Most of you have probably already heard about the leak of Midnight Sun, and Stephenie’s response. If you haven’t, or are one of those people who downloaded the illegal copies, head on over to this page and read what Stephenie has to say about it; and if you are still up to it, to download a legal version of it.
I’d really like to know people’s thoughts on what they read and what has happened as a result. I haven’t read it yet but as this is Edward’s view of Twilight, I’m sure I won’t be too spoilered by the comments.
Also, there were rules in the chatroom that you couldn’t talk about the Midnight Sun leak, but now that it is out you can talk about the book and the chapters in the chat as well.
Some of the Twilight websites are planning some things to show Stephenie our support. I’m out of town but I’ll post some of those up to get involved in as soon as I can, so that Stephenie knows she still has all our support.
ADDED: My response to the Midnight Sun leak and the resulting media attention is here.
354 Responses
Well, I hope that Stephenie decides to re-write ‘Breaking Dawn’ from Edward’s & another person’s perspective (maybe Seth or Rosalie – would love both) even if she does not decide to finish ‘Midnight Sun’.
Really sorry she got burned that really sucks and has to hurt.
~KatSprout | http://www.WIZARDOLOGY.org
Okay. Stephenie, I AM SO SORRY!!! Don’t worry. Us true Twi-hard fans will NEVER go read that jerks post. We waited with you from the beginning, and were gonna wait with you till the end. Keep on writing, and PLEASE still publish it. It’ll be amazing, and we promise to never read that spoiler.
WE LOVE YOU YOU STEPH!!!!!
I honestly don’t mean to be disrespectful in any way toward either Stephenie or anyone else, but I feel as if her actions are a bit immature regarding this situation. She gave out copies of her writing so far and someone leaked it. Yes, that was a big violation of her trust, but it’s also not that surprising if she is allowing people to have copies of it. Something like this was bound to happen.
It’s not as if this was a book in which the events were secret and we would have no idea what to expect. This is the exact same thing as the first book, simply retold in another person’s perspective. Yes, his thoughts and feelings were mysterious to us and we couldn’t know everything about this book, but it isn’t something that would be totally ruined for us if some chapters were posted online.
And yes, it may have been about half the book, but that’s nothing in comparison to all of the stuff that has been illegally posted online from J.K. Rowling. She had chapters and entire books posted online illegally and she didn’t just stop writing. When her books were posted online she didn’t decide to stop and make sure her fans couldn’t get a copy of them. Her fans still loved her work enough to buy the books in millions, despite whatever else was happening.
And I know that Stephenie’s response to this incident is more of a personal response and not a professional one because she has said how much she is hurt by this and that she can’t bear to continue the story, either at this point in time or possibly never. So I feel for her. She is very upset right now and has the right to feel that way. But it’s as if she is thinking she is the only author that this has happened to.
MANY authors have had their works illegally distributed before publishing. It just happens. If you allow people to see advanced copies, then it’s going to get out. That’s the only way that J.K. was able to keep her work under as much supervision as she did. She didn’t allow hardly ANYONE to see it or even know anything about it before publication. And STILL things were leaked. It’s almost impossible to keep stuff like this from happening.
In my opinion, I think she should take a little time to compose herself and work through this hard time and then get back to her original vision. If she wants to have a career as a famous author, she is going to have to deal with all kinds of events like this. No one is immune.
I can’t believe people these days!! I found out about the leak yesterday when i checked her website and I was sooooo mad that someone did that! I feel sooo bad for her!! I a couple chapters of it and its soooo amazing! I really hope she decides to finish it cause its so good. True fans would never do that to her! I really do fel for and it muxt suck with everything that people have been saying to her at the moment. Saying that they hated Breaking Dawn (which I dont get, it was AMAZING! I wouldnt want it anyother way!) and dissing the book and now this!! I hope she’ll feel better and people will stop being so insensitive!
Okay, once again, I’m going to repost what I said on the Twilight group on Facebook.
“All those people who are saying she needs to “get over it” and that she’s “letting one person ruin it for the rest of us,” please, consider her feelings on this.
