YA contemp author Emily Wing Smith unveiled her second book Back When You Were Easier to Love last night at The King’s English book shoppe. I have to say she is one of the most genuinely nice people I have ever met and her speech left me a little emotional. She spoke of determination, acceptance, finding who you are and spending time with the things that bring you the most joy. Which, by the way is the name of her latest protagonist. After having us laughing with her stories of writing on random bits of paper and obsessive teenage love, she broke out into song with the “Barely Manilows”, also known as “the six”–a group comprised of her critique partners and other YA authors including Brodi Ashton-Everneath and Bree Despain-The Dark Divine, Kimberly Webb Reid, Sara Bolton, and Valynn Nagamatsu. Among the crowd of supporters were local writers James Dashner, Sara Zarr, Kris Chandler, and Matthew Kirby.

What a pleasure it is to know Emily. She is truly an inspiration! Check out her blog at http://www.emilywingsmith.com/and be sure to pick up Back When You Were Easier To Love.
All photos copyright Heather Gardner Photography.