Hi! Thanks for stopping by. My name’s Carina. A fun fact about me is that all Gaskells in the Philippines are related, so if you know a Gaskell, they’re probably my relative—plus some aunts and uncles in California.

I’ve been writing forever. You might have known me in my youth as a fashion blogger / proto-influencer, when my world revolved around boy bands and posing for pictures with my friends that I attached to personal essays and published online. Or you might have seen me in magazines or a few times in the newspaper or a combination of both (a news magazine TV show)—but not for anything terrible, I promise!

Most likely, though, you’re here because you’ve discovered my books, felt strongly about it one way or another, and started wondering about whoever the hell was behind it all. Whatever your reason for being here, I’m honored you’re taking the time to get to know me.

Let’s run through some quick facts: I’m in the sunset years of my twenties (saying this only so I don’t have to constantly update this page every time I get older, sorry). I live with my partner of ten years (I could write a whole book about our Merit English meet-cute in university!) and four cats. I was raised by an activist and a woman with a heart of gold, making me a deeply empathetic and political writer. I have always rooted for the underdog and rejected institutional validation my whole life. I publish independently as praxis and I think indie publishing is punk. I’ve matured a lot as an author since I first debuted in 2023. I disagree with the commodification and inevitable constraining of the Artist as a Brand. I hate gatekeepers, so I will always cheer on anyone looking to write or publish.

A core component of my writing is that I believe romance is political—from who gets their Happy Ever After to how and why. All reading is political, even (and especially) if we turn to literature for escapism. I am most interested in the intersection of art, class, culture, and sexuality, so you’re likely to see those explored in my books.

Aside from writing and publishing, I’m also a reformed stationery hoarder (trying to use up my sticker collection now! and avoiding buying any new notebooks!) and a girl-with-too-many-crafty-hobbies.

Summer is my favorite season and I love the beach. At any given time, I’m probably thinking about writing.