Time and time again she has demonstrated how she feels about spoilers, even asking the fansites to shut down their forums a few weeks before Breaking Dawn came out so that spoilers wouldn’t be spread. To find out that the first 12 chapters of Midnight Sun have been leaked must have broken her heart – I know it would’ve broken mine.
Books, movies, and other such art forms are meant to be experienced in a certain way. When you read/watch it on a computer screen, that experience is lost. Now think about the time and dedication Stephenie has put into these books. The fact that someone she trusted released the first 12 chapters of it (unedited!) is probably very disheartening to her. But what’s even more disgusting to me are the hordes of so-called fans who [knowingly] jumped at the opportunity to read a large part of the book ahead of time, and then proceeded to spread the leaked chapters. Ever heard of willpower, people? Ever heard of respecting a person’s privacy and wishes?
Frankly, I don’t blame her for putting the book on hold; her artistic rights have been violated, and she has every right to be depressed. I am willing to wait a few extra months, even years, to get Midnight Sun in published form. And if that never happens, well, so be it. I’m immensely disappointed in those people who didn’t have enough self-control to abstain from satisfying their own selfish needs. I, for one, am not going to read the draft she posted on her website; it just wouldn’t be the same as reading it in book form, and I’m much too upset to enjoy it anyway.
So I’m not going to be begging Stephenie to continue writing when she is clearly not in the mood or proper frame of mind to do so. All I can do is offer her my support and understanding. In the meantime, I will be looking forward to her future writing projects.”
For the record, as soon as I finish posting this, I’ll be signing Meagen’s petition. I don’t think I can be proud to call myself a Twilighter for now.
hey kaleb
i was pissed about the leak. i couldnt beleive someone would do that to her.
i ws iffy about reading it, but since she posted it on her website i figured it would b ok. i was amazing!!! i absolutly loved it! i cant wait till she actually releases Midnight Sun. its gonna be awexome!
I personally refuse to read it. Even if it is on her site, it’s not how she wanted us to read it. I have faith that Edward’s point of view well be told. I’m waiting until then… or until I just can’t stand it anymore and end up reading it. But I’m trying my hardest not to.
I’m so SAD! I’ve been looking forward to Midnight Sun since I read Twilight & then found the first chapter of it on her site!! I was almost in tears as I read Stephenie’s note, knowing that we might not get all of Edward’s story because of some idiot stealing something that wasn’t his/hers!! I feel so bad for Stephenie, and, as utterly disappointed as I am, I do understand why she wouldn’t want to finish it.
OMG! I am soo mad at this. I don’t understand why WE have to be punished for some elses stupidity! It is not fair for her to just cancel a book everyone has been dying and crying over for so long! This might be bigger than Breaking Dawn! And now we are all crushed, and left with 1/3 of an amazing book to make it through, which is defeninitly not enough.
I can totally understand her being bummed out that it leaked. Imagine how JK Rowling felt when her *entire* book was leaked. It can be discouraging, but to rally all of her defenses and totally shut down writing a story that her fanbase has been looking forward to for so long is kind of harsh for those of us who actually respected her rights as an author and didn’t download anything until she put it up. It’s a shame that she has to treat us all as if we were horrible people who were only salivating for the next bit of Twilight. Now those of us who have stood by her (and defending Breaking Dawn against quite a few naysayers as well, I might add) are just flat out of luck now. I hope she can rebound from the situation and see that this isn’t doing anything but alienating her honest fans.
A lot of people seem to feel that Stephenie Meyer has no right to withhold her intellectual property from the public. What is this? The entitlement mentality gone mad? OF COURSE she has the right to decide whether or not to share the things she creates. Or whether to create at all!
I understand how it feels to lose enthusiasm for a project following a severe disappointment. I have no doubt that eventually Stephenie will begin to feel better, and I hope when she does she will begin to feel a renewed enthusiam for her Midnight Sun project. I hope she finishes [and publishes!] it. But she has no obligation to do so.
In answer to some of the critical comments above:
50. Yes, Stephenie DOES have the copyright on Midnight Sun. How could you miss the copyright notice on EVERY PAGE of the manuscript? These same copyright notices appeared on EVERY PAGE of the first chapter that has been posted on her website since the beginning!
53 (and others). Stephenie did not just “give out copies” of her manuscript. She released very few, and those were shared for very specific reasons. She was betrayed by a trusted friend or associate. That betrayal had to have been more painful than the premature disclosure of the manuscript.
This story is not “exactly the same” as Twilight. A lot happens when Bella is not around, and I for one am bitterly disappointed that I may never read the full story.
To criticize Stephenie’s response as “unprofessional” is just plain ignorant. Knowing that other people get slapped in the face does not make your own slap in the face less painful. Art of all kinds is very much about who the artist is and how they feel. One indication of Stephenie’s professional outlook is that she freely admits when she is not in the proper frame of mind to do her best work, and she has the integrity to set that work aside until she is emotionally in a place to do the project justice. A less principled writer might not have cared, but Stephenie does.
It’s easy to be critical! I would rather respond with compassion, appreciation, and patience. Stephenie has given a lot to the public this year–intellectually, physically, and emotionally. She has my full support no matter what she decides to do in the future.
I’m so sad about this! I haven’t read it and I don’t plan on doing so until it’s officially released as a finished book (I am still holding onto hope that it will be). reading sneakpeeks and first chapters online is one thing, but 12 chapters is almost the entire book and is a huge rights violation. I find it very depressing that anyone would leak Midnight Sun after Stephenie has worked so hard to write all that.
If Stephenie Meyer wanted us to read her rought draft, she would have posted it online becuase she wanted to. Now she’s just posting it because it’s all over the internet anyway. It’s horrible that this happened, and I’m definitally supporting SMeyer, even if that means no Midnight Sun in the near future.
But Stephenie- PLEASE don’t let this stop you from writing and publishing Midnight Sun! Even if it’s ten years from now, I would still buy it and love it!
Even before Breaking Dawn came out I was almost more excited to read Midnight Sun, now I might not get the chance. I respest Stephenie and the wonderufl work she’s done, but I think maybe she could have handled it a little differently. I hope beyond hope that I might someday get a copy of Midnight Sun in my hands, bound and finished. I feel too disappointed in the situation to read the legal version. Breaking Dawn wasn’t as great as we all wanted, maybe Stephenie has lost hope in us as her fans. I would have at this point.
Someday we might get the full Midnight Sun, but maybe not. Maybe it’s just not meant to be. I still haven’t given up on Stephenie Meyer and her budding career, something else might come instead.
Midnight Sun was such a great light on the horizon. I work at a book store, and told all of the people buying twilight about it, and I find what has happened really sad. I really hope that Stephenie can see the support she has out there, and might one day be able to return to teh story we all love. Unless she feels comfortable with writing again, I don’t think i’ll ever be able to read Midnight Sun. Even though she has posted it now, it feels dishonest when its not the final.
First of all I wanted to say that it sucks, a lot, that her work got leaked in the first place. I can understand her wanting to take a break (she had two books come out this year!) and who wouldn’t after something like this happens? I think she has every right to have a chance to clear her head from all of this. I really think it sucks though for her fans if she never continues with it, and never publishes just because of a leak like this. Many people (musicians, writers, software developers, etc) have gone through this same ordeal and it didn’t stop them from finishing and releasing their work. I read the chapters and they are brilliant, some of if not her best work. It just sucks that all of her fans have to suffer because some ******* leaked her hard work. I can only hope that in the coming weeks all the support of her fans, and the inevitable success of the movie, will put her in a better place and she can continue to write Midnight Sun.
I am so bummed that she isn’t going to continue with midnight Sun…
I LOVED it.
and i can honestly say that i never looked for the illegal copies or read it when it was leaked…however when she told us that it was indefinitely on hold, i had to read it. Edward is the most intriguing character in the whole series, so i was naturally looking forward to the book.
The chapters are amazing! Sure they’re rough..but that’s why its a rough draft! As a writer i know that i don’t let ANYONE read my work until it is absolutely finished. and i understand why she is so upset; it’s not your best work people are reading, and it IS a violation.
I’m very sad, because i FLEW through the Midnight Sun chapters she gave the link to, and now it will never be, just because of someone’s stupidity.
Please Stephenie!!! Keep writing!
I couldn’t believe somebody would violate SM’s rights by doing this. Shame on all the people responsible! I feel so bad for her and am very angry that somebody would post her stuff without her permission just to get a few kicks. I mean, didn’t they consider her rights at all? Didn’t they think about the affect it would have? I can’t believe that someone could be so insensitive. I am totally pissed that they would do such a thing. Shame, shame, shame! What’s wrong with people? Do they think they’re to good to wait like the rest of us? I mean, I’m sure they didn’t do this to be mean, but really people! Think about what you do! Reading Steph’s announcement on her site anybody could tell how hurt she was by this… betrayal. It makes me just sick that somebody could be so insensitive to another persons rights, and to their feelings! I can’t believe it. Man, Stephanie, if you see this, I am so sorry that tis happened to you. Shame on the people who didn’t think!
I couldn’t believe somebody would violate SM’s rights by doing this. Shame on all the people responsible! I feel so bad for her and am very angry that somebody would post her stuff without her permission just to get a few kicks. I mean, didn’t they consider her rights at all? Didn’t they think about the affect it would have? I can’t believe that someone could be so insensitive. I am totally pissed that they would do such a thing. Shame, shame, shame! What’s wrong with people? Do they think they’re to good to wait like the rest of us? I mean, I’m sure they didn’t do this to be mean, but really people! Think about what you do! Reading Steph’s announcement on her site anybody could tell how hurt she was by this… betrayal. It makes me just sick that somebody could be so insensitive to another persons rights, and to their feelings! I can’t believe it. Man, Stephanie, if you see this, I am so sorry that this happened to you. Shame on the people who didn’t think!
sorry, clicked twice
All in all, very very very upset with Midnight Sun slipping through our fingers. I’ve been holding on to it when I finished BD thinking “Okay still have the movie and Midnight Sun, more stuff to look forward too…” Also I found Edward’s point of view much more facinating than Bella’s There is just so much more…it pains me to see it end so auburtly.
Well…I guess we did kind of fail as fans didn’t we? The book was so anticipated, I know many of us ran towards the leak with eager hands. I’m very sorry myself, and I know that most of us all are.
Also, I know exacly how Steph feels. I love writing myself and I hate it when people rummage through my things and see all the chopped up, half written stories that i was still working on. It’s like looking at an unwrapped present. i really truly hope that Steph sees how much we really want this book and continues to write.
I haven’t read the chapters released, legal or not.
and i don’t plan to.
Although my friends and i are just as big a Twihard as anyone, none of us will be reading any part of Midnight Sun other than the previously released first chapter because it was extremely disrespectful and appalling to have it be leaked in the first place.
None of us realised that there was even i leaked copy until Stephenie posted about it.
We’ll be waiting to read it until we can purchase it properly and have a copy to put alongside the rest of the saga. It just doesn’t seem right to read something she only put online so her fans wouldn’t feel guilty about reading it.
I wish as much as the next person that Stephenie would continue her work on this book, but i guess it is her decision, and we’ll wait for her to come around the the cullens again. Edward will probably fight very hard for his story and we’ll be waiting eager and ready for that to happen.
PEOPLE ARE SUCH JERKS SOMETIMES!!
I was really looking forward to reading Midnight Sun WHEN IT CAME OUT!
I furious because 1.she may never finish it and 2. I don’t know if I can even bring myself to read the legal copy on her web page. People are vicious and self-centered. You have not only upset the author of your own beloved series, but upset most of the fan base…good going *note sarcasm*
~rjdickert
I’ll read Midnight Sun when Stephenie WANTS me to. And that doesn’t count her putting an incomplete copy of half the book on her page in response to a couple of jerks who decided to spoil it for the rest of us.
