Love, Magic and Misfortune by Karla Nikole

Acknowledgments

It takes a small village of lovely and professional people to put a book together, so I’d like to give my special thanks to Lily Uivel for creating this beautiful cover; Nia Quinn and Jericho Tadeo for their editing prowess; Lindsay Taylor for being the best beta reader there ever was; Maia, Megan, Madeline, Juli, Heather and Towanna for all your incredible love, support and friendship; and last but certainly not least, Roy and Ann for always supporting me in my goals and dreams (I love and appreciate you more than I can even say).

Love, Magic and Misfortune is close to my heart and is filled with very personal experiences (although I do not know any boys who shape shift into mice or any other animals… I wish I did). Living in the fullness of who we are meant to be and having the freedom, time and opportunity to explore ourselves should be, in my opinion, a given. An obvious fundamental allowance as human beings. But there are so many elements (financial burdens, the pressure of societal expectations and gender roles, family obligations, trauma and on and on) that hinder us.

Like the characters in Love, Magic and Misfortune, my hope is that more people would have the opportunity to explore and learn their true selves. To find the art, talent and love within themselves, and then share it with the rest of the world, because we desperately need it.