Cynthia Varady's Blog, page 8

Sex Is a Funny Word |Corey Silverberg| Banned Book Project

Sex is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and YOU Synopsis:

A comic book for kids that includes children and families of all makeups, orientations, and gender identities, Sex Is a Funny Word is an essential resource about bodies, gender, and sexuality for children ages 8 to 10 as well as their parents and caregivers. Much more than the “facts of life” or “the birds and the bees,” Sex Is a Funny Word opens up conversations between young people and their caregivers in a way that allows adults to convey their values and beliefs while providing information about boundaries, safety, and joy.

The eagerly anticipated follow-up to Lambda-nominated What Makes a Baby, from sex educator Cory Silverberg and artist Fiona Smyth, Sex Is a Funny Word reimagines “sex talk” for the twenty-first century. –Goodreads.com

Locations Challenged or Banned:

Cheyenne, Wyoming 2021 – Conservative parents discovered the book along with several others on a Pride Month display at the Campbell County Public Library. Enraged parents took This Book is Gay, along with the other offending titles to the local police and filed an obscenity report. The police sided with the parent and the titles are now on trial in a Wyoming court. The Friends of the Library have since purchased several of the titles objected to and they are available on the library shelves.

Reasons:

Local residents complained about the book claiming that its obscene nature has no place in the children and young adults sections.

Sources:

Campbell County officials abet bullies in battle of radicals v. librarians. https://wyofile.com/campbell-county-officials-abet-bullies-in-battle-of-radicals-v-librarians/

Wyoming librarians under fire for books about sex, LGBTQ issues. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/wyoming-librarians-under-fire-books-about-sex-lgbtq-issues-n1280704

Wyoming librarians under fire for books about sex, LGBTQ. https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-lifestyle-business-wyoming-nonfiction-22b0a682cb5ba95de8eb3975d101228c

CAMPBELL COUNTY COMMISSION. CAMPBELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 7/07/2021 AGENDA. WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021. 9:00 AM. https://play.champds.com/gillettewy/event/117?fbclid=IwAR18s3w0XBuAb18aCqKRDwFTcIyzxqDe-Z8Z5-ekEKxB9TOhksh3jufResM

Gillette grapples with anti-LGBTQ bigotry. https://wyofile.com/gillette-grapples-with-anti-lgbtq-bigotry/

Librarians in Wyoming face criminal ‘obscenity’ charges for stocking LGBT+ books in teen sections. https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/10/05/wyoming-campbell-county-library-lgbt-books/

LIBRARIANS FACE POSSIBLE CHARGES FOR CARRYING SEX EDUCATION BOOKS. https://bookriot.com/campbell-country-library-challenges/

More Like This:

This Book is Gay by James Dawson

How Do You Make a Baby? by Anna Fisk

Doing It by Hannah Winton

The post Sex Is a Funny Word |Corey Silverberg| Banned Book Project appeared first on Cynthia Varady.

Doing It by Hannah Winton | Banned Book Project

Doing It Synopsis:

SEXTING. VIRGINITY. CONSENT. THE BIG O… Sex-positive vlogger Hannah Witton covers it all.

Nobody really has sex all figured out. So Hannah Witton wrote a book full of honest, hilarious (and sometimes awkward) anecdotes, confessions, and revelations. Hannah talks about doing it safely. Doing it joyfully. Doing it when you’re ready. Not doing it. Basically, doing it the way you want, when you want (if you want).

Doing It works as an introduction to sex as well as a guidebook for those who are already sexually active, with insight on topics such as healthy relationships, porn, contraception, sex-shaming, and more. Approachable and empowering, this is a go-to resource for all things s-e-x. — Goodreads.com

Locations Challenged/Banned:

Cheyenne, Wyoming 2021 – Conservative parents discovered the book along with several others on a Pride Month display at the Campbell County Public Library. Enraged parents took This Book is Gay, along with the other offending titles to the local police and filed an obscenity report. The police sided with the parent and the titles are now on trial in a Wyoming court. The Friends of the Library have since purchased several of the titles objected to and they are available on the library shelves.

