As many of you know know by now, Stephenie Meyer’s next manuscript in the Twilight Saga has been leaked and distributed over the internet. Midnight Sun was incomplete, but planned to tell Twilight through Edward’s perspective. Meyer has chosen to post a version of the partial manuscript on her own website so that fans don’t “have to make a sacrifice to stay honest,” ie, they won’t have to choose to engage in copyright infringement to read their beloved stories.

     I won’t hide my disappointment in this whole affair. I wish the leak had never occurred, both so that Ms. Meyer’s creation could have followed its natural evolution and so that the rest of us could have enjoyed its fruition. I will encourage everyone, however, to just take a moment to think about what they’re doing before distributing items that they would have to pay for in a store. Not paying for items means the creators lose out on the joy of developing their artistic babies to the full and it means creators lose out on the money their creations would have drawn. Their works are their livelihood and their lifelong passions. True fans of creators would never want to deny them that. And before I sound like I’m on a high horse, I promise to examine my own behavior to ensure that I’m not inadvertently hurting creators, too.

     I’ve read the partial manuscript Meyer poster on her website and enjoyed it thoroughly. If you’re reading this, Ms. Meyer, I sincerely hope you’ll go back and finish it someday. I’d actually love to read the whole series from Edward’s perspective, but I recognize that’s probably asking a lot. In the meantime, I hope you don’t ever have to experience this sort of thing again.

     It will only hurt us readers again if she does.

     I adore Bella Swan. And I’m so sad to read the end of her story. Stephenie Meyer has said that Breaking Dawn will be the end of the Twilight Saga as told by Bella. Of course, fans are anxiously awaiting Midnight Sun, to hear Edward’s perspective, but still, there are real pangs, real angst with the final the end of Book Four.

     I realize there are people who haven’t finished it yet, so I won’t give out any spoilers. I will however, mention a few sections of the books that I just love (so stop reading now, if you don’t want to know). These sections just drip with visual descriptions. No specific lines quoted here, both because I respect Ms. Meyer’s copyright and because lines won’t read the same out of context.

     I love Twilight‘s meadow scene, the description of sparking diamonds. Such an image.

     Bella’s fear as she traversed New Moon‘s tunnel; the inky blackness and the grate’s finality. If that doesn’t paint a mental picture, I don’t know what will.

      In Eclipse, Bella and Edward’s reunion after her breakout is so tender; the sweetness of reunion.

     And Jacob’s realizing, in Breaking Dawn, that the pull he felt was gone.

     I sincerely wish I could go on and on in deep detail about the great scenes and superb lines in these books, but that would take another four books in and of itself. The books were meant to be enjoyed in their entirety, too, to be given justice.

     Thank you, Ms. Meyer, for a great series.