25 _ POSTWORD
A word before we actually start this.
A word on last chapter.
I also enjoyed that one a lot. Because it means everything is back to normal. And let me tell you this, Folks : it almost feels strange to write about normality, sometimes. Because in this precise case, most of the story was a succession of fantastic, magic events, that were very remote from normal. So, since i wrote only about characters possessing fantastic powers, and that the story was set on an alien planet, i had thus lost the habit of writing about normal life, i.e. life on Earth.
That's why last chapter was a tad odd : i had lost the habit of writing about normality…
But i still like last chappy very much.
And now we can begin !
FEELINGS
I started this story on March 21st and end it today, on August 30th. So that's a bit more than five months.
And let me tell you that i feel both sad and… say, « peculiar », to be about to put the final dot to that story. I spent so much time on it, so much time with these characters, that i can barely imagine closing that story for good.
I put a lot of myself into it, striving to use different words and periphrases to avoid repetitions, checking carefully my text to get rid of typos and absent-minding errors, checking all meanings of the words i was unsure of, to be certain to get the exact meaning. It doesn't seem like that, but lots of efforts were put in SHADOWLAND, and i feel altogether proud and happy about the result. But sad to have to leave it…
THANKS
I'm also happy for all the wonderful reviews : 55 atm, but soon more, i know… which make it the most reviewed new story this year – i checked ! – and one of the three most reviewed since fall 2011, after the updated UNKNOWN LOVE and AM I, YOU ?) – i also checked ! =D How great is that ? Thanxxxx a damn lot for all your support, guys : your endless encouraging words and congrat's really warmed my heart. I wouldn't be where i am now without you. You all ROCK to the maxxxx ! THANXXXX !
I'd like to address a special thank you to BLOOD-OF-SILVER, who reviewed ALL my chapters – once again, i checked – and had the most encouraging words ever ! Thanxxxx to the maxxxx, Ana, for being that supportive, and everso glad you enjoyed the story that much. You made my days each time with your great reviews ! Thank you, Girl ! =))
DEDICATIONS
I already said, in the « Foreword » (prior ch. 1) that this story was dedicated to :
BeachBabe123
Blood-of-Silver
Katie Minnie.
I'll add a secondary dedication to Cathyrulzforever, who intends to break my words record for this story, which will be around 103'000 words soon (the longest MBC story on FF, by far ! My personal feat, LOL !). I wish her good luck to beat me, coz honestly, it'll be difficult : i mean, the second longest MBC story has around 42'000 words, so…
RATING
I had to change the rating from K+ to T, coz after all, there is violence in it : a girl about to die, some people dying, one speaking of abusing a girl. Nothing much for children, eh ? So it's now a T story.
AMBITION
If i ever have an ambition wz this story, it's to enter the MBC TOP 2012, which is hosted by Katie Minnie. I couldn't take part in the 2009 TOP 20, but really hope to make it for this new TOP 20. I please ask you to vote for my story if you estimate it deserves a place in that new TOP 20. Thanks, Buddies !
ORIGINAL CHARACTERS
I informed you, at some point, that my OC's actually had the real names of my FF friends (their real names, not their usernames, right ?). It's fully correct. Time has come to unveil this all, so that you know who-fictional refers to who-real. Let's go :
LAUREN : Lauren is the 123rd Queen of the Beabas, ruling Fic. I'm sure the cunning foxes round here guessed that the one hidden behind her was… BEACHBABE123, which i consider the queen of fic…tion ! My favorite writer, at least, and one of the most gifted i've read from on FF MBC. Hello to ya, Lauren ! And bravo for your great stories, once and forever !
ANA : the Chancellor is another major figure of the story. And like was the case with Lauren, it's one of my addressees for the dedications. It's… BLOOD-OF-SILVER, my best reviewer, a great writer and a half-nutty girl who make me laugh each time wz her crazy PM's ! Hi there, Ana ! Thanxxxx 4 the support ! =))
GIANELL : she also has an important part to play, notably as strategist, along wz Sam. This girl wasn't originally in my dedications, but i added her in this postword, coz i really loved her own stories. So you've guessed that it is… CATHYRULZ4EVER ! Girl, you left many fans eager for your many stories pending : please write on ! Hello to you, Gianell !
DESMIRA : the one who sacrificed her life to save her queen is actually a mix between two of my FF friends, who are… MASTERMINOR (Destiny) and THEDANNYWTF (Marisa, which i used the letters « MIRA » from, and the « S », commonly with Destiny). Destiny is one of my best friends on here with 2 other girls, and Marisa is a great buddy of mine as well. Howdy, Destiny & Marisa !
EMILY : she wasn't in my plot initially, but i felt i should include her, in order to have represented… EMMYRULZ4EVER ! And no, she didn't choose her alias in reference to Cathyrulz4ever, although i though so at first. And i made Emily help Beabas and MBC to defeat the Dark Lord, which made her pass from a weak status (the creature used as source of energy) to a strong status (a fighter as determined as the others). Hey, Emily !
