A Goodbye to The Archive Series

Happy Friday! 

The final book of The Archive Series comes out next Tuesday. This has been almost three years in the making and I don't know what to say to properly say goodbye. 

I started this series in December 2019 with Golden Touch. The idea had been sparked by me watching The Road to El Dorado and having a desire to write a treasure hunt story for most of December. Little did I know that the story of a girl finding a boy with a Midas touch up in the mountains to help her family with their money issues would turn into a five book series and be a huge part of my life for the next few years. I also had no idea that that series would get me through one of the hardest years - 2020. Honestly, God knew what 2020 would be like and He knew I was going to need a story and characters that would make me happy, give me joy and focus on during that very hard year. And for me, that was Amaya and Darren and this whole series. 

I poured a lot of myself and my story into Amaya and Darren. They hold lots of little pieces of my heart and the hopes that I had had at the time. Each book in that series is a time capsule. Every time I remember them or go back to reread them, I always remember where I was in life when I wrote them. Sometimes it was good and sometimes not so good. Golden Touch, I'll always remember writing right before the world went crazy in 2020. Emerald Phantom I wrote during my 22nd birthday. I remember struggling through Scarlet Phoenix and loving every second of introducing Emirs into the series. Black Rose I'll always remember I wrote that during a time when I was grieving the sudden loss of a friendship and was going through a pretty dark time. And Indigo Star I remember crying as I wrote most of it because it was saying goodbye to Amaya and Darren and finishing their story in a way that tugs at my heart. 

I won't say these books are perfect or for everyone, but it was the first series I've written where I didn't care who read them or if anyone ever read them. This series I wrote purely for myself because I needed it, not because anyone else did or because I wanted to write to a market and sell lots of books. Obviously, I wanted to share the series with readers, but when I first wrote the series I didn't think about that. I just wrote because it made me happy, and at the end of the day, that's what this series does: it makes me really happy. I'm very proud of what I accomplished. Never had I thought I would have the patience or ability to write a five book series. Never had I thought I would get to write some of the plot points and scenes that I got to write in this series. It was kind of a dream come true to get to write these books. I'm not sure any series will ever mean as much to me as this one does. The only other book that I feel like has the same level of my heart and self in it is Desert Flower. Maybe I'll end up writing other books in the future that holds as much of me in them as this series and Desert Flower, but for now, I'm just holding those extra close and loving them because of what they mean to me. 

Love Notes to each of my characters: 

To Amaya, 

The big sister character I've always wanted to write. The big sister who loves her younger siblings and will do anything to take care of her family. I love that I got to share that side of myself through you. I love your selflessness and how important family is to you. You were inspired partly by me and partly by a friend I had always took that love for family a little too far - kind of like you did at the start of your story. I'm glad you were able to learn how to balance love for your family and living your life. That you got to learn how to live for yourself and to do things for yourself, that it's not healthy to only live for others. I'm glad that you got to grow into yourself, your power and find yourself in a way you wouldn't have been able to do if you hadn't stepped out of your comfort zone.

To Darren, 

I know you're Amaya's guy, but I'm just gonna call you my guy cus I love you so much. I'm sorry I gave you so much trauma and you have had to struggle so much through your whole life. I'm sorry that you felt so undeserving of anything good, that you felt like no one could ever love you and that you would never find a happy ending. You aren't cursed and you aren't a horrible person. You're actually a really amazing person and I'm glad you found Amaya who taught you to love yourself, to see that the future does hold good for you. That you deserve good things. Thank you for walking with me through the rough moments of depression with me. For making me feel seen in so many different ways and for holding so many broken pieces of myself in your character. I'm glad you've been able to heal, to grow and to have the space to become the person you were always meant to be. 

To Lewis, 

Thanks for being such a fun bad guy. I'm not sure I will ever write a character whom I love or who makes me laugh or smile as much as you do. I love your snark, your sarcasm and how much you could care less about other people's feelings. You're character and whole arc took me by complete surprise but in the best way possible. Writing you let me write arcs and plot points that I have wanted to write for years, so thank you for that. Thanks for always being the sharp voice of reason, for always being a little more cynical and balancing out all the hopeless dreamers and teenage drama of the group with cold precision and honest truth. Thanks for letting me write my friendship and unrequited feelings/love trauma through you. I'm sorry you had to go through that, but also I think it was for the best... for both of us. 

