From Marked to Mutuals: The Surreal Moment P.C. Cast Followed Me

I am still pinching myself.

If you had told me years ago, when I first picked up Marked as a young adult, instantly captivated by the rituals, the elemental magic, and the dark allure of the Tulsa vampyre world, that one day the P.C. Cast would notice my corner of the internet, I never would have believed you.

This Halloween weekend, the universe handed me the ultimate treat, and then just kept on giving.

It started when P.C. Cast saw one of my BookTok videos about the House of Night series, took the time to genuinely thank me, and hit follow on TikTok. Cue an absolute, full-volume fangirl meltdown. But the magic didn't stop there. Later on, when I shared a post about the surreal excitement of that moment, she popped up in the comments on Facebook to say: “Aaaw! I Heart You XO.”

Cue meltdown part two. Truly, nothing compares.

I’ve always had an endless love for fantasy, especially stories steeped in rich supernatural lore, high-stakes loyalty, and atmospheric depth. But House of Night has always held a sacred spot on my shelf. I’ve revisited Zoey Redbird’s journey countless times over the years because, on such a visceral level, I related to her. Zoey wasn't handed an easy, picture-perfect path, she was thrust into leadership, wrestled with heavy burdens, faced crushing vulnerabilities, and still stood fiercely by the people she loved. Walking alongside her through every trial, mistake, and triumph made that world feel like a refuge, long after I first closed the books.

Sharing that love on BookTok has been such a joyful, authentic outlet. You put your favorite stories out into the bookish void hoping to find kindred spirits who understand the grip a fictional universe can have on your soul. But having the brilliant mind who crafted Zoey and that entire universe pause, watch, follow, and send genuine love right back? Surreal doesn't even begin to describe it.

To P.C. Cast: I love you just as much for bringing this amazing world into my life. Thank you for creating characters that gave so many of us strength, comfort, and an unforgettable magical home. Being seen and embraced by the author behind a character who shaped so much of my reading life is an honor I will treasure forever.

Maybe someday I’ll get the chance to meet her in person and have my well-loved copies signed, which would be the ultimate full-circle dream. But until then, I am holding onto this moment with so much gratitude.

And to anyone holding a story close to their heart: keep talking about what moves you. Sometimes the magic you put into the world finds its way right back to you.