In her first official author’s statement, in the form of a Q&A, Christo says she never would have come forward about authoring My Immortal “if not for the fact that it coincided with the things that happened to [her] as a teen.”

1. What is Under the Same Stars?

Under the Same Stars is a memoir about my experiences in foster care and family court, which saw me separated from my little brother when I was 12 and he was 5. It’s about the steps I took to try to find him again, and what I wound up finding instead.

2. Why did you write Under the Same Stars?

I wanted to shed light on the challenges and issues that children in foster care, especially Native American children, face.

3. Did you write My Immortal?

Unfortunately.

4. Why come forward about My Immortal now?

I would never have come forward about My Immortal if not for the fact that it coincided with the things that happened to me as a teen. At one point, I considered disguising the fic as something else. I still wonder if I should have done that, because there’s a faction of people who really like not knowing who wrote it. But I think in most cases, honesty is the best policy.

5. Tell us more!

In Alaska, it’s illegal to whisper in someone’s ear if they’re moose hunting.