Five years, Snarklings! Five years!
::a brief pause while the Lady of the Manners dances around the room with pink and black balloons, then lights the candles on the tray of cupcakes::
What on earth is the Lady of the Manners talking about? Just the small fact that this is the FIFTH ANNIVERSARY of the release of the Gothic Charm School book!
::The Lady of the Manners runs outside to release the balloons into the starry night sky, then comes back in to blow out the candles before she accidentally sets the library on fire::
Permit the Lady of the Manners to drop the third-person frivolity for a few minutes: Thank you, from the depths of my heart. Gothic Charm School: An Essential Guide for Goths and Those Who Love Them wouldn’t have been possible without you lovely creatures, the readers. Thank you for reading this site, thank you for sending in questions, and thank you SO MUCH for purchasing the book. The book is still in print, and still being sold! It’s even been translated into Russian!
Behold, the Russian edition! With different cover art, but the interior illustrations are still by Pete Venters, yay!
What’s that, you say? You don’t have your own copy of the Gothic Charm School book? Here:
- Ask your local bookstore to order it!
- At Amazon!
- At Barnes & Noble – online, and in stores!
- At Kobo!
- At Powells!
- Check your local library! If they don’t have it, ask a librarian if they can order it.
(If you were wondering, the English language ebook version also contains the wonderful illustrations from the printed paper version.)
So yes, thank you. Thank you to those of you who’ve written, to those of you I’ve been lucky enough to meet, thank you to all of you. I’m incredibly lucky to have accomplished this, and I know it.
Thank YOU, Jillian. You have contributed more to our community over the past five years than anyone else. You are admired, respected, and, most importantly of all, loved.
Thank you! Your kindness & common sense is invaluable to all of us who have been tempted to fall into unpleasant behavior. It is good to have someone remind us that we a representing more than ourselves when we are wearing the black.
This book is one of the biggest reasons I got into the Gothic subculture, and so I wanted to thank you for writing it and giving me a proper introduction to the beauties of the community! It has really had a major influence in my life, I’m so grateful for it and you.
For three years I’ve been trying to get your book. Maybe this year. (Wistfull sigh) My parents think it’s still a phase, even after years.
I still have my lovely art, won in the raffle during the book tour. It reminds me every day that I can work in an office and still be spooky.
Wow! Five years! I remember constantly looking at the calendar for the release of the book. I’ve re-read it so many times the cover is worn and the pages are crinkled in the best way possible! Knowing that there is a Russian version out as well means I’m going to have a second copy very soon!
Congratulations! It’s touching, reading the comments about how this has been such an influence on people. I’ve included this in my monthly round up on An Honest Drug, if that’s alright?
Thank you Jillian! You have helped so me much! Thanks to your book, my parents accept me, I can ignore the ignorant bullying jerks, and I know more about this amazing subculture! Thank you!
Babybat hugs and fanged smiles,
Salem Sinister~
Happy happy anniversary, dearest Lady of the Manners! I LOVE this book! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WRITING IT!!!!! You are truly an inspiration to Goths and people everywhere…..
I got my book quite accidentally from the second-hand goth market and oh boy, how did it change things for me. While most people discover their darker inner self during the teenage years, I am well over 30, and this book made me realise that yes, I can identify as a goth even when I don´t wear all black and don´t listen only to certain bands. It has broadened my horizons and to say frankly, made me a better person because of that, believe it or not.
So thank you, Lady of the Manners, for making this world a better place for many of us! 🙂
No, thank you! 😀 I’ve yet to get myself a copy (shame on me!) but I’ve been able to get several people to read it and overcome their misguided fear of Goths.
Can You please write more? It’s very useful. 🙂
Thank you! Now I have both – english and russian copies, I am so grateful.
I hardly believe I read you for 5 years already.
Hi! What is the artist’s name who did the Russian cover? I love it!
I have this book on my e-reader, and although I haven’t gotten around to reading the whole thing from cover-to-cover, I have taken in some of the hints and tips floating around that I really have been incorporating into my lifestyle.
Blessings to The Lady! You are loved and revered by all!
Happy Anniversary!
Here’s to many more gothic, dark posts and years! Under the full moon, we stand. -Damien.
No, no, no, no. THANK YOU Jillian Venters for writing a terrific book! This book was a delightful read while sitting in my favourite coffee shop and it has changed my life around for the better. I still have one copy for reading and another copy that was personally signed by you, well put away. I will always recommend this book to anyone.
I discovered your website recently and I’ve been really transformed I had no idea what goth meant I’ve never encountered any goth where I come from here in Kenya but it’s wonderful to realize all those stereotypes out there are all fake and Goths are like other humans just that they view things differently it you’ve helped me realize who I am and my love for the dark is not an abnormality