Jan 20, 2025
To:Steward McOy
Again, floored with the feedback. Tbh, that's how I usually do stories in general (a habit from my fanfic writing as well) -- vignettes. That's why I am trying something new with American Yokai, a more linear type story. Thank you for your kind words regarding the descriptions. I had in mind with those that the artist could get an incredibly clear vision with what to draw in a manga adaptation (hah, gotta get there first).
That's an interesting perspective on Maya. I agree to an extent, actually. Rereading it was when it felt apparent to me something was off. I always intended for Maya to be a little in over her head and put up a character to fake her cool, but not to this extent. Should have changed that, hah. On one of the chapters, I tried to rectify this (by having Maya needing Lena's opinion on something to make a decision). Needed more of those. In the end, it is a character she plays. That's why backstage she seems so switched off sometimes.
As it is Lena's story, I wanted the majority of things to happen from her POV. That's why the interludes were conceived, but looking back, it is a risky way of doing SOL HAHAHA
The book cover was screaming symbolism LOL. My first comm. I didn't have a great imagination. But there were signs it wasn't really a romance story. Ngl, inspired by people I know in life that get their romantic kicks from c.ai. But the stuff with Caden and power imbalance was 100% my intent lol. It wouldn't be good for Cadens sake if he ended up with her, because he knows their relationship can never be normal
From the start, I wanted this to be different from all the bells and whistles of how romance in anime typically goes. Guess it is disingenuous, but I wanted the reader to feel betrayed about the romance, or lack thereof.
Tbh, at the end, I was going away for a week, so needed to finish this off. Felt that I couldn't revisit chapters and wouldn't have had the time to edit and polish.
And finally, I don't want to say completely unresolved story beats was my intent, but it was a goal of mine to leave things up for interpretation.
Thank you again for reading to the end Stew. Honestly invaluable feedback and something to build on for American Yokai. Are you planning on a new novel anytime soon?
