Author Note:
Hi everyone. We made it! I hope the ending provides some closure; it does for me.
I say that with some sadness because this story has been a huge part of my life for the last couple years—preserving a space for me to recharge each day and seeing me through life transitions. Writing was a way for me to process what I went through in childhood, which all came to the forefront when I became a Mom. Now I have some understanding of what happened to me and a healthier way to move forward. It's hard not to get choked up at the idea of not having IUW anymore.
I must sound like a broken record but I am so proud of the labour of love the story turned out to be. All your feedback and suggestions changed and developed the plot in ways I never would've imagined. Thank you, because the final product is so much richer for it. I am especially indebted to the lovely theypreferthetermpeople, my beta reader and editor turned friend, who took IUW under her wing and ran with it. It's been marvellous having someone so patient and detail-oriented look at the material with a critical eye. Without her, there would be a lot more dashes, grammatical errors, and double negatives!
More than all of that...countless messages exchanged over a new idea or details that needed ironing out, led to many friendships that are near and dear to my heart. I'm filled with gratitude and awe (and okay, maybe a few tears) whenever I think of where this work took us.
A sequel is currently in the very early stages and quite a ways from being ready. A few short stories will hopefully go live over the next month or so. Some are chapter extensions, while others are reader requests to go back to early days when Callie first moved in. In the meantime, requests are welcome. No promises I'll get to all of them, but they're considered with love, curiosity, and appreciation. Always.
Thank you. Thank you a million times over.
~b