I thought it would be fun to share a letter I wrote to accompany It’s Only a Game! It provides a bit of background for why I wrote this book. My publisher included it at the front of the advanced readers’ copies. I made a pretty version of it for socials, but I’ve also included the plain text below the graphics. :)
Dear Booksellers, Librarians, and Reviewers,
In my family, being an avid reader is core to our identities. In childhood, my two younger brothers and I fought over who would get to be first to read the latest bargain bin book, and whenever my mom took us to the library, we’d each check out a stack as tall as we could carry—then, once we’d read through our stack, we’d borrow from one another’s. Because we devoured so many of the same books, we had our own built-in, unofficial book club.
One of the other big ways we connected was through video games. One of us would play Diddy Kong, another Donkey Kong, as we attempted to collect bananas and beat levels. Later, we’d try out bizarre strategies in Age of Empires or run around getting lost in Zelda (2/3 of us have a poor sense of direction). Later in life I married a gamer who ended up working in the video games industry. In our early days of dating, we played Diablo III, World of Warcraft, and League of Legends together—and we discussed books.
So, for me, books and games have been two of the great connecting forces in my life. They both have the potential to be lonely endeavors, but they can also be a vehicle that forges strong bonds. Now, as my husband and I watch our children grow up and connect—with each other, with us, and with their friends—through books and games, it feels like we’re passing the torch.
In It’s Only a Game, I wanted to highlight how kids—especially those who grow up shy, isolated, or anxious—can form friendships through games. And in a world where gendered assumptions are frequently made about who plays games, I wanted to write the story of a gamer girl in particular.
My character, Marina, is on the run after a traumatic event. She’s scared and lonely and unsure of her place in the world. She meets a group of friends through games, and for a while, it’s her safe haven. When events from her past begin catching up to her and her friends, threatening the fragile new life she’s built, she has to relearn how and who to trust. I wanted to write the story of a girl who, like my younger self, seeks an escape in games, but finds connection and a place to belong instead.
Thank you for everything you do for readers and for authors. Book people are the best. Happy reading!
Sincerely,
Kelsea Yu
