t know how I was going to keep breathing. It was something that took it’s toll on many people in my community and we are all still dealing with the tragedy in our own way yet with the help of one another.
    I am and forever will be thankful for neighbours who breakthrough property lines and cold city hardened hearts and wrap you in warm hugs or offer shoulders to cry on. For strangers who show up to make painful images disappear and ask for nothing in return. For friends who say nothing but just sit with you because they know that there are no words that will make it better. For dogs who just know when you need to cuddle and for books that help make the real world vanish for a little while.

  13. I’m thankful for my 2 happy, healthy, beautiful children and the support of my family friends! Their support is always there when I need it and helps me get through each day. Oh, and I’m always thankful for a good book recommendation

  14. I am thankful for my dad and sister and all of the other men and women who are unable to be with their families this holiday season because they are fighting for our freedoms.

  17. I am thankful for my husband and my boys, to be able to read and write, and have a roof over my head and food in my belly.

  19. Like many I have much to be thankful for but probably rarely acknowledge it. as we always want more. so I guess Im most thankful to always at least have enough

  20. I am so thankful to learn that my boyfriend of 16 months just got a job offer 1 hour away from me, after being 14 hours away. I feel like my life is ready to begin!

  21. I am thankful for my first grade teacher who taught me how to read and for my high school English teacher who taught me how to write. This past year I am thankful to have stumbled upon ON THE ISLAND and met Anna and TJ who touched my heart in a way few books can do. But most of all, I’m thankful for my children and grandchildren who make my life shine.

  22. This year was definitely a year that changed my whole life. I grew more mature that I have ever been. God has given me everything I have begged him for. He has given me a happy life. He has given me a life full of adventures and good experiences, a life full of joy and happiness, and what’s more, Hod has given me a life full of books and wisdom. I hope that everything in my life will go on in the same rhythm. I am thankful to God for all of the things I just mentioned and to many more I didnt, which all together, make my life a worth living experience.

  24. I am thankful for my family, my job and for all the books that I read! I love getting swept away in a good story, feeling the emotions of the characters. Once in a while, a story will touch your soul and become a part of you forever.

  25. I am thankful for my amazing kiddos. They are my heart and soul. Its the three musketeers now and forever!

  26. This year I am thankful to have my husband home. We recently found out he will be deploying for one year and will not be home for the holidays next year. I’m Thankful to have such a strong support system at out current base and the love and support of my family and friends back home.

  27. I am thankful for my family who helps me through all those tough moments and celebrates with me during all those happy moments! And I am thankful for authors like you who take me to another world….

  28. I am thankful for my husband (my rock). I wouldn’t know what I would do without him. Also for anyone that is in my life such as family and friends and my pup!

  29. I’m thankful that I got the opportunity to head back to university 🙂 Also that my mum recovered from her blood clot and was able to come home.

  31. I’m thankful that all of my family is still here with me, especially my elderly father who has been hospitalized for the past 2 months. Always be thankful for the people you have in your life as they could be gone in the blink of an eye.

  32. I am truly thankful for my 19 year old daughter that takes time out to care for me. I am currently bedridden because my Lupus is out of remission. I can barely move at times and she chooses to spend time with me since my husband walked out a year ago. She sits and watches shows, talks, jokes around and helps me when I need it. I would be lost without her. She could be doing so many other things with her time at her age but she chooses me. I am so very thankful! I just hope I let her know enough how wonderful she is.

  33. Two of our family members ha health crises this year. One was a 67 year old who needed a new liver, and the other was a 24 year old who suffered a brain aneurysm and spent two unconscious days laying in a cold shower until someone found him! Well, both are on their way back to health! It is amazing and I am truly thankful!

  35. I am thankful for my family and friends, of course, but I’m also especially thankful for the authors who have given their time to speak to the RWA chapter I’ve involved in over the years, helping those interested in writing to pursue their dreams.

