Jessica Knoll has written a confessional essay entitled “What I Know.” With this autobiographical piece, published by Lena Dunham’s Lenny Letter, she reveals the details behind her heartbreaking experience with gang rape.
Knoll (pictured, via) has become well-known as the author behind the 2015 novel, Luckiest Girl Alive. In the book, Ani FaNelli, the primary protagonist, endures the same tragic ordeal. Here’s an excerpt from the essay:
“Since the book was published last May, my list of unsuspecting supporters has expanded. The list includes critics and editors, publicists and Hollywood executives. It might even include you, if you are one of the thousands of readers who reviewed the book on Amazon and Goodreads, or who reached out to me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You probably didn’t realize you had acknowledged what happened to me when you acknowledged what happened to Ani, partially because I’ve never publicly discussed that flashpoint in my life and partially because Luckiest Girl Alive is not a memoir or even a roman à clef. “
Recently, Knoll sat for an interview with the Today Show and shared that writing Luckiest Girl Alive helped her to move forward with her life. Earlier today, she wrote a Facebook post to thank her fans for sending her support through messages and social media. (via Entertainment Weekly)