Letters to a Mysterious Stranger [ONGOING]

Author's Notes

These notes are ones that I have on the Booklat version. I'm adding them here for your reference.

May 26, 2014

I'm adding this page, so I can write about changes I've made, random things in the process of writing this, little footnotes and other things just so I can have a conversation with you, my readers.

First of all, thank you. It is really great that you are reading this. Sa mga hindi sanay sa English, sorry kung napanosebleed ko kayo, pero thank you talaga.

Secondly, add ko na yung mga minor changes ko:

1. changed descriptions about Julia prior to the publication of ch 5 to make her more like a "mean girl." I made Judy dislike her a bit.

2. changed initial description of Jervis: he no longer looks like Xian Lim. I made it vague enough to make room for peoples' imaginations.

3. the Chua's company to Zenith Corp to Summa Corp. I found out that there is an actual Zenith Corp kasi who also do manufacturing. I promise, I didn't know.

4. Minor dialogue changes to the Jervis' and Judy's conversation about Julia on the train platform (London Underground), but instead of giving Jervis a slight ourburst (on the first draft), I simply made him tease out the realization from Judy.

5. Minor: Julia made Judy keep the chocolates on "Sweet November" because she does not want to get fat.

Salamat uli. I hope you keep reading Judy's adventures.

May 30, 2014

So far, the changes that I have been making are minor.

Very minor.

Only one this week: After Zorro dashes off sa prologue, I gave Judy a oneliner: "Zorro na may batmobile. Nababaliw na ata ako." A line like this was in one of my earlier drafts but I deleted it. I found a way to put it back. Again, it is very minor but I miss it because comments like these make Judy who she is.

Some people are wondering where one could read the original "Daddy Long Legs." Thankfully, it is a public domain text. Here's the Project Gutenberg link: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/40426/40426-h/40426-h.htm

For those who are feeling nostalgic, and for those who want to rewatch the anime: http://kissanime.com/Anime/My-Daddy-Long-Legs . I am unfortunately a literary purist, and I am usually one of those people who prefer printed version.

I also need to acknowledge that this version is also partly inspired by Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. To those who have already read "After Winter" and to those who may have read Jane Eyre, you probably have noticed that Judy's background is closer to Jane Eyre. I thought of partly basing it on Jane Eyre, after reading critical work on Daddy Long Legs. John Seelye, in his book Jane Eyre's American Daughters, does point out that Daddy Long Legs is Jane Eyre's literary descendant, and I can certainly see the parallels. So for those who want to read Jane Eyre, Project Gutenberg has it too: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1260/1260-h/1260-h.htm

Ok. Siguro marami sa inyo hindi pa nabasa Jane Eyre. But to those who love Twilight, maypagkaTwilight rin siya. Jane Eyre is practically the grandmother of many romances out there. That and of course Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

Last na.

You probably have noticed that I love nineteenth century British literature, and I have referenced a lot of them.

I mentioned North and South a lot. BBC has made an adaptation of the series na super kilig. If you watch it, you will understand kung bakit kilig na kilig si Judy. I found a link in dailymotion with all four episodes: