Maniac Year in Review

I’ve been a Karen Marie Moning fan from the moment I read the first page of Blood Fever back in 2007. The Fever series intrigued me, so I turned to the internet in search of more information on the author and her work.

Fate led my click-happy finger to the Karen Moning Forum and I’ve never looked back. Not only did I discover more titles in need of reading, but I also made some of the best friends of my adult life through that board.

Yesterday marked the two year anniversary of the forum. Below are a few video montages documenting the past year of our shared lives.

Everything is covered, from goofy thread topics to member achievements. And best of all, finally getting to see Karen in the flesh and giving her a big hug for all the ways she’s enriched our lives.

Made by Lis and Cheryle.
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The MacHalo Tour
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The last I can only link you to, but it’s a good one. Probably my favorite of the three.

I’ve read repeatedly where fans complain about lack of author response to fans and fan mail. You won’t find an author more dedicated to her fans than Karen, or her assistant Leiha.

Karen’s health has affected her ability to conduct book signings and appearances in the last couple of years. This past April she announced plans to drop in on a “Maniac” luncheon being held in Atlanta, and we all scrambled to make travel arrangements.

Not only did Karen sign books for everyone until her fingers cramped, but she posed endlessly for pictures and spoke to everyone one-on-one. It was great fun and well worth the four hour drive to finally meet her in person.

The signing fell on my daughter’s ninth birthday, so my husband and I decided to spend the weekend in Atlanta to celebrate with tickets to the Georgia Aquarium. But that isn’t what I’ll remember most.

What I will remember long after the books are closed and the ink has dried is that Karen and Leiha thought to bring my daughter a birthday cake.

After eating lunch, everyone stopped and sang “Happy Birthday” to my baby girl.

That goes beyond reader loyalty –it proves no matter how well her books have sold and how popular she has become, her fans are always in her thoughts.

And I like that. A lot. If she hadn’t already been on my “auto buy” list for life, then that simple kindness would have put her there.

Happy Anniversary to my fellow Maniacs!