Wow... what do I even say when I post the final chapter of the novel I've been working on for six years? Do I look back on all of my experiences writing it and the most important events that inspired parts of the story? I'd like to, but for tonight I need to give this to you and move on to the homework I neglected during this fit of passion. I had no idea I was going to overcome my writer's block today. I just suddenly had the urge to finish things once and for all.

Thank you to everyone reading this.

( Chapter 52 - She Called to Me and Said Free Me )

The inspiration for this chapter, and the woman whose music has carried me wonderfully through the entire story.

Watch on YouTube

Thank you, Shara.

:/

I'm not really happy with it, but I think I just need to get it out and find out later why it's not satisfactory.

( Chapter 51 - Litany of Love (part 2) )

I bring these to you in parts so I can keep in better contact while I do these very last pages. I want to have it all finished by September 1st, hopefully midnight, but that means I'll be staring at my computer screen quite a lot for the next ~28 hours!

So here is part 1 of chapter 51.

Sorry I haven't named this yet. I realized it was unnamed and I really can't make a decision last minute. I'm going to probably reread the part of the book that served as inspiration for some little something. For those of you who have read Leroux, I'm sure this chapter will invoke a VERY specific scene.

It was... quite insane to write. And yet I knew all along it would happen, even on those days Lily fell asleep on the attic rug after Erik brought her tea.

( Chapter 51 (Part 1) )

The rest of this chapter. I didn't realize that the part I'm actually dreading won't really happen until the next chapter. So... I have a little more time to put that off. But I got some inspiration from reading the book...

( Chapter 50 - Fallen Idol (Part 2) )

Alright, guys. You get an update, even if it's not a full one, because I'm taking too long to deliver, and I feel insufferably lonely over here. I'm really having a tough time with this, and it's very baffling because the last few chapters ought to be very exciting. Which they are, but I already wrote extensively about being nervous and psyching myself out.

It happened. As soon as I told myself I should sit down this evening and write as much as I could, I thought "I need alcohol" and opened up a random wine bottle. I made the equivalent of a margarita but realized this is really bad Writer's Anxiety if I'm drinking, since I rarely drink.



Brainfreeze.

So... I deliver to you a polished first part of chapter 50. The second part is still coming along and legitimately scaring me shitless. This chapter features Erik as he is drawn here:



Without further adieu,

( Chapter 50 - Fallen Idol (Part 1) )

So, can't wait to hear back so I feel a little less alone, here... Hope you like it. I'll post more Bat Boy pictures soon, too. I found more!

♥, J

It's a little rocky, and I'm in a hurry, but here it is!

( Chapter 49 - Supernova )

Here comes a fascinating update, and I will explain why. Here in this chapter is a second draft of a scene that I wrote just a month shy of six years ago, which fantasized about this story at its climax, before any of it had been written and I was discovering, by doing the exercise, that I was indeed passionate about turning it into a novel. If you don't believe me, read the chapter, and then read this: http://ladybows-fs.livejournal.com/18720.html

Anyway, on top of that, it's just... Lily's come a long way, and so has Erik, and both are standing by their own principles, and neither of them can take it anymore that the other won't give in. A look into Erik's nature, and to Lily's, when put in desperate situations. I'm just really excited about this. The end is coming nearer and nearer.

In case you didn't know, I've told my FF.net readers that after chapter 47, all postings will be for my inner circle to read and criticize. This is to protect total theft and to encourage people to join the circle and give feedback (as a precondition of reading is that you must give feedback.) Of course, if you're just a really good friend who's always been reading this journal (Saraaaa) you aren't required to do anything -- I simply hope and pray that you write to me about it. ESPECIALLY about this one! So pumped to know what you think, ugh.

So without further adieu, here it is.

( Chapter 48 - A Butterfly's Wings )

No favorite quote section. Be surprised.