Afterlife: Oblivion #Wattys2024

Foreward

DISCLAIMER AND CONTENT WARNING

"Oblivion" is a work of paranormal fiction that draws inspiration from dramatized personal experiences in my life. While the events and characters are fictionalized, some themes and emotions stem from real experiences, reshaped through the lens of fantasy and the supernatural.

This book contains mature themes and content that may be disturbing to some readers, including:

- Strong language and crude humor

- Sexual content and references

- Violence and gore

- Substance abuse

- Mental health issues and trauma

- Death and suicide

Reader discretion is advised. This book is intended for mature audiences.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Never in a million years did I think I'd be penning paranormal fiction. Life's funny like that, isn't it? Throws you curveballs when you least expect it. This book... it's not your run-of-the-mill ghost story or vampire romance. It's raw. It's messy. It's a lot like life, actually – just with a supernatural twist.

I've always been a bit of a magpie when it comes to inspiration. "The Cellar" got me thinking about the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface. "The Hunger Games" sparked ideas about survival and the lengths we'll go to for a second chance. And "Scary Movie"? Well, let's just say it reminded me that even in the darkest times, there's room for a laugh. Because God knows, sometimes laughter is the only thing that gets us through.

At the heart of this whole crazy ride is Jane Doe. She's a piece of work, let me tell you. Foul-mouthed, stubborn as hell, and carrying more baggage than an airport carousel. You'll want to shake her one minute and hug her the next. Trust me, I know – I've been living with her in my head for years.

Writing this book... it wasn't easy. There were days I wanted to chuck my laptop out the window. Nights I spent staring at the ceiling, wondering if I was crazy for even trying. But it was also the most cathartic thing I've ever done.

See, I've always dealt with my own demons through humor. It's my shield, my coping mechanism. If I can laugh at the darkness, it loses some of its power over me. And that's what I've tried to do here – take the pain, the trauma, the stuff that keeps us up at night, and find the absurd humor in it all.

This story... it's about second chances, yeah. But it's also about forgiveness – especially forgiving ourselves. It's about looking at the mess of our lives and finding something beautiful in the chaos.

I poured my heart and soul into these pages. There's more of me in here than I'd like to admit. It's terrifying, putting it all out there for the world to see. But it's also liberating as hell.

So thank you. Thank you for picking up this book, for giving Jane (and me) a chance. I hope you laugh. I hope you cry. I hope you close this book feeling a little less alone in this crazy, messed-up world of ours.

And who knows? Maybe you'll find a bit of yourself in these pages too.

Here's to unexpected journeys and the stories that save us.

J.D. Moore.