Manifest took five years to write and a year more to publish. To say it was an endeavor was to slight it. As Asians say - Squeezing blood out of stone.

Being my first novel, I wanted the best, and perhaps it is because of my grand ambitions that the story took too many treks through roads, deserts, and paths untaken, and finally landed itself in a city of too much idealism and greed.

It is a convoluted story because, in a mind full of people and thoughts, Alice struggled with her identity, which I feel resonates with many stories and tellers of books.

Who am I?

What do I want to become?

Will I leave my mark and be remembered?

As my first novel, I do wish I could do better. But as a first attempt and release, I’m glad it was over. Truth be told, it isn’t what I hoped, and maybe it will never be, or maybe it will if the story morphs in your mind and the questions that remain unanswered unravel in you.

There is no perfect life. A perfect storm maybe. A lull for the moment before we are taken away by the waves of time.

Thank you for reading this, and if you have already tried to read Manifest.

If you like it, drop a Goodreads; if not, haha, please forgive this newb author as she learns to fly. :)

—-Yuki—-