“Today, Friday 20 March, I’m not only celebrating the start of spring, but also the release of my long-awaited second book”, author Nikita Goossens (25) from Halle in Flemish Brabant announces. ‘Time to Bloom‘ or ‘Time to Blossom‘ is a single-positive novel depicting the mental growth of three women in Washington, D.C.. It also addresses aromanticism and asexuality.
“For me, this moment is the cherry on top of a process that has taken several years. I’ve been deeply immersed in the story of Lauren, Mai and Amanda since 2023, following them closely throughout their adventures in Washington, D.C. And believe me, it’s a lovely place to spend time in mentally.”
“Now I’m releasing ‘Tijd om te bloeien‘ into the world, and the story I’ve worked on with so much passion is no longer mine alone. I truly hope that my main characters will start to feel like real friends to you too, and that you’ll get to know them with an open mind. They all come from very different backgrounds, but show that there is great value precisely in those differences.”
‘Tijd om te bloeien’ is also available as an e-book via Amazon Kindle. “It should also be available on Kobo very soon (it just still needs administrative approval there)”, Nikita says. Only her first name adorns the cover.
“After my debut, ‘Op zoek‘, was published in September 2021, I knew I wanted to keep writing. But what that story would be… I really had no idea at the time. I was also just starting my second bachelor’s degree and had an internship in Washington, D.C. ahead of me. So there wasn’t much room for creative writing. But in hindsight, that period was necessary to gather inspiration. My internship in Washington, D.C. ultimately became the starting point for ‘Tijd om te bloeien’.”
“When I was there, I didn’t think my experience would ever translate into a book in any way. But subconsciously, a story began to take shape afterwards, until I could no longer do anything but put it on paper. Washington, D.C., during cherry blossom season, thus naturally became the setting (and I would even dare say the fourth main character) of the story, enriched with fictional storylines.”
“The stories of Lauren, Mai and Amanda are a combination of different things I’ve learned over the years and that I find important. Some elements that define my story include: choosing a new path in your twenties, (intersectional) feminism, breaking away from traditional expectations, strong diversity, and the power of friendship between women in a patriarchal society…”
“And ultimately, the message of my feminist feelgood story is above all that it’s important to believe in yourself and to follow your dreams. Because perhaps, after a period of being in search, it’s also time to bloom—and time to reap the rewards of all your hard work.”
‘Tijd om te bloeien’
Single & Solo
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