For those that know me well, you know that Stephen King is my favorite author.

It’s funny, really, because often times when I tell people I am an English major, they expect my favorite author to be someone like Faulkner or Fitzgerald.

In fact, I always seem to get asked the question of why King. What is it about his writing that makes it so good? Why do I enjoy his stories?

It’s a great question, because the truth is, I’m somewhat of a sissy. I’m not great with scary books or movies, and yet, I can’t help but find myself motivated to read everything he has written.

I love Stephen King’s books because he makes it known that he is writing for his readers and that he cares. He has these little introductions at the beginning of his novels where he writes to the reader. In doing so, he coined the term, “constant reader.” Anyone who reads King is very familiar with this, for they themselves are this constant reader.

As someone who aspires to become a novelist one day, my time writing for Odyssey has served as a way for me to fine-tune my writing skills. I may not be writing novels in these articles, but I am telling stories, and you–constant reader–have helped fuel my desire to do so.

It seems only right to thank you for this, and to say a proper goodbye.

With my summer job beginning at the start of June, I will be occupied working and will be saying a (what I hope is temporary) goodbye to Odyssey for now.

Inspired by King, I want to write all of my own constant readers a goodbye. Why? Because you’ve earned it.

You’ve earned it because, as my constant reader, you have stuck with me and read the rants I have written about my love for the Detroit Red Wings countless times. You’ve earned it because, as my constant reader, you have managed to read my articles about going to class, studying, and not letting your GPA define you. Most importantly, you’ve earned it because, as my constant reader, you have found some entertainment in what I write.

You have smiled with me while reading about how a sports team like the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. You have felt my pain and struggle while reading about how I dealt with the end of my gymnastics career or diagnosis of my illness. You have rooted for me when I told you about my decision to transfer to a new school.

Throughout my time at Odyssey, I have been fortunate enough to receive several personal messages from a few of you constant readers. You have thanked me for writing the material I have written and inspired me to keep doing what I love. You have told me that it helped you through a rough time in your life, that it aided in your ability to help you connect with a family member, and that it spoke to a topic you desperately wanted to be written about.

In the end, you took the time to thank me for these articles, but it is me who should be thanking you.

I couldn’t have done it without you, constant reader, as the inspiration I gathered for these articles was all because of you.

With that, I must thank you. I must thank you because you may not have always liked what I wrote, and I’m sure there were plenty of times you didn’t agree with me, but still, you kept reading. You read for the same reason I read King: because you felt like, in some way or another, I was writing for you. Well, guess what? I was.

To all my constant readers out there, here’s to you. It is my hope that–as cheesy as this sounds–this is simply a see you later, and not a goodbye.