>> From the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. >> Travis Painter: Hello! I'll tell you, it's not often that we get to have Lady Gaga blaring in this room. So good evening, and happy pride. [ Cheering ] As I was walking around before we started, I had talked to a couple of people, and found out that somebody even came here for their birthday today. So happy birthday to Ellie up front in the front row. [ Cheering ] On behalf of the Library, and of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden, we want to welcome you guys to the Library of Congress tonight. My name is Travis Painter, and I'm the Chairman of the Library's LGBTQ+, an employee organization, what's called LC Globe. And LC Globe was organized 24 years ago, and we are proud to represent the Library's LGBTQ+ employees. We have a lot of different programs that we've put on, different cultural programs, different educational programs, to highlight the collections that we have that represent the LGBTQ contribution to American society and what we do every day here at the Library of Congress. We're eager tonight to co-host an event with an award-winning author. She is the writer of several novels, including the best seller, Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda. And that was adapted to a film that became a box office hit, Love, Simon. So we're honored to have Becky Albertalli here tonight. We're eager to hear her talk about Simon and the entire universe that she has created around these unforgettable characters. So tonight, we will learn more about her literary inspirations, her new books that are coming out, and much more. We want to thank some of our partners for making tonight such a success. We have the Congressional CSA, Congressional Staff Association; GLASS, which is the Senate LGBTQ employee organization, as well. And, of course, the organizers of Capital Pride. We want to encourage you to visit. We have a display that was set up in the front. A lot of you probably saw that when we came in. At the library, we have such a vast collection. We have iconic poetry from Whit Waltman. Excuse me. Walt Whitman. To the manuscripts of the founder of the LGBTQ activism here, Frank Kameny. And we have the papers of Jonathan Larson, who wrote Rent. And you can see the math that he did to come up with 525,600 minutes. So you're welcome. That will be in your head the rest of the night. Yeah, so we have all of these amazing collections here. And you can see some of them out in the foyer on your way out. But now to talk about tonight's event and why we're here, after the presentation outside, you can buy the book and have Becky sign it for you. And, again, she's an award-winning writer. She's the author of three best-selling books; Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda, The Upside of Unrequited, and Leah on the Offbeat. She has a new book scheduled to come out this October, and I know a lot of you are excited to read that. Becky has a gift of believably writing in the voice of a teenager. One reviewer said, "are you absolutely certain that Becky Albertalli didn't steal the diary of a hilariously observant teenage boy?" So tonight, Becky will be interviewed by the Library of Congress's Chief Communications Officer, Roswell Encina, who, like many of you, have fallen for Simon and his friends. So now, please help me welcome to the stage Becky Albertalli. [ Music ] >> Roswell Encina: Good evening, everyone, and thank you, Travis, for that wonderful introduction. And welcome, Becky. >> Becky Albertalli: Thank you so much for having me. This is an amazing crowd, oh my gosh. >> Roswell Encina: It's like a little homecoming for you. I understand you used to live here in Washington. >> Becky Albertalli: Yeah, this is-- yeah. And I think a lot of my friends are out here. >> Roswell Encina: You don't mind if we share the story of who you bumped into when you arrived in Washington. It's such a small world. >> Becky Albertalli: Oh, yeah, no. Yeah, you know, so I really got here not too long before the event. It's been kind of a whirlwind trip. I checked into my hotel, walked outside, and five-- less than five minutes later, I bumped into my prom date from high school, who had just moved back here from Atlanta, which is so awesome. >> Roswell Encina: Well, let's talk Simon. So I have to be honest, you know, after I read the book, after I saw the movie, there was a part of me that kind of fantasized that I was a teenage boy again and had a teenage boyfriend via e-mail. So I'm guessing you hear this a lot. So you hear this a lot from probably grown men like me, or, you know, teenagers that this book relate to them a lot. What did you tap into, and how did you get into the psych of a 16-year-old boy? >> Becky Albertalli: Thank you. I'm really glad it worked for you. And, you know, I'm always glad when the book works for somebody, because it's never a guarantee. I think when I wrote this book, and with all of my books, I really tried to I guess like tap into that individual character's head. And it's kind of a deep dive. So, you know, when I wrote Simon, I mean like, I was, I was like living in Simon. And I didn't tell anybody. I think I told maybe like one or two people after I was like almost done drafting it. I was very, very private about it. But like I carried this kid with me everywhere. And I think, you know, my books, all of the, you know, have a lot of me in them. Simon-- I get the question a lot, like what was it like writing about a character who is so different from you? I'm like, I haven't done it yet, so I don't know. >> Roswell Encina: I mean, but you-- it's hard enough being a teenager. A normal straight teenager has a lot of acts. A gay teenager has a whole lot more. And you describe it very well. As Travis said in the introduction, it's like you're writing from a teenage boy's diary. What was your basis? Who inspired you? Where did Simon come from? >> Becky Albertalli: I actually read a lot of teenage boys-- no, I did not. No, I did not. I feel like when you're a psychologist, you cannot say that. That's actually the first thing I always want to say is a lot of people know I used to be a psychologist. And so it's really, really important I feel like to lead with the fact that Simon is not based on anybody I work with because, you know, my priority, no matter what, even as an author, even though I haven't practiced psychology in years, like my priority is making sure the clients