'Twilight': Stephenie Meyer puts 'Midnight Sun' on back burner 'indefinitely'

What a way to kick off the Labor Day weekend for "Twilight" fans.

In a note posted to her official website Thursday, author Stephenie Meyer tells her readers she has decided to discontinue "Midnight Sun," her planned retelling of "Twilight" from the teenage vampire Edward's perspective, after an unfinished draft was illegally posted and distributed on the Internet without her knowledge or permission.

If I tried to write "Midnight Sun" now, in my current frame of mind, James would probably win and all the Cullens would die, which wouldn't dovetail too well with the original story. In any case, I feel too sad about what has happened to continue working on "Midnight Sun," and so it is on hold indefinitely.

Meyer had originally made the only first chapter available on her site. Because the project is now virtually killed, she's made the incomplete draft available as well, but cautions that "the writing is messy and flawed and full of mistakes."

I rather my fans not read this version.... It was only an incomplete draft.... But to end the confusion, I've decided to make the draft available.... I hope this fragment gives you further insight into Edward's head and adds a new dimension to the Twilight story. That's what inspired me to write it in the first place.

This has been a roller-coaster year for Meyer, who just completed a successful concert book series but has also had to answer for some of the backlash directed at "Breaking Dawn," the fourth and final installment of the "Twilight" saga.

But fans shouldn't fret: There's only three months until "Twilight" hits movie theaters.

As for Meyer, she's about to step behind the camera to direct a new music video for Jack's Mannequin's "The Resolution." The band is a favorite of the author's and appears on her online playlists.

-- Denise Martin

Related:

Good news "Twilight" fans: Santa's coming early this year

"Twilight": What does the "Breaking Dawn" backlash bode for the movie?

"Twilight": A snap judgment on "Breaking Dawn"

Comments

[a Twilighter]

i think that some of you guys are really harsh on her, telling her to get over it and everything...

she must be extremely distressed right now. i mean, think about it. her last twilight book and there it goes out the window... thats like saying someone leaked HP and deathly hallows.

i was so looking forward to the day when midnight sun should be released, but its now ruined. honestly, i was way more excited for midnight sun than breaking dawn to come out. (not saying that is or was bad). im just saying that its just so interesting to be in edwards head...

so seriously guys, lighten up. when she's ready to make the best ending, the most amazing finishing touch, she'll do it. dont push her right now and make her finish it. because it wont be the best she can do in such a depressive state...

[Steven]

Stephenie is too full of herself.

[Alice]

Sorry, but reading this article just ruined the rest of my day. I am SO mad. GRRRRRRRR.......

[Brooke]

i think she is being a little over dramatic. she needs to chill for a while, but get back to writing! she cant just say, sorry guys, my life is to depressing, im just not gonna do it. if everyone did that, where would we be right now? she cant just give up like that.

[Maria]

Alright, i understand everyone was anticipating Midnight Sun. But could you please be unselfish for one moment? I know you think she's taking this a bit over board but she really isn't. It's hard to understand what she's going through, but i think i get it a bit. Ok, it's not just that someone betrayed her and posted her story ILLEGALLY but the fact that it was someone she considered close. Not only that, put yourself in her shoes for a moment. What if you were this brilliant person with an amazing story planned out and all of the sudden all the surprises were leaked on to the internet? It's not that she doesn't think you guys will enjoy it, it's the fact that she lost her excitement or touch with Edward. When you want to keep something under wraps so everyone sees it when it's done and tweaked, then it truly hurts when someone doesn't think before doing something like that. It's hard to explain, but think about this. What if you were the creator of a new source of energy that didn't depend on nonrenewable resources and someone stole that idea from you. You would feel cheated, disappointed, discouraged and empty. Stephenie Meyer has every right to feel this way and hold off Midnight Sun, we should all also think about all the stress she goes through. Having finished concerts, the horrible reviews about BD and the little time she has spent with her family. Yes i will yearn for Midnight Sun but i respect Stephenie's decision.

