The author of My Immortal, one of the most infamous fanfictions of all time, was recently revealed to be Rose Christo, who it was also revealed was writing a book about her story titled Under the Same Stars: The Search for My Brother and the True Story of My Immortal for Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press.
However, Rose announced on Monday in a post on her Tumblr that publication of Under the Same Stars has been cancelled, allegedly because of actions she took to protect her family's identities.
"I didn't want my family's real names getting out ... so when it came time to provide documentation, I altered the photocopies to disguise their names," Rose wrote. "To be clear, I still own the original, unaltered documents and can provide them on request. But I've already been branded a liar, so it's too late for that."
Here is the full text of Rose's Tumblr post:
Hi everyone,
I have an important update to make on Under the Same Stars.
I’m really sorry to anyone who was hoping to read it. The book is based on real things that happened to me as a child, and how I used a fanfiction I co-wrote with my then best friend to try and find my brother.
But I did something pretty stupid during the publication process. I didn’t want my family’s real names getting out, largely because some of the things that happened during childhood were embarrassing. I wanted my brother, my grandparents, and even my parents to have privacy. So when it came time to provide documentation, I altered the photocopies to disguise their names.
To be clear, I still own the original, unaltered documents and can provide them on request. But I’ve already been branded a liar, so it’s too late for that.
Under the Same Stars won’t be published after all. I’m a bit disappointed, because I really wanted to help children in foster care and spark a debate about foster care reform in the US. Still, I understand that publishing is a business, and they have to do what’s best for them.
If you’re still with me, and you still want to help those children, then pray for them. That’s all I have at my disposal now, but I maintain that prayer is one of the most powerful forces on Earth. Praying was how I got out of my own abusive home years ago. There’s always hope.
Oh, and there’s a happy ending, at least:
My brother is safe. And no, I’m still not telling you his name.
The response on social media has been mixed, with some people now skeptical that Rose is the real author of My Immortal.
@zenyanna @melliferrant Honestly I'm like...what if she isn't the author of my immortal after all....
I knew "My Immortal author reemerges with memoir" was too good to be true https://t.co/B0LzsCTEce
tbh, from the beginning i thought it seemed funky and if it’s true there’s no more tell all book, i believe it more than anything else
In response to BuzzFeed News' request for comment, Rose's publisher St. Martin's Press stated "Wednesday Books has cancelled publication of Under the Same Stars. We have no further comment."
Rose Christo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.