Stellar

The destination we arrived at was a familiar one. There were two stars, in a distant binary configuration -- a slightly larger orange dwarf and a smaller red. Both were remote, their light muted, but it was the revisited image of the planet that caught our attention on arrival. A lone planetary satellite of this solar system, the super-Earth sat far from its sun, the annual period multiple human years. On an outlying orbit, it was a lifeless, rugged world, wreathed in frozen ammonia and how

It seems like you're looking at the date of the book's creation, as if you check the fifth chapter, it was added on June 15, 2022, about four months ago. The sixth has been slow to write and is taking me more time than I would like. So yes, it is in actuality going to be finished. Since this is -- to my memory -- my first and only engagement with you as a reader thus far, I will try to be as gracious as I can with my response. I understand frustrations when something you enjoy is incomplete, but this fiction is not easy to create. I would encourage you, before commenting in this way, to consider how saying such a thing appears to the author -- especially considering it is our only interaction. If this is an inconvenience to you: my apologies, and I have another novel full of dragons instead for the meanwhile.

You had a feeling that another Hartley was going to appear despite there being no indications through the entire book until now? Well if so, your foresight is excellent.

Perhaps my favourite part of this book because it's all just him -- though some of the later chapters are strong contenders too. Nonetheless, Mira's solo journey has a lot of charm to it. What's not to love?

What, you don't think nuclear weapons are a good thing? Here I was, imagining them as a positive force of change in the world. I jest! Seriously though, there are multiple plot threads occurring here; the two girls on Lucere, the alien dagenithi Yugan, and what Konstantin is going through. The atomic destruction of Yakutsk was a specific targeted act, but to understand why, you'll need to learn more of Earth's politics. More to come on that in future chapters.

I got asked the question 'where are Shay and Mira?' quite a lot for the first few chapters of Veil of Shadow when it originally came out. Know that there's a good reason you don't see them right away, but when you do ... well, it'll be in their usual fashion that's highly dramatic and steeped in many shades of their starcrossed love. The status of Earth after the last couple of centuries of history -- and how the war against the alien foe is going -- are complicated topics. You'll learn a lot more about these things over the coming chapters, and boy is it a mess.

The map links are something I have fixed more than once, and I thought they were functional this time, but I guess I'll have to come back to that. Lily's fate was tragic, but it also an illustration of what happens to so many survivors on Lucere. It's inevitable this will happen to everyone who's a carrier someday, it's just a matter of when.

Thank you, though I still get comments and reactions intermittently, and there is also a sequel to it already complete, Veil of Shadow, and a third book incomplete at this time.

I cannot remember offhand canonically what Hartley's age is, but it's somewhere around the early 30s.

I wish to say that it takes strength of character to put oneself out there and address what was said, because not only is any public apology difficult, but especially when most others cannot bring themselves to speak a word in either direction -- that can be a daunting thing. I appreciate that you have chosen to do so, and I must add that I also appreciate that you have previously commented on my work and involved me as an author. I notice those who seem to be making a genuine effort, and I try not to forget their honest engagement. For all of this, I should thank you. Your compliments, also, are very kind. I don't want to come off as fishing for approval, but it can be very uplifting to hear, or read rather, that somebody holds what I do in high regard, with no demands nor conditions attached. Perhaps I am a vicarious soul in some ways, but it is personally fulfilling to know that a reader's emotional need, or intellectual curiosity -- or both -- has been satisfied because of something I created. After all, isn't that why art exists? To inspire feeling and thought in others? As for the ending to Spirit of Fire, this may be a bit of a tangent from your response, but it's strange -- I would have been fine with people telling me they didn't like it, over just ... not saying anything at all. I might have debated the merits of the reasoning if they couldn't fairly justify a criticism, but I can respect an honestly expressed opinion, even if it's one I disagree with. I think probably the reason was the book might have felt unsatisfying because of where it stopped -- and I get that -- but you can say exactly the same about Veil of Shadow. The plots of both are absolutely unresolved by the closing paragraph of the final chapter, and events are poised to be dramatically worse -- and in both cases that is clearly and obviously by design. Whether it's the invasion of Earth or the rebirth of a god, there HAS to be more to follow -- does anyone truly think I'm just going to drop it right there and not continue? Perhaps the only difference between the two is I said outright from earlier on that Veil was the middle part of a trilogy, whereas Spirit of Fire having a sequel wasn't mentioned until (I think?) after its completion, so people may have been taken by surprise. Still, that shouldn't have mattered, because I am playing the long game with both series. Either should ultimately be read together, as halves, or thirds, of a single greater whole. Nowhere have I stated -- or hinted -- that I'm going to leave anything unfinished. Quite the opposite, actually, because I hate when other artists do this to their audience. I just wish those who found the ending wanting considered it was never meant to be judged in a vacuum, and if they are doing that, they should reconsider investing their energy into anything at all that has multiple parts and is incomplete. That, or realise that sometimes you simply have to wait to get what you want. Okay, tangent over with. I will finish with: thank you for taking the time to say what you did. I sincerely value the sentiments expressed therein.

