Category: LHA

 

There have long been, erm, ‘conversations’ about the original TWISTED cover. This is a book about a sweet, confused teenage boy whose father is an asshole and whose life is quickly going down the toilet. It’s a story about false accusations, lies, love and suicide.

Is that the spirit that this cover evokes?

 

No, I didn’t think so.

I never liked this cover. (Note: it doesn’t matter if an author likes a cover or not. Our job is to write a great book. End. Of. Story.)

But there is good news! Last year Penguin redesigned the covers of CATALYST and PROM. Now it’s TWISTED’s turn.

Drum roll, please…

The new cover should be available in stores in September.

What do you think?

PS – Are you following the discussions of gendered book covers started by Maureen Johnson? There are lots of great examples posted on Tumblr. I’d love to hear your thoughts on that, too.

 

YA authors are incredibly lucky because we have amazing, generous, creative fans.

Don’t believe me?

Feast your eyes on my newest shoes; hand-painted with illustrations from the covers of Speak and Catalyst!

 

 

Even the box they came in was decorated!

 

These gifts were made by Isabel and Julia (don’t want to give last names in the interest of protecting their privacy) and the quality of the work is amazing. Every time I wear the shoes people stop and ask me where I got them! They are pieces of art!

I love seeing how my readers express themselves. Even nicer when they share!!

 

 

The Air Force officer in charge of the Air Force’s sexual assault prevention program was arrested Sunday for sexual assault.

Over at Wired, reporter Spencer Ackerman wrote an article with many links that puts this arrest in context with other recent sexual assaults in the military. The Wired article is an excellent piece to share in classrooms.

If I tried to write that story line in a book, I bet the editors would come and tell me it stretched the imagination too far. But it doesn’t, because this kind of thing happens all the time.

Want more information? Watch The Invisible War, the 2012 award-winning documentary about sexual assault in the military.

 

 

Today is your last chance to donate to Speak4RAINN!!

Thank you all so much for the donations and support, and for your part in continuing the conversation about how we need to teach our children about consent so that they might be made safer from being hurt by or committing sexual assault.

Thank you for joining our tribe of loud and proud kindred spirits!

Still unsure how how to talk about consent?

A Fearless Sexuality Educator can help.

Everyday Feminism has some ideas, too.

A mom posted her letter to her sons about rape.

The Good Men Project has many helpful tips.

A high school teacher posted The Day I Taught How Not To Rape. It’s worth reading the comments, too.

One last plea…. please give $10 to RAINN right now. For less than the cost of a movie and popcorn, your gift will help a sexual assault victim speak up and begin the journey to becoming a survivor.

Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of weeks ago I tweeted something to the effect that I’d love to see a PSA of a couple making out, then one pushes the sexual boundaries not respecting the partner’s wishes, and that partner whips out a chainsaw to prevent being sexual assaulted.

Graphic? Perhaps. But sexual violence is graphic and damaging. Maybe a graphic image or two might help potential rapists decide not to break the law and hurt people.

Anyway, author Libba Bray liked the idea and said that if I posted a picture of me with my chainsaw, she’d donate to RAINN.

Libba asks, I deliver.

When you live in a forest and heat with a wood stove, the chainsaw is almost as important as the popcorn maker.

This one’s for you, Libba!

If you loved SPEAK, if sexual violence has hurt you or someone you care about, if you are sick to death of rapeculture bullshit and most of all, if you want to be a helper, please donate $10 to RAINN right now. Your gift will help a victim speak up, heal, and become a survivor. Donate before the fundraiser ends and SPEAK publisher Macmillan will double your gift. There are a bunch of cool incentives, too, head to the donation page to check them out.

Speak up, help others speak up, and remember to listen.

Thank you!