that I work with don't feel vulnerable. So I don't touch that. You know, I think sometimes people I know from real life make their way into the books. Sometimes I don't realize it until afterwards. And sometimes like I find myself like popping up in the book in unexpected places. Like I remember there was this moment. >> Roswell Encina: Do you like Oreos then? >> Becky Albertalli: Well, yeah, yeah. People are like, well, people are like, what is the symbolic meaning of Oreos? And I'm like, all right, well, let me tell you. Like, I really like Oreos. That's it. But I think there was one moment where, you know, I think I was describing just like a little like technique I used to use in therapy sessions, which was kind of like a bribe where I would let-- I worked in a school, so I would let kids like use their social media in therapy sessions, which they desperately wanted to do, because it was school and they wanted to be on the internet, if they would let me sit right next to them, and we would talk about everything in their sessions. And I was describing this to like a room full of high schoolers. And I think I like realized in that moment, I'm like, I'm Simon's mom. Like this whole time, I thought I was the teenager, like I thought I was cool, and I'm not, like I'm the mom. But she's like kind of a cool mom. And Jennifer Garner has like completely made her cool. So like I am like really, really okay with it now. >> Roswell Encina: She was Sydney Bristow. We'll talk more about Jennifer Garner in our next. Anyway, I swear, if this book was around, it would have helped me a lot when I was 15, 16. Back in the 80s when I was that age, there was really nothing. And I asked Andre Aciman this yesterday. Most of the characters or any from books to movies, every time it's a gay character, you're either a sidekick, either comic relief, or there's some tremendous tragedy attached to it. But the beauty of Simon is, there's none. He, and like from Call Me by Your Name, everybody's main kind of big issue is just love. And I think everybody can relate to that, right? >> Beck Albertalli: Yeah, you know, and I think, I mean, I feel strongly there's a place for all kinds of stories, and especially, you know, a lot of times, you'll find there are some really painful stories sometimes coming from within the community, and people telling their own stories, or kind of using, drawing upon their own experiences in different ways. But I think that has been one of the things that I think has resonated with a lot of people about Simon. It's just like the joy of the love story in it. >> Roswell Encina: And what I like about him the most is he doesn't make a big deal that he's gay. I mean, for him, it doesn't even-- his sexuality doesn't bother him. So I wanted to read something from-- actually, it's just from page two. It's a giant holy box of awkwardness, and I won't pretend I'm looking forward to it, but it probably, probably wouldn't be the end of the world, not for me. So that just kind of sets up a scene that it's like, oh, whatever. Do you think this is generational, or depends where you live in the country? And I don't want to minimize other kids' issues of coming out, because everyone has their own process that they have to go through. But I think that's what made maybe Simon more refreshing. Many kids could relate to it, especially the next generation of, you know, young gay adults. >> Becky Albertalli: I think, I think that's a really good question. I think it's really complicated, and certainly somewhat generational. But it's not like, you know, change isn't always linear. And, you know, I really do believe that not only does environment play such a role, but it just like, it can get, you know, down to the specific family. Like I really think if Simon had a next door neighbor, it could be a closest family friend, you know, and if there was a gay kid in that family, that kid may have a totally different experience than Simon for any number of reasons, some of which is just, you know, different people have different comfort levels with like sharing things, and different types of relationship dynamics with their family. So kind of in a very like, you know, micro way, I think those differences are significant. So it's really hard to generalize and say like, you know, because I've had people, and I think the way people read the book or experience the movie can be very informed by their own experiences. So there are people who are like, this is exactly what it's like. And then there have been people, I think there was an article, and like bless his heart, this guy who wrote it got like dragged on Twitter, and he was like, everybody was like, who is this straight guy like saying this? He wasn't a straight guy who wrote it. But he was like, he was the one who asked the question, like do kids really need this film anymore? Was it like Time Magazine? Does anybody-- there are people who remember that slang. And actually like this article did have some really interesting critiques about like kind of some of the intracommunity dynamics and like nuances within that. But, you know, it was, I think people really responded to that particular question. Like do teens really need this? Because, I think, there is this idea somewhat that like we solve like homophobia. But that's so far from the lived experience of so many of my readers, which, you know, that's just like, you know, that's just talking about like readers in the U.S., like when you think globally, I mean, they just like canceled the release of Love, Simon in India. Like people are devastated. Like this is the reality across the world. It's just a lot of it has to do with like where you were born and who your family is, and that can shape that experience. >> Roswell Encina: And I feel like young adult writers like you really help, from John Green to yourself, have brought up so many issues that teens could not really relate to beforehand. And so they started reading about it. >> Becky Albertalli: I hope so. It's like, I don't know, that's wonderful company to be in. I love John Green. Yeah, you know, it's interesting, because when I wrote this book, Simon in particular, which is my first book, which I never thought would be published, by the way. It's like still very strange. But, you know, I really thought of it the whole time as a love story. And, you know, it's kind of almost like retroactively taken on a certain significance, mostly because of the