[riona]

this is crap. I totally get that her rights were violated and all the stuff, but punish the fandom bc she trusted someone when she gave that manuscript? yeah right.very smart

Until now,she had all my support, but from now on..- zeroooo. Everybody knows the story from Twilgiht, now what we all have been expected is to see that story from Edward;s pov.

Moreover,she gave us Jacob's pov too. Twice - in eclipse, a part..and around 10 freakin' chapters in BD. Some of us don't like Jacob,but we got through all those stuff for the book's sake,we understood Meyer for doing it. But all that we have wanted was to see Edward's pov too.

this is immature. Rowling was better when HP was leaked. She knew how to handle things..and it was HP's ending, sth ..idk,crucial i could say,for some crazy fans. BUt this..wtf,we all know the story from MS,the plot..and she decides to interrupt it. Very smart, Meyer!

[Samantha]

I ADORE you, RemeberIt.

You put everything absolutely right, I couldn't have said it better myself.
This whole thing seems like a childish tantrum because Breaking Dawn didn't get everyone "OMGZ iT's the bEst bO0k EVAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!"

And God, I gagged and literally felt sick to my stomach every time anything about Jacob and Renesmee was mentioned in the book.
In fact I just threw up a little in my mouth.

[leslie]

She didn't say she'd never finish it. It's on hold. Given that it was all over the web she had little choice but to put it out there.

As for Rowling's reaction, it happened to her twice. The first time the people were caught early and are currently serving jail time.

In the second incident, her finished book not a rough draft, was put online four days before it released. Quite a different thing.

[marisol]

I'm a huge fan of the Twilight series, I think that each book is perfect, even though of course there are parts that I would change... I'm not sure about reading the draft just in case she decides to go on with MS...

[jen]

What a childish and arrogant thing to do knowing full well fans were looking forward to it. Talk about biting the hand that feeds her. She needs to clarify who DIDNT release the book extract. Its not fair to Catherine and Rob to be implicated indirectly just because they had a copy.

[Mary]

Oh Stephenie...you goofed. You have the most anticipated movie of 2008 coming up in November and you decide to piss off your fans...not such a good plan. Perhaps a private breakdown might have been more appropriate?? In any event, although we all realize your tired, sad and depressed, your "loyal" fans deserve better than all to be painted with the same brush. We've supported you and bought your books and were all anxiously awaiting MS and Twilight the movie.

I hope this move doesn't backfire on you. And, seriously, I hope (for your sake), that Summit and Catherine Hardwick, et al strongly suggest you appease your fans...

[Melanie]

Me=going through shock.
*Cry*
Come on, Stephenie, you can't do this to us! I apologize, but my opinion of you just dropped :( I didn't even read the leak, and a lot of other people didn't read it, and a lot more still respect you! Why must you punish us for your trustee's betrayal? My labor day weekend really was just started of with a kick in the face, a broken nose and a bruised eye. Yes, this news is really that upsetting to me. How can I enjoy my last weekend before school starts again now?
*Cry*
Even with it on your website now, I still don't want to read it. Now it just seems like you're giving up. Posting it online, yourself, seems like the proof that you won't really change your mind and continue it again, but despite this recent blow, I would like to still have hopes.
God, this is going to spark up the same response that the move of the Harry Potter movie release change did.
Do you hate us?
Seriously, you claim that you love your fans, but then you pull something like this.
*Shakes head in disappointment*
Please, please, PLEASE change your mind!! I beg you! I was really looking forward to this, and I'm only just realizing with this news how much I was looking forward to it!

[ella]

she's being very childish and immature. Why punish your readers just because they want to read your books. I have to add that midnight sun was more entertaining than breaking down. Well, at least we still have Robert....

[sandra]

Hey all you whiners complaining about Stephenie's reaction need to grow up yourselves! If you want to blame anyone, do it on the peson who ruined it for us. If it wasnt for that person, NOT Stephenie, then NONE of this would be happening! SO GET OVER IT!

