While TBF brings 30 exciting, relevant and important authors to town, it’s the teens who are the true TBF stars. Teens get up-close access to the authors they love to read, asking the questions they want answered and getting the targeted advice they need to improve their own writing. In the months leading up to TBF, an army of teen volunteers raise awareness with fun and often outrageous fundraisers, and on the big day, they do everything from rallying the crowds and directing traffic to shepherding authors and ensuring that teens get priority seating in every session. As an author, it’s great to meet teens who’ve read my books, but it’s far more impressive to see the amazing things teens can do when we give them the chance to shine.