I usually don't leave author's notes but since it's the end of the year and a few other things have happened to make this a once in a blue moon author's note from yours truly.

(also, for some odd reason, wattpad won't let me align the text to the left so it's all in the middle)

Let me just start out by saying how I've been having doubts about this book. I know I shouldn't write for validation from others but when people read this book and leave comments and votes and despite this, end up abandoning this story anyway, I can't help but feel a bit crestfallen. Less and less people seem interested in what I write. At first I thought it was because I don't really engage with the readers and maybe it is but I'm not really an engaging type, unless i'm really comfortable with the person. I've decided to try harder to respond to reader's comments in the next few years because I really do appreciate them. But some people I do engage with also end up dropping the story. So I don't know what to do.

Writing Suzume's story, for the most part, is fun and exciting for me, but some days, I feel like i'm writing in vain. Like... I'm writing just for myself. I already have most of it planned out, I just need to write it, and I don't really have confidence in what I plan to do since it feels like it's just another cliché ending.

I'm not really good at writing humor either, which I hold as an important part of connecting with characters because that's usually what I hold endearing about my favorite characters and so I feel sorry for my ocs who are kind of lacking in love. But I digress.

To sum up, I'm not sure if this book is worthwhile or well-written. I'm just trying my best to finish an already tiring marathon. I've spent four years on this website and I think I should finish what I started.

However, in spite of all this negativity, I'd like to thank a few people who have stuck with me since the beginning even though it's been four long years.

MerciLani who I think started writing around the same time as me and I read her book Allyce in Narutoland and ended up being friends with. She's been extraordinarily supportive of me and this whole series and I can't thank her enough for being there.

N-chan, who I also discovered around the same time, perhaps after Merci, and have become close with. I like to think we're good friends even if it's only over the internet from a state away. N has also been very supportive and i'm very grateful for her companionship.

To both of you, I also wish you luck in your books. Allyce and Aoi have been a part of my life as much as their writers and although they, as well as Suzume, need a good deal of improvement, I'd like to say how I've seen both of you, N and Merci, grow as writers and people along with your protagonists (not as writers though, because I don't think Allyce and Aoi have any interest in writing but I don't know how else to phrase this).

Gosh, I sound depressing. I promise I'm fun in real life. It's been a long year.

On a happier note, I present to you, the first ever fanart I've ever received, drawn by N!

It's Suzume! In a dress! With cat Robin on her shoulder! (although Robin is introduced in the second book). BEHOLD THE BEAUTY OF THIS ART.

I hope I didn't bum you guys out for the NEW YEAR but I just needed to get everything out. I probably won't stop writing. I promise you all, this work will continue sucking the life out of me until I rise to the heavens. oH LOOK the alignment fixed itself!

On that note, HAPPY NEW YEAR. LET'S BE HAPPIER AND CONTENT THAN WE HAVE EVER BEEN BEFORE. 2017 WILL BEND TO OUR WILL. BEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNDDDD I SAY!

See you guys next week! HON HON HON HON!