One of my personal favourite moments is their first kiss.

Well, there is a lot more Shay could tell Konstantin about his experiences so far, but he's still playing it careful with his situation. As for Mira saving the day, this won't be the last time you see him do so. Not even close.

One can judge by the chapter ending and Sofia's absence, that some kind of altercation must have happened. You'll get an answer on that count soon enough, but not before a little more drama, of course.

Well, Konstantin is a humane individual in a ruined world full of scavengers and rogues, so he is somebody you'd want on your side. Mira, however, is beginning to make Shay feel ... something new, that's for certain.

Lucere is a dangerous place. There is so much left to uncover though.

Thank you. I hope you will enjoy the rest of Hidden Sunlight as much as you have the start.

Thanks for commenting on your enjoyment of Spirit of Fire. Though, if you are implying something should have happened here in that two year gap since the last post, I should mention that the focus isn't on the dragon-themed sequel right now, but on the alien-themed one. You'll get the former option later, if that's what people want most after the current project is done.

While I shall avoid directly spoiling the story in either direction regarding Mira's familial urges by neither confirming nor denying what you posit, I should also point out a couple of things that are currently apparent. Shay has admitted near the end of this chapter that while he is drawn to Elia, he doesn't 'actually want anything sexual nor romantic from her', to quote him directly. He also thinks that 'in an alternate reality, it could have been her', which implies that here ... it isn't. Further on that, it's true that Mira and Elia are genetically identical twins -- aside from the gender difference -- but their inhabiting Mishith personalities add another psychological aspect of being regular fraternal siblings. Sulin (Shay) and Kirak (Mira) were mated in their original time, with Kelor (Elia) being Kirak's sister. While it's not mentioned explicitly anywhere -- apart from hints due to Ralot's understated interest in Yugan near the end of Veil of Shadow -- the Mishith are monogamous creatures, and involving a third party, even a cherished sister, in a relationship would evoke a lot of complicated emotions. Lastly, Elia's initial instincts are like Mira's when it comes to Shay. She is a guardian and protector, and her perception of him has thus far been exclusively in that regard. What she -- as a human girl who is still new to independent existence -- feels about this boy, is largely unexplored. Perhaps you may get a scene or two from her perspective that sheds more light, but at this point she hasn't displayed anything more than affection inspired by their renewed ancient connection. So! What you say isn't impossible per se, but things would need to progress a lot before I would say that it's likely. In any case, thanks for reading and commenting!

Uh, that's good, presumably?

I don't know why but the ending of the chapter came across as amusing to a few readers. Perhaps it's the subversion of expectations, which is a foundation of joketelling and comedy. The incongruity of that against Konstantin defaming MFM for genocidal negligence seems strange to me. He's a capable person and will do well in the role. As for assassinations? Well, it's certainly possible. Hopefully. Though they are on very divergent paths at this point.

It is certainly not Shay talking, and the hint is in the [ odd formatting ] that is indicative of something other than regular human speech. Your guess, however, is accurate.

Finally indeed. Yugan may wish to meet them, but the universe -- or even just the Milky Way -- is a big place. They would need a means to locate one another and cross whatever incomprehensibly vast gap lies in between. Thankfully, this is science fiction, so you can bet on there being a method.

Thank you.

The eleventh chapter was my way of demonstrating how little I mess about when it comes to the mortality of any players other than the protagonist, whose perspective is the requisite narrative embodiment. Nobody is guaranteed survival apart from -- in Hidden Sunlight's case -- Shay, as he must necessarily reach the story's end. That Mira lived can mostly be interpreted three ways; firstly, that I wasn't writing a tragedy and hardly about to traumatise Shay by having his love interest murdered, and secondly, that if it was anybody other than Mira, they definitely could have and absolutely would have been killed. Oh, and third is that he's a badass and much more resilient than Hartley ever knew, but that's neither here nor there. With the above said, I should also add that deaths of significant cast members (those with recurring or central roles) are not to be committed without purpose. There should always be a reason for making that choice -- to highlight a moral truth, propel actions to be committed that are vital to the plot, or produce a particular emotional interaction/reaction with specific characters, for example. Whatever it may be, that reason needs weight and to impart some kind of consequence on what follows, or the loss becomes devalued. If handled correctly, a lot of storytelling power can come from the death of an influential character. If handled poorly, you may instead be actively harming what you're trying to create. Anyhow, now that you're through this 101 for how I approach mortality, you'll at least be somewhat prepared for future chapters. Well ... hopefully.

It's not a problem, I still read and reply to comments on old chapters. I've aimed for a balance with representing sex and romance in my fiction. I'd rather my writing be either a hybrid or with the other genre (sci-fi or fantasy) being the primary narrative theme. When physical intimacy appears it'll hopefully be all the more meaningful. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far!