I know not a very creative title. First Comments
Linda -- Oh, honey my hands are shaking at how beautiful that was. The music was so perfect. I loved loved loved it !
Thank you, I'm glad you liked it!Maylights -- Where to start. Okay firs I liked how that bit about fear in chapter 24 about fear helped title this chapter. There was so much adventure in this chapter. I felt like the story came full circle.
Thanks ! That's why I come up with the title last. I almost fiddled with not giving this one a title.
Tabbi -- When I heard the last song I was so scared that it was the end, and when I saw it was I couldn't stop smiling it was so perfect. That was an amazing ride you took us on.
Thank you !Marcia--I would have never expected the last chapter to be named fear. I literally clapped at the ending. I can really see how it was about relationships.
Where are Rhett and Juliana at the end ?
I will talk more about it later but, they are at a football game. I was trying to give clues and not just say it.Tina. R --No! not the end I want more.
Just kidding. wow. just wow. I thought Juliana's reasoning for not staying in Miami was perfect. And the contrast between the hot weather and the warm weather in the end was pretty great.
So sad to see this go.
@ Tina R. -- I know. Me too ! You have no idea how sad this is for me.HappyApple--Chapter 24 really held my attention, I could just see and feel it all. I was a little worried about how Rhett kept changing side. This was an awesome 50th post.
I know, me too. I knew he was going to do that for a while though.Aym--OMG, the epilogue was so unexpected it ! I loved every minute of this.
Thanks !CranVodka--Yes ! Rhett/Juliana. The bit about the lip gloss was a nice touch.
That was a last minute thing, it just seemed nice. Also you have to wear lots of chapstick in the coldKandi--So, they were all wearing white in the end ? *Wink Wink nudge nudge* I'll admit I didn't like Juliana at first but she is an amazing character and this was a fun journey.
At first they were (and maybe I never changed it) but, then I changed it. They all had different colored scrubs on but Juliana's were white (wink, wink nudge nudge).
Are Rhett and Juliana going to a Marlins game ? Loved it, love you !
BlueSkYY-- No, it is the Secretaries bowl at the US Coast Guard Academy.
I love you for reading !Vanillabear--Gotta say the "war scene" part was really scary for me. I thought Raleigh wasn't going to make it. When they were on the bus I was like "I want to be in that family !"
Well, who wouldn't want to be ? I fiddled ALOT with killing people off.
Biteme--Um, hey guys lets not forget the epic Sawyer and Ceceila family reunion ! I wonder how Sawyer feels about being an uncle.
That was nice and I can honestly say I am not sure how that would play out. Obviously Sawyer would step up to be an uncle but, IDK if Cecelia would want him to have to do that.
Dacry_lover--50 is my new favorite number and the 25 chapter is like numerically meant to be. I was so happy there was an epilogue Julianna and Rhett are so cute together.
Caine got was he deserved, I feel bad for the people who were displaced though.
I'm so sad this is over.
You are sad ? I am super sad ! There are lots of organizations dedicated to helping people in cults adjust and get back on their feet.Swalisa--I am going though withdrawl. The Epilogue was by far the best part, just the short yet telling writing made me feel all warm and happy. (I live in Alaska)
I have readers in Alaska ? Cool ! (lol) I like the epilouge too.JB_lover--I dont' belive for a second that you had not idea what was going to happen. Juliana's reunion with her Dad made me cry.
I honestly, honestly did not. It just happened.Carleigh I totally see the Lily symbolism of starting a new. Does this mean we will be seeing Elias's story . . .
There was defiantly symbolism in the lily. I don't know . . . Lorri-Rhett's letter was beautiful and the way it fit into the crossword made me feel all tingly.
Thank you ! I have no idea where that came fromTrinity-- So when Juliana is screaming and pointing at Rhett is she screaming for help or because she thinks he is hurt ?
I really like your name ! She is doing it for both reasons. She wants them to help him because he is hurt.Wildhorses-- First I'm off to make a Juliana. . . then I'm going to tell you how mesmerized I was by this. I felt like I was on the edge !
I've heard things about you ! To help you out, a Juliana is just a blondie.RedRose--Oh, I can't belive it's over but what a perfect ending. I'm assuming Rhett and Julie are in CT.
Yes, I like to make you all thinkAna M. --You know, just reading the previous chapters and the new one, there is definitely a sense that there was some real coming-of-age stuff in this story. I think all the characters became more than their descriptions. That is the mark of an amazing writer.
