A Heavy Heart: News Update and Seeking Guidance (Patreon)

Hello,

With a heavy heart, I bring you some updates and a quandary I'm grappling with. I feel the need to share my thoughts with you and seek your insight on the matter.

Upon the unveiling of the initial chapters of Black Pudding on RR and SH, my Patreon witnessed a considerable upswing, welcoming 4 to 6 new subscribers each week. Regrettably, the past three weeks have seen a great departure of subscribers, causing me to ponder whether the series' current direction has lost its appeal and, consequently, led to a decline in new subscribers. It's worth mentioning that while canceled subscribers remain visible on the list of patrons for 30 days, the true count of active subscribers has dwindled significantly. In the interest of transparency, I will adjust the Patreon page to display the monthly earnings, allowing you to assess the situation for yourselves.

Based on the feedback I've received through comments on RR and SH, it seems that Wartie is not a popular character. Ava, in particular, has received a significant amount of negative sentiment.

In order to address the current situation, I have brainstormed two possible solutions, but I genuinely value your input and would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the matter.

Option 1: Temporarily halt work on Book 2 and undertake a comprehensive rewrite, modifying Wartie's character and completely removing Ava from the narrative. Concurrently, I can begin releasing chapters from another book that I've been exploring.

Option 2: Continue with the current trajectory, despite my reservations about whether readers are enjoying the series. In parallel, I would still release another series, but my concerns surrounding Black Pudding would persist.

I am very open to hearing your thoughts and suggestions.

Sincerely, 

Hereafter