On Tuesday, I’m heading out to Portsmouth, VA for GayRomLit – the annual get-together of M/M romance authors and readers. I’m both, of course. I read even more than I write, and some of my favorite authors will be there.

I always love the sense of community at GRL— the emotional high of being in a large group who love the same stories and authors and characters, and who celebrate the LGBTQ community out and proud. But I’m an introvert, one might even say a flaming introvert, and it takes a lot of spoons for me to socialize, even in a perfect year.

The lingering concerns of coronavirus make this less than a perfect year. And the choices are less clear. In 2021, I went but drove not flew, rigorously masked, didn’t eat in groups, etc. I was fresh off losing a friend to covid. Taking every precaution was just a no-brainer for me then.

But now? I know several people with long covid, but at the same time, the disease is becoming endemic, entrenched in our society, and not something we have any hope of eradicating anytime soon. And social contact and community are precious.

One thing I can count on at GRL though, is kindness. So I’ll wear a mask and I expect folks will respect that. I’ll be in my room a lot, which will be not much different from recharging my spoons in an ordinary year. I look forward to the discussions, presentations, seeing friends, fangirling my favorite authors, buying (a few) books. (Suitcase limits.) I can’t wait for the recharge of enthusiasm GRL always gives me. I hope to see you there.

– Kaje Harper

Oct 2022