Dearest Goldsboro reader,
It is terrifying to put my writing out into the world: like a part of myself that I’ve generally kept quiet and hidden is now being viewed under a spotlight. At the same time, I am so grateful to be able to share my work with you. Books have gotten me through some of the toughest and most confusing times of my life. If I can provide the same sense of wonder to someone else, the same feeling of losing myself to a story for a few hours, then that’s worth all the neurotic emails I have sent to my agent at five in the morning.
While I had entertained the idea of a world where elder gods were aligned with noble houses for a long time, I only really started work on this novel after my mom’s cancer diagnosis. Alma’s journey reflects the anger I had felt back then, as well as the toxic relationship I had developed with guilt and self-blame. I can say that it feels right to have House of the Beast be my debut. It is painfully personal, but I am also incredibly proud of it. And I am glad to report that my mother is now recovered and happily bragging about this book in that embarrassing way only moms can manage!
Having started my career as an illustrator of indie horror comics, I continue to nurse a soft spot for the bloody and macabre. I also hold dear the various manga I voraciously consumed in my teens and early twenties, from Cardcaptor Sakura to Fullmetal Alchemist. I love angry girls with swords, violent and desperate battles, and horrifying imagery presented in a beautiful package. All of this I imagine will become apparent upon reading—and if you’re also a fan of these things, I hope you enjoy House of the Beast!
Warmly,
Michelle Wong
