Moira was furious. Someone, more accurately, many people dared to bring harm to her brother. She glanced at the myriad of websites out there taking copies of Jericho for their own sites. "It seems these people have no idea how hard it is to live as an author."
"It seems we must accelerate your original plan, Eranoth," Jericho sighed.
Eranoth scrunched his brows in anxiety. "But everyone will hate that. I guess I was too hopeful. I hoped that people would be honest. I hoped that things could go better. I wanted to see everyone including myself find enjoyment and happiness. It really does only take a few problematic humans to ruin everything."
Jericho nodded. "True, but what is more important? Writing until you are a shriveled husk and have to stop writing because you couldn't afford your electricity or internet bills, or making everyone upset right now so that you can write, and write properly moving forward, so you can afford these things. We all know that because of your horrible reactions to other people's colognes, perfumes, scented items, vape, smoke and other things, that you can't hold a normal job. Your health has already limited your options."
Moira nodded. "Right! You are writing to get published officially because it is one of your only hopes left. With all these people out there wanting to make you work your butt off for nothing, you are better off moving forward with your plan now rather than later. The most important thing is that the people who truly care about your work will gladly follow. Don't lump them into the 'they' that you fear. The 'they' is the minority of them, even if they are loud."
Eranoth sighed in defeat as he slumped onto Jericho's piano bench. "Logically I get it. Emotionally this is something I don't want to do. I really like interacting with these really fun people. I know they like my story as well. Alexandra's and ExtraWhiteRice's funny comments, TJinx's and Le_Berino's constant support, YoungJustice's 'defend the author' and everyone else's fun interactions and support."
Moira flicked the author's forehead. "It's not like you are dropping the story. The fans that care, will follow you. They will enjoy all the extra hard work you have put in to improving things. Think about it, all they really want is for our story to continue. You are still doing that. In fact, you are doing even more than just continuing the story."
Jericho nodded. "She's right, and on top of that you are being extremely kind and informing them of the choice you have made after days of self debate. You aren't reacting to the situation, you are acting in your best interest and their best interest. Besides, this plan has been there for a long time, you are just hastening it."
"But I was hoping to get out volume 2 before I enacted any portion of this plan. I was hoping to hoping to have volume 1 published before I enacted my plan. Only one person is following my ko-fi for my announcements. The discord was a flop. I'm afraid that this will fail just like everything else."
Jericho smiled. "When do things ever go according to plan? Besides, if you keep speaking Eranothian, you will keep confusing people."
A knock was heard at the door.
"They are here." Moira opened it. "Everyone, You're here! Come in, come in! Eranoth's got some really exciting news that will make you happy!"
Eranoth shook his head in disbelief, "I really don't think my choice will make people happy," he muttered to himself.
A horde of over 500 people crowded into the living room killing off any breathing room. "What is this news you have to tell us?"
Eranoth clenched his fist as he struggled to find the words. "I'm leaving the internet writing scene."
The group was in uproar and some people left before hearing the rest of what the author was trying to say.
"I mentioned before that I am going the publishing route. As I have been editing volume 1, I realized that my voice, especially when I can get it edited, doesn't really match the air of internet writing. So, coming up, you will see a significantly improved version of my work in physical book and e-book format. When I can get things out, the first place you will be able to find it at is barnesandnoble.com."
"Bah, paperback versions," a random person said as they walked out the door.
Eranoth took a deep breath. "I was offered the webnovel contract, but found that the conditions for them to pay me anything were too harsh for me. For the sake of my work, I could not accept their conditions and feel happy about it."
Moira smiled. "Jericho and I are glad you chose to reject it for our sake and the sake of the royal bardians, but if you keep sacrificing like this, eventually you won't have the capability to continue."
Eranoth nodded slowly. "Right," he said before looking up at the expectant faces. "Recently, I discovered that my story has been copied and pasted onto about ten other websites without my permission. One website is calling me a translator. Another website is saying they are posted my work on their site in order to promote me. Others have said nothing. But Jericho the Bard is my intellectual property. Since I cannot earn money to pay for any of the basic necessities for an author to keep writing; these websites are doing all of us way more harm then good. So, I had to come up with a plan in order to counteract the damage that has been done."
Another person spat. "So your plan is to drop it? How dare you! We all told you not to drop it!"
Eranoth flinched as he held his own tears. "Changing mediums," he muttered. "All I'm doing is changing mediums."
Jericho sighed. "Everyone, this isn't easy for Eranoth to do or say." He turned to the author. "Eranoth, just your self-editing alone has made the future version of our story into something far more fulfilling and significantly less boring. You have already made thousands of changes. You have made many things clearer, you have simplified the difficult to understand complexities of game mechanics, and you have added more depth to the story. I'm curious to see what will happen once your editor April gets her hands on it. If you alone can make that much of a leap in progress, I'm looking forward to when she tears things to shreds and can help you see where things need more work."
Another person spoke up. "You are doing all this extra work, Why? Your story is great where it is."
Eranoth turned away took a breath and looked out the cold snowy window. "This is the only Win-Win I could find after a long time of searching. Publishing official versions of my works seems to be the best way forward. Jericho and Moira deserve this editing. They are worth more to me, than first draft vomit onto the page. You all can see and understand far more and my story will progress far better if I put in this extra work. I can potentially earn a piddly income in order to keep writing, and do things right by everyone."
Eranoth turned to face the slowly shrinking crowd once again. "Originally, I was going to post volume 2 and have volume 1 published before I took any similar actions. But after seeing the dishonesty of people on the internet, I knew I couldn't let that continue. Oh, and for all those reading this on other websites, contact your website group and let them know there are slight changes in all the chapters and that if they want to be more complete, they should restart their copy pasting ways. Everyone will be happier if they do."
"What was that about?" another random person asked.
Eranoth grinned as the person asked about his diabolical plan. "Just a little insurance. After all, I am J Eranoth, the author of this book. If they are going to copy and paste my work onto their websites at least they should acknowledge who this book came from. But enough about them," the author's grin vanished. "If you stay with me, or follow my ko-fi, I will be able to let you know when things are officially out, and with the ko-fi, other updates as well. Thank you again for all the support you have given me so far. When things are available, I will update another chapter to let you know. Until then, please give your powerstone votes to other authors who may want/need the webnovel contract whose conditions I could not accept. The little guys need the support you can give."
Eranoth took a breath to calm down. "I know many of you will chose to leave, knowing that the online posting of my story or chapters is no longer going to be a thing for me. I hope many of you can understand both my fears and my dreams. I hope that many of you will be happy with the fact that I care so much about everyone that I want the best for me, for you, and for my stories. I hope that more than just my story of Jericho can see the light of readers eyes. I have more works I have been working on during this time. And those who are thinking that I am a selfish person, you are right, I am. I am not someone who can sacrifice everything with a smile and say it will all work out! I am not someone who can live in this era of 'you exist therefore you must pay for the air you breath' without a means to take care of myself. If I don't do this, then eventually I would have had to stop writing because of a lack of sufficient income and/or worsening health because of my adverse reactions to most things that scream "people". I haven't been to a movie theater in years. I haven't hung out with someone in a social place in years. I can't even go over to some of my friends' houses to hang out with them. I haven't been to a church in a long time. All of this is because of my adverse reactions to colognes, perfumes, scented items (Plug-in air fresheners, candles, oils and so on), other people's vape, second hand smoke and many other harmful (to me) substances that can be found ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE!"
Eranoth sighed and looked down, trying not to break down in tears. "Sorry, I got on my soap box. But you never know the life an author is facing. Why are they writing? I just wish that some people would realize how much pain some of us are actually in. I'm not the only one to face this. I'm not the only author or artist out there who cannot hold a normal job. I didn't write this so you would pity me. In fact, I hate people's pity. But I want you to understand that I am doing this 51% for selfish reasons. I am a selfish person."
Moira smiled at Eranoth's courage to speak about the reality of his own life. "How is that selfish?" she asked.
Eranoth shook his head. "I don't know, but I do know that it is what most people would call it. This is hard for me. I wanted to keep interacting with you all. I really had hoped that online writing could be the answer. But things rarely go how we want them. So, I will say once more for good measure. I, J Eranoth, author of Jericho the Bard, am changing mediums officially. Again, when I am able to get it out there, the first place to look for it will be at barnesandnoble.com. I chose them as the first of many places to put my book for sale because they can reach most of you. If you are in an area that cannot access barnesandnoble.com, let me know so I can find a way to make it accessible to you. Stay with me, and I will let you know when the official published part 1 is out. Visit my Ko-Fi.com/Eranoth and I will keep people updated as to my progress towards things moving forward and also some fun flavor from time to time."
Eranoth was unable to hold back his own tears. "I will miss interacting with you guys. I hope, I dream, and I ask, will you follow me as I move forward in a direction that is different from other people who's works you have read?"
Jericho grabbed Eranoth's shoulder.
The author flinched and tensed.
"Relax, most of them are still here. Most of them support your choice. I can tell. These are your true fans, their my true fans. These people don't care that you are changing mediums. In fact, these people are proud that you care enough to make this hard choice. They understand that you are not dropping your work. They understand that you are seeking something far better."
The author sighed and relaxed a little. "At least, I feel at peace with my choice. Well, everyone, thank again for coming. I'm sorry things had to play out this way. I, J Eranoth, will keep writing. I will keep improving and I will see you all again!" Eranoth stood and walked resolutely towards the door, trying to hide his own tears. He closed the door behind him as he walked out into the snowstorm.
The people still in the house with Jericho and Moira were silent.
Moira smiled at the crowd. "Shall we perform one last time for you?"
Jericho sat as his piano. His fingers played the keys. His voice called out, singing about a hopeful and brighter future.
© J Eranoth