I'm done.

Really done this time.

It all started in 2014, with a waking dream. I was in bed, it was Sunday at 6 a.m., and Ryanne and her guardian pixie appeared in my head, demanding that I write their story.

So, of course, I did.

That dream became Touch of Faete, the first book in the Bradaís Pledge series.

But I was only beginning to learn how to write, and I shared that first story with an online group of critiquers who helped me shape those early books through pointed criticism, endless discussions, and, yes, a few tears along the way. I'm not afraid to admit it wasn't always easy. They were writers too, after all, and sometimes their comments hurt.

There were moments when I thought about giving up.

But the stories kept shouting in my head, and there was nothing else I wanted to do more. Okay, that's not entirely true ;) I love good food, traveling with my family, spending time with my family, reading, and cats. I really, really love cats.

And I have a day job, too, which takes a considerable amount of my time and occasionally tests my sanity (if you're wondering, I'm a Senior Business Analyst for a global distribution company.)

Still, I kept writing.

This is how it goes.... In 2022, I found Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing, and they loved my story enough to take it into their own hands. Touch of Faete finally had a home.

And now, twelve years after that strange Sunday morning dream, this story is done.

Really done.

I just sent the last edits to my editor. The last edits I'll ever make to Titus and Ryanne's story.

And that is a very strange sentence to write.

This is the fourth and final book in their story, although I suspect I haven't quite finished with the Bradaís universe. There's a couple who briefly appears in Corruption of Faete and tells me their story in Redemption of Faete. I fell in love with them, so we'll see.

But Ryanne and Titus? This is it.

And that ending... I've been savoring it for a very, very long time. The funny thing is that this particular version of Redemption of Faete has taken me somewhere I didn't expect. As I wrote the last version, the images came to me almost faster than I could put them on the page. Ryanne and Edward facing each other. The final pieces falling into place.

I got chills.

Then I started yelling like a crazed woman. My family has learned to recognize this particular variety of author behavior :)

And that moment reminded me why I love writing so much. Not because I get to say, "I wrote a book." It's because sometimes, after years of drafts and revisions and doubt, the story suddenly becomes exactly what it needs to be.

This version of Redemption of Faete took me somewhere exhilarating.

And Ryanne...

You're going to love her.

And possibly hate her a little. She's not the Ryanne you met in Touch of Faete. I can promise you that.

I've known for a long time what happens at the end of her journey. I knew about that dramatic event at the end of the third book, and I knew how she would respond to it.

Getting her there was another matter entirely.

And now I finally have.

So yes.

I'm done.

The book still has to go through the publishing process, of course, and I don't have a release date yet. As soon as I know, you'll know.

But for the first time in twelve years, I can look at Ryanne and Titus's story and say:

That's it.

And honestly?

I'm going to miss them.