Q&A: Becky Albertalli, Author of 'Amelia, If Only'

Hiya, Becky! Welcome back and thanks for taking the time to chat with us again! How are you and how has 2025 treated you so far?

Thanks for chatting with me—and thank you so much for supporting Amelia. I think 2025 has been rough for everyone I know, but I’m mostly surviving!

It’s been ten years since your debut novel Simon vs. The Homo-Sapiens Agenda was published – and changed the world of publishing. In a decade spanning not only loads of fanart, a hugely successful movie adaptation but also a whole spin-off series, how do you feel about Simon and his journey in the world?

It’s very surreal to know Simon’s been in the world for a full decade—in many ways, I still feel like I’m new to being an author! The last ten years have been a really beautiful, challenging, complicated ride. I know I’ve spoken online about the rough parts of my journey, but ultimately, I’m so grateful that book has resonated with so many people. And for better or for worse, I’ve learned a lot about myself!

The landscape of traditionally published queer books has changed so much over the last decade. What is something you love about the developments – and something you still wish for?

There has been visible, undeniable progress in queer publishing, particularly in YA. Honestly, it thrills me to see how many queer books are thriving, in both indie and traditional spaces. I’m so grateful to organizations like We Need Diverse Books—along with the passionate readers, librarians, booksellers, influencers, and publishing professionals who keep that momentum going. Obviously, there are many opportunities for growth, particularly when it comes to the visibility of queer stories by BIPOC and disabled authors. And I’d love to see more support for all kinds of trans stories–especially stories about trans girls and trans fem characters. In general, though, the number one resource I recommend to queer readers is author Dahlia Adler’s site, LGBTQreads.com. The site includes lists to search for queer books within specific age categories, genres, and types of representation.

**Now, onto Amelia, If Only! What can readers expect?**

Amelia, If Only is about a group of friends on a road trip across New York State, but it’s really a book about parasocial relationships and fandom. Amelia has a favorite YouTuber—a guy named Walter, who used to be part of a popular online duo with his best friend and collaborator, Hayden. There’s a whole lore behind Walter and Hayden, running the full gamut from relationship speculation to queerbaiting accusations. In Amelia, it was important to me to dig into the specific connection Amelia feels with Walter, but I also wanted to zoom out and explore the broader fandom dynamics that surround him.

What inspired you to write Amelia’s story? Were there any unexpected turns during the writing process?

So much of this book was inspired by my own experiences with parasocial relationships—from both directions. I’ve felt so connected to particular artists and content creators over the years, and I’ve had the very surreal experience of reaching people in that way with my books. I think the boundaries between social and parasocial can get a little fluid sometimes, and I’m fascinated by that complexity. During the writing process, I found myself really drawn to exploring the idea of the distance between private reality and public perception. When it comes to online personas, there’s often a story behind the story. That’s true for Walter, and it’s definitely been true for me.

If you had to summarize Amelia in one tweet, viral trend or fanfic tag – what would it be?

Oh my gosh, can I choose all of stan twitter?

**You deliver many poignant insights about fandom in Amelia, If Only. What do you want readers to take away from Amelia, her connection to Walter and fandoms in general?**

I don’t think there’s one specific message or insight I want readers to take away. Our fandom experiences are so personal, and they vary so widely. Mostly, I just tried to portray the dynamics I’ve observed as realistically as possible–partially filtered through Amelia, but with glimpses into Walter’s perspective, too.

Speaking of fandoms – you know I have to ask: What fandoms are you a part of at the moment and which have never let you go over the years?

Lately, I’ve been absolutely obsessed with Tui T. Sutherland’s middle grade series, Wings of Fire. My kids have been diehard fans for years, and they talked me into starting the audiobooks. Now I wake up every morning thinking about these dragons, and I’m deeply invested in their romantic lives and general well-being.

A fandom I’ve never moved on from (and never will)? Ann M. Martin’s The Baby-sitters Club. It’s legitimately a part of who I am, and always has been.

Q&A: Alex North, Author of ‘The Man Made of Smoke’

For our aspiring writers: Ae there any writing tips that have helped you and that you would recommend?

I probably always say this, but I really believe that the years I spent writing fanfiction were the best thing I did to improve my writing. So much of writing skill is developed simply by exercising that muscle—getting words on the page, even if you never post them online. And fanfiction in particular was helpful for me, because working with familiar characters gave me a target to shoot for when practicing characterization and voice.

With Amelia, If Only hitting the shelves, what is next for you? Are you already working on a new project and if so, can you share a bit about it with us?

I’m currently in the early stages of drafting my next YA book—unfortunately, I can’t say much about it yet. And I have a very cool publishing secret that will hopefully be announced within the next few weeks.