jeidafei

Dear Luminous fans, I'm here to announce we have only TWO chapters and the Epilogue to go for Book Two, before I can mark the story COMPLETE. That's right, bingers, your lawd and savior author Jeida will finally relinquish you from your misery.
          
          I'm moving out of my company dorm at the end of this month, and I have training at work so I'm quite busy, but I'll do my best to push out these final chapters by early to mid February, which will be the month of the 5th anniversary of Luminous on Wattpad!
          
          Once I'm done with that, I'll take a little break then edit Book Two for the paperback and Kindle version. Then I'll consider my options for Book Three. 
          
          Yes, although Book Two will have a satisfying happy ending that answers most questions and lasts you emotionally until the next book comes out, we still have the voyage to Everglen to cover! 
          
          However, how soon (or even if at all) Book Three arrives depends largely on my motivation. After writing roughly 500,000 words over 5 years, I've been struggling with burnout. The paperback and ebook are tanking on Amazon. I'm still crushed by my Wattys loss. 
          
          So, if you can, please, PLEASE leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. You don't have to purchase the book to do this. The story is the same as Luminous on Wattpad, with better prose, dialogue, plot and adorable illustrations. Even if it didn't help to get the book discovered, it helps me improve as a writer to get feedback from readers.
          
          Amazon (global link):
          https://storyoriginapp.com/universalbooklinks/0dcea44e-7cd2-11ef-936d-4312a3d8a901
          
          Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219316805-luminous
          
          Spread the word on your socials. Recommend Luminous to your friends and your favorite online reviewers. I'm focusing on writing now, but I'll be looking to get into BookTube and Booktok later.
          
          Thank you so much. Take care, and I'll see you in the next update!
          
          Wagonloads of love, Jeida

Happy New Year, everyone!

MY COPY OF LUMINOUS CAME IN TODAY SOMEONE GOT IT FOR ME FOR CHRISTMAS!!! IT IS VERY THICK

Hey, I was told I have to ask you why you muted @THE_ESTIMATED
          She says she has always really enjoyed your writing and is wondering why you muted her.
          (Don't shoot the messenger)

I know that you probably won't pay attention to this, but I just wanted to say that you're super nice. I can't even imagine how annoying it must be to have people advertise their stories on your stuff without your permission, but you moved past the annoyance and thought about how hard it is for new writers. You literally made an ad space in your book! If my books ever get even semi-popular, I'm going to do the same.
          Again, all I wanted to say was thank you, and I think you're A super nice person.

Welp. Wattys results are out. I can finally move on.
          
          Just when I thought this year couldn't get worse, Twoset Violin retires. 
          
          This is the worst year at work so far. It's driving me insane.
          
          Also, anyone got Black Snape on their bingo card?
          
          But Faker and T1 winning LoL Worlds for the 5th time is a highlight, I guess. And of course, Hardbite honey dijon potato chips. 
          
          My best friend also got engaged to a good man. After so many hardships and heartbreak, I'm happy she finally got what a great gal deserves. (She's the one who composed the music to Meya's Song).
          
          Taylor Swift's Eras concert. Attack on Titan's final concert. I remember thinking this year started off great. It just peaked and went downhill from there. I can't recall much else.
          
          This year, I won't even get to go home and meet my rabbits until after I move out of the subsidized company dorm into a new tiny apartment somewhere. 
          
          Other friends are showing off their marriages and expensive trips left and right. I keep wondering how they can enjoy Japan as a tourist while I slowly die inside working in this white fluorescent hell of the open plan office, writing articles my boss wants that no one reads. But God, it pays so well. 
          
          Ten years. I just need the money. I just have to keep trucking on and hope someday, I will finally find some success as a writer.
          

Dear Luminous fans, sorry for the delay. I'm working on the next update. It's been a tough few weeks. I gotta let it out, it is very likely I'm out of the running for Wattys 2024.
          
          According to the guidelines, winners have been selected since October 30, and will be notified via e-mail within a week. It's been three.
          
          I've checked my e-mail every day since I stumbled upon that clause. It's a torture because half of me has accepted it, but the other half still holds out hope there might be something, anything causing a delay, and the message would arrive.
          
          Worse, Wattys forbids me making edits to my story until after the Awards Ceremony on Dec 6. Probably doesn't want news to leak, I guess. Although I know it doesn't matter anymore, I still don't dare do anything. I can't let go of the hope. I can't even add a message to the Prologue to promote my paperback.
          
          Nothing else goes my way. My book is barely selling. My work sucks. I lost money in stocks. I can't sleep. The one bright spot is the store finally brought back Honey Dijon-flavored Hardbite potato chips from Canada.
          
          It destroyed me. I cried whenever I even think about it. I'm no stranger to competition and defeat. I must've entered a hundred contests in my life. But never have I come so close, and never have I wanted to win this badly. Twenty years of writing. To lose this one chance to be shown to publishers.
          
          The odds aren't even stacked. 10 out of 17, 6 of which are Originals and judged separately. Does this mean I'm in the 2 of 11 that didn't win? And never know why?
          
          People keep telling me I'm awesome, I should be proud finishing a book. I appreciate that, but I can't help thinking what good is getting shortlisted, if 90% of selection is done by AI? If all I get is a sticker and a spot at the bottom of a reading list? 
          
          I dunno what's worse. Waiting to celebrate like a fool only to be killed in one blow, or knowing early and suffering a slow death for weeks?
          
          Sorry for the negativity. Love you guys.

@jeidafie congrats on your book getting in the shortlist!❤️ You totally deserved it!

I just unironically realized that I have the old cover image saved on my computer LOL

Question time! I'm curious; how did you stumble upon LUMINOUS? Which tags did you search for? Or was it recommended to you while reading other stories? How do you usually find or search for the stories you love?
          
          I probably should've asked this four years ago, but the answer was pretty obvious then XD. It's no longer the case now, and once the Wattys are over, I'm planning to tweak my tags again to be more relevant. 
          
          So, do let me know if you can find some time! It would help me and other writers out so much! Thank yooooou!