I had an interesting split-screen morning today—just as I was discussing my new BTS-inspired novel “Zero O’Clock” on Pix 11 News, the South Korean group was appearing in front of the United Nations in New York City.
On Pix 11, I talked to hosts Dan Mannarino and Hazel Sanchez about how books can help kids process their feelings about the pandemic, and how the music and message of BTS helped inspired the title of my novel “Zero O’Clock” as well as some of the book’s themes.
Meanwhile, at the United Nations, all seven members of BTS addressed the 76th United Nations General Assembly, before breaking into a performance of their hit “Permission to Dance” which spilled out into the sunlight outside the U.N. building.
BTS had a lot of interesting and important things to say, including confirming to their fans and the world that all seven band members have been vaccinated. That’s a great message to send to all the people out there who are unvaccinated by choice. UN News tweeted out these excerpts from BTS’s speech:
What is important are the choices we make when we are faced with change right? Some of you heard the news that we were coming to the UN and a lot of you were wondering whether we were #vaccinated… and yes all seven of us, of course, we received #COVID19Vaccination pic.twitter.com/XJokhBvQuG
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) September 20, 2021
“Instead of the lost generation, a more appropriate name would be the welcome generation because instead of fearing change, this generation says “welcome” and keeps pushing ahead” @BTS_twt pic.twitter.com/AGViP1LOL6
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) September 20, 2021
“Everyone agrees that #ClimateChange is an important problem but talking about the best solution might be, that’s not easy. It’s a topic that is tough to make conclusions about” @BTS_twt pic.twitter.com/e6LMVZDR1N
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) September 20, 2021
“If we believe in possibilities and hope, even when the unexpected happens we won’t lose our way, but discover a new one”@BTS_twt pic.twitter.com/VSQpARfK6l
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) September 20, 2021
You can check out my book “Zero O’Clock” on Amazon.
Watch BTS’s UN performance here: