I've always had stories living inside my head.

Maybe it's because I overthink everything. Maybe it's anxiety. Maybe it's just the way my brain works. But for as long as I can remember, I've been able to see entire scenes play out in painful detail, conversations, expressions, emotions, even the way sunlight falls through a window. Sometimes the images are so vivid that finding the right words for them feels impossible.

That's probably why it takes me so long to write.

I start. I stop. I rewrite. I delete. I convince myself it's not good enough. Then I come back months later because the characters refuse to leave me alone. I've repeated that cycle more times than I can count. There are stories I've carried for years, stories that changed with me as I grew older, and stories that patiently waited while I figured out how to tell them.

Under Another Name is one of those stories.

At its heart, this is a story about identity, music, grief, friendship, family, and the quiet fear of not knowing who you're supposed to become. It's about carrying pieces of yourself that don't quite fit anywhere, and learning that maybe they don't have to. It's about finding people who see you when you feel invisible.

I wanted the beginning to feel real. That's why the opening chapters take their time. I wanted readers to experience the protagonist's ordinary life before everything changes. To know the people around them, the community they belong to, the routines they'll eventually leave behind. I wanted the emotions to feel earned.

And if I'm being completely honest, I cried while writing parts of Chapter One.

I get incredibly hyperfocused when I write. Sometimes to an unhealthy degree. I lose track of time, forget to eat, ignore my sleep schedule, and spend hours obsessing over a single paragraph because it doesn't feel exactly right. It's something I'm still trying to manage. But despite how exhausting writing can be, I keep coming back to it because these stories matter to me.

My goal is simple: to finish the stories that have been running around my head for years.

So if you've decided to spend your time reading this one, thank you. Truly.

I hope you laugh with these characters. I hope you hurt with them when they hurt. I hope you celebrate their victories and mourn their losses. Most of all, I hope their story stays with you long after you've finished reading.

And if you find yourself getting emotionally attached...

I apologize in advance.

Welcome to Under Another Name. ❤️