  37. I’m thankful for my family who has been burdened with quite a lot over the last two years because of the bad circumstances I found myself in. Even when it’s not especially easy for any of us, we make it work. They wouldn’t have to, but they do. And, despite how frustrating and discouraging life can be, I HAVE TO be thankful that I have them. Don’t know where I’d be otherwise. Literally:)

    Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!!

  39. I am thankful for my entire family this year. I know that sounds a bit cliche, but my brother was in a serious motorcycle accident back in September. His injuries were serious, but he is still alive and not a vegetable sitting in the hospital on life support.

    Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

  40. I’am thankful to be with my mom again after all these years that we’re apart. I’am so blessed and so thankful to be with her again. When I was 5 years old she left to work abroad, and since then we haven’t seen each other. No birthdays, christmas, thanksgiving, or mother’s day celebration together. So now that i’m here with her (24 years old), words can’t express how happy I’am! Now we have all our life to have each other and spent more bdays, christmas or thanksgiving!!! thats what I’am so THANKFUL 🙂

  42. I am thankful for my online book buddies. They make me laugh every single day and I’ve never even met them in real life. True friends.

  43. I am thankful to be blessed with waking up each morning to see a new day. I’ve been blessed beyond measure with family, friends, food on my table, a roof over my head, a job that I love, and clothes on my back.

  44. I thankful for all this year. I have super friends, great family (a new brother is coming) and the opportunity to study what I like most

  45. I’m thankful for this last year, because I have grown so much as a person and I have discover the thing I really want to pursue

  54. I am so thankful for my 3 beautiful children, wonderful husband, and great job. I am also thankful to have discovered Twitter this year as I have really enjoyed chatting with the authors of books I love like yours.

  55. I am thankful for my son, my family and my health. I am thankful for great authors, good books and friends. Looking forward to another good year.

  58. I’m thankful for my family, 15 cats, 1 hamster and a loving spouse of 7 years. I’m also thankful for all the amazing authors including yourself for writing all the beautiful stories. Thank you Tracey for On the Island. I really love it and I look forward to reading more of your books. May you have a happy and enjoyable Thanksgiving! And thanks for this generous giveaway 🙂

    Tess
    tess_halim(at)hotmail(dot)com

  61. Aside from family, I am thankful for the writing community. Writers come together to help and encourage each other at every turn.
    Even you, Tracey Garvis Graves, have been a tremendous help by offering your time for writer chats and to answer our burning FAQ.
    Here’s hoping for another wonderful year with my fellow writers!

  63. First of all I am thankful to God and all he has given me. I am thankful for my family and friends. Thankful for our soldiers who risk their lives everyday for our freedom. And I’m also thankful for you and all these authors who have made my love of reading only grow even more. I’m thankful that I can get lost in a book, a story and live through these characters. Good luck everyone.

  64. I’m thankful for the opportunity to help care for my grandparents. They have always been there for me growing up and it’s an honor to be there for them now. I’m thankful they are still with us despite my Granny suffering a stroke in January and Papa having a pacemaker installed 3 weeks ago. I’m thankful my kids get to know them and spend special time with them both!!

  65. I’m thankful for so many things… my family and friends, without whom I would never make it through some of the hard times and who help me celebrate the good times… my online friends, without whom I could not enjoy doing what I love (the eblco on facebook)… my fellow bookworms and indie authors, without whom I would never have the chance to, every day, discover some new gem waiting to be read… and to whatever power is out there watching out for me, without whom, in those darkest moments, I would not be able to see beyond the darkness to the light at the end of that particular tunnel

  66. I am thankful of all my friends I have made this year because of reading and book clubs and book blogs. They have introduced me to so many authors and books I would never otherwise have discovered.

  67. I’m thankful for still having my mom to celebrate Thanksgiving with. All of my family and friends.

  68. I’m thankful for my friends and family and that I have everything I need.
    Thank you for the giveaway Tracey, Happy Thanksgiving.

    Pedro Pablo

  70. I am thankful for the life-changing reading and blogging community that I have had the fortune of entering this year. The books I have read, the stories that these beautiful authors (YES, I’m talking about you, Tracey!!) have shared with us have changed everything in my life. I am a book junkie now and damn proud of it! <3

  73. I am thankful my family is healthy and employed. Thankful I have always loved the person I am and have never felt like I needed to change to fit in. I am thankful for books, Oreos, Spotify, chocolate cream pie and stretchy pants.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

  74. I am thankful for my children. They bring me joy and anguish! Also incredibly thankful for BA…without them I wouldn’t have such an amazing TBR list!

  75. I am thankful for my family first and foremost. I have an incredible husband and fantastic kids. I am grateful for my family and friends. I am thankful for BOOKS…they keep me sane 🙂

  76. I’m thankful for my family, my friends and my books:-)

    Thank you for this awesome giveaway, Tracey, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

    Nicoleta D.

  77. i am thankful for bills, laundry, arguing children, dirty dishes, messy car, graying hair, grocery shopping, a tired husband, sassy teenagers, potty training toddlers, and endless phone calls and emails to return. these all mean i have clothes to wear, food to eat, a warm house, a reliable car, a great family and friends who love me enough to check in on me when i check out for a couple week at a time.

  78. I am thankful for my friend Julie. I love her so much, and she has brought so much inspiration and happiness into my life. Without her, I wouldn’t know any of the amazing writers and authors I am blessed to have as friends, and I cannot imagine my life without them now. I love ‘ya’ll’ !!

    I am grateful for books. Books change my life daily. They’re all I’ve ever needed.

  79. I am thankful for the children God has blessed me with. I love them more than words can describe. I’m thankful for my husband who works hard to give us all that we desire and so that I can stay home with our five children. I am thankful for my parents, in-laws, friends, church, and church family. I’m thankful for our health and freedom and for the ones who sacrifice for that freedom. I’m thankful for a thankful heart.

  83. I’m thankful for my wonderful family, my friends, my health. Thankful for having a good job, even though it drives me insane sometimes.

  84. I am thankful for where I have been, where I am now, and where I may end up in the future. The right of choice is truly a gift. Happy Thanksgiving Tracey!

  85. I am so very thankful for my family and friends. We had a very rough year and I don’t think I could have made it without them. Their advice, the shoulders they let me cry on, and the ears that they let me vent to. I am thankful to have an amazing husband and a beautiful daughter. They make every day worth living. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

  88. I am thankful that I haven’t gotten too old or too cynical to be thankful for all the wonderful people who have given my life meaning.

  91. I’m thankful for tons of things, but mostly my friends and family and their constant encouragement and support in fulfilling my dream of writing and publishing a book. And for this giveaway. 😉

  92. I am thankful for my wonderful father, who inspires me to be as good a parent as he is to me, to my daughters :).

  93. There is so much to be thankful for. I love my family and friends. They help me be a better person every day.
    I’m thankful for God in my life. For health and well-being. And I just finished a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with my family and we are ending the day at the beach flying kits. I am blessed.

  95. I’m thankful for my family, friends and that we are all healthy and have everything we need.
    And not to kiss butt or anything but I’m truly grateful for your book too. You know I finished it a few days ago but what a wonderful read it was. So I’m thankful that you decided to self publish it and I’m happy for all of your success, you a wondeful person and author.

    P.S: Thank you so much for your generous giveaway, fingers crossed because that was one weird tool, I’m not sure I did my entries right LOL

    Okay, I’ll shut up now. Happy Thanksgiving, Tracey! xoxox

  96. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful that my husband found a job close to us so he can move back home. I am thankful for our health. I am thankful for awesome authors who let dream. Happy Thanksgiving!

  97. This year I have had so many things to be thankful for, my friends and family, beginning time teach art journaling to some wonderful ladies, and getting back into reading after finding new and fantastic books and authors.

