Sept. 4, 2008
On August 30, Stephenie Meyer posted a notice on her official website saying that someone close to her who she had given an early draft of her upcoming novel, “Midnight Sun,” had leaked it onto the internet. “It has taken me a while to decide how and if I could respond. But to end the confusion, I’ve decided to make the draft available [on her website],” she said in her statement. “This way, my readers don’t have to feel they have to make a sacrifice to stay honest.”
“So where does this leave Midnight Sun? My first feeling was that there was no way to continue,” she wrote. “In any case, I feel too sad about what has happened to continue working on Midnight Sun, and so it is on hold indefinitely.”
After reading the draft of “Midnight Sun” that was posted, I only have three words for Ms. Meyer: Please finish it.
For those readers who are not familiar with the concept of the novel, “Midnight Sun” is a rewrite of Meyer’s first novel, “Twilight,” from its hero’s perspective: Edward instead of Bella. She has even said before that, once she started writing “Midnight Sun,” she realized that she should have told the story from Edward’s perspective all along. She was right.
What made “Twilight” so interesting was the dynamic between Edward and Bella. Edward was torn between his “wants” for Bella; he was in love with her, and yet he wanted to kill her. In “Twilight,” the reader got a confusing take on his confusion from Bella. She was unsure of his emotions and reactions towards her, and so were we. Did he want to kiss her or kill her? Was it lust or bloodlust?
“Midnight Sun” clears those up. Finally, the enigma that is Edward begins to make sense. Sure, the novel remains about a third completed (the draft is only 264 pages long), but even only telling the story until the drive home after the tense Biology Movie Class Scene, so many puzzle pieces fell into place: What Edward did when he went North to escape Bella. Edward’s hand in Angela and Ben’s relationship. Edward’s real excuse for following Bella to Port Angeles. The extent of Edward’s love for Bella, and the explanation behind it.
Sure, Edward still is a creepy stalker who can’t get enough of watching Bella sleep, but it works because we have an explanation for it. Just like writing Bella’s pregnancy in “Breaking Dawn” from Jacob’s perspective led to some confusion and irritation over Bella’s motives for giving birth to what Jacob thought was a monster, writing “Twilight” from Bella’s perspective led to confusion and harsh claims against Edward’s character. Edward’s perspective is much more fun than it should be as it shows how he rediscovers his 17-year-old side after being trapped in the same body for almost a century. And that includes hormones.
While Edward’s voice is a lot more interesting than Bella’s (and significantly less annoying), “Midnight Sun” is still very much a chick read. I can’t see 14 to 21 year old boys going to a book store and wanting to swoon over Edward’s endless monologue about his love for Bella, but anyone who enjoyed the Twilight saga will definitely enjoy this installment.
The part of “Midnight Sun” that was the most fun was reading everyone’s minds (except Bella, of course) alongside Edward. Meyer is able to include scenes that Edward was unable to see by having him watch it from someone else’s perspective. It is fun to see how all the pieces that were missing from “Twilight” fall into place, and of course we don’t have the same frustration Edward has because if a reader wants to know how Bella is feeling, they can just flip to that scene in “Twilight.”
It is almost funny to see how Edward’s bias of Bella is almost as severe as Bella’s is of him. To Bella, Edward is the most attractive, perfect man in the realm of existence. To Edward, no one else can anywhere near compare to how delicate, pretty, and selfless Bella is. Seeing their views of one another makes it clearer that the “perfection” they find in each other is mostly their mutual love and a decent percentage exaggerated.
“Midnight Sun” is nothing more than a companion piece; don’t think that you can just skip over the Twilight saga and just start from Edward’s perspective because there are a lot of missing details that were explained in previous books and did not need to be explained again. For example, Peter and Charlotte are introduced early on in “Midnight Sun,” while Bella did not know that they existed until “Eclipse.” “Midnight Sun” is a fun way for Twilight fans to re-explore the universe that they had come to love in a new way, a way that will lead to many, many “Oh, well that makes more sense” moments.
So please, Stephanie, please finish writing “Midnight Sun.” After all, you can’t leave us hanging by not sharing The Meadow Scene from Edward’s perspective with us.
Terri Schwartz is the entertainment editor of Blast Magazine. She is currently in her sophomore year at Northeastern University studying for journalism and cinema studies. She really likes movies. If you couldn't tell. You can follow her on Twitter.
okayy.. i am eleven years old and i read all of the twilight books twice in 4 months! they are my life! i dream about them and i have posters all over my walls! i asked for a twilightt shirttt for my birthday andd i got like 7 now! lol. i havee readdd the first 12 chapterss of midnight sun and i think they are amazing (even with all the errors!) i didnt know all of these things that edward thought and it gives you a whole different perspective on everything, most importantly edward! i really, really, really, REALLY! hope that STEPHANIE MEYER! continuess to write this book because it is truly amazing! it would make alll of her fans soo happy! and it would be suchh ann accomplishmentt of stephaniee herself just to know that she completes 5 HUGE books in a seriess that is on the new york times! Whoa! Anyways, THIS IS TO YOU STEPHANI! YOU MUST CONTINUE WRITINGG THIS BOOK OR I WILL DIE! YOU ARE AN AMAZING AUTHOR AND PLEASEE DONT END THIS SAGA NOW! ♥♥♥
hey stephanie meyer i hope u r reading this i am one of ur fans n as u no ur a great author n u have a gift most people dont u need to use it n finish midnight sun i no ur not happy about wat happen, ur fans are not happy. just cuz some1 did that does not mean you let down ur fans cuz im not that happy with u not finishing it plz consider what im saying i hope u dont let down ur fans
hey steph. i am so very sorry for wat happend. you are an amazing auther and you have inspired me so much. please finish midnight sun.i have dreamed many nights over your books. and yes i have read them all. so please finish this book and get it published. think of ur fans. we all feel terably bad about what happend but dont let that stop you from doing what you love. please make ur fans happy(it not like u havent all ready but still).so please, PLEASE, finish it.
i admit that all i ever think about is the twilight saga. im 12 years old and i have read all the books except the first 12 chapters of midnight sun because i want it to be a surprise when i get the book. i have twilight posters bracelets pins shirts necklaces and magazines and anything else you can think of that has to do with twilight. i really hope that stephenie meyer doesnt end the series now. I WOULD JUST DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! everyday, i dream think and talk about twilight no matter whuat the conversation is about.
Hi!!! omg i <3 Twilight!!!! i bought the first book like a week ago and im now reading breaking dawn!!! stephanie meyer please finish midnight sun!!! I <3 Twilight!!!
I was bored over my spring break so why not get the books… I didn’t know of the series till the movie “twilight” and im also into vampire love stories that have an edge and definitly.. one of my favorite series… I did not read the first book since it might taint my image of the movie (but im thinking otherwise..)and read the second book a day.. the third book in 7 hrs and fourth book in a day and definitely…i love the fourth book!! If anyone who hasn’t read the saga… YOUr’e sooo missing out… now i wish there’s more to it…so sad that it ended…
i was one of the late bloomer;s with twilight im 17 &;nd i read all 4 books in under a week. &;nd ive read the 12 chapter;s on stephenie meyer;s website.
i used to be a harry potter fan as well &;nd i always read the books before the movie but i saw twilight before i read the book then after the movie is when i started reading the books. i couldnt put them down for a second. all i can say is that im ready for the full midnight sun novel to come out.
Hey I would just like to say that midnight sun is a really fantastic book! I was reading it then found out that it just stops at the chapter of the meadow (my favourite chapter in twilight) I was so dissapointed and angry that i didnt get to read edwards point of veiw of that certain scene. when i found out that there was a draft or that midnight sun even existed i ran to the computer and looked it up. the next day at school i told all of my friends who are obsessed with twiliight as well that it existed. I really hope that Stephanie finishes the book which all her fans would be grateful for and would love it like I do already! PLEASE FINISH IT!
You have to finish the book and then you you have to write more you cant just leave the saga on breaking dawn i need more i remember the last words on the last page of the breakingh dawn book “and we continued blistfully into our small but perfect peice of our forever” You need to “continue i need It And Fast im Getting bored reading The Saga For The 12th time and I Not kidding!!!!!!!!
-Luna Age 14
hi stephinie i am like in love with your books i have read them oveer 10 times so yeah it rocks alot and i cant wait for midnight sun to come out ill wait till its published
:L 
XD i can not wait ur biggest fan
plz plz plzzzzz!!!!! write midnoght sun im begging i have NOTHING to read and my mom says she wont buy me the books plz plz plz plllzzzzz!!!!!!!!! start writnig it again
HI im 11 read all the books and NEEDS TO KNOW MORE OR WILL DIE!!!! plz plz plz Stephine read this look at what ur fans want and PLZ LISTEN TO THEM IM BEGGING!
i have nothing to read and wont go to harry potter cant turn my back on twilight i want twilight everything but i cant to much money STEPHINE LISTEN TO UR FANS START WRITING IT AGAIN PLZ!!!!
I’ve read Twilight Saga for twice times and it’s now the third times. i even watch the movie for more than 10 times. don’t know why… but these books are the most interesting books. i love it very much.
one day i tried to find another Stephanie Mayer’s book and i found her website. i thought Midnightsun already published so i tried where i can found that book via internet. but I’m surprise when i read Stephanie’s article. i download the Midnigntsun draft to know the story… to be honest i like it and i love it. i hope Stephanie can continue to write it… i really – really want to read it until the end…. PLEASE TELL HER “DON’T GIVE UP… ALL HER FANS ARE WAITING FOR THE STORY……”
o my gosh i luv the twilight series i read new moon in half a day and 3 hours !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!my FAVORITE IZ BREAKING DAWN IM A REALLY FAST READER WELL ANYWAYS THANK YOU SO MUCH 4 THE TWILIGHT SERIES…………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AND THE WAY YOU DESCRIBE THE EMOTION,MOVEMENTS,ITS LIKE YOU PAINT A PICTURE AND IM THERE WATCHING IT. ………….ITS INTENSE I CRYED SO HARD I COULD FEEI THE BALL IN MY THROAT ……………YEA WELL THANX ……..AGAIN IM ALICIA AND IM TWELVE GOING ON 13 MY BDAY IZ DECEMBER 10
I’am 30 years old and was not at all interested in twilight until my husband suggested watching it at first I thought not another vampire movie, but almost immediately after the movie started I was frozen could not stop watching it, when it was over I wanted more, I never heard of twilight or any of the books in the saga until after I could not stop talking about and I was told about the 4 books I went right out bought all 4 books on a tuesday and by sunday was already rereading them I was crying upset happy elated and needed more, I just read Midnight sun and I always wanted Edward’s perspective and I just hope that you can please forget about those who wronged you and please finish, it sounds crazy but I need this!! You are by far my favorite author and not just because of the characters but because it seems so real please finish for us all and keep the saga alive!!
i read all 4 books in 1 week nd i have read the midnight sun draft. SHE HAS TO FINISH/PUBLISH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STEPHANIE MEYER! i love the books in the twilight saga. i know midnight sun is just TWILIGHT in edward’s point of view but you still have publish it! it will mean a lot to us fans of twilight and if you dont we will be very sadd! i hope i dont have to write a persuasive essay to make you continue writing it, haha. well please stephanie meyer, dont make us miss out on the wonderful 5th book of the TWILIGHT SAGA<333.
thanks so muchh! we all love you!
hey stehanie! i am 11 and am one of ur number 1 fans and i absaloutely love twilight! its so cool and i really realy want you to finish midnight sun and carry on writing it till the end of the books ( uptill breaking dawn). please please please finish it and by the way you are my favourite author! xxx
i absolutly think you should continue with the stories but instead of just midnight sun i think you should do all the books that you wrote in bellas perspective in edwards perspective but as i was saying before you CANNOT stop wrighting midnight sun because i read the first 263 pages in 2 days thats how much i love those books they have me totally addicted
damn it srry 4 the language but i just want to read the first 12 chapters i heard and know 4 a fact it has been leaked and if ur out there post it and make sure it can be printed
dont know about this novel, but i recomend to anyone who can to go and witness nature at all its glory and see the actual midnight sun
love the books :]
edwards hott& i was i were a vampire, i truly so, but im not oone of the crazy obsesive type lol, i really wanna meet edward tho <3
Hey Steph! Don’t give up that easily! I’m sure you’re hurting because of what happened but you gotta move on! Plus if you don’t finish it your letting down thousands of people! Seriously! You must have at least that many fans and it would suck if you stopped now since you obviously already got the first 12 chapters and plus theres probrably already a whole lot of people waiting for the book!
And BTW when I write my book I’m not leaking anything!!!!
Stephanie Meyer,
I live in Arizona, 20 year old college student at a community college; and I LOVE Twilight, Eclipse is probably my favorite because of the insight into Jasper’s past. But Breaking Dawn is no doubt a masterpiece. I have read the first few chapters off your website and I am in awe at the complete mouth watering, heart throbbing perfection that Midnight Sun has already taken. I urge you to put what happened with the transcript leak behind you and finish the novel. You are a pheominal author and deserve your recognition.
Thank you so much Steph for the wonder you have placed on this planet!
Cyndi
Hey I am sorry about what happend but I love your books and wish that you would finish it. I hated reading utill my friends told me about you and know all I want to do is read the books that you wright! I mean that I love your books and as your fan wish that you would finish it. If you see it not fit to finish a grate book that is up to you but your fans want you to!
I m a fan of twilight series and i got to know about this series only 3 months ago when i saw twilight movie. Till today i have read the whole series i.e. all the 4 books minimum 15 times with my studies and work and i have also read the midnight sun partial pdf i.e. nearly 5 times coz i got to know about it a month back. The news that Ms. Stephenie Meyer has stopped writing midnight sun is a real bad news for me coz this book give me peace of mind and i really like this book i start it again n again even i love to watch this movie even it not even half of the book bt still i like it. I just want to request Ms. Stephenie Meyer to plz cont. it and complete it. It is totally on her when she feels to complete it bt don’t put an end to it without completing it. PLZ PLZ PLZ.
I would like to thank Stephenie Meyer for the novels and request her to finish the other 4 parts in Edward’s view n i m really sorry for the leak out.