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Author's Note
Sorry! This is not a chapter, but an important note that I'd appreciate for you to read.
I debated with myself for a while over whether to post this note on its own or attach it to the end of the next chapter. I've been that reader, waiting eagerly for an update, thinking I'm about to read one only to find an author's note. It sucks! I didn't want to do that. But, working on the next chapter has been a struggle, and I feel like it's important for me to put my thoughts into the world regarding this.
I've tried to condense my thoughts into as short a note as possible. It's not really that short. Sorry. My thoughts are really conflicting, and I just want to get them off my chest. Writing this story isn't fun anymore. It's started to keep me from working on other projects. I feel guilty when I'm working on something that isn't this, but I've already been working on this for four years, and I can't be confined to one project forever. I love this story, I love Joanna, and I love what I've outlined for the future. I desperately want to finish it and see it through to the conclusion. I hate the idea of not finishing what I've started, especially since I've put so much time and love into it.
But I want to move on. I want to be able to give my full attention to other projects without having this weighing down the back of my mind. I'm tired of trying to dredge up the enthusiasm and inspiration to write this. So, I'm going to put this story on indefinite hiatus. It's entirely possible (maybe even probable) that my interest and enthusiasm for Game of Thrones and this project will come back one day. But for now, I don't want to leave everyone waiting for a new chapter when it's starting to seem like one will never come. I want to stop forcing myself to dredge up enthusiasm, I want to stop forcing myself to write chapters just for the sake of getting them written. I want to put this down and not feel guilty.
I'm not sure if I'm being over dramatic by writing and posting this message, I guess I just felt like I owed it to you to give you an explanation. I don't want to leave you all hanging forever. I want to move on and I want you all to know that you can and should move on, too. I hope that, if I come back one day with more chapters, you'll come back to read more of Joanna's story. Until then, I hope you all understand. If you're feeling forgiving, maybe you can check out and support my other work.
Thank you all so, so, so much for all of your support thus far. From the bottom of my heart, every single time this has gotten hard or discouraging, your support kept me going. Being able to share what I love and see the response to it is so unspeakably wonderful, and thanks to you all I have been able to enjoy so much growth in my writing. I can't overstate how much I appreciate you.
Until next time,
Rex
(P.S. Because I forgot to include this the first time around - I can be found on AO3 as rexaquilo. Any further work will be posted there!)