I created this book with the intention of acknowledging an empowering sense of accomplishment by the time I finished. After nearly two years of work, I succeeded.
The ideas for each of these stories resulted from a particular event that shaped who I grew to be today. Certain people, a single day, recurring moments — every event that influenced me — was written down.
My older brother was the biggest influence on the final draft of the book. Throughout the entire process, I never told him about it. I was able to keep this project from him until the very few weeks before I was expected to publish it. I somehow ended up telling him about my writing and he insisted on letting him read the book. This book is dedicated to him because I want him know that he is a major part of my life. He was embarrassed when I wanted to play hide-and-seek with him and his friends in elementary school, and never let me speak to him when I saw him in middle school. In high school, everything changed. I was known as "Mathi's sister" to all of his friends. His old teachers respected me because of his impeccable performance in school I have to work so hard to keep up with. After a rough night following a debate tournament, he helped comfort me. He celebrated my accomplishments. We became friends instead of siblings over these past few years and I wholeheartedly appreciate this occurrence and his role in paving my path to growth.
I wrote these stories over the course of two and a half years. During my freshman year of high school, things started to hurt me. They struck me hard. I took to writing to help me get through it. I wrote poems and stories, not intending to make something out of them. I decided to compile a few of my stories into a book early this year. I wanted to share my stories with others in hope of helping them with their struggles. Everyone is different, but if we can understand each other, it will make us closer.
The writing process was definitely a struggle. I am an awfully selective writer. I write, delete, write, delete, write, and delete. Imperfection is beautiful, but is hard to accept. With the help of my editor, Ananya Iyengar, I was able to confine the stories to what they are now. There are many details that were a struggle to write, yet I have come to the realization that not everything I write is perfect. I am in peace with the result and I have given acceptance to my writing, allowing room for improvement in my next book.
The illustrations paint a picture for the stories and ultimately tie the book together. Emma Lin helped me through the final steps of this book. I drafted ideas for each story, and Emma made them into a reality. Seeing my stories birth into life was amazing. Emma also drew the front and back cover artwork. We spent a long time drafting and recreating over and over until it reached its finality and was the way it was meant to be.
I would have never expected to write a book by the age of fifteen. Regardless, I am so proud to have gotten myself to this point. To those of you who will read this book, I hope you enjoy my stories and will enlighten yourselves from them. :)
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