Whether we like it or not, a stereotype exists behind most facets of life. So it is with writing. When you think of authors, many automatically assume that we must suffer tragic fates to reach success. Or that we’re all Edgar Allen Poe and only gain recognition after the end of a sad, miserable life. The woes of creativity, living trapped in a never-ending cycle of depressing artistic expression that never gives us true satisfaction.

I’m very thankful to say that I’m not Edgar Allen Poe (no offense to Edgar <3). I’m a full-time high school junior, a daughter of two loving parents, and a teenager surrounded by the best community she could ask for. And today is the release date of my debut young adult novel, the most incredible honor I’ve been blessed with.

That said, writing For Such A Time As This did not come without its fair share of sacrifice.

I started writing FSATAT in seventh grade. Despite the regret and embarrassment that often accompany my recollections of middle school, it was a pretty blissful season of life. I had been studying the biblical book of Esther in my church, and the remarkable impossibility—yet evident truth—of her story pierced me to the core. In my little storytelling heart, Esther sounded like the ultimate origin story of all epic fantasy novels. There were death plots, gripping twists, beautiful palaces, and royal romances. It was EXACTLY my cup of tea. And it was in the Bible.

So I decided to embark on a quest and turn Esther’s story into a young adult novel. I loved writing with all of my soul, and I began to create outlines and conduct research. I even have this picture of a poster I made for my research:

(RIP to my printer)

After all that research and attempt at aesthetic poster-making, I wrote a couple drafts. These have changed a lot since then, but chapters one and two of FSATAT are very similar in essence to what I wrote all those years ago, which is pretty insane to think about.

Middle school me was not concerned with publishing at all. I wrote purely out of enjoyment. But as I continued writing, I began to consider the idea of self-publishing. My dream was to be a successful author, and I figured self-publishing was a great path to bring me one step closer.

Then high school arrived. And, frankly, the first two years wrecked me. My educational journey has always been rigorous (living up to that Korean-American stereotype :p), and high school was the time to dive into full academic torture. The AP classes, studying, and extracurriculars piled up FAST. Pretty soon, FSATAT moved to the very back of my mind. I went months without touching it, and I struggled intensely both emotionally and spiritually throughout my freshman and sophomore years.

Then I started my junior year, which is notorious for being the busiest and most horrific year of high school. After striving and falling short many times, I returned to my faith as the source of my strength and purpose. In doing so, FSATAT reared its head once again and went: Do you remember me, the book you started and ignored for two years? I’M STILL HERE 🤭

At its insistence, I could no longer put the book off. I threw myself fully into writing…and it was really hard. I was balancing seven AP classes (because I have a death wish), college classes, leadership positions, my school newspaper, extracurriculars, a truckload of exams, prepping for college, my personal life, and all the other wonders of teenage life.

It was difficult to navigate the balance between my life as a student and my life as a writer. There simply weren’t enough hours in the day to check off everything in my amazing-ten-dollar-planner-from-Target-that-you-should-definitely-purchase-for-yourself. I began to wake up an hour earlier every morning to write before school (5:00 AM…that magical hour when all is still and the only sound in the air is my dad’s faint snoring). I stayed up later and later each day to type away. I have the body of a grandma, so the sleep deprivation made a particularly bone-deep impact, but I told myself it was necessary.

Stress and burnout, the two best friends (or ever-present enemies) of any teenager, were constantly looming over my shoulders. But I fell deeply in love with writing and the artistic process, and that love conquered all else. After years, through God’s mercy and abundant support, the book came to fruition.

So that is the CliffNotes version of how the novel came to be. I hope you enjoy For Such A Time As This. It is my precious baby. This is a threat 🤫

Just kidding.

I’m totally not biased, but writing is the best thing ever. And now that the book has been unleashed, the next step is to keep writing. And writing. And writing. My next novel (the beginning of a mini series!) is in the works, and I’m excited to embark on the next journey with you all 🙂