Ok guys, so I'm back—but also, not really.
Because I'm busy moving houses, prepping for an upcoming flight to Hong Kong, and reading Tsaheylu Between Worlds to learn from Dushie's writing style, sooo updates are still on hold.
I've figured out what I lack in my writing so I've been doing revisions. I’ve only rewritten Book 1's Prologue so far, but I intend to rewrite all chapters eventually. Don't worry, the plot will stay exactly the same—you won't need to re-read anything. I just can't stand that my old, cliché, beginner writing is still being actively read. I need to add more character voice and imagery; my old style was too plot-driven and screenplay-like, failing to deliver the emotional depth, reactional logic, and ambiance I wanted you to feel.
Also, I'm sorry, but I failed my Author's Note promise in Book 1: my OC still IS a Mary Sue. I didn't write her PTSD realistically enough; she acts too tuffgirl, too teen-normal, and is just trauma-proof. I also need to add a chapter or maybe just put in details and thought-process paragraphs in the existing chaps addressing Hiraya's conflicted dilemma about Neteyam in Book 1. Considering her traumatic past with Kuro—whose faceclaim is Neteyam as a Mangkwan—the psychological impact of that parallel shouldn't have been ignored. Kuro's character idea only occurred to me after Book 1, but that trauma response still needs to have been there to foreshadow his Book 2 reveal. Plus, we all just nodded along at the part where she survived months alone in the wild before meeting Neteyam. I need to make it make sense.
There's so much to fix that it literally gnaws at me at night like head lice (ew). I can't focus on continuing Book 4 yet, so it will remain on hiatus until I clear these schizophrenic notifs out of my head.
Anyway, thank you all for your endless support! And to my new readers and followers, welcome to this little community we have here. I hope Hiraya's story leaves an impression on you. TYSM!♡