When she finishes it, and she is pleased with it, and she is ready for her fans to read it, then I will sprint to the bookstore and buy it. Until then, I will patiently wait. =]
I just read about the MS situation yesterday. I had no idea it had been leaked. I did read it b/c I was so sad that I might never get to experience it otherwise. I loved it. I had a great time learning more about how Edward thinks. I’m very sad that it might never be published and that Stephenie was so very hurt by the leak. I’m not a write so I can’t quite understand but still, I’m sorry.
I am very intrigued by the bottle cap idea. 🙂
I had heard rumors around the web of a Midnight Sun leak but I really wasn’t paying attention at the time. I’m paying attention now! I am just shocked that someone would do that! Especially someone that was close to SM! She even knows who leaked it out!
I read the first chapter that she had given us and LOVED it! I couldn’t wait for it to be published! And now she’s debating the possibility of not going through with it… It sickens me to think that someone would go so far as to violate her rights to the series!
But I refuse to read what she has given us. I stand by my conviction to read MS when it’s in book form. I will wait as long as I need to for SM to get back on her feet after this fiasco.
I have to agree with Morgan.
She’s acting like a child throwing a tantrum. SHE gave out copies of her transcript. She has no one to blame but herself. If you don’t want your work to be leaked, then don’t hand out copies.
This is just a stunt, she will write the book because she loves the attention way too much.
I have to agree with you, Caroline, to an extent. Stephenie knew the risk of handing out transcripts of her work, and she knew what would happen if it was leaked. I am a huge supporter of Stephenie Meyer, but honestly, this is seeming a little like a play to get more publicity for the books. I won’t be surprised if she does end up publishing Midnight Sun. Though I truly don’t want to believe that she would take advantage of her fans, that is what it’s starting to look like to me.
Um, if SM’s people were going to perform a stunt for publicity I don’t think it would potentially cost her the royalties of an entire book. The whole situation is really a shame.
I smell a lawsuit.
It’s sad that all of us have to be punished for the choices of others.
Wouldn’t it have been much more gratifying to have the perfect, published, completed version in our hands after so much anticipation?
I think that that version would be a lot better than what we have now, an uncompleted draft that Stephenie is not proud of.
I believe that putting Midnight Sun on hold is a wise decision but I really hope, that in due time, Stephenie will continue with this project.
Bleh. I wrote this long, heated post, and now I don’t see it.
Now to retype:
Anyways…In my opinion, she’s blowing this out of proportion. Don’t get me wrong, I understand how she feels, getting betrayed, etc. Trust me, I’ve had that feeling and it’s not pretty, but just because /she’s/ been betrayed doesn’t mean SHE should betray her fandom.
I want to know how she is able to help direct a music video for Jack Mannequin and yet unable to write Midnight Sun? What?! Seriously?
Whatever happened to writing just to write? That’s what it used to be all about, but now she’s “too sad” to write and so she’s just not going to do write anymore?
Instead of wallowing she COULD have been the better person and let this whole ‘leak’ thing blow over, but instead she’s making this a bigger deal than it needs to be. Few people knew about the leak in the first place, now the whole fandom knows about it.
No way. I agree with Natalie. SM is just craving for publicity, she doesn’t care about the fandom anymore. She doesn’t care about writing anymore. Just look at Breaking Dawn, there’s your proof.
I was really looking forward to reading Midnight Sun, and I feel very sorry for Stephenie Meyer about this entire situation. That someone close to her, someone she trusted with the manuscript, leaked it out is obviously devastating.
However, I don’t think Stephenie handled it very well. As a best-selling author, there was always a risk that something like this was going to happen, and as much as she didn’t want us to read the story until it was completed and edited, now that it’s out there, there really isn’t much she can do to prevent it being spread (which she acknowledged).
Not finishing the book means that we will only have this half finished version, that we will never be able to see Edward’s point of view the way she wanted us to see it. I know that, despite the leak, most people will still want to buy the book, and even though we may have read a version of the first 12 chapters, I’m pretty sure people would like to read the edited version of that as well, so when we get the edited and published version of Midnight Sun, we will read it exactly the way Stephenie intended, just with a bit more previous insight than she intended.