movie and the studio backing and that being kind of a moment in the film industry, you know, but Simon is not-- I get really squirmy sometimes. People feel like Simon is the first gay love story, gay [inaudible] love story. And I'm like, oh my gosh, like first of all, you're in for a treat. Because there is a whole like, you know, there's like a whole history behind it. Like, you know, when I wrote Simon and I was kind of trying to, you know, figure out how to position it to like publishing houses and stuff. Like, you know, some of the authors who are in my mind were like David Levithan, Bill Konigsberg, you know, there's like Brent Hartinger, Geography Club. I mean, there's so many wonderful books that, you know, I like describe it as like, you know, it's like standing on the shoulders of giants. And there's this whole conversation, and, you know, more and more books being written in the space, and it's exciting to be a part of it. >> Roswell Encina: People tend to call them that crossover appeal books when they're just good books, right? >> Becky Albertalli: I hope so. I like the idea of it. I know that like I get a lot of people who are like, I'm not your target age range. Like I know I shouldn't be reading YA, I'm like 28. And I'm like, I'm 35, and like I like only read YA now. >> Roswell Encina: I'm 48, and I'm reading them. I should say, though, and let's talk about some of the stuff in the book. I really like the part that you use the e-mail conversation to move the story forward. So I just kind of want to read some parts here. On page 59, so I'm a complete nerd here, but we do work at the Library, so we're allowed to, right? So here's one of the, I think it's an e-mail from Simon to Blue, from Jacques to Blue, I should say. So I keep thinking about the idea of secret identities. Do you ever feel locked into yourself? I'm not sure if I'm making sense here. I guess what I mean is that sometimes it seems like everyone knows who I am except me. That's fantastic. Then I love how you always kind of put pop culture into everything. So in one of the e-mails, it says, P.S., I'm attaching a Reese's cup to this e-mail. I hope this is what you had in mind. Is this why kids are relating to this so much, the pop culture references, the use of e-mail, and, you know, how he was outed, thus, leaving your e-mail not logged off, and somebody else logging into it? I mean, these are things that actually happen. >> Becky Albertalli: Yeah, you know, I don't know. It's, I think, a very personal experience, you know, with Simon readers and with readers in general, like what's the moment in the book that connects you to that character, you know, so there are a lot of people who can relate to, you know, Simon's thoughts about coming out. Believe it or not, I get like, you would not believe how many e-mails I get that are like, I love this book, it has so many Harry Potter references. And I'm like, I get it, yeah, like no, I have loved books because of that too. Like Harry Potter, especially, it's like so full of Harry Potter references. >> Roswell Encina: What are your current pop culture obsessions? >> Becky Albertalli: Okay, so, well, in addition to like Love, Simon, which is just like embarrassing how much I love it, and I can say that because it's like I didn't make the movie. I just, I've seen it 13 times, like on purpose. Hamilton, Jeremy Hanson, and, oh, gosh, I feel like, I feel like I'm missing something big. Like what am I into? It's not Paw Patrol and it's not-- I'm like, it's not the things that I actually watch the most in my day-to-day life, which are definitely like Power Rangers and Paw Patrol and like God knows what YouTube toy unboxing videos. Like I have two young kids. But to the extent that I have time for, and I think I love the things that like nerdy theater teenagers like. Am I right? Are there any like theater kids out here? [ Cheering ] >> Roswell Encina: I like how you use diversity in your books. And I'm not just talking about race. But between, you know, gay and bisexuals, and just kids of all shapes and sizes are all in there, was that a conscious decision of yours? >> Becky Albertalli: Yes and no. I mean, I think to some extent, you know, there's just the desire to, you know, create a world that is as inclusive as the world that I live in. And, you know, I think I get more credit for that, for Simon, than I deserve. The movie actually improved upon what I did in the book. And so that's something that I'm really excited about, just some of the casting choices in the movie. But, yeah, I think certainly increasingly, as I've written more and more books, it's something I think about with like every word that I write, because, you know, for better, for worse, every book that I've written after Simon I've written with a very acute awareness of my audience. It makes it, you know, you can get like paralyzed by that kind of. Like, you know, you're like trying to write a book with like all these sequels reading over your shoulder. But I think it's really important. And, you know, I have been very aware of who my Simon readers are and who I'm hearing from. And so, you know, I can't imagine ever writing a book, for example, that doesn't have, you know, I'm not saying the main character is always going to be part of the LGBTQQIAAP community, but there's going to be characters from the community within my books, because I'm not-- I can't see myself writing a book where all these readers who trust me and have read my books like feel like they don't have a home, you know, and, you know, feel like I am not seeing them or I'm choosing not to see them for the duration of the book, you know? And it's imperfect because there's so many intersections there, and there are-- there's such a range of experiences, and you're never going it be able to capture everybody's experience. But to me, it's something to strive towards, just kind of making more and more people feel seen. >> Roswell Encina: You create this whole Simon verse, I should say. So the sequel to Simon is Leah on the Offbeat, where we discover Simon's BFF is bisexual. Was that always your intention, or were there hints in this book that I completed missed it until the new book came out? >> Becky Albertalli: No, it wasn't my intention. So the only person who's like almost as oblivious as Simon is me. No, because, you know, I was like so deep in Simon's head, to the point where there were things that I wrote into that book, like I wrote