The End

Book four is almost out. Grayson Ames has been my main project for the past few years and it feels strange that, after 4 is out, there's only one left. Book 5. The Fifth Portal.

I've had it done for at least a year, if not longer. But distance is quite the self-editor. Coming back to The Fifth Portal after writing other books and editing its predecessors has been an enlightening experience. And not in a good way.

Book 5 is the culmination of the entire series. Heck, on the poster I made for it, it boasts the tagline "[Everything] has led to this." But tying up so many loose ends is a double-edged sword.

Even if you've read the first Grayson Ames book, you know there are a lot of things in Grayson's past that deserve closure. The other books each do their part to tie up his family, his past, and his own inner demons (literally) but The Fifth Portal has so much more.

Facing the end of a series is never easy. I remember reading The Chronicles of Narnia and being both thrilled and disappointed when I reached book 7. But now, as an author who's not only shared years with this fictional character, but put so much of myself into him... It's difficult to explain. I want the ending to be spectacular. "Good" isn't good enough.

And it's not just personal preference. Obviously I want my writing to resonate and thrill and all that. But I feel like I have a duty to Grayson to make this the most satisfying experience. Not to sound too crazy, but I have obligations to a figment of my imagination.

Luckily, I'm still at least six months away from having to put Grayson Ames to rest. No spoilers, obviously, so don't read into any of these statements too much. I just want to make this first published series of mine as grand as it is in my dreams.

Keep writing the good write.

K. I.