I’ve been waiting for Midnight Sun, anticipating it as much, if not more than Breaking Dawn. I’m extremely sad that we might not get to see it finished, edited, and put in binding with Stephenie’s other amazing works. I very much hope that she will decide to come back to Midnight Sun… hopefully soon. I know she feels completely violated and hurt, and I don’t begrudge her that. I just hope that whoever did this to her and to us fans is remorseful. This event was very depressing.
I am so sadden by what has happened. Stephenie must feel betrayed and in so much pain. Out of respect for her I am not going to read the 12 chapters. If I was a vampire, this girl who leaked it would be hiding under her bed bc I would track her down and seek revenge! lol I’m so sorry Stephenie!!!
Although i am sad to see the leak has happened i am even more disapointed. i was so looking forward to reading midnight sun and i am furious that stephenie has decided to posrpone her writing. i am sure that all her fans would have liked to read that book. also, i hope that she will post the rest of midnight sun as i am dying to read it!!!!!
Audrey. about ur post, #80, i would like to know what you mean by “breaking dawn being an example”?
I was extremly dissapointed. I was really looking forward to reading midnight sun. I read the first chapter online almost as soon as I have read twilight for the first time. When I found out about the leak and saw what Stephenie had to say I was shocked. I understand where she is coming from. But I refuse to read the leaked version. I am holding out that she sees how many of her fans are reacting and will take it down to write the final version. I dont want to read what she didnt want me to see. I want to read what she feels is the final edit. I am hopeful that some good will come out of this though…
“No way. I agree with Natalie. SM is just craving for publicity, she doesn’t care about the fandom anymore. She doesn’t care about writing anymore. Just look at Breaking Dawn, there’s your proof.”
You’re obviously not a real Meyer fan. She said SEVERAL times that she wrote the draft of Breaking Dawn 4 FREAKING YEARS AGO. THAT WAS HOW IT WAS MEANT TO END. GET OVER IT.
Of course she cares about her fans. But her writing, comes FIRST. How she wants to write, what she wants to happen has to be FIRST. That’s how books become personal to the author.
Also, this whole leak thing pisses me off. Whoever did it is a real f–k.
I’ve been watching what I would call is a spectacular display of blame the victim.
“Stephenie should have given her manuscript to just anyone.”
If you gave a short story that you want to enter in a contest to a teacher to read, and then another student in that teacher’s class takes it without that teacher’s knowledge and put’s it up on the Internet because he or she just couldn’t control themselves and had to share, who’s to blame?
You for giving the item to a teacher to critique privately? The teacher, for not having ESP that she had an unscrupulous student? I’d say the student who knew full well what they were doing was wrong but did it anyway.
Stephenie didn’t just give the manuscript to anyone. It was given to a trusted friend for a good purpose. Someone then took it from that person.
“Stephenie should just get over it and stop whining” or “JK Rowling never acted this way.”
JK Rowling talked about the Harry Potter Lexicon stealing her ideas that it had zapped her creative energy for months on end.
Rowling had chapters stolen that never made it to the Internet. The people who did it were caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Call me crazy, but that ain’t getting over it.
When Rowling’s items did make it on to the Internet it was the fully published book as she intended it about four days ahead of the print deadline. Somehow I’m thinking if people took a rough draft of the first half of Deathly Hallows and put it online a year ahead of publication there would have been quite the reaction from Ms. Rowling.
I really wonder what people wanted. A passionless post. Seemingly they liked Stephenie’s positive posts when she talked enthusiastically about feelings for various projects. Were those inappropriate on what is her personal website? Why are negative feelings now inappropriate? Fans are fickle, that’s for sure.
I am so upset about this news. The fact that Midnight Sun leaked out was my first disappointment but then to hear that she may not publish it! I have read most of the unedited Mindnight Sun that Stephenie posted on her website, but i must say, it isn’t complete, and I would, and I think many other fans would still buy the book! i mean… i will support stephenie in any decission she makes, but i also know that I would love to add Midnight Sun to my Twilight collection!