that book, I wrote it, it was there, you know, and there were things that were like really specific signals that a lot of people picked up on, like to the point where I think people are surprised to hear that Leah is bi because it was there. But Simon didn't see it. And it took me a minute to see it. Like I had to be like woken up to it. And it's been a couple years. It's not a decision that I made recently. Like people, I've seen people, like grandstanding on Twitter or something, being like, she just made it that way like because of the movie, because of that moment with Katherine Langford, you know, and Katherine Langford makes this face in the Halloween scene, and that's why Becky decided. I'm like, no, Becky talked to Katherine Langford on set. Like this book was already like you know, but yeah, yeah, so it's just, it's sort of like the way I've seen these characters evolved. And I gave myself a real gift without meaning to by making Simon like so clueless. Like he's so-- things happen, and he doesn't see them. Like he doesn't see like five feet in front of his face. And he even says, and it's not just that he's clueless in general, which he, dear God, is, but he, like even says about Leah, and he's like, he's like, I don't get her. Like he's just like there's this subtext with Leah that I can't like quite like unpack or wrap my head around. And so like having, having the opportunity to write a book that kind of dove into what the secret of mysterious character was thinking and feeling and going through right under the oblivious character's nose, like highly recommended. It's a blast. I really loved it. >> Roswell Encina: Would you say you have produced some of the most successful gay main characters nowadays. So I'm thinking you know the wonderful responsibility you have on yourself and how the entire LGBTQ community is cheering you on, and very thankful for that. Are you aware of how grateful we all are for these books? >> Becky Albertalli: That's really nice. Thank you. You know, and, I mean, I'm grateful. I'm grateful to be a part of the conversation. And I think it's really complicated, and I think there's things that I have come to understand now better than I did five years ago when I wrote Simon. I started writing Simon just about exactly five years ago in June, you know? And, you know, I think the conversation in young adult literary spaces, especially those spaces that are concerned with writing inclusive books. There's discussion about ownership of stories. And it's not so much that Simon is like a gay character, but more I think that it's a coming out story, and who has a right to tell that. And it's something that I take seriously and I think about all the time. And, you know, I don't think, you know, I was privy to those conversations in the same way in 2013 when I wrote it. And, you know, and I think the conversations themselves have kind of moved in interesting ways. But I just, I try to follow it, and, you know, it's not like-- I can't like stop the train. I can't like unpublish the book. And I'm really grateful that a lot of people have connected with it. But it's complicated, and that's something that I'm really open with with authors who are considering like writing outside of their lane. You know, you have to sit with the fact that like in the same day, you're going to get e-mails from somebody who says you changed their life, or you saved their life. And then you're going to hear from somebody who says like you shouldn't have written this book. You just, you have to sit with that. Yeah. >> Roswell Encina: What other YA books, or other books that you recommend to some LBTQ teens for them to read, after they read, of course, your three books? >> Becky Albertalli: You don't have to read mine first. First, before I even start naming books, I want to give you a website, because it's phenomenal. It's LGBTQ Reads. And it's curated by an author named Dahlia Adler. Her books, by the way, are wonderful. Actually, one of them called Under the Lights is, I would say if you liked my books, you're going to like that book. And I love that site because it's got like really comprehensive recommendations. And she has like lists that kind of go into like what identities are represented in the books, which is just like really important to a lot of my readers I know who are looking for representation. I really wanted to shout out a book that came out today. It's a book birthday for them. It is an adorable book called Running with Lions by Julian Winters. It is-- and I feel like for years, I've heard people talking about like I want a sports romance, but like a gay one, and this is, I feel like this is that book, but like so like beautifully executed. Like I don't even like sports, but I love this book. I was just like, it's like, it's just, it's a really subversive book in the sense that this is a book about a soccer team, and the coach has very deliberately decided to make this team a safe space for this group of kids who, you know, they represent a range of identities and experiences, and it's a love story, and it's adorable. So that book came out today. I recommend looking it up. And then-- and I could also go on all night. But another-- this is an author whose birthday was today. So I'm just going to stick to the birthday theme, and then I'll leave you guys to the website, LGBTQ Reads. So have any of you guys heard of Adam Silvera? [ Cheering ] I should have filmed that. I feel like if you've heard of me, you've probably heard of Adam Silvera, because he co-wrote my next book. Like we wrote together. But it's his actual birthday today. And he has three books that are out now. And every single one of them is absolutely amazing. His books are sad. So just, so know that, and like when you plan your reading schedule, like read Adam's books and then read Running with Lions, or however best you need to like organize it. But his books are called More Happy Than Not, History Is All You Left Me, and if you weren't convinced that his books are sad, They Both Die at the End, which is not a spoiler, but it's like, like don't like get your hopes up for them not to die. Like they both die at the end. >> Roswell Encina: But you brought up Adam, and I know the new book coming out, you're co-writing it with him in October. I was going to ask, this was supposed to be your last question, but we'll talk about the movie first. But could you give us a preview of this book coming out in