That Time I Hid Under a Chair When I Saw Kris Bryant

Literally, the only photo that exists of me and Kris. We were at GCLS 2019. I didn’t know what to do with myself so there you go, the most awkward photo around.

This is a story about how the most seemingly small decisions led me to Kris Bryant and how she changed my life.

If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re a reader of lesfic, which means that you know the name Kris Bryant. She’s the writer of some of my most favourite lesbian romances and the cause of 99% of my food cravings. If you’ve read her books, you’ll know what I mean.

A little over three years ago, my wife, Emily, and I attended a meet-up with friends we had met online. When the topic of books came up, someone suggested I read Forget Me Not by Kris Bryant. I went home that night, immediately got the book, and started reading. Fast-forward to a couple weeks later and I had read all of Kris Bryant’s books. I was hooked and waiting for more titles. 

A few months later, that same year, Emily and I were heading down to ClexaCon for the premiere of her first short film at the ClexaCon film festival. She had downloaded the ClexaCon app and was looking through the panels that were being offered and found a books panel featuring none other than Kris Bryant herself. To say I was excited was an understatement. 

I had just finished reading Listen and thought, “ok why don’t I tweet about how much I love this book and how excited I am to see Kris at ClexaCon?” I tagged Kris in the tweet and took a nap for the remainder of my train ride home from work. When I got home I noticed that not only had Kris liked my tweet, she had responded, followed me on Twitter, and said we should meet up. I was fangirling HARD.

At ClexaCon, true to her word, Kris messaged and said she would be at Emily’s film screening. When Kris walked in, I recognized her long blonde hair immediately, and I hid under a chair. Am I exaggerating? Nope. I was terrified to meet Kris. I was such a huge fan of her work and was also just about the most awkward person when it came to first meetings.

Luckily for me, Emily is incredibly supportive and urged me to go say hello. After all, Kris did come to support my wife and meet us. After an awkward and probably clammy handshake (on my part), I was sandwiched between my wife and Kris Bryant. The Kris Bryant. I was sweating! After the screening, Kris and I talked about books, work, pets, you name it. I told her my dream was to be a writer and she encouraged me to pursue it. After signing two of her books for us, she said I should message her sometime to talk about writing.

Now, I’m not a very forward person and amazing things don’t often happen to me, but this was amazing. I knew I had to take Kris up on her offer. After getting home, I messaged her and we hit it off. 

True to her word, Kris read some of my writing and again urged me to write. I wrote out a plan for a book that had been floating around my head for years and started working on it. I had a few phone calls with Kris, she read through a couple of my chapters, and even offered suggestions. She won’t admit to it, but she was my first mentor and continues to be one of my biggest cheerleaders. 

Kris later sent me information about the GCLS Writing Academy and encouraged me to apply. I did and I got in! I spent the most amazing year learning from my classmates as well as some of the absolute best writers out there. I’m talking Radclyffe, Penny Mickelbury, Melissa Brayden, Ann Roberts, Kareila Stetz-Walters, and so many more. Georgia Beers was assigned as my mentor, which meant she read my chapters and offered me invaluable suggestions that changed how I looked at my writing and characters. I’m lucky to still be in touch with my classmates, many of whom I call my friends.

So what started with a meeting with new friends, ended in a life-changing experience that is now taking me one step closer to my dreams of being a published author. I feel so grateful to Kris. Her encouragement and kindness helped me on this path. Without her, I wouldn’t be publishing my first short story in the GCLS Anthology this summer or feeling confident that someone out there will want to read my book. Kris, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!