Habemus Novellam!
After two years of writing, revising, brainstorming, and navigating the ups and downs of creative life, I’m thrilled to say… we have a novel! Reunion: Coda is finally complete—penultimate scene, ending, and all. This story has been a labor of love, a journey full of growth, emotion, and a few unexpected revelations along the way.
As with any meaningful creative project, it hasn’t always been easy. There were moments of doubt, times when the path forward felt uncertain—but through it all, I kept returning to the story, finding ways to weave its threads tighter and bring its characters to life. And now, as I look at the finished work, I feel nothing short of gratitude: for the journey, for the lessons, and for the love that’s gone into every page.
The final scenes, “In the Shadow of Memory” and “The Rhythm of the Present,” encapsulate everything I hoped to convey in this chapter of Jim, Maddie, Marty, and Mark’s lives: reflection, hope, and the abiding power of connection. From the quiet beauty of a cemetery to the warmth of a night wrapped in music and promise, these moments feel like the perfect culmination of the journey.
To all those who’ve supported me, inspired me, or even just listened while I worked through the pieces of this puzzle—thank you. This novel exists because of your kindness and encouragement.
And now, as the curtain lowers on Reunion: Coda, I find myself both relieved and excited. Relieved to have brought this chapter to completion, and excited for the possibilities ahead.
As Shakespeare so elegantly put it: “Our revels now are ended.” But for me, the writing never truly stops. Here’s to new ideas, fresh stories, and the chapters yet unwritten.
A Certain Point of View, Too 
Comments
11 responses to “Dear Reader….Habemus Novellam!”
Congratulations! Completing a novel is always a momentous occasion.
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Thanks, Jake!
It’s my first time, too.
Damn. I need a Heineken. Stat.
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Congratulations Alex. That is a great achievement. 💖🥇🏆🎁🎉🎂🥂🥂🥂
Now it is time to celebrate and then get it uploaded
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I still must write the other non-story bits first, like the Afterword and Acknowledgments pages. I estimate the book will be ready between April 15 and May 1.
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Congratulations!! A lot of work into that.
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Thanks, Dave.
And, yep, I put a lot of effort into it. As of this morning (April 3, 2025), the manuscript is 584 pages and 143,071 words long, including the title and disclaimer pages but (obviously) not the afterword or other back matter pages yet to be written. (Thank the Force for computers, Microsoft Word, and Kindle Create. I couldn’t have done this on an electric typewriter….)
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Congrats, Alex. Great work!
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After I posted this last night, I went back to the last page of the manuscript, re-read the closing section, and wasn’t thrilled by the ending, so I tweaked it a bit. I kept the original last line, but rewrote the preceding four “grafs.” The original version was okay as a first draft, but it didn’t work well in my head, so I fixed it. Now I’m happy with it. Tired, but happy.
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I had a teacher who once told me a writer never finishes a project, he abandons it. Trust your gut, Alex. I’m sure you’re fine. Congrats, again!
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My Beta reader checked the last chapter and only suggested a few edits. I made them right away, so I’m almost ready to publish.
Thanks, Paul, for your kind words!
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[…] around 10 PM – a couple of hours after I wrote and posted “Dear Reader…Habemus Novellam!“ – I put the finishing touches on Chapter 30’s Scene Five, the novel’s ending. I had […]
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