October? >> Becky Albertalli: Sure, this is my favorite thing to talk about. Yeah, I am so excited. So this book, What If It's Us is like the book that Adam and I have like said for years, since 2014, since before we ever met in-person, we have been like, we should write this book. And then we did. I like can't believe we did. It's a book that's coming out in October. And it's like, well, it's definitely, by far, the most fun writing experience I've ever had. I just like really recommend writing books with Adam Silvera. Like, yeah, not just because you only have to write half the book. So it's about these two boys named Arthur and Ben. And Arthur is this kind of like wide-eyed like Broadway geek from Georgia. If you look at the cover, there's a tall one and a short one. He's the short Jewish one from Georgia. I wrote Arthur. And then Ben is like this kind of more cynical [inaudible] you know, born and bred New Yorker. He's this Puerto Rican kid. He's stuck in summer school. He's just had a breakup. And like, you know, so like Adam's character Ben is like so pissed at the universe. Now he just feels like the universe is trying to like screw him over. And my guy, Arthur, is like, I'm in New York. Everything I know about New York comes from like Broadway and movies. So he's like, obviously huge things are going to happen for me and my life is like pretty much going to be like a musical, and I'm probably going to meet my soul mate. And so like, you know, this is sort of where they are when they meet each other in a post office. And like Adam's character is like shipping stuff back to his ex-boyfriend, and my character is like, he's cute, and I'm going to follow him to the post office. >> Roswell Encina: Is that their big meet-cute is at the post office? >> Becky Albertalli: That's the big meet-cute in the post office. And then, yeah, so the gist of it is like they get separated and they find each other again. But it's not like serendipity. It's more like they find each other again relatively quickly, because, you know, Arthur works very hard. And then, you know, I think most of the book is them kind of dealing with-- well, they have just very different world views. And then also, you know, their reality of this like friendship and relationship, you know, when it's like put up next to just the expectations that they have, you know, it's complicated for both of them for different reasons. >> Roswell Encina: So it comes out October what? >> Becky Albertalli: It comes out October 9th. >> Roswell Encina: So mark your calendars, everyone. Why don't we talk about the movie? Do you remember the time you got, I'm not sure if it was an e-mail or a call, that they were going to turn this book into a movie, and how did that go? >> Becky Albertalli: I actually do, but only because it was very chaotic. For the most part, you know, like I should say like, you know, there are these little like steps along the way to like making a book into a movie. And it's different for a real adaptation process. But I think in general one thing that they tell us pretty quickly is like all kinds of stuff can happen, and they're still, they're not going make the movie, you know? So you, you know, you get these calls, and they're very exciting, but like if you want to know the moment when I realized they were going to make the movie, it was like, I was like in the theater, and it was like, you know, I'm like, okay, like yeah, that's the bleachers. Yep, there we go, you know? But I do remember getting the call that Fox had optioned it. And I was at Barnes & Noble on a play date with a fellow author, Aisha Saeed. And you should read her book, Amal Unbound. That's her middle grade that just came out, and it's amazing. And she has three little boys, and I have two little boys, and we were about to walk into the parking lot in front of Barnes & Noble in, I think we were in Sandy Springs, I think we were in Simon's hometown, and then I get this call. And so the hero of this story is my friend, Aisha, who wrangled five boys, the oldest of whom at the time was like six, right by a parking lot while I took the call that Simon was going to be optioned by Fox. And I had no idea what that meant. But like, and I like did not want my kids to run into the parking lot. It's hard to know what would have happened with that call if she hadn't been there. >> Roswell Encina: I think the movie perfectly kind of adapted the heart of the book. But when you were told like, oh, this guy who, you know, produces and directs The Flash and Arrow and Supergirl on TV, did it ever occur to you, like, how is he going to do this when he's doing, you know, superheroes on TV, how is he going to do a nice little fun teen romance? >> Becky Albertalli: Oh, he was [inaudible] when they told me he was like being considered to be the director, I literally don't remember anybody else they were considering. So I was like [inaudible] because his name had already come up earlier in the process like with like production companies and stuff. So I already by then had researched him and knew who he was. One of the things that stood out is he had worked on Dawson's Creek, and like, I feel like I'm going to say this and you're going to know exactly how old I am, except I already told you. Like Dawson's Creek was like my obsession when I was a teenager. But I think more importantly, like the first time I ever saw two boys kiss was Jack on Dawson's Creek. And I found out later that Greg Berlanti is the reason that kiss happened. Like he was writing for the show at the time. And I believe he like, he threatened to like quit if they cut that scene, and they put it in. And so like Greg Berlanti has always been pushing boundaries in that way. And he's somebody who cares a lot about the representation. And he's also just like it was very much a passion project for him. That was clear like from the beginning. >> Roswell Encina: How do you feel about some of the I guess stuff that was edited out of the book that were not in the movie? There's no Alice. What happened to Alice? >> Becky Albertalli: Alice, I know. >> Roswell Encina: She went to college and never came back. >> Becky Albertalli: She never came back. I know. Yeah, Wesleyan will do that. But, yeah, I love Wesleyan. I went to Wesleyan, guys. [ Inaudible ] But, yeah, Alice, yeah, you know, Alice was in an earlier version of the script, and I think it was just one of those things. You know, in general, I tried to be kind of like, not hands-off, but I didn't want to like be hovering too much during the screenwriting process because they got a screenwriter, and, you know, there's definitely an element of like they needed the space to tell the story their own way. And then, you know, just one of the things with, you know, just even condensing the material from a novel to a film, like a lot of things have to be like cut or streamlined, and Alice is a pretty-- I mean, she's like, you know, she doesn't live at home most of the time, you know? She was always kind of on the chopping block. I just didn't know it. >> Roswell Encina: Another big thing that's missing from the movie is the big gay bar scene from the deleted scenes that I saw this afternoon. It starts off actually with that weird awkward conversation between Nick and Simon before they go to the bar. Why do you think that was removed from the finished movie? >> Becky Albertalli: Oh, I think I actually know this. >> Roswell Encina: Because Colton Haynes was in the-- >> Becky Albertalli: I know, Colton Haynes was-- yeah, no, I think-- oh, and actually, has anybody seen the deleted scene yet? >> Yeah. >> Becky Albertalli: Okay, a couple of you have? So you know there's like a guy who like walks up to Nick. Not Nick Robinson, but like George Lindberg's [phonetic] Nick, Nick the character, like just for a split second. That's another-- him and Colton Haynes and Greg Berlanti are like all friends. There's likes something. I don't know. And the reason that they changed that character's name to like Kevin was because I think that guy is named Kevin like in real life. So I think, I don't know, basically, like this is like, this is a really, like Greg didn't want to cut his buddies, you know? But this is one of those like kill your darlings things because, you know, once, in the big picture, like once it was all together with kind of these scenes as the movie was kind of already getting momentum towards the end, I think what they found is it was such a long scene, and it just, it kind of broke up the momentum they were trying to achieve. It's just like one of those filmmaker things that I wouldn't have necessarily been able to like catch if I went in the editing room. But I definitely get that. I'm really excited about the deleted scene. I hadn't seen it until like it came out digitally, and like I bought it and like watched it. >> Roswell Encina: But they made up for it, I should say. There's one scene in the movie that's not in the book. It's that big scene with Jennifer Garner and Simon. I rewatched it this afternoon. I was telling some of my friends I started tearing up in my office. I was thinking, what is wrong with me? >> Becky Albertalli: Well, you know, whose idea that was. >> Roswell Encina: Whose was it? >> Becky Albertalli: Jennifer Garner's idea. It was Jennifer. Yeah, so like, yeah, that wasn't in the first version of the script I saw. And like Jennifer, I think she like met with Greg and she was like, I want a scene-- and it wasn't like-- I swear to God, like I promise it's not like she wanted more scene time. Like she had other scenes like in the earlier version, you know? So it wasn't about how much screen time. It was like she wanted that moment. And I think she wanted it because she's a mom. And like I've heard her talk about this. She's like, she's like, yeah, I wanted to be the one to say it. Like, she's like, I wanted these lines to like be out in the universe, and I wanted them to come from my mouth, and like that's-- yeah. >> Roswell Encina: Some of the things she said, and I was typing this up very fast when I was watching it again, she says, "I need you to hear this. You are still you, Simon." Then she goes on later, says, "you get to exhale now, Simon. You get to be more you." I mean, it's very reminiscent of the father from Call Me By Your Name, and this is kind of like, it's equivalent in this movie. It does make you tear up. And, of course, right after it is the scene with Josh Duhamel in a father and son moment. And I think that's what really resonates with a lot of kids. Maybe they're hoping that their parents will be exactly, will respond the same way. >> Becky Albertalli: That's what I'm hearing. And, you know, what's interesting, I'm hearing from a lot of kids, and the word that people really connecting with is exhale. I've even like written that in my handwriting for people's tattoos, like more than one, more than one, which I'm very honored by, because, oops, sorry, because it's not my line. Because like I love it. The one that like really hit me in the mom bone, so-to-speak, is when she says like, you know, you deserve everything you want. And then there's like a moment where she like kisses him on the head, and she's like, "my boy," and stuff, so like, I don't know, one of the things I really love about that scene, about the movie in general, is that, you know, we all have different access points to these moments, you know, so I was on set when that scene was filmed, and like bawling like throughout the entire thing. So was everybody. Like there were like reporters there that day. Fox executives were there. It was a mess. But like I, like yeah, like she starts kisses him on the head, and that's it for me. I'm done. I'm like, I like, yeah. >> Roswell Encina: Speaking of you being on set, most of you probably don't know that you're in the movie. >> Becky Albertalli: I'm in the movie, yeah. >> Roswell Encina: Could you tell them where you are in the movie? >> Becky Albertalli: This is really classy. All of my author friends who have movies, have these like really like poignant moments or something. Like my friend [inaudible] is like in everything, it's like walking on a beach with your family, you know? I'm drunk at a Halloween party. [ Laughter ] >> Roswell Encina: But do we get to see your face? >> Becky Albertalli: No, because I'm too old, and they put a mask on me. [ Laughter ] You get to see my mask. I'm a bunny, and I'm drinking. But it's really because there's like they fill those things with water, and I was nervous, so I'm like, you know what I mean? Yeah, it was, you know, it was one of those things where like I was supposed to have a certain role in the carnival scene, but because of the weather, they switched the days of the filming, and then I was on book tour, and then it was like, well, if you're having a cameo, it's going to be in the Halloween scene, and you can't be a teacher, because even [inaudible] is