I love stories when the characters evolve but, at the same time I did not do this with every character.Nat- I've always tried to be super critical in my comments but the music and writing all flowed beautifully. I couldn't click on the Epilogue quick enough. It was as if the credits rolled !
Thats the feel I wanted !Princess--I did a fist pump of victory when Caine was being led off ! I wish Juliana would have cursed at him. This was worth every minute !
Yeah but, she had already cursed at Rhett so it would have lost it's impact.HeapsofLace--I had mixed feelings when Rosa thought she saw Logan I was all sad and found it hard to like Rhett.
I know, but I knew she had to say something. The thing is though that Rhett did not kill Logan.Trichelle--So, was Juliana picking Rhett up from the port ? It was cute how he warmed up her hands. I was like Cortland and Sawyer who ?
Your comment made me laugh. No, they were going to a football game.Makeme--You know the last song in the Epilgoue I thought it was the HOUSE Md theme song. The lyrics were so perfect for thier little reunion.
No, it wasn't. I don't really watch House. That song was one of the many choices I had there were so many I wanted to use ! grr.Harley--I'm about to read this story all over again. I won't forget this anytime soon
Thank you !Gabe--I'm in a Happy/Sad place. I mean how can that ending not make you feel good ? I like the story you told, very inspirational story for young women.
You described the place I am in too.Sunset--. . . and he never let me forget he loved me.
I knew I chose right.
IC what you did there
I'm not sure what I did there but, glad you like it ! But, she really is talking about her dad.SinfulNight--Is it wierd to want to know what happened to Dillion ?
No. Honestly I thought I deleted him as a character but Dillon never went back to the commune but I imagine Daniel filled him in when they went back to the apartment.HilsonFTW--Loved the quick Chekhov's Pen in the middle. Rhett also had a pretty awesome last line in chapter 25.
It was really quick, I thought it would come of as contrite.Lili_pad--Rhett must love those uniforms ! Julianna's dad is by far my favorite character.
He is one of those people who need discipline in his life.P.B--I've been lurking for a while and now I have to comment. I didn't expect this to be the end but it was a perfect place. I wonder how GCS are going to be outside of the commune.
Honestly, me too. I can't imagine it will be easy.Bluestars--I just want to hug my laptop during the Sunset Diner part. I imagine the end in slow motion with that Kick-A song playing !
I know me too !SouthernSass--Sawyer named a dessert after Juliana - Crowning moment of heartwarming
Originally he named the diner after her but, I thought it was a bit much.FlagMorton--I see the way Juliana's hair is long that the epilogue takes place months later. YOU ARE A GODESS ! ! ! !
Well, her hair was always long enough for a ponytail. That was kind of showing her kind of prettying up.Coffeegirl--Who needs happy pills when you have a great story like this !
LOLNa'Vi - Lover-- Perfection with sugar on top. I felt the desperation of the characters.
Lots of lovers in the comments. ThanksJulieR--Oh, you are so talented. Halfway through I saw that the ending was coming and wanted to stop. Glad I didn't.
Thanks15min.--Whoo, Shawna. I think I have that ecapist syndrome. All I want to do is crank up O Come On Get Higher and dance at how cute Juliana and Rhett are
I'll join you !Swalisa--^ LOL, I bet Rhett is alot better at some things than Cortland
O no she didn'tgreta--*shaking and crying* I'm a bigger fan than I was before.
AwwwThe LieOkay, so I know that I said multiple times that I would never end the story. But then I realized the longer I went on with the story the less realistic and the more contrite the characters came. It would get to a point where it was a ridiculous cat and mouse game. I also knew if I went to long I would make another relationship.
Now is this the end of Shawna Harrison Web Serials ? Never ! Is this the end of United Light ? I don't know. I am not sure if I am ready to leave the characters, actually I know I am not ready. So, this has not completely died.
Right now the only thing really churning is a IVB web serial.
InspirationsIt's funny I often times leave things out because I know I can always clarify it on the blog so, I will do some of that in here.