  100. I am thankful for my wonderful family and the best friends a girl could ever ask for. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

  104. There are thousands of things that I am thankful for. Mainly my family; friends; my job; the unconditional love from people around me; the doctors, teachers, soldiers, scientist, etc who serves our society; and just that fact that I that sun rises during the day and the moon shines during the night is a lot to be thankful for. There are thousands or even more which are worth it to be thankful for. The simplest things are also to be thankful for. But for me, the one which I am most thankful for is God. Without Him, all these things around me that I am thankful for would not be possible. Despite of my imperfections, He still let good things happen in my life. So I am thankful that I have Him.

    Franceis

  105. I am thankful for so many things but above all for God’s mercy in my life because we are all healthy and well. Thank you also for On The Island it is my very favorite book and I have read about 100 since I first read OTI for the first time. I truly love it!

  106. I am so thankful I have wonderful friends, family, children, my a wonderful husband who works two jobs to support our family! Also, very thankful I have a job and awesome co-workers who make coming to work so much easier! Thankful for all our wonderful authors who with their stories let my imagination run wild 🙂

  111. I am only 16, so I do not have a husband or å child to be thankful of. But still I am very thankful for having the chance to read amazing books, like your’s. I am also actualy quite thankful for going to school and for having amazing friends. 😀

  112. I am thankful for my family, my friends, the blessings that I’ve been given. My family is happy and healthy. What else can I ask for?

    Happy Thanksgiving:)

  114. Thankful to be so blessed with the family & friends I love, enjoying the little moments that make a life meaningful & enjoying a good meal with the ones who love me, too. Thankful to have been able to accomplish things that I once thought were impossible. Thankful for the time I was given to be with loved ones who aren’t with me anymore. Thankful for today & all days, even the bad ones, because better days are always around the corner.

  115. I’m thankful for my HEA my husband and kids. I’m also thankful for authors like you that help me relive that feeling of first falling in love everytime I open a book 🙂

  116. I am very thankful for my family and friends, both near and far. I’ve been blessed in abundance.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you!

  119. Although I am missing my family and friends back “home” in southern california today I am so thankful to be spending Thanksgiving with my husband and four kids in our new home here in Iowa. Home truly is where the heart is!

  120. I’m so thankful for the God I serve. For the blessings as well as the struggles that have come to me. I’m thankful for my loving family, friends and even my enemies. And lastly, I’m thankful for authors like you of course, that take me into another world with your wonderful books.

  124. I am thankful that my daughter and grandchildren now have a permanent safe place to live. Now they can get on with their lives.

  125. This year I’m thankful for my wonderful, beautiful, funny little boy. He is my world. I’m also thankful for my hard-working husband. I almost lost him in a terrible accident at his work a few days ago. I am so blessed to have him in my life. I couldn’t imagine life without either of my boys.
    I hope you have a happy thanksgiving.

  132. My daughter and I did a craft this morning where we said what we are thankful for and this is what I said: I’m thankful for family, friends, our health, my beautiful home, my husband’s job, my fur babies, our service men and women, coffee and sunshine, to name a few =). I’m also extremely grateful to authors like you who write beautiful, moving, entertaining books for me to read and for awesome contests like this one. Happy Thanksgiving =)

  134. I am thankful for my family and their good health. I’m also thankful for my BA family and all of the fantastic people I have met through that group(including Tracey).

  135. I am very thankful to be celebrating this holiday with new babies who have brought our families back together since we lost my cousin in January to his own demons. This year has been so hard for our family and I am thankful that we were strong enough to not fall apart and shut each other out during our grief. Thankful for my 3 beautiful little boys and their sweet innocents and how they love with everything they have never holding back. I never understood unconditional love until I looked into their eyes for the first time. I am also thankful for amazing writers who write such amazing books that I can excape into when my life gets to hard.

  138. I am thankful for all the wonderful books I have discovered and even more importantly, the wonderful friends I have found through such books 🙂

  141. I am so thankful for my family–husband, kids, parents, siblings, everyone. I am thankful to my mommy friends for keeping me sane. Good health, good friends, good fun. 🙂

  146. I’m thankful for On The Island and your bright smiling face.

    And also thankful for all the things one has to be thankful for just for being alive.

    L.V.

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