KATIE : for this character, i used the very same name as the user i wanted to refer to, and which is… KATIE MINNIE ! I ignore her firstname, so i just put Katie as firstname. Her story, UNKNOWN LOVE, is in my top 3, and she's the 3rd main addressee of my dedications. I still wish she would communicate again with me by unblocking me : i did nothing to deserve that, nothing ! So why block me at all ? Because my reviews were too enthusiastic ? Come on, i'm not a maniac, hell ! Anyway, afternoon, Katie !
JOSHUA : behind that character is hidden one of the first writers i ever got hooked on, maybe even BeahBabe123 or shortly after, and that is… HAHLI NUVA ! A guy whose stories immediately won my heart. Stories which range from romantic to highly arousing, and honestly, he's the best lemon writer… after me, eh eh ! *jokes* Yo there, Josh !
And there they are. I thank them for allowing me to use their names, but since they know i'm a trustworthy and well-balanced person (isn't it, Ana ?), they all know i was reliable and would do nothing wrong with their names.
Thank you all, dear buddies, for being my friends and a very cool bunch of mates. I enjoy each of your PMs and am delighted to read your stories. I hope we can stay friends… hum, forever, why not ? =P All my love and care to you all !
PROJECTS
Well, after such an intense and long story as SHADOWLAND, i shall deserve some writing vacation, no ? Well no, not yet. I have a few things to take care of first.
Finish the only of my 5 stories still pending, P.E. I was supposed to co-write it with Joshua, but he told me he had lost interest in it. Too bad, especially when i think that he was the one to propose me a common story after enjoying THE GREATEST TIDAL WAVE EVER that much. No hard feelings to him, but honestly, i can't help feeling disappointed. But since i promised myself not to leave ANY story unfinished, I'll carry o with it.
And i won't delete it neither. I consider deleting a story as a triple betrayal : betrayal to the audience, to the story itself and to yourself as an author. It's a SHAME to delete a story. It's already frustrating enough to see that many unfinished stories on FF (and most of the time GOOD stories !), so thinking of deleting them… just unforgivable !
Revise TGTWE, which is one story in… one chapter only ! I know some didn't read it coz they were desperate that it wasn't cut into chapters, making it pretty difficult to read in one shot or find where they had remained in the story by scrolling down the whole story… not practical, eh ! So i'll slice up that story into chapters, and make it thus easier to read, with a possibility to stop between chappies. Thank who ? =P
I had promised to BoS, long ago, to make her read my poems. I've been busy since then with my stories. But i intend to do that right after the two above, and link her to the site where i publish those poems. A little more patience, Ana, juuuust a little more !
And only next will i begin my new story, which will be a realist drama. Therefore pretty remote from SHADOWLAND. But then again, i love changing genres regularly : none of my stories are strictly identical, if you analyze them carefully. So, back to reality, back to Singletown… Just wait to find out the topic of this new one, eh eh !
SEQUEL
Ah, one last thing before taking my leave : one of you has expressed her will to write a sequel to SHADOWLAND, naturally giving me credit for the original work and OC's in her foreword to that sequel. I agreed to that, and she let me know that she may begin the story after finishing her current one.
So you will have another story on the same topic, possibly with all the same characters as in SL, i dunno. So if you liked my story, i strongly suggest you check out her own production this year. And if you want to know WHO it is, well… easy breezy : she's the greatest fan of SHADOWLAND ! Need no more clues, right ? XD
HEROES
There it is. Time to say goodbye to all of you, Friends. But not before handing the mike over to some people, who have something to say :
CATHY : why didn't you make me part of your story ?
ME : But don't you forget that the whole « raison d'être » of the story is YOU, your life, your shadow. It's you who made he story exist, Cath' !
CATHY : Oh ! Yes, you're right ! Hadn't thought of that…
SAM : And thanks a lot for giving me that much importance in the story !
ME : Anytime, Sammy ! Don't forget you're my fav' with Cathy. And you're so beautiful…
SAM : *blushes*
CHRIS : Hey !
ME : Sorry, i… was daydreaming…
CHRIS : *grumbles* Anyway, thanks for making me healthy again after i was got by Poisoners' darts.
ME : You're very welcome, little Genius !
CHRIS : *beams* Okay, i forgive you for before !
DANNY : And thanks for giving me such an important part in the beginning and end of your story, which are the most important parts of a fiction.
ME : It was nothing, really, Man !
DANNY : Ah no, i disagree : it was SOMETHING ! So thanks again !
ME : Okay then. My pleasure.
ALL TOGETHER : And all our gratitude for making us pair in couples ! We promise to love each other all our life ! Thank you, Leo !
ME : *blushes* My turn, i guess… *turns around so no one can see him blush*
GOODBYE
Well, time for the REAL goodbye now.
Thank you so much everyone to bother reading this dead long story. Thank you for your reviews and kind words and encouragements. Thank you for liking my work. Thank you for being awesome friends. Thank you for writing to me that regularly.
Thank you once and forever !
I wish you best of luck with your stories, which i love to read, and best of luck in your personal lives. Take good care of ya and never forget to LOOK UP and to SMILE. Life is worth living, you know. Never give up ! And believe in yourself, always !
Goodbye, dear Friends, and see you soon…
BE HAPPY !
Peace, Love, Ecstasy + Hugs and smiles !
And long live (British) rock music and (French) electronic music !
XXXX
***LEO***