NEED TO KNOW

In advance of her new middle grade novel with Dan Poblocki, illustrated by Ricardo Bessa Jackson Bright in the Spotlight, Eureka O’Hara reflects on her journey
The book hits stands on Oct. 21 and follows a young boy who enters a talent contest as a drag queen after being told to “dress like a boy” at school
“There will be storms, but there will also be sunshine. There will be nights of doubt, but there will be mornings of triumph,” writes O’Hara

A Letter to My Younger Self by Eureka O’Hara

Dear Little David Lee Huggard Jr.,

I see you. I see you sitting there in your small bedroom in Tennessee, with the weight of the world pressing down on your little shoulders. I see how you try to hide parts of yourself because you’re afraid of how people will look at you if they see the real you. You feel too big, too loud, too different. You feel like there isn’t a place in the world made for you, and that maybe you don’t even deserve one. But I need you to hear me, sweet child: one day, the very things you think make you unworthy will become the crown you wear proudly.

Eureka O’Hara as a child.

Courtesy of Eureka O’Hara

Right now, you’re learning lessons no child should ever have to learn. The abuse you’ve endured, the shame you’ve been made to carry — none of that is your fault. Those scars you’re gathering aren’t a sign of weakness; they’re proof of survival. You’ll carry them with you, yes, but one day, they’ll transform into something you can hold up as a reminder to others that pain can be turned into power. I know it doesn’t feel like it now, but your story is not a tragedy — it’s a testament.

I see how you cling to performance, to those little moments of escape. The school plays, pretending in your room or dressing up in your mom’s clothes, or the times you make people laugh, the spark you feel when you slip into a role — that spark is real. That’s the truest part of you calling out, reminding you of who you are meant to be. Every time you step into the spotlight, even in the smallest way, you feel free. Hold onto that feeling, because one day, it will carry you farther than you ever dared to dream.

I won’t lie to you. The road ahead will not be easy. There will be times when the weight of your past feels unbearable. Addiction will come into your life, whispering that it can take away the pain. For a while, you’ll believe it. You’ll let it numb you, quiet the hurt, give you an escape when you can’t see another way out. But, my darling, you will not stay in that darkness. You will fight your way back. And every time you stumble, you will rise stronger than before. You will learn that recovery is not a one-time choice, but a series of brave decisions to keep choosing yourself over and over again.

And here’s what I need you to know most of all: you are not only going to survive — you are going to soar. You’ll grow up to become Eureka O’Hara, a drag queen who will command stages around the world. The little child who once felt invisible will transform into a star impossible to ignore. You will stand on the runway of RuPaul’s Drag Race — not once, not twice, but three times — and by your final run, you will be a finalist, standing tall and proud, knowing that you deserve every bit of that moment. Millions of people will watch you, cheer for you, and see the light in you that you thought no one ever would.

Eureka O’Hara today.

Clavel

But it doesn’t stop there. You’ll go on to host We’re Here, a show that will take you across America to small towns not so different from the one you grew up in. You’ll walk into rooms filled with fear and judgment and leave them filled with joy, courage and love. You’ll hold people’s hands as they step into their own spotlight for the first time, giving them the kind of support you once wished for. You’ll walk red carpets, tour internationally and laugh louder than you ever thought possible. You’ll be known not only for your humor and your rhinestones but for your heart — for the way you remind people they are worthy exactly as they are.

And later, you will find the courage to embrace another truth, one even deeper than drag. You will come to understand and live as the trans woman you’ve always been. This will not be a simple or easy step, but it will be the most liberating one of all. You will finally look in the mirror and see not just a performer, but yourself — your truest, most authentic self — staring back at you. That little child who once wondered if she’d ever be enough will finally smile, knowing she has always been more than enough.

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But there is one more surprise waiting for you, one you may not even imagine right now. Remember those stories you like to scribble down, the little dreams you spin in your head when the world feels too heavy? You always wondered if you could be a writer, if your words could matter. Well, that dream will come true too. One day, you will release a novel called Jackson Bright in the Spotlight. It will tell the story of a boy who feels out of place, who carries the weight of being different, but who discovers that his light shines brightest when he is brave enough to step onto the stage. Sound familiar? That book will be your love letter to kids like you, kids who need to know they aren’t broken — they’re just waiting for their moment to shine. It will be the book you once needed, the beacon of hope you longed for.

And here’s the beautiful part: your story won’t just be about the pain you endured, but about the lives you touch. You will become a symbol of survival, of resilience, of joy after struggle. You will show the world that no matter how broken we feel, we can piece ourselves back together into something extraordinary. You’ll take the stage, write the words, and speak the truth — not just for yourself, but for every child who feels unseen.

‘Jackson Bright in the Spotlight’ by Eureka O’Hara.

Amulet Books

So, sweet little one, hold on. Hold on to the laughter, hold on to the sparkle, hold on to that spark deep inside that refuses to go out. There will be storms, but there will also be sunshine. There will be nights of doubt, but there will be mornings of triumph. And when you look back from where I am now, you’ll see that every scar, every tear, every moment of feeling “too much” was never a burden — it was the making of you.

You are worthy. You are strong. You are destined for more than you can even imagine. And I promise you, when the spotlight finally shines on you, the world will see exactly what I see right now: a star.

With all the love and pride you’ll one day carry,

Eureka D. Huggard

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Jackson Bright in the Spotlight hits shelves on Oct. 21 and is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold.