Author's Words
All of the characters in this book resemble someone special in my life. In fact the main character and title of this book, Isabella, is my closest friend. She has been a huge inspiration to me throughout my childhood, and I felt that writing about her was the only way I could ever repay her. She's an author herself, and has helped me multiple times with producing this piece or art I have created for my readers. Many of the events that happen to Isabella and dreams that she has are actual occurrences in my friend's life. I won't give out a name due to personal reasons, but I felt it appropriate to share with you that these are not mere creations that have crawled form the deepest pits of my imagination and sprawled themselves into words strategically arranged and bound into a book. They are real life situations that I felt others may be able to relate to.
Yes, I wrote this book partially for my own amusement, but I also wanted to write a book that inspired others. So many times have I picked up a book, been sucked in, and walked away with a new mindset of the world. This doesn't occur as much with modern works so much as classics, such as A Separate Peace or Fahrenheit 451 especially, but every book has a deeper inner meaning. An author does not write simply for the means of entertaining others. Imagination is not without soul. Every book has a piece of the author etched into every word on every page. Even an essay written and turned into a teacher has retained some of the author. And I wanted to create a book that would help a struggling person see the light of the situation. The realization may not occur directly after the last word of the book has been digested, but I'd like someone to pick up my book and remember how much it helped them.
I enjoy pleasing others. My whole life has been about making friends and meeting strangers [yes, there's a difference] and making everyone [young, old, fat, thin, rich, poor, happy, or depressed] smile. There's something about seeing that jagged toothed grin that makes me feel accomplished on the inside. After being bullied for many years in elementary school, I made it my goal to never make anyone feel as poorly as others had made me feel, and I vowed that no matter who it was, if I saw someone whose eyes screamed at me to accept them, I'd lend a helping hand. I've grown up in a place where being smart, 'conserved', and curvy is outrageous. There are a select few of us who take honors classes, other people have sex as an extracurricular activity, and everyone is either a toothpick or on the verge of obesity. I don't fit in well with anyone really, but being a part of the band helps. For the most part, we all get along. We are like a second family. And I want to give something to people that helps them find their 'band family' like I found mine. I learned to accept the small things life gave me and not to linger of the things I either didn't get or desperately wanted. I hope this book with allow people to realize the importance of moving forward and opening your eyes to the bright side of the world [wherever that may be].