[Zatina]

Come on!!!, i am not reading the 12 chapter of midnight sun, i want the hole book, please Steph you have to finish it, i know you must be angry and all that, but you cant do that to us, the twilighters, I wanna know Edwards side too.
Dont punish all just for one person bas judgement.
Finishit, do this for your fans.
Any body know who was the jakass to up the book on line???
That person must be punishit
He kill the Saga.
Please any body who agree or not with me write at valenbigd@hotmail.com
Please i really need to talk about this with someone
Thanks.!!

[marie]

I can totallly understand why stephenie has done this. Her rights were violated and she has the right to express how she feels. What disappointed me though is not her "childish" behavior that some fans are saying right now, but these fans who are saying this who are acting childishly right now.

I agree with Leslie. She has NEVER said that she is not going to finish it. She is just putting it indefinitely until she can lick her wounds, clear her mind and sort out her emotions. Once she has gotten herself together, she will then go back to her writing and let her muses take her whatever she has imagined them would be. She is just TAKING HER TIME to think this situation over and she will get back to her writing soon. Can anyone point out to me in her post where she said that she will NEVER finish Midnight Sun? She is just saying indefinitely.She will release it soon on her own time. Besides she hasnt finished writing it. She said in an interview that she was still 12 chapters in. And with the much needed rest she needs, she hasnt plan on releasing it that soon now does she?

Also with the JK Rowling comparison. She hasnt experienced her rough draft being leaked. All things that were leaked out from her books were finished products, like the book has been published and all. Imagine if your unfinished work was put out there, you would also be devastated. Yes JKR has politely asked fans to not spoil it for others but that incident was different compared to this one. DH was done and ready for release when the leak happened. MS was still a rough draft. When BD was released, did SM threaten not to release it? No. She still went through with it.

Again, this move of SM is not childish for me but was done out of anger and disappointment. She has trusted some copies to some people because she knows that it will help them in some way or some how and with this leak, her trust was violated. She has NEVER said that she WOULD NOT finish the book but is on hold indefinitely. She will take her time to sort things over and then she will go back into writing the book and publish it.

[Hayley]

I think Meyer has made a good choice for her. She does not appear to be the kind of person who is in it for the money and fame and you can see from interviews she has strong feelings for what she writes and all her books (especially twilight), they are very personal to her. I don't think you can imagine how violated she feels.
She has said repeatedly that she wrote Twilight for herself so why should Midnight Sun be any different? If she forces herself to write this book for other people despite what she is feeling it simply won't be her best. You need to decide whether you want a mediocre book written by someone who was pressured into it or whether you want a great book that emanates the love the writer feels for her characters.
Maybe she needs a break from the Twilight world for a while - but is that such a bad thing? The anticipation is half the fun!
I hope she goes well with her other endeavors and that one day - whenever that maybe - she decides she can put her best into finishing this great book she has begun.

[silentcamisado]

I understand fully of what Stephenie feels. It is in fact virtually impossible to continue writing something if you or someone who knows the story talks about it.

The difference is a huge portion of her story was leaked and it's incredibly disrespectful to her to have done so. She worked so hard not to have Breaking Dawn leaked, and now in return, Midnight Sun is leaked instead. She is incredibly protective of her work, as we can see, and we owe her respect for that rather than being angry that she is not releasing Midnight Sun when we want it. I respect her decision entirely because it was in fact a good decision to have made.

When the first leaks of Midnight Sun came out, stills from the movie were posted on Facebook with quotes from Midnight Sun on them. I personally made the effort not to read them in respect to Stephenie and because I wanted to read Midnight Sun as an actually novel when it came OUT, not as a leak on the internet. I hope that plenty of other devoted Twilight fans made the effort not to read it as well.

