I've seen the comments from yesterday, and it's clear my writing has ruffled some feathers. To be completely honest, I didn't know my words could make readers feel such strong anger. While that wasn't the specific emotion I was aiming for when I started this journey, I have to acknowledge that it is a powerful one... it means the story has touched a nerve, and you are deeply invested in Mateo's fate.
And for that, I am genuinely thankful. Thank you for caring enough about Mateo to feel frustrated and angry on his behalf. That connection is the most important thing an author can hope for.
When I began this novel, the very first question I asked myself wasn't "What cool things will he do?" but "How can I make readers feel his dream in their bones, so that his eventual triumph is not just a victory, but also root for him along the way?" Follow current novels on NoveI★Fire.net
The humiliation at Barcelona isn't a random punishment. It's the fire that forges his resolve. If he left on good terms, it would be a simple transfer. But by being betrayed and cast out, his journey becomes a powerful reckoning. We don't just want him to succeed; we need him to succeed, to heal the injustice we both witnessed.
He is not just a shell. A shell doesn't feel pain this deeply. This suffering is what gives his character weight, history, and a powerful reason to evolve. The boy who was wronged by Barcelona will not be the same man who conquers Europe. This pain is the foundation of that transformation.
So, while the anger surprises me, the passion behind it does not. It means you see him as a person worth rooting for. And I promise you, this painful beginning is what will make the payoff of his rise infinitely more satisfying.
Thank you for your passion. It's what makes writing this story so worthwhile.
And also please put down your lynching forks.