(Just posting what I emailed you personally bc I wanted to share with everyone how much your story has affected me!)
My name is Daryl. I just wanted to let you know how much your story “Heart of The Tree” has touched me. I originally read it 10 years ago when I was 12 and in middle school in California. I was just coming to terms with my sexuality, and your story was something I wonderfully stumbled upon. I was such in a bad place then but your story definitely help me have hope that gay people can have a positive narrative. Your story has always been my favorite and have remained in my thoughts and inspired me for my own story ideas. Well Im in University now, in my final year at New York University. And now after seeing Love, Simon in theaters a couple weeks ago was inspired to read again one of the very first positive gay narratives I encountered. So much has changed in the world in the past 10 years like the legalization of gay marriage. But also the cultural and mental shift of society has been great. Having a movie like Love, Simon come to subvert the heteronormative mainstream narrative we’ve all grown up to is a sure sign of greater change to come. But it is because of creators like you and the stories and worlds you create that we have come to this point in our society. I just wanted to thank you so much for creating this wonderful universe with Vince and Matt and all his friends and the lore of the heart tree. Sincerely, Daryl Ocampo
