This has to be one of the most epic experiences I ever had…

So, a few weeks prior, I came across an event on Facebook called “Your Dream Life” that was going to be presented by none other than Susane Colasanti, who is my all-time favorite author of young adult literature! This would have been a huge opportunity for me to meet one of my literary idols in-person, have her sign a couple of my favorite books written by her, and hear her speak her literary wisdom that I just know I am going to remember for years to come…

However, there are a couple of issues that arise from this: one, the event was going to take place on a Saturday from 3 to 5 PM, which was going to conflict with my scheduled 3 to 7 PM shift at my part-time job; and two, the event was taking place in Connecticut, and I am from Long Island, New York!

I was trying to think of a reasonable plan of going about this, which involved texting someone from work to cover my shift and taking a ride with my mom on a ferry from Long Island to Connecticut for only a couple hours (per ride). This was all hypothetical, of course. I actually brought this up to my mom just a week or so before the event was going to take place, and she told me that she already made plans for that day. Well, that sealed the deal: I was not going to see my favorite author in-person, at least this time around…

A day before the event, I decided to do something that I thought was very risky to do: I sent a message to her on Facebook. I know it does not seem like something much to fuss over for the average person, but for a very anxious person like me, it is a very bold move to make and the anticipation of what might come from it is very unsettling.

This is what I wrote to her:

"Hi, Susane Colasanti! My name is Ashley. I’m a huge fan of your books, and I would love to attend your workshop! Unfortunately, I live on Long Island in New York, and due to circumstances beyond my control, I’m afraid that I can’t come out all the way to Connecticut to attend. If it’s not too much to ask, would you tell me if you’re planning on holding the same event in New York, maybe in the city? Again, I love all your early YA books, and I think you’re one of my favorite YA authors…”

(After that, I put a sparkling heart emoji as well as an eyes-closed, smiling emoji.)

Well, that anticipation lasted for about a day when I got a response back from her, which said this: “Thanks so much for the sparkly warm fuzzy, Ashley! I’ve been presenting Your Dream Life for a few years now, and I’ve had some book events on Long Island. You never know when another one will come up. There will be more Dream Life events, but right now I’m not sure where exactly. Please stay tuned…I will def be posting as more events are booked! xoxo”

Oh, my God. I could not (still cannot) believe that she wrote back to me! When I told my mom this, I was “on cloud-nine,” which were actually my mom’s exact words for how I was feeling in that moment. Well, at least I know that this regret will not last longer than it has to. This might have been one of the riskiest moves I ever made, but I am so glad I made it.