Author Event! Debut author Sydney Langford launches The Loudest Silence

Join Sydney Langford in celebration of their debut YA novel, The Loudest Silence. Sydney will be in conversation with #1 NYT-bestselling author Aiden Thomas, signing books, and holding a raffle for bookish prizes.

Masks are required for this event. Thanks for helping keep everyone safe!

Reserve a copy of The Loudest Silence for pickup at the event !

Info about the event!

• The author talk will begin at 7:15, followed by Q&A session, raffle prize drawings, and then a book signing line & photo opportunity
• Light refreshments will be served!
• Reserve your copy of The Loudest Silence ahead of time, but we will have a limited amount of copies available for purchase on the day of the event

Rules & accessibility for attendees:

• Masks are required (and provided if needed)
• There will be an ASL interpreter present!
• Sydney's service dog will be in attendance, but will not be available for pets or interactions - he is working!
• An alternative entrance is available for those who use wheeled mobility devices. Please contact the store via texting ‪(503) 208-4799‬ when you arrive so we can open it for you
• Always Here Bookstore reserves the right to postpone or cancel this event if needed (refunds will be given in the event of unexpected cancellation)

Please contact us at [email protected] with accessibility questions or requests!

Two disabled, queer teens find belonging in this poignant platonic love story about singing, signing, and solidarity.

THE LOUDEST SILENCE is a YA contemporary novel that's perfect for fans of I Wish You All The Best & Disney’s High School Musical, and it follows the unlikely, platonic love story between Casey—a 16-year-old, bisexual singer who is grappling with hearing loss—and Hayden, an anxiety-riddled, aro-ace star soccer player with a secret passion for Broadway musicals.

Casey Kowalski once dreamed of becoming a professional singer. Then the universe threw her a life-altering curveball—sudden, permanent, and profound hearing loss—just before her family’s move from Portland to Miami. Now, she’s learning to navigate the world as a Deaf-Hard of Hearing person while trying to conceal her hearing loss from her new schoolmates.

Hayden González-Rossi is also keeping secrets. Three generations of González men have risen to stardom on the soccer field, and Hayden knows his family expects him to follow in their footsteps, but he wants to quit soccer and pursue a career on Broadway. If only his Generalized Anxiety Disorder didn’t send him into a debilitating spiral over the thought of telling the truth.

Casey and Hayden are both determined to hide who they really are. But when they cross paths at school, they bond over their shared love of music and their mutual feeling that they don’t belong, and the secrets come spilling out. Their intimate friendship is the beating heart of this dual-POV story featuring thoughtful disability representation, nuanced queer identities, and a lovably quirky supporting cast.

Sydney Langford (they/them) is a queer, Deaf–Hard of Hearing, and physically disabled author living in Portland, Oregon. When not singing musical theater songs or playing with their dogs, they are passionate about writing stories that celebrate inclusivity and the diverse experiences of queer and disabled teens. The Loudest Silence is their debut novel. You can find Sydney on social media @slangwrites, or visit their website at slangwrites.com.

And their conversation partner for the event..

Aiden Thomas is a trans, Latinx, New York Times Bestselling Author with an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. Originally from Oakland, California, they now make their home in Portland, OR. Aiden is notorious for not being able to guess the endings of books and movies, and organizes their bookshelves by color.

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