It's time for a story.

Once upon a time, a friend asked me to write her a twisted retelling one-shot for her birthday. I suck at one-shots, though, so it became the prologue to a twisted retelling book called Nightmare. Then another now-friend hosted a retelling competition, and I had this brilliant idea of a Cinderella x The Little Mermaid story about a girl cursed, a prince stolen, and magical pirates who could help her save her beloved. That book was Midnight.

But that retelling outgrew its box, becoming something so much greater, so I stopped writing the book. I removed its connection to fairy tales and rewrote it as a new book: Heart of Midnight, where I wouldn't be confined by it being a retelling but could still have the characters I loved. Except, despite my intentions, the retelling hold still remained, and something to the story was missing. And because of that, I dropped this version of Midnight as well.

There was another story, the inkling of one, in the back of my mind. What if the person who had to take on the chosen one quest wasn't the chosen one, but her twin who, for whatever reason, had to pretend to be her sister? It was the fragment of an idea.

And then it happened. I asked myself why Ash was the protagonist of her own story, of why it had to be her, and I realized the answer stemmed from a very similar place as the answer to that for the chosen one twin story, and their fusion happened. From there, Somniox expanded. The Dreamwoven, the Scions, the false gods. I could finally fill in what was missing.

A Curse of Twisted Dreams was born, and it was the first time Ash got to start her first book from its start to its end.

It took 8.5 years and 3 iterations, but I have finally reached the end once. It doesn't feel real, but it is. And you guys have joined me in watching it happen. 

The journey isn't over, though. There's still another draft. Still the future of the series to tell. And I am so excited to continue on this path. 

Now, to some questions!

Questions

----- Who was your favorite character?

----- Who was your least favorite character?

----- Any ships?

----- What was your favorite scene?

----- What was your least favorite scene?

----- What did you think of the ending?

----- What do you hope to see improved in the next draft?

----- Any theories where the story will go from here?

----- Any other thoughts you would like to share?

Where From Here?

This is a... complicated answer. With The Soul-Bound Chronicles (The Dragon's Scale series), I am writing the entire 4-part series first before going back and working on draft two of book one. For this, I plan to outline books 2 and 3 (yes, a trilogy) but push forward with the next draft and look to publishing sometime in the next couple of years. If sooner, then awesome.

I do not know when I will work on book 2. I will be working on book 1 draft 2 when I can. If you want to follow draft two, I will be posting it to my Discord for people to read and give feedback on. 

So, while I have a plan as to where this will go, I am a bit iffier on timeframe and everything. The best way to keep up to date on it all is, again, in my discord!

Thanks

I can only start with thanks to the two reasons this series ever began: aoiiiife and Pennywithaney . This book had the weirdest beginnings: from a book requested by aoiiife to a contest by Pennywithaney that inspired a spin-off of said book, and that spin-off eventually became this. You saw the full story of the craziness up above, but thank you two for being the ones who placed the roots for what this would become.

Thank you to EverythingsNothing. You've been so consistently there for my works, and it's been such a joy getting your comments, even when everyone else is busy. Sorry if nothing in this book can compare to Joshlyn, though 🤣

Thank you to all of you who either have very rarely popped up or are primarily silent readers, but have been there for so long, especially Eren712, duma6789, , and IrisDeLa. There's likely other readers each update, but I know you're there because I see you voting so often. Thank you for your support, because even quiet support, especially when consistent, is amazing <3 

Thank you to all the people who are still reading and will get here eventually, as well as to you who are just recently reading and just coming along once the journey is ending or has ended. There's no lateness to this party (just to getting named xD).

Over all the iterations, all the changes, all the different attempts, very few have stuck around (don't blame them, I wasn't trustworthy and it took me 8.5 years xD). But thank you to Wimbug and TakiZyn who have read every iteration of this, and are finally seeing it to its completion. Thank you for being along on such a wonderful journey with me, and I hope that you enjoyed getting to see its ending finally come to being :D 

Also, TakiZyn, thank you for being one of the only ones who read this on my discord, even if you did come in way later 🤣

But speaking of my discord, such a huuuuge thank you to allrenwrote, who stumbled across where I was posting on my discord and just started to devour this book. I was content writing for myself without anyone seeing, because this was before I finally posted to here, but you came in, and your passion and love just lit a fire underneath me. Thank you for your support, for your infectious love, for all your yellings and cheers and tears. Thank you T^T

There's going to be people I missed, or people I'll remember later on that I meant to add. But my wobbly memory does not mean I do not love and appreciate every single one of you who has shown this story support. But this isn't the end. It's just the first step in a very long journey :)