Countdowns, Thanks Yous, Future Plans

Hooo boooy, I'm nervous haha!

After 1.5 years from production to release, Bewitching Sinners is going to be released in just a few hours. It's been a wild journey for sure. This is gonna be a long rant, so if you just want the tldr;

• I'm grateful for all your support (Especially Evelyn Corvin and GrandMacTarkin who were with me from day 1 basically),

•  I will DM the itch io keys to previous 10 USD+ patrons and publish a post with the tag "Game Key" for the itch io patreon access link for current patrons in the same hour as game release,

• I'm gonna make R18 of Ivar since my friend bought me a 3d dick asset collection (never waste a pp!),

• I will make DLC of Bewitching Sinners for my patrons regardless of how sales turn out, but public release for that DLC is tentative.

• Now, If you are willing to read the long rant then please enjoy and drink a coffee while you do.

Long rant:

For those who don't know me prior to Bewitching Sinners, I actually did make 2 commercial VNs in my college years. I stopped for 2 or so years after I graduated, as I got married. I made VNs as a quick way to get money in college since part-time jobs aren't really a thing in my small town, and I wanted to lessen the burden of my then-boyfriend, later husband and later ex-husband.

But the very first VN I made was Freak-Quency which I made because my much older brother went MIA and 17 year old me couldn't handle that as we were so close. And apparently I coped by making fantasy stories out of my misery. We did find him, not long after FQ was released, but since FQ was a hit, I decided I can make money off this. Especially since I wanted to quickly marry my then-boyfriend, so I wanted to make money in college.

I made a decent amount from Ampli and Lingering, nothing worth noting outside of Indonesia of course, but for me, it's good -- good enough to not be a financial burden as I marry. My then-boyfriend was the reason I draw and write, and worked so hard basically. We did get married, and I was happy, but then he fell in love with someone else and formed relations with someone much younger.

His mom gaslighted me that it wasn't cheating, and a lot of people covered for him. I snapped out of it after some pics a good samaritan gave me. Long story short, for about a year I lost my will to both live, draw, or write as he was my motivation to work so hard.

But I did try my usual coping methods, I made CUPID and Mark of a Beloved, two VNS that are a satire about how shitty love is, but was too down to complete them. That's when Evelyn Corvin said something that really compelled me to this day the simple "I'm not here because I want to see you succeed in one particular project, I'm here because I want to see you make art. Whatever that may be"

 GrandMacTarkin also offered me the financial aid I needed as I was struggling to find a job after my divorce since I developed some heart health issues from stress and was struggling to find a job due to me not passing the health check interviews.

With Evelyn's and Mac's support, I decided to do another shot at making a VN. Bewitching Sinners, I didn't know if I would continue it, I only knew that I like how when shortened it spells out BS (Bull Shit) and that I remember I started drafting it right after I picked up my items from my ex's house . My friends helped me pick up my shit, and there was a lot of stuff as I paid for the house renovations and all appliances like the AC. The AC was an expensive one (as I wanted a 10 year warranty thinking my marriage would at least last that long), and I remember I couldn't take it home with me, so my friends really wanted to at least cut off some wires and fuck up the place since I paid for basically everything in that house yet I had to go and can't pick some stuff due to inconvenience/space issues back in my folk's place.

That's where Quill and Thane came from btw, the banter back then was great. Real chaos energy and anarchy. I did manage to convince them not to trash the place though. Also, Arshem is just my version of male lead fanfics as I went full delulu in AO3. Lyall is eye candy and the cinnamon roll to balance the spiciness of the other boys. Ivar was the personification of my rage at that time.

Anyway, I finished the demo and tbh, I wasn't sure about posting it. However my dad needed brain surgery in January, and I was afraid he'd die and I wouldn't have enough money to support my mom, so I post it in hopes of idk... distraction? A means to earn money? It was a weird time because my divorce and dad's surgery were only a few months apart. He's alive and kicking though, so all good now!

Patreon picked up after January, I had money to make ends meet and was blessed to get hired for freelance work and the occasional baby sitting jobs. April 2023, I had severe abdominal pain and went to the ER. What first was thought to be a tortioned cyst, turned out to be a pretty bad infection in my Cavum Douglas and fallopian tubes (from my ex's infidelity or not, idk, but he is the only man I've ever been with.)

Basically got told I had little to no chance of having kids, which was devastating to me as my dream was to be a mom. But I dive back to Bewitching Sinners, and see it pick up in traction and fame. Nothing big like a Date with Death, Obscura, or Touchstarved but for me it was still a lot. Made enough from patreon to hire my socmed assistant this month and paid my editor a fair fee who both are freelancers down in their luck too so I was happy I can help other women out as both needed money for healthcare. (We sick women gotta help each other out haha!)

Idk if my luck will continue, or maybe I will be back struggling if Bewitching Sinners tanks, but either way, I had a lot of fun this 1,5 years (minus the ER visit).

And I will continue to make VNs, wanna make that furry Ivar CG a thing and test out patrons theories here that R18 sells better haha. I also wanna continue Bewitching Sinners, show the witch routes, but idk if that is financially wise... we will see.

If you made it this far, thank you. I didn't write all this for you to pity me or anything by the way, or to diss my ex, I'm sure he had his reasons and perhaps I just couldn't make him happy. These are just feelings I thought needed to be said, to explain how much all your support means to me as I find a new reason to draw and write. You all gave a woman down in rock bottom, the confidence boost to start over. I may not always convey my gratitude well, but please know Bewitching Sinners (and maybe even me) wouldn't even be here if it weren't for all of your enthusiasm and support.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I hope you enjoy the full game and apologies in advance for anything it lacks for I am but one woman.

All my love, gratitude, and humility,

Proud 20 something divorcee, Miss Xero.