Reasons:

Obscenity, sexual content, profanity.

Sources:

Campbell County officials abet bullies in battle of radicals v. librarians. https://wyofile.com/campbell-county-officials-abet-bullies-in-battle-of-radicals-v-librarians/

Wyoming librarians under fire for books about sex, LGBTQ issues. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/wyoming-librarians-under-fire-books-about-sex-lgbtq-issues-n1280704

Wyoming librarians under fire for books about sex, LGBTQ. https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-lifestyle-business-wyoming-nonfiction-22b0a682cb5ba95de8eb3975d101228c

CAMPBELL COUNTY COMMISSION. CAMPBELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 7/07/2021 AGENDA. WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021. 9:00 AM. https://play.champds.com/gillettewy/event/117?fbclid=IwAR18s3w0XBuAb18aCqKRDwFTcIyzxqDe-Z8Z5-ekEKxB9TOhksh3jufResM

Gillette grapples with anti-LGBTQ bigotry. https://wyofile.com/gillette-grapples-with-anti-lgbtq-bigotry/

Librarians in Wyoming face criminal ‘obscenity’ charges for stocking LGBT+ books in teen sections. https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/10/05/wyoming-campbell-county-library-lgbt-books/

LIBRARIANS FACE POSSIBLE CHARGES FOR CARRYING SEX EDUCATION BOOKS. https://bookriot.com/campbell-country-library-challenges/

More Like This:

This Book is Gay by James Dawson

How Do You Make a Baby? by Anna Fisk

The post Doing It by Hannah Winton | Banned Book Project appeared first on Cynthia Varady.

How Do You Make a Baby? |Anna Fisk| Banned Book Project

How Do You Make a Baby Synsospys:

In How Do You Make a Baby? Anna Fiske answers the questions all children are curious about: How does a baby get into the mother’s stomach? Who can make a baby, and how is it actually done?

With comic illustrations and a playful tone, this is a funny and factual book about an eternally relevant topic, giving parents and children a starting point for discussion. — Goodreads.com

Locations Challenged/Banned:

Cheyenne, Wyoming 2021 – Conservative parents discovered How Do You Make a Baby? in the Campbell County Public Library, and took it along with four other books on an LGBTQ+ display for Pride Month to the local police stating that pornographic and pro-gay material in the library threatened their Christian values.

Reasons for Challenge/Ban:

Sexual content, obscenity.

Sources:

Campbell County officials abet bullies in battle of radicals v. librarians. https://wyofile.com/campbell-county-officials-abet-bullies-in-battle-of-radicals-v-librarians/

Wyoming librarians under fire for books about sex, LGBTQ issues. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/wyoming-librarians-under-fire-books-about-sex-lgbtq-issues-n1280704

Wyoming librarians under fire for books about sex, LGBTQ. https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-lifestyle-business-wyoming-nonfiction-22b0a682cb5ba95de8eb3975d101228c

CAMPBELL COUNTY COMMISSION. CAMPBELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 7/07/2021 AGENDA. WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021. 9:00 AM. https://play.champds.com/gillettewy/event/117?fbclid=IwAR18s3w0XBuAb18aCqKRDwFTcIyzxqDe-Z8Z5-ekEKxB9TOhksh3jufResM

Gillette grapples with anti-LGBTQ bigotry. https://wyofile.com/gillette-grapples-with-anti-lgbtq-bigotry/

Librarians in Wyoming face criminal ‘obscenity’ charges for stocking LGBT+ books in teen sections. https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/10/05/wyoming-campbell-county-library-lgbt-books/

LIBRARIANS FACE POSSIBLE CHARGES FOR CARRYING SEX EDUCATION BOOKS. https://bookriot.com/campbell-country-library-challenges/

More Like This:

This Book is Gay by James Dawson

Super Diaper Baby by Dav Pilkey

The post How Do You Make a Baby? |Anna Fisk| Banned Book Project appeared first on Cynthia Varady.

