/The Sleuth Project/
author's note

---

"WRITE UNTIL it becomes as natural as breathing." — Unknown

After a year or so of slow, and I mean slow updates of the edited chapters, natapos na rin sa wakas ang "The Sleuth Project".

Funny enough, the first draft of this story (which only contained fifteen chapters) also took more than a year to write back in 2016 — so despite my sluggishness, I believe I've come a long way as a writer by being able to finish a full-length novel instead of a half-assed one, in only a year.

You see, "The Sleuth Project" has always been special to me. Everyone who knows me would know that I'm an avid fan of mystery novels ever since I was young. This interest has since then blossomed into a dream: a dream to write and someday publish my own mystery novel. "The Sleuth Project" fulfilled that dream of mine. It's the first novel that I've ever written, the first story that made me decide my writing style and footing in the world of creative fiction writing.

It was the book that started it all, the first of many firsts.

I remember being so proud of this work in 2016, especially since it was garnering lots of reads along the way. But after I had finished writing its sequel "The Empire", I realized how badly executed "The Sleuth Project" was. It had potential, but it needed major revisions and tweaks in terms of its character development, antagonists, and the overall plot. Examples of this is how the development of Rein and Ann's friendship felt rushed, Sera didn't have a distinct quality, and Quinn and Queenie felt like characters who were thrown in the last minute. The revelation of the Cortez twins as the primary antagonists also fell short. 

With all these problems that I've identified now as a more older and more experienced writer, I knew that I was going to edit The Sleuth Project eventually. It was a special work of mine, and I wanted to preserve and mold it into its best version. And so here I am. After six years (2016 to 2022 is a long long way), I can say that "The Sleuth Project" is finally and officially finished — way more polished and reader-friendly than its initial 2016 version.

And I can never be more proud.

To everyone who supported this book's editing process, "thank you" isn't enough to suffice. The difficulties I faced in writing and editing this: writer's block, mental health issues, and the difficulty of tracking every miniscule detail to make sure that it was consistent, resulted to lots of hiatuses which I know was frustrating as a reader.

In fact, I probably lost a few sleuth-readers along the way during that period of time where I was experiencing intense anxiety attacks which hindered me from writing. So to all who stayed, and to all who will continue to stay, thank you.

Thank you for trusting me, trusting the process, and for joining the Campus Sleuths' initial journey.

I know a simple general "thank you" isn't enough to express how grateful I am, so allow me to specify each person who had played a significant role in the process of writing this novel.

To Ate purpleyhan and Kuya AkoSiIbarra, no amount of words can articulate how much you have inspired me as a Filipino mystery writer. Please don't ever stop weaving magic with your writing.

To Kuya Cris, the mere act of acknowledging this novel was already more than enough, but you took the liberty to actually comment and vote on this story, and even followed me — which I'll forever be grateful for. Thank you kuya, sending my love and support to you and your works always!

But of course, this work will not be finished if not for the readers who were there to motivate me and push me through their sweetest comments. Salamat dahil lagi kayong nandyan para tanungin ako kung kailan yung next na update (HAHA!). I wouldn't have pushed through without all of you.

To my old readers, AG_Potter kemosahbeee aeriseol rirripeach perpetuallysleepy MoonlightCy EnigmaticInsomniac Ella_Fantastic Hankertsips krishgty
gelatynneee auberginey empoy1516 blackscythe1031 dreitctv and dazzlingT, you are the best readers that a writer can ever have. Thank you for being the first to support "The Sleuth Project".

To my new readers, yanagh0rl, elemmennem, kyliefrancisco008, nekko_usagi, ilabuself, aegicream, ladywithnojob, Just_U_and_me, JhonkellyHora, Yeah-han, Ma_liwanag, peyii_mjn, MartinCruistron, altheajugalbot, Jewel_in_LUV, eshang_06, PercivalRedesmo, n_cturnxl, Zhar_mel, CampanaAmmarilla, WritePaperPen, KYZLINE16, Jasthiaruby, shentic, piayiie, co0orny, king_elites, klineyyyyy, Beauvear, CaptShane, 11hay29 and imurjiminstan, thank you for finding worth in this novel and staying despite the grueling editing process. So blessed to have you on this journey.

To _prinsesak, Little_Miss_Rocker and ClearlyAmbivalent, thank you for always being supportive, and for sometimes criticizing me in the areas where I could improve. Love you three to bits.

And to the rest of my readers, followers and commenters who I didn't mention, of course I won't forget you all. Thank you so much for carrying a piece of the Campus Sleuth with you! I hope you'll continue to support me in my writing journey.

With all the acknowledgement and gratitude aside, I have prepared a glossary of important terms and an encyclopedia of fun facts related to the process of writing "The Sleuth Project" that can be found after this author's note. Feel free to use it as a reference!

Sana ay pagkatapos niyong um-exit sa story na 'to, ay sana suportahin niyo rin ang pag-edit ko sa sequel ng "The Sleuth Project", which, as mentioned earlier, is called, "The Empire". It will be the Book #2 of the Campus Sleuths' Series.

Our six protagonists will surely be there for their first case as Castillo High's Campus Sleuths, solving a much bigger mystery encircling the academe: school injustices and a series of missing persons case that were all hinted in this edited Book #1. So if you finished this book with a few questions in mind (ex: bakit biglang nawala si Vice Principal Leila nung POV ni Rein? Sino yung pulis na nakatingin kina Ann sa clinic?), be sure to check the sequel out!

I'll be fixing the inconsistencies and line up the events of Book #2 much more accurately to the new plot points and details I added in this edited version of Book #1, just to make sure the shift of reading from the first to the second book, will be coherent for you guys.

As for the mystery regarding Ann's parents, hintayin nalang po natin ang Book #3. 'Yon ang magiging focus ng ating Campus Sleuths.

And that's it! I hope this novel has been a splendid read for you, my sleuth-readers! But most of all, I hope that you have taken a lesson or two from the Campus Sleuths themselves. Like them, it's okay to be imperfect, it's okay to be human, and it's totally okay if the path you'll take is different from what is expected from you. You're the writers of your own life/novel, remember that. (◍•ᴗ•◍)✧*。

Much love,
GELI
IsadoraQuagmire13