onur uğur
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Special Preface for the Translation | Onur Uğur
Just so you know, what you’re about to read isn’t in the original version of this book. It only exists in the translated editions, written just for you.
I’ve been writing since the moment I learned to hold a pen as a kid. I scribbled on the backs of notebooks, in the margins of books I was reading, in all those gift planners people gave me. I wrote nonstop. But I was so shy and insecure that I never wanted anyone to see my words. I just kept writing—and then usually destroyed it all, terrified someone might actually find and read it. Looking back, I’d give my all to dig up those old scraps now.
Eventually, I grew up. My successes and failures shaped me, and I finally came to believe I could share what I wrote. Every time I read a book I loved, the thought nagged at me: “I could do this too.” And when it finally clicked that life is really about the beauty you create and the cruelty you avoid, this book started to come to life. It found its readers in Turkey, and now, for the first time, it’s being shared with the world in English.
There are two people I owe special thanks to in this translation journey. First, my dear friend Emre Aydın, whose grit and perseverance I’ve always admired. His love for writing and comedy is contagious. I was lucky enough to watch his stand-up show—proof that smart writing can turn into unstoppable laughter. He’s also the one who pointed me toward the next person I want to thank 😊
That’s Gamze Bayram. She didn’t just translate my words—she cared for it like it was her own book. Honestly, I’m not sure I treated my writing with as much devotion as she treated the translation. With her footnotes, she managed to capture both the cultural boundaries and the voice of the book in such a beautiful way. Through our endless conversations and her endless energy, she’s become not just the translator of my future books, but also a wonderful sister to me. To both of you—thank you for the effort, and for walking this road with me.
From the little kid who once hid away her words, convinced they weren’t worth reading, to you—whoever and wherever you are in the world, holding this book right now—my warmest greetings. Thank you.
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