Ms.Najaha Nauf- I wrote `Slow Dancing With The Stars` when I had to process the soon to come demise of my brother, so a lot of the content mirrors that of my real life. The relationships spoken about in the book are analogous to what I have observed in the past decade. However, the story is entirely fictional at its core.

A particular message I wanted to convey through this book is that healing from trauma is possible, only once you identify where the pain stems from and that you can`t really heal on your own: often you need the support of family and friends, and most times, a professional, despite the stigma surrounding Mental Healthcare. This was something I wanted to highlight as I am currently studying to work in the field of psychology and have learnt an ample amount about it courtesy to my Lecturers at AIC.

I have been an avid reader from a young age, finding comfort in books when the world around me was constantly changing but I began writing when I discovered that my mother had been a writer during her teenage years. My mother is my muse, in many aspects and her writing has taught me everything that I know. I`d like to also thank my Alma Mater, Ilma International Girls` School and my teachers for allowing me to explore all kinds of writing through the various poetry, spoken verse and speech competitions that I was fortunate enough to take part in.

It is my belief that though the world is made up of unique individuals, all of us experience an array of similar emotions and that the reason we all keep going, despite the difficulties we face, is the hope we find in creative outlets, like reading and writing.