Gothicana

Acknowledgments

Gothikana is very different from anything I’ve written so far, but it’s also the story truest to my heart. People don’t know this but I studied in a boarding school in the mountains for a few years. It was beautiful and ethereal and old, and when I left, I left with questions I never found answers to. That is possibly where the seed for Gothikana took root in my subconscious without my realization.

A lot of the scenery, experiences, and rules of Verenmore have been inspired by my own experiences. For example, when I moved into my room, I was told the girl who had been on my bed previously had died, and rumors were she haunted the building. There were certain things I experienced in my time there that did defy explanation, and in a way writing Gothikana gave me some closure and acceptance to a lot of open-ended questions. Sometimes, not all questions have answers, and if they do, we don’t always find them. And we have to learn to live with that.

I want to thank a few people for getting me in a place where this story could be written as it was meant to.

First and foremost, to my parents. You’re my sun whenever my world tilts on its axis – full of warmth, constant, and lightening the darkness in my soul. The abundance of your unconditional love is the reason why I didn’t give up on myself a long time ago, and why I continue to not give up. Thank you for telling me I would always be your baby no matter what, for being in my corner no matter what. I love you.

Secondly, to my friends, who live far from me but stay in my heart, who know how weird I can be and love me anyways, especially when I disappear for days without a word. Thank you for being my people for years, the people I can call after days in the middle of the night to talk about the most random of shits and it’s like we never stopped. Thank you for accepting my bad sides with the good. You know who you are.

Thirdly, to all the beautiful people I’ve met in the book community, without whom I wouldn’t be here. You have cheered me up on more days that you realize. Your love and encouragement has made this journey so much more beautiful than I ever imagined. Thank you for every kind message, for every recommendation, all the gorgeous edits, and stu

Special thanks to the bookstagrammers who were the first to pick up my books in 2020. You are the ones who introduced and accepted me into this beautiful community, and you are the ones who have recommended my babies to friends every chance. You’ve made me one of the happiest girls in the world just by embracing me and sharing your love. Thank you. You know who you are (because I never shut up about it lol).

Fourthly, to Nelly, my incredible, supremely talented friend, who has always so generously given the vision to my words. Thank you so much for creating such stu

Also thank you to Rachel and Zainab for being my eagle eyes at the last minute!

And last but not the least, to my readers. You’re the reason I slap myself every time I feel like an imposter, the reason I don’t burn my laptop when I feel everything I’ve written is shit, the reason I find the courage to share the stories in my head. Your acceptance, your love, your support is the reason I am where I am today, living my dream, doing what I love, and finding the strength to share it. So, thank you, from the bottom of my being, thank you for choosing to come on the ride with me and trusting me with your time. It’s precious to me.

I hope you enjoyed this journey.