Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns everything in the Twiverse. No copyright infringement intended.
So this isn't an update, and I apologize for getting your hopes up. But after the response to yesterday's update, I felt like I needed to say something sooner than later.
First of all, THANK YOU for all the well-wishes on the publishing of my book. I'm so thrilled so many of you have expressed an interest in reading it. If you do read it, I sure hope you'll let me know what you think!
As far as this story goes, there was a lot of confusion. Like, A LOT. Some of it was expected, and I'd already had plans for clarity at the very beginning of the next update. But one thing that stumped just about everyone needs to be cleared up now:
"Alastair" is what Isabella called Edward before he told her his real name (see chapters four and five). He's not another character.
I sincerely apologize for the confusion there. I often forget this story has been updating for almost a year, so relatively minor things that happened in the beginning of the story are easy to forget. I was so excited to update this story again and felt TERRIBLE after so many of you seemed to think Alastair was an actual character and not just another name for Edward. Also...confusion about Alastair revealed what seems like brewing reader frustration with this story, and that's the other reason I wanted to say something now.
I realize reading a WIP is a risk. Not just because writers don't always finish their stories—which is certainly a concern—but because you're getting the story in increments and often at a less-than-ideal pace. That has certainly been the case with "The Last Word," and well...as an avid reader, I totally get it. And because I get it, I want to sincerely thank you for the trust you show in sticking with this story. I know it's going slower than some of you would like, the plot is often more opaque than obvious, and I have the nerve to sometimes update only once a month.
But please know I won't leave you hanging. My plans for this story have changed a few times...often because of reader feedback...but the coming end is pretty much what I'd always envisioned. I don't know if you'll be satisfied with it—reader satisfaction isn't something writers can ever guarantee, but that's the risk we take—but I promise to tie all loose ends in some form or fashion.
Anyway, the next chapter is about two weeks out, but I wanted to tell you now that Alastair IS Edward. As for everything else that confused you, I'm afraid you'll have to just trust me a little longer. I hope you're still willing to do that.
See you soon :)