I refuse to read the incomplete Midnight sun. Stephenie Meyer clearly states that she did NOT want her fans seeing this version, and it ISN’T finished, so I’m going to respect her and keep away from it, and anyone else who is loyal to her at all should do the same.
I have to agree with Esme echo’s comments. For everyone who says SM should just get over it, you sound like Lauren talking about Bella in NM. I don’t think SM just randomly passed out drafts. I’m pretty sure she gave drafts to people involved with the movie to help with character development, script, etc. So, should she be punished because she was trying to help make the movie better? As for MS just being Twilight from Edward’s POV, just the first chapter that has been posted for a long time disproves that. I did not look for the illegal post, but I did read the chapters on SM’s website, and even as a rough draft, it is fantastic. Considering how hateful some of the fans have been about BD, which I had to reread a couple of times to really appreciate it, I’m not surprised she’s withdrawing. This whole saga has been a labor of love for her, not a way to make money. She was happy with her life before Twilight and will be again. Let’s hope that Edward’s voice is an insistent one. She did not say never, she said indefinite hold. She may get over it next month or in 5 years. Until then, her fans need to be supportive and quit whining. She owes us nothing, she has shared her world with us and I for one am grateful.
Honestly, I think Stephenie Meyer is handling this all wrong as a professional author. She is punishing the fans when it isn’t our fault it leaked.
I REALLY WANT HER TO FINISH IT!!!! it makes me so sad that someone would so eaaily ruin such a good thing but steph should def make lemonade from these lemons and finish it anyways!!!!! we would all buy it!!!!
As I stated on my wee blog, I really hope whoever leaked it onto the net has trouble sleeping at night. It’s 100% unfair on both Meyer and us. Whoever did it ruined it for the rest of us, and I’d love them to meet my fist. (Which actually isn’t very big or strong, but apparently I can do a pretty nasty growl – so maybe I’ll do that instead?)
It’s ridiculous. I was looking SO forward to Midnight Sun, more than I was for Breaking Dawn! Totally unfair.
I agree, she should finish it, but let her take her time. Imagine if it was you in her shoes, you’d be upset too.
Personally, I believe that she can be handling this situation in a different way.
I question how many people actually knew about the leak. I asked all of my friends who are fans of the books at school, and not a single one was aware of the Midnight Sun leak. For all we know by making this post on her website, she brought attention about the leak to more people than there was before.
Breaking Dawn was leaked, and she kept quiet about it. Although Midnight Sun is not complete, she could have done the same and simply gone on without adding fuel to the fire. Taken a week or two or whatever to calm down and regather her composure. I am no author so I don’t know if that would have worked, but if you’re writing as a profession, I would like to think that it’s possible. We wouldn’t have known the difference. And honestly, a lot of this drama seems to stem from Breaking Dawn itself. Stephenie Meyer has never been very good at taking criticism (out of everything she needs work on, I believe that this is the most critical). It was a bit of a slap to the fans when she said in an EW interview that the backlash against the book was a “Rob effect” (referring to how fans were wild with fury and angry when Robert Pattinson was chosen as Edward) and that after awhile, it’ll start to grow on the fans. Basically she’s saying “It’s not me, it’s you guys…”
Midnight Sun would have gave back Meyer a lot of fans, because I know a lot of people who have been saying that Midnight Sun (or what is there) is there favourite out of ALL the books already completed in the saga. Breaking Dawn has been out for a while now and so people have been getting away from that hype and disappointment… Midnight Sun was getting Twilight fans excited again for the world that they loved so much. The leak, in a way, was actually positive for Meyer and she failed to take advantage of it.
