So here it is. All 95,000+ words of my first completed novel. Granted, it's been completed for a month now, but I still felt a little empty when I hit the publish button for the last chapter. I've always had stories swimming around in my head, and a few times they've made it to paper, but never in completion. I always think my work isn't good enough or get wrapped up in the revising process. But you know what? It's called a first draft for a reason. It's supposed to suck. Get all your ideas down first, then go back and edit the hell out of everything. And though this journey has taken me a little longer than some other more prolific Wattpaders on here (almost a year), I made it to the finish line. And now I can start the maddening process of revision which I'm actually pretty stoked for. I'm thinking of renaming this story again, making it part one of a trilogy tentatively called the "Of Crows" series. What, pray tell, would this book be called, you ask? Feather. The other two would be Flight and Murder respectively. But who knows, a lot can change over the course of a writing journey.

Any who, most of you are probably wondering what life has in store for Peneloper. Well, like it was teased in the epilogue, her journey is far from over. Labyrinths, skeletal nations, more Gideon and Crispen, and the mysterious King of Crows. She'll learn more of the world's origins, of the layers and the Council of Four. (Any of you also wonder why only three sit on the Council of Four? Why Rayburn was the fourth though he kept to the shadows? I know I have my suspicions). I'll hope you stay with Nep, and be patient with me, as I continue to plot out her journey.

To all of you who have stuck with this story, errors and all, you have my heartfelt thanks. For your kind words, your constructive criticisms, thank you. I write for me, but now I know my writing has a tiny place in the world. I hope this story made you smile, laugh (at least once), and shed a few tears. After all, that's what makes life, life.

-Octavia-