not that nerdy. And so, so yeah, so I meant to say that I was kind of like the mid-30s, you know, alumna of the school who provided the alcohol, you know? >> Roswell Encina: I think we get arrested in Georgia for that, right? >> Becky Albertalli: I think so, yeah. But that was, you know, not me personally, but, I mean, my role. And Adam Silvera was also in that role, but he was actually like a pink unicorn with an emoji mask. So it was like really nuances, just a really incredible portrayal of the pink unicorn with an emoji mask. >> Roswell Encina: I think, let's take questions from the audience. Do you have time for this? >> Becky Albertalli: Yeah. >> Roswell Encina: All right, there's going to be some microphones coming down from the aisle here. And just raise your hand. I'll let you. Let's start this way. >> Over here? >> Awesome. Thank you. Well, first of all, before I get to the question, I just wanted to thank you again for coming. There's a lot going on in pride in D.C. this week, and I skipped three happy hours because I was like, I want to see you. [ Applause ] But it's to thank you. I came out four years ago to my family. And when I did, it was heartfelt and they were supporting and loving, but they're reading the book presently, but they watched the movie, and they FaceTimed me, and they said, "we never knew." They had no idea what it felt like. So thank you for owning my story. I trust you as an owner in this. Thank you for doing that. But now my question, what was it actually like writing it? Like I get it's fun and exciting to be in the movie. But what was your process, your writing process as you were getting into the mindset of the character? Where were you? What were you thinking? How did that go down? >> Becky Albertalli: First of all, thank you. That means a lot. So the writing part, yeah, so you're right, that is definitely less fun than being in the movie. And right now, I'm like drafting another book, and it's like I'm very aware of how much less fun, like the work I'm writing is, than like, you know, the red carpet and stuff. You know, with Simon, you know, part of it was this kind of freedom that I can't get back, which is the freedom of writing a book that I didn't think would be published. I reread all of my teen journals, which are something else. [ Laughter ] Yeah, actually, there are parts of my teen journals that like made it into Simon, but like I'm not going to say what parts. But like word-for-word, some of them. You know, so I think a lot of it is trying to kind of find that in a 16, like 17-year-old like part of my mind. And then, you know, after a certain point, like, and this tends to happen with the characters that I'm writing for, is like there are a lot of false starts, you know, when I'm writing, but eventually I like find the voice. And once I like got Simon's voice, then it was like everything I wrote I got to know him better and better. So at this point, I feel like I know him pretty well. Like people will ask me random questions about him like online like out of nowhere, like all kinds of things. And I'm like, yeah, usually I have an answer if I think about it for a minute. Like I know him pretty well. So, yeah, you know, and the process has been different for every book, but that's sort of where I was for that one. >> Hi, my question is about your new book. Does it have an ending more like your books or more like Adam's books? >> Becky Albertalli: So will you say the last part of that? >> Yeah, is the ending more like your books, how your books end, or more like how Adam's books end? >> Becky Albertalli: Oh, that's a great question. So this is a question about What If It's Us, the co-written book. So yeah, kind of as a reminder, Adam is like notorious for like, you know, like his [inaudible] They Both Die at the End, like these very sad books. And I will say it is very much a Becky and Adam ending. >> Roswell Encina: Is it in the Simon verse, the new book? >> Becky Albertalli: No, it's not in the Simon verse, yeah. >> Hi, I just wanted to say that when the movie came out, I took all my friends, and they didn't know anything about it. But I knew. I read the book about a year ago. And I got all of them instantly obsessed. Like we talk about it all the time. So more about the books. So now that all of the Simon verse characters are going off to college, what will we expect from that? >> Becky Albertalli: From them going off to college? >> Yeah, like what would the books continue to be, if there are any more? >> Becky Albertalli: Well, I should say, and I think-- I feel like I'm really sad about this, and I know sometimes people have been sad to hear this, but my intention is for Leah on the Offbeat to be the last Simon verse book, because it's sort of the natural like ending point for the series. I get asked like a lot to write, I mean a lot, like several times a day, I get asked if I'm going to write either a sequel from Simon's point of view, a sequel from Blue's point of view, or rewrite Simon from Blue's point of view, and those, I mean, Leah is the last book in the Simon verse. But especially, especially there's no way I would ever touch those three. And part of it is because I love writing about couples getting together. Like that's why I write, like to get to the like make-out. That's how I like sit down at my computer, and like, it's coming. And then also I think, you know, particularly when it comes to the Blue point of very much book, which is the one that I get asked the most often, you know, I try to be mindful of the fact that kind of would tap into-- and I'm trying to do this with no spoilers-- but would tap into an intersection that is severely underrepresented right now in YA. And because of its connection to Simon, it would be like a big book right now, you know? And that doesn't need to be a book written by me. >> Hi, so my friend and I, we really love your books and the movie. >> Roswell Encina: Could you stand up and show everyone your T-shirts? >> Okay. >> Roswell Encina: You're in pairs. You should show it. >> Becky Albertalli: That's so great. [ Laughter ] >> So my question is, what made you choose Bram to be Blue? >> Becky Albertalli: Are we okay with me getting into this? Is this like kind of a-- if you're here, right, you've seen the movie at least? Okay, I always, I always knew he was going to be Blue, which is interesting, because that makes me, I think one the one person who got to know him as Bram first, you