More Queer, Disabled Authors Please!

As a former special education teacher, turned author, turned small business owner and non-profit starter (founder?), I have had the pleasure of meeting so many creative people. I recently got to meet Sydney Langford through social media and she wrote about a topic that is so near and dear to my heart. It has been so nice to connect with her, and so many of you, online. Let's hear her story!

Kayla: Hi Sydney, thank you for being interviewed today! Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

Sydney: Hi, I’m Sydney Langford, the author of The Loudest Silence and Someone to Daydream About! I’m a queer, Disabled author who lives in Portland, Oregon, where I can be found reading, writing, learning ASL, or convincing myself that I definitely NEED to attend another concert…

Kayla: Yes, you definitely need to attend another concert! Just wear earplugs!

Sydney: I love telling stories that center Disabled and queer teens because everyone deserves to have their Main Character Moment—and those are the stories I craved as a marginalized teen.

Kayla: I always love a good origin story. Tell us about the book you wrote!

Sydney: Gladly! My most recent novel is a YA boy band romcom called Someone to Daydream About and it follows Natalie, a Deaf and demiromantic teen with absolutely no interest in, or knowledge of, the world’s biggest boy band… until the lead singer asks her to go on tour with him so he can learn ASL for his little sister with hearing loss. When Natalie joins the cross-country tour the two clash immediately, but what follows is a slow-burn romance full of disability representation, mixed media, found family, and tons of chaotic hijinks. It’s a love letter to fandom, first love, and finding your voice!

Kayla: I love all that representation. And pairing it with such a good story! I definitely had that fantasy of a boy band bringing me on tour with them! Are there any other creative outlets you are interested in?

Sydney: Before I became an author, I was a child actor and aspiring singer! I spent years performing and in front of cameras, which definitely shaped the way I approach storytelling. I’m always paying close attention to dialogue, character chemistry,  and how scenes would play out if performed. These days, writing is my main creative outlet, but music, theatre, and acting will always have a special place in my heart.

Kayla: That is amazing! What inspired you to write your book?

Sydney: The main inspiration for StDA came from two sources: my lifelong love of boy bands (shoutout to One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer!) and my desire to see more Disabled teens at the center of joyful, swoony stories. Growing up, I often noticed that Disabled characters were sidelined, pitied, or forced into inspirational narratives. I wanted to write a book where a Deaf, ASL-using girl gets a grand romance, adventure, and a happily-ever-after able-bodied characters get time and time again. Add in my years of fanfic writing experience and an admittedly encyclopedic knowledge of boy bands, and Someone to Daydream About was born!

Kayla: I am so happy you have written these books. I would have devoured this book in high school! Don't worry, I will devour it as an adult too ;) What is your favorite book of all time?

Sydney: This is an evil question!! But if I have to pick just one… This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kacen Callender. It was the first time I saw a Deaf teen who signed on-page, shortly after my own hearing loss, and it meant the world to me. It’s funny, heartfelt, and takes place in my hometown—Seattle, WA! Some books stay with you because they’re great stories; others stay with you because they helped you feel seen. This one did both.

Kayla: You might have thought the question was evil but that answer was perfect! What is something you wish people understood about the disabled (or Deaf) community?

Sydney: That there’s no single Disabled experience. Unfortunately, a lot of popular media has had ignorant or downright atrocious representation that reinforces certain harmful stereotypes, and I think that’s where a lot of misinformation stems from.

Disability isn’t simply a tragedy, or inspiration porn, nor are disabilities a moral failing or something that inherently needs to be fixed. Our communities are incredibly diverse, with vastly different identities, communication styles, access needs, cultures, and perspectives. The most important thing able-bodied folks can do is approach Disabled people with an open mind, respect, and a willingness to listen and learn rather than just making assumptions. We’re the experts of our own lives and bodies, after all!

Kayla: Beautifully said! Thank you so much Sydney for sharing your stories and time with us today! And congrats on the third book!

If you want to check out Sydney's books, you can follow her on Instagram or purchase her books here. Happy Reading!

Read. Roam. Repeat.