I'll be back next week with a proper chapter. Never fear. :)

Congrats to all the Writathon winners! Check out the list here, now with some options for sorting by genre and type: https://www.royalroad.com/blog/48/the-list-of-writathon-winners

Writing 55,555 in 5 weeks is tough for a variety of reasons. Individual days aren't too bad. I can sit down and bang out a few thousand words if I'm in the mood and the kids are all otherwise occupied. Stringing them together, however? That's taxing. I don't think I'll participate in the next one, although it's a good way to bring visibility to the story. The mental strain and the time requirements -- both for me and for my family -- just isn't worth the tradeoff. Rest and relaxation with my family is essential.

I've done Writathon (and NaNoWriMo) a number of times, and while I always finish, it takes something out of me to do it. I'm an amateur, an enthusiast, a lover of spinning tales. I am not a professional. For me, writing is a fun side hobby that I do in my spare time, not a business venture, and I want to enjoy it for years to come. Risking burnout and bad storytelling by writing too quickly doesn't help writers or readers. Let's not go down that path! I have a lot of plans for this story now that I've developed proper notes, and I want to see it through to the very end. We have a long way to go. I'm excited to share the journey with you all.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

While I'm taking a few days to recuperate from Writathon, might I suggest two courses of action? First, check out some of the great stories on this site and elsewhere! I'm a huge fan of Wandering Inn, Forge of Destiny, Virtuous Sons, Peculiar Soul, Inheritors of Eschaton, Mother of Learning, Immovable Mage, Steamforged Sorcery, Super Minion, and many others. What are some of your favorites? Leave a comment below with a recommendation, preferably from a lesser-known writer. I realize I listed a lot of big names and popular stories, so let's hear about great tales that aren't in the mainstream.

Second, if you haven't already, how about kindly leaving a review? Ratings and reviews help others trust that the story is worth their time. In a sea of so many stories, why choose this one? Group think isn't always right, but if a story has many good reviews, readers are more likely to give it a try than if it only has a few mediocre reviews. And, let's be frank: the first few reviews that show up for Delicate as Glass are less than flattering, and I'm afraid it scares off potential readers.

That said, many of their critiques are fair and understandable, and I appreciate that they took the time to write up their thoughts. I still plan to find some time over the summer to do a light rewrite of the opening half dozen chapters or so based on the feedback I've received, but I'd like to think the story has grown significantly since those days. I even have notes now. Whew!

If you are going to review, I'll listen. I'll never claim this story is perfect, but I take your feedback extremely seriously. Thanks for all the support!