When a Fan Says ‘I Love You’: How Meg Mason Handles the Moment

Meg Mason, a New Zealand‑born writer now living in Sydney, shot to fame when her 2020 novel Sorrow and Bliss became a surprise bestseller.

At literary festivals and book signings, Mason often hears fans say, “I love you.” She says fans often tell her this during those brief encounters.

Mason explains that authors should not brush off such statements. “If someone comes up to you and says, ‘I love you’, they have made themselves vulnerable,” she says, so dismissing them would be hurtful.

Although she is skeptical of praise, Mason acknowledges she must respond in a way that respects the fan’s feelings, because the fan has put themselves out there.

She describes parasocial relationships – one‑sided connections with writers – as normal and common. “Most people have experienced a one‑sided connection with an author,” Mason says, adding that denying it would be like lying.

These moments matter because they show how powerful a reader’s affection can be for an author’s emotional world, and why handling them with care helps keep the bond healthy for both sides.

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