Author's Note:

Well, that's it folks. It seems ridiculous that this is finished. It's been almost five years since I started writing. Dear Grimm, how did you all put up with me for so long?

It would seem that somewhere along the half-assed plots, forgotten characters, and twists that even I didn't see coming, I wrote a story.

Weird.

You know, these last few months, as the end of the novel loomed hazily in the distance, I found myself wondering why in the world these crazy people were still reading this mess of a story. Not only reading it, but wanting me to update, worrying about the characters, and using words to describe it that got me wondering if I had learned the definition of "awesome" and "love" wrong.

To those kind ones of you about to protest: I am not being modest, I am being honest.

While I wrote these last bunch of chapters, I realized that I was missing something that I got when reading a book or even while writing this story four years back. I was missing the excitement and the magic and that extra sense of depth inherent in any story.

My problem was that I knew. I knew exactly what was left. I knew the extent of the character development that had gone in. I knew that a happy ending was on the way no matter how dire the situation may seem. I knew exactly how many twists and scenes were held together with little more than duct tape and rubberbands all precariously balanced with a dwindling helping of sarcasm. And everything I knew made it boring.

That was sort of when I realized that it didn't really matter what I knew, because once I posted a chapter all that mattered was what you, my lovely readers, knew.

I have always believed that classic books and famous poems were not about what the author wanted to say, but the emotions that they evoked in the readers. The author or poet could use all sorts of tricks and word play to guide the reader, but in the end, each reader would take it a little bit differently. Each reader had a whole lifetime worth of experiences and knowledge that would alter the story to be whatever they wanted it to be! But the really neat thing that I finally realized was that it applied to everything, even my flimsy, patched up excuse for a story. I realized that everyone else hadn't shared my drawn out torture of forcing one word after another onto the page, and so to them, it looked like I had even the slightest idea what I was doing. They could find that extra depth in the story that I had lost.

I was actually rather hesitant to share with you all my little two cents (Take it how you will), because it meant that everyone would know exactly what kind of literary genius I was not (Though I am certain that all you brilliant people noticed anyway since I write like I talk, and I talk like think, and that often ends up as a complete mess with English grammar bastardized for my own malignant uses). But I figured that, it was not fair to keep my thoughts to myself in this case. First, because I like being a bumbling goof, and I like people to know that. Second, because everyone should know that if I, bumbling goof that I am, can bother together a moderately popular story by having absolutely no clue what I was doing other than having fun and writing something that I wanted to read, then literally anyone can. That is the magic of writing. Experiment, dress it up nice, have fun, and have faith that fun is contagious and that most people would rather focus on that than look for all the holes you missed.

I learned a lot from writing this story. Mostly that I actually DO have to put effort in if I hope to improve, and that, yes, I have a LOT of things that need improving. I grew a bit as a writer, got to do lots of fun experiments with style, and gained a lot of confidence, but when I look back at the first chapters of this story- I cringe.

For those of you hoping that I will go back and fix it: I won't. I have taken everything that I could get out of writing this and I am moving on to the next thing. For those of you wondering what the next thing is: I have no idea. Well, not completely true. I have several ideas, vague ideas with no clue where they are going, which is exactly how I like them! I might even switch medias and try my hand at a comic. I will probably not be starting anything long and new for a while, I need a break! I'll probably finish up White Bird and write some one-shots that have been floating about my head for a while. Then... whatever the next fun thing ends up being!

Thank you all again! This story would have fallen flat on its face about a hundred times over if not for you and your limitless kindness and support. Happy writing!