Waco-- I knew the compound would be sieged and I knew I had two different ways to go with this either Jonestown or Waco. I went with Waco because it made more sense. For you young folks Waco was a seige on a Branch Davidian Compound (who was reported to be stockpiling weapons), they used tear gas and weapons to get people out. The reason they did this was so they would not have another Jonestown where there was a 600 person suicide. I did a lot of research on how they did this and what happens when you use CN tear gas for the ending. Do the really give decon showers in the woods and give people scrubs ? I don't know but, I figured they might. This was also where I learned about all the help that exists for people who leave or are forced to leave cults.
USCGA-- The last scene takes place at the Field at the US Coast Guard Academy. It is on the Thames River and I included the picture, the name of the river, the inscription on the plaque and the fact that he had tickets as a hint.
The EndI challenged myself a lot with the ending of this. I knew Rhett was going to switch sides and I wanted it to last longer but, that seemed unrealistic. I always knew Rhett was going to shoot Caine--originally he killed him but, that seemed harsh. I did not know how to make this little war 'end' or even begin for that matter (more on that later). I had to get a lot of inspirtation for this. The challenge I had was to not just write and tell about what was going on but to show. It was things like instead of having a paragraph that said
'We learned Sawyer had brought Sunset from the owners, who in my opinion never seemed to care and Rosa was working with local boutiques and was living on her own.'
I had to make it a conversation.
I did this a lot with the epilouge. I tried to show not tell, the biggest challenge of a writer.
I have to say when I first introduced Rhett he was never a love interest, there was supposed to always be an antagonism between the two . He was supposed to represent UL's voice but eventually he became full circle.
Epilouge-- The ending scene went through a lot of ideas. I knew Rhett would go to the Coast Guard in Louisiana. But, then I learned the US Coast Guard Academy was in New London, Connecticut which was near where Daniel's apartment was so, I decided they could be reunited.In the end as I have said, they are at the big football game between the Coast Guard and the Marine Academies. I also fiddled with whether Juliana could drive but, more on that later.
Now, I did take some liberties that make me itch but, no one really notices. Like the Service Dress Blues Rhett was wearing would not actually have gloves with it and the Secretaties Bowl is played in September not when there is snow on the ground. Rhett and Juliana are not a couple officially, at this point they are friends. I did this because at this point Juliana has made out with every guy in the story and I did not want her to do that again. The reason she kisses Rhett is because when freshman cadets (or swabs) go to the academy they can't see friends or family for 3 months atleast.
I know that Juliana lives in the 2 bedroom apartment with her dad and is going to therapy and taking pills and doing good with her life but, I don't know any specifics, which leaves rooms for details. I will say for a while I just wanted Juliana to just be with her dad and not choose anyone else.
Purity-- Lilies have always been a big symbol in this story because they represent purity. I will probably take a lot of slack for this but, I have always seen the character of Juliana as very pure, innocent and virginal like in the beginning and thats what I wanted her to be in the end. That is why after she gets out of the shower and is in the white scrubs (wink!) she doesn't speak for the rest of the story. She talks but, we don't hear it or see it. It is supposed to represent that inner innocence and peace. This innocence is also why she doesn't drive in the end but, I think she is working towards getting her liscence and the Reeses probably could not afford 2 cars anyway.
Most of the females in this story are strong females so, I hope you ladies won't hate me to much for giving Juliana that kind of stereotypical feminine personality. However in the epilouge she will talk because, being around Rhett brings out the person she has become.
Getting to the end without Juliana talking was very challenging, it was my biggest challenge. Having her not talk to Sawyer was a real challenge.
The Music -- I knew I was going to use the song
Life is Beautiful ever since I heard it on the
My Sister's Keeper and
Three Rivers commercials. It was originally going to be for when Juliana gave birth (she was going to be pregnant for a while there) but then I knew I had to save it for the end. I had other music for other moments that got cut but, I kind of want to save it for something else or if I ever come back to it. I will say I was surprised how many of the songs I thought were just beautiful music turned out to be Christian Rock. That was kind of odd.
There is so much more and I will probably lay it out better later but, for now I just want to work on something new because I had an amazing time working on this ! I am also getting the itch to write a sequel for this. If UL had been an actual book, I think it would have been 3 seperate books. The first one would probably go from the beginning to the Sawyer and Rosa reunion. The second one would have gone from there to Juliana breakup with Cortland. and then the third one would have been the end.
If I do make another chapter of this it will probably be a vastly different story because I am loving writing coming of age romances but, action is fun too !
Okay , off to make something awesome for you guys.
lol, this post took 2 hours to write.