To Mateo, 

True to your character, you gave me some serious trouble. I'm sure if you heard me say that you would be smirking and more than happy to cause me problems. I loved writing your character. Writing your story is one I've dreamed of for years, so thanks for that. But also all your flirting and chemistry with Amaya through me for a loop. Amaya and Darren are supposed to be end game, and yet, there was a hot minute where you had me seriously reevaluating that. I know you weren't too thrilled about them being end game for a while there, but I hope you're happy that I still gave you your happy ending and found a loophole to satisfy you. Anyway, I love that you don't take crap from anyone, that you were always willing to tell Amaya like it is and call her out on her crap. I love the friendship you have with her and that you were willing to do better and learn your lesson after making stupid mistakes. 

To Tyler, 

Whenever I think of you, I'll always think of your honorary twin Keturah. I love that she loves you so much and has pronounced herself your twin. I wish you were a real person so you guys could meet in real life. Thanks for being my dreamer. For being an adventurer, the little excited little brother and for never losing your spark. You were inspired by Henry Mills from OUAT because I always loved the hopeless optimist little brother vibes. You're the best and I dedicate your character to my bestie Keturah. 

To Cleo, 

Girl, you have been through it and I am sorry. But also you made some stupid decisions too near the end and you have to live with them and learn how to heal from them. Honestly, you were tough to write at times. You were always hard to figure out and read and I think that's par the course for you. That's just how you are. I love your spunk, the banter you have with Lewis, your love for books and research and how you are always down for an adventure. You're curiosity is definitely a gift and a curse and it was fun to explore that side of you. Also, you're name may be one of my favorite names I've ever come up with: Cleopatra Harper Orlando. I actually named you after a family's friend's daughter whom I love very much. Her name is Harper and I wanted to put a little piece of her into my story, so that's where you're middle name came from. 

To Jeromey, 

My gun-loving, adrenaline junkie, ex-ish adventurer. I feel like you have a really exciting and interesting prequel story/history that I wish I could have explored more in the books. Maybe one day I will, just not in this series. So much mystery shrouds your past and I think it would be fun to learn more about where you came from. But what I love about you is that it doesn't matter where you came from or what you did, what matters is where you are now and the good you're willing to do in the here and now. You're the ex-adventurer/mercenary/thief for hire with a heart of gold. You and Cleo balance each other so well and make a perfect team. Also, thanks for being Tyler's role model. I love the friendship you two have. 

To Claire, 

The rest of the time would not have survived as long as they have without you. There are so many female characters out there who have a loud sort of strength. The strong, masculine independent woman energy. What I love most about you is your quiet strength. You've been through your fair share of grief and trauma, and yet, you didn't let that beat you down or harden your heart. You are light and feminine and I love that you take care of Cleo and Jeromey and the rest of them through making sure the house is clean and baking and freshening the place up with flowers. You're the beautiful, feminine beauty with a strength that most people don't get to see. 

To Jacqueline, 

You were inspired by Helga Sinclair in Atlantis. Literally, when I picture you she's pretty much who I imagine. I love your no-nonsense attitude, your self-assuredness and confidence. I love the dynamic between you and Lewis and how conniving and self-centered you can be. It was fun to write a character like you and I still can't decide how I feel about what happened with you in Black Rose. 

To Emirs, 

Like Lewis, you are one of my favorite villains I've ever written. I struggle with writing villains, but you're character came so effortlessly. I loved writing your backstory, I loved your motives and writing every scene you were in. I loved writing a bad guy that is just bad and that people can love to hate. Don't get me wrong, I low key still want you to have a redemption arc, but I also kind of just like that you don't feel bad for anything you've done. I tucked you away somewhere safe at the end of this journey because I had a feeling one day I would want to visit you again. That and I have a thing for poetic justice and you got what was coming to you. Thanks for being such a fun bad guy and for just being awful to literally everyone. 

I think that's everyone. Those are all my Archive crew. I love these books, I'm thankful for these books and I hope there are others out there who will love and enjoy them the same way I did. Thank you to everyone who has read this series up to this point and has finished out these characters' stories with me. It means the world to me that you've picked up these books to go on this journey with me. This is goodbye to the Archive series world... for now.