know? And I think, you know, my idea of him as Bram informed my writing. Like every e-mail I wrote from Blue's perspective, like I knew he was Bram, so I was writing Bram, and, you know, I think, you know, it's interesting trying to think back to like why I chose him, because he just like, you know, he was always-- he was Bram, he was, you know, that nerdy like, I don't know, who wouldn't choose him? [ Inaudible ] Yeah, he, yeah, and I think, you know, some of the privileged stuff that Simon has to like unpack along the way, that kind of wove itself into the story of us, like that wasn't necessarily like the thing I set out to write a book about, but, you know. >> Roswell Encina: We could probably take two more questions here. >> Okay, so as a young writer, and as a person really, your writing has really inspired me. Who are some of the authors that have inspired you in your writing? >> Becky Albertalli: So I, you know, I think, I always say like there are two like books, authors, who made me want to be a writer, or I think most kind of influenced like the type of writing I like to do. One is Stephen Chbosky, like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which I read when I was like 16. And, you know, I was so in love with Charlie, the main character. And I just, I felt so connected to him. And the other author is an Australian YA author named Jaclyn Moriarty. Actually, her sister is like really famous right now. Like her sister is like Liane Moriarty who writes like women's fiction books that are huge. Is it like Big Little Lies, I think? >> Roswell Encina: That little movie. >> Becky Albertalli: Yeah, well, I'm like a fan of her sister primarily. I actually like Liane's books too a lot. Yeah, no, so her sister has written this series of contemporary books that, yeah, they take place at like this high school in Australia, and I think what I love about them is similar to what I love about The Perks of Being a Wallflower is just like these characters feel so real, like they feel like actual people you could know, and they, you know, and it doesn't feel like, you know, the author tried to like infuse them with quirks, you know, that would be memorable. Like it doesn't feel, like you don't feel the craft when you read it. The craft is obviously there. But I think to me that's always been my priority as a writer is to like make characters who feel real. >> All right, so, hi, so I just want to say that last year, Simon was like the first book that I read that really got me back into reading again. And even as like a 20-year-old woman, I still could relate to a lot of the things that Simon was like feeling from when I was like at that point in my life where he was. And so I just want to say that that book kind of inspired me to want to write my own book. So my question is, like, what advice would you have for somebody who would want to write like a YA book one day? >> Becky Albertalli: So I, I'm going to give kind of my two favorite pieces of advice. And I'm not-- and I should kind of give the disclaimer that I don't have the kind of like classical like writing training that a lot of authors have. So I don't have an MFA. I don't know like bait sheets and things like that. And there's things like save the cat. And I'm like, I love cats, you know? So my most important piece of advice is to write fan fiction because I think, because I think it is the best writing practice out there. And not just because you're just like actually like putting words on paper, but that is really, really important to like just be like doing the thing, getting used to doing it. But, you know, I think that you are specifically trying to like aim for a voice, you know, and like hit that target. And I think like when you start to be able to like, to nail that with, you know, existing characters, it becomes, like if you're trying to do it with original characters, it's a different process, but there's something about it that feels similar. Also, if you write like Leah on the Offbeat, like the sequel in the same universe, it really is like fan fiction, you know? Like pretty much, yeah. And then the other thing is maybe even more important, which is like find your community, you know, whether that's like other authors, or just like bookish people who are sort of going through some aspect of the process with you. But like, you know, it could be like a librarian or something like that. I 100% would not still be writing were it not for my author friends, my little squad of author friends. I would not be writing. I would have quit about two months ago or so. I don't know. You all know. It's when I left Twitter. I was done. I was done with writing. The reason I'm still writing is because of my friends. And that's not the first time I almost quit. So find those guys and like hold them really tight. >> Roswell Encina: Speaking of your friends, you speak very highly of Adam, and you said it was his birthday. I say, why don't we end this evening, why don't we have the entire audience sing happy birthday to him, and we can send this video and tweet it to him, right? >> Becky Albertalli: Wait. My purse is in the green room. >> Roswell Encina: Oh, somebody could film it. We have all these cameras around too. >> Becky Albertalli: Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, can we do that? Oh, he'll love that. Oh, this is so great. Yeah. >> Roswell Encina: Are you guys game for it? Because I'm not going to be singing here by myself, I should say. >> Becky Albertalli: I'll hold the camera. Can I hold the camera? Thank you so much. And you'll just like text this to me, and I can send it? Thank you so much. That's awesome. >> Roswell Encina: Let me stand up. Do you want to do a little introduction? I'll give it to you. I'll shoot you. You can say it. Then I'll-- right. Go. >> Becky Albertalli: Hi, Addy [phonetic], we are at the Library of Congress, and a couple of people want to say happy birthday to you. >> Roswell Encina: All righty, everyone. >> Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Adam, happy birthday to you. [ Applause ] >> Roswell Encina: You could say something and close it. >> Becky Albertalli: Oh, I'm still live? >> Roswell Encina: Yes. >> Becky Albertalli: Hi. Happy birthday. >> Roswell Encina: Okay, happy birthday, Adam. And thank you, Becky. So that was fun. >> Becky Albertalli: Oh, thank you. [ Applause ] >> This has been a presentation of the Library of Congress. Visit us at loc.gov.