To me, Meyer is being overly dramatic. Does she have the right to be upset? Absolutely – that part is perfectly justifiable. However, to be punishing the entire fanbase with the indefinite hold of Midnight Sun just seems a bit harsh. For one thing, the person/people who leaked Midnight Sun is such an outrageous minority that it’s unfair to group all of the true and honest fans with that person/group. A lot of fans are extremely upset about this and this will do no good for Stephenie Meyer. People buy her books and wait hours and hours to see her. She benefits from all of this. The truth is, without her fans, she would be nowhere near where she is today. I will be honest and say that my first (and very crude) reaction was something along the lines of “YOU GUYS HURT MY FEELINGS SO NO NEW NOVEL FOR YOU.”
In an age where anything can be shared over the internet, a person needs to be prepared for the consequences that may occur. Meyer gave the manuscript to those she trusted and if they leaked it, this is an issue that she has to tackle with whoever leaked her property. At the core, the fans really had nothing to do with this.
I don’t feel that Meyer owes us anything per se, but I just wish she was handling this situation differently. Instead of turning in the towel, she could have stood up for her work and NOT let one miserable person ruin the joy of the Twilight world for everybody else.
Ahh I don’t even want to think about these things anymore! This is SO depressing!! :'(
Personally, I completely understand Stephenie’s lack of enthusiasm to continue. I know that if any of my work leaked, especially after the amount of time and effort I have put into it, I would be utterly devistated. It’s hard to even edit a story that has reached so many readers. How can you make anyone happy when you are adding and taking away, trying to shape it into something that may be slightly different. Surely those who have who read the partial draft have already stamped it as “cannon.” Not to mention the disappointment with the loss of anticipation. How can one continue? I do not think that Stephenie is being selfish or immature, her reaction is to be expected and respected. As much as it saddens me to think of Midnight Sun never being published, I understand and support Stephenie in whatever decision she makes.
I couldn’t believe it when I heard Midnightsun was leaked and was in denial. Until she personally said it is true and its inconceivable how someone would do that. Then she says she may not continue. I mean we all know how Twilight ends but to know Edwards versioin would be the greatest thing in the world. I did read the draft she posted on her website and it was Amazing and I want more. So hopefully she will finish it.
But I am okay with her decision because she gave us a glimpse of Edward’s mind. Oh and I want to add Breaking Dawn was ex·quis·ite.
I am one of the fans who was thoroughly disappointed to hear about the leak and I am in total agreement with SM’s decision. For those who thinks she’s overreacting, put yourself in her shoes. Whoever leaked this didn’t just steal from her in that respect, they stole all the excitement and anticipation she felt for the project as well. As a writer who so loves her work and was so excited about this project, this is a total violation. I believe (though I’ve never published anything other than fanfiction) one of the great joys of publishing one’s work is the thrill of giving it your all, your best and then hearing what people think of the final product. And point of fact, she didn’t say never, she said indefinitely. It’s entirely possible she’ll be able to continue this project one day but the desire is lessened given that some people already have a version of it all. I knew Midnight Sun was her only one for a planned version from Edward’s POV but the idea of it coming out (and the excitement of having a bound copy as she described) always gave me a little hope of more Edward POV’s as I read the other books and finally Breaking Dawn. It’s just so disappointing that – whether intentionally or not – people would ruin this for so many others. I know that just a few weeks ago so many of us were stoked to hear that Midnight Sun was going to become her focus and next project when the BD tour stuff was finished. This news of the leak was a low blow. After I read SM’s comments I did download the legally released 12 chapters she posted but I’ve not been able to bring myself to read them as I still feel for her and her situation.
Not that she’ll see this but, Stephenie Meyer, thank you so much for all you’ve given to us, your readers. It’s been so long since a book/series captured my interest and this series was just amazing. My full support of your decision goes out to you and I wish you the best in the rest of your endeavors.
Also, your support of the choices made for the film have lessened my fears and made me more eager to see it.
A devoted Twilighter,
Admiral Lily
I was really upset about the leak, and even more upset that it caused Stephenie to stop writing Midnight Sun, though I completely understand. I, too, am a writer, and I know exactly how it is to be in the wrong mental state to write what needs to be written. I haven’t had a chance to read the chapters on her site, though, but I downloaded them from there and will read them eventually.