I am glad that she posted the unfinished draft on her website, as a legitimate way for her fans to read the highly anticipated material. I do hope that she can pick up on Midnight Sun again, even if it is not next year that we see the release of the book. I did just read the draft on her website, and even though I did, I would buy the book because I loved the rough draft so much. I can only imagine it when it has been finished. It is something that I will look forward to, no matter how long the wait.

[Stacie]

Amy, you took the words right out of my mouth (err..keyboard?). As you say:

"Stephenie isn't punishing her fans. She is simply upset currently, and as any writer knows, its difficult to write things when you have very strong emotions preventing your creativity from flowing."

I know everyone is disappointed, I am, too! But please know that Stephenie isn't doing this to punish us. She readily admits in her post that her head just isn't in the right place to finish the book at this point. Also, don't lose faith--indefinitely does not mean "never." Indefinitely means a vague and uncertain point in time. I interpreted that as her saying she needed a break from it, but she wasn't sure how long of a break she'd need.

[angry non-fan]

EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES. i think she is just bored with the twilight universe and wants to do something different.

[LISA Masen Cullen]

I sure hope it was not Robert Pattinson and if it was I do not think is was on purpose if it was his copy I bet he was just careless with the manuscript and it got leaked.
I do not know for sure if it was him but I know this would make since more then anything why she can not finish it now because he is our movie Edward and so I think it would devastate her more then anyone else at this point.
Gosh I hope I am wrong but even if it is not Rob who I love so much, I am so very sad and heart broken I have been such a good fan I would not hurt her this way and I do not want to read what she put on her page I want what she planed to give us fans I want her to feel better about this so she can wright again. I wish I could magically make this all better for her she so did not deserve this I love all the books ALL OF THEM even Breaking Dawn and I want so much to read Midnight Sun. That said I just want to say I love her and I will wait and see if she will be willing to finish it or not. I am a true fan and I know I do not deserve this but I do not blame our dear Stephenie I trust her and will prey for her on this I have nothing else I can give her but I hope it will help because she has already given me so much!! LISA

[Reason]

A lot of you guys are whiny brats. She isn't some robot that can just write a whim, writing isn't like that. She's upset, and doesn't feel like she can write about Twilight anymore and you guys complain that she's being childish and making a mistake? If you're entertainment is worth more than her feelings, then I feel ashamed to even call myself part of the Twilight community. She writes for herself, not her fans, get over yourselves for one minute, please. If something as personal as something you alone created was stolen unjustly, it will hurt. A lot. She's human.

She's not doing it to punish or hurt you guys but all you care about is your entertainment, right? If I ever became an author, I would hope my fans would be able to understand me as a person and not be so selfish. Some of these reactions are sick.

[Bre]

WOW! all of you are calling her childish, look at yourself, do you honestly think any of you can do better then her, if so try, dont bicker about this, it is her decision, she wrote the book and i would be pissed if i were her too. And whats wrong with breaking dawn that is a amazing book and has you wanting to keep and keep reading just like all the other ones, I think stephenie is a AMAZING writer and is deffenitly one of the most popular right now and she will be for a while. If your going to judge, stop and think first "Can i do this good". if not you have nothing to complain about. Dont let this crap bother you steph. You are one of the most amazing writers in this day, keep it going you have a wonderful talent.

[Amelia]

Way to go Stephenie.

I'm a writer, and--even though I don't have legions of fans--I understand the show of trust it takes to let someone read an unfinished and uneditted draft. It's HUGELY personal, and the betrayal of that trust must be devestating.

Despite what some people are saying, your fans are here for you, and we really hope we get to read some more of your books someday.

Until then, enjoy dedicating time to your family! You've accomplished so much in the past years--you're an inspiration.

To everyone complaining about this--it's not your life. You have absolutly no right to bash Stephenie's decision. It's her book and her writing. It's her life, so you can all deal with it.

[jeni-jeni]

I respect Stephenie's decision and even encourage it to an extent. I can't deny that I was looking forward to Midnight Sun's release.

But clearly, she needs time away from all this craziness.