Going to Boston Book Fest this past October was the highlight of that month, especially since the trip was the day after my twentieth birthday. My friend Alyson (shoutout to you for going with me, Aly!) and I got up earlier than anyone should ever have to get up and took the train to Boston, ready with a schedule we'd made of the panels and events we wanted to go to throughout the day complete with locations and the authors involved. We each had a bag with us if only to carry more books by beloved authors that we hoped to get signed.
The day was amazing, but the best part for me came at the end, when we went to the YA Keynote, featuring Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera. For anyone not into young adult literature, these are big names in the genre, especially for LGBTQIA+ readers. Alyson and I both love their books, though I prefer Adam's and she prefers Becky's.
It's safe to say that this was perfect for us.
The event was packed, and it was easy to tell that this was the biggest event of the day just based off the sheer number of people who were piling themselves into the church that was the venue (hysterical when you remember that we were talking about gay characters).
So after a while of talking, the floor was opened for questions, and I knew that this was my chance to ask a question that meant a lot to me to an author that means so much to me: Adam Silvera. I won't make this longer than it has to be by giving the introduction that I gave, but here's the gist: It's my birthday, and I want to know how you feel knowing that your characters can mean so much to someone. I may have said that and a lot more out loud, but all I kept telling myself was "This will only happen once in a lifetime."
I asked this question to one of my favorite authors in front of hundreds of people. My hands were shaking as I held the microphone, and it was getting harder to breathe as my anxiety took over my system. My heart was pounding. I was terrified and excited all at once, and I clung to Adam's every word as he responded.
It's safe to say I took a risk that night, and it was a risk that I couldn't help but thank myself for when I walked back out onto Newbury Street with my signed books and started crying over the fact that I'd actually done that. Even now, two months later, I'm so proud of myself for taking the opportunity that was handed to me and running with it. Now I have so much more than signed, personalized books: I have memories that will last a lifetime.
If that doesn't say something about taking chances, I don't know what will.
