Author Afterword

Thank you so much for taking time out of your life to read The Serpent and the Dove through to the end! Ever since I was little, I've loved to write, but I've had the bad habit of bouncing from idea to idea. I have yet to complete any of the stories I've written and the 2025 Novelous Worlds contest was my challenge to myself to prove that I could see a writing project through to the end. Because of my mental health episodes, I fell behind in writing and had decided I just wasn't going to complete my entry. But then one night, I got a comment from a reader who was concerned that The Serpent and the Dove was another web novel that had just been abandoned by it's author and would never be finished. Despite writing for years, no one had ever been that invested in my work before and, knowing that at least one other person besides myself wanted to see how things ended, I pushed myself to finish my entry. 

I already had the entire story planned out, but I had to split it into parts and cut it at chapter 23 to end on a proper note by the contest deadline. I'm proud and amazed at myself for being able to do it! I spent so many late nights staring at my laptop until my eyeballs felt like they were on fire and had no free time to spend on anything other than writing after work, but it was worth it!I feel like I've rediscovered the joy and thrill of writing that had me scribbling in notebooks for hours as a child.

I've always loved fairytales, mythology, and legends, but this is my first time ever writing a romance story. Even so, the writing just flowed naturally and I found myself falling in love with Mari and Azreal and their quirky little family! I've already started work on book 2 and, as soon as the rules of the contest allows, I will start publishing it, so keep your eyes open!

Thank you so much to everyone who read part 1 for enjoying my story as much as I did and sharing in the joy that this fictional world brings me. 

Thank you to my wonderful mother who believed that I could finish this and encouraged me to write every day to see it through. I wouldn't have been able to do it without your support! Even if you don't understand my love for anime, video games, and all things nerd culture, you've always supported me in writing whatever I wanted to, got interested and excited in every new idea I came up with, and believed in my ability to create something great, even if it wasn't a traditional book. I love you so much and I'm lucky to have you in my life and supporting me in all my dreams and interests.

And lastly, to the reader who spurred me to not give up on this story even when life was hard and I was at a low point; I can never thank you enough and will always remember and be grateful for your comment. While it may not have been a big deal to you, that interest and encouragement meant the world to me and book 1 of The Serpent and the Dove wouldn't have been completed and entered into the Novelous Worlds contest if it wasn't for your feedback. I hope you'll come back to see the rest of the story in book 2 and continue to enjoy it as much as you have book 1!