This Book is Gay | James Dawson | Banned Book Project

The Book is Gay Synopsis:

LGBTQIA+ or Cisgender. This book is for everyone, regardless of gender or sexual preference. This book is for anyone who’s ever dared to wonder. This book is for YOU.

There’s a long-running joke that, after “coming out,” a lesbian, gay guy, bisexual, or trans person should receive a membership card and instruction manual. THIS IS THAT INSTRUCTION MANUAL. You’re welcome.

Inside you’ll find the answers to all the questions you ever wanted to ask: from sex to politics, hooking up to stereotypes, coming out, and more. This candid, funny, and uncensored exploration of sexuality and what it’s like to grow up LGBT also include real stories from people across the gender and sexual spectrums, not to mention hilarious illustrations.

You will be entertained. You will be informed. But most importantly, you will know that however, you identify (or don’t) and whomever you love, you are exceptional. You matter. And so does this book. — From Goodreads

Locations Banned/Challenged:

Campbell County Public Library, Cheyenne, Wyoming 2021

Reasons for Challenge:

Local residents complained about the book claiming that its obscene nature has no place in the children and young adults sections.

Sources:

Campbell County officials abet bullies in battle of radicals v. librarians. https://wyofile.com/campbell-county-officials-abet-bullies-in-battle-of-radicals-v-librarians/

Wyoming librarians under fire for books about sex, LGBTQ issues. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/wyoming-librarians-under-fire-books-about-sex-lgbtq-issues-n1280704

Wyoming librarians under fire for books about sex, LGBTQ. https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-lifestyle-business-wyoming-nonfiction-22b0a682cb5ba95de8eb3975d101228c

CAMPBELL COUNTY COMMISSION. CAMPBELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 7/07/2021 AGENDA. WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021. 9:00 AM. https://play.champds.com/gillettewy/event/117?fbclid=IwAR18s3w0XBuAb18aCqKRDwFTcIyzxqDe-Z8Z5-ekEKxB9TOhksh3jufResM

Gillette grapples with anti-LGBTQ bigotry. https://wyofile.com/gillette-grapples-with-anti-lgbtq-bigotry/

Librarians in Wyoming face criminal ‘obscenity’ charges for stocking LGBT+ books in teen sections. https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/10/05/wyoming-campbell-county-library-lgbt-books/

LIBRARIANS FACE POSSIBLE CHARGES FOR CARRYING SEX EDUCATION BOOKS. https://bookriot.com/campbell-country-library-challenges/

More like this:

The post This Book is Gay | James Dawson | Banned Book Project appeared first on Cynthia Varady.

NaNoWriMo 2021, NYCMidnight Round 2, and Spooky Stories

It’s been busy around these parts. But the gearing up to the holiday-heavy end of the year always is. Here’s what I’ve been up to, including prepping for NaNoWriMo 2021, a few spooky stories published to Vocal, and qualifying for the NYCMidinight second round.

NaNoWriMo 2021 Cover Art for Girl with the Demon SpiderNaNoWriMo 2021

For those of you who haven’t heard of NaNoWriMo, this topsy turvy acronym stands for National Novel Writing Month. That’s right. Participants attempt to write 50k-words in November. This may seem like an unattainable goal at a glance, but in actuality, if one were to sit and write 1,600 words a day for 30 days, you can easily reach 50k by the end of the month.

Some of you may be saying, “Woah! 1,600 words is a crazy amount.” And you’d be correct. Most writers just starting have to work their way up to writing over 1,000 words in one day. It can be hard to get your thoughts onto the page. But we aren’t striving for perfection. We’re aiming for, ‘I got it written.’ No editing. No agonizing over punctuation, especially the dreaded comma. Heck, if you can ignore the horrible red line of doom announcing, ‘you spelled it wrong, genius,’ more power to you.

This is my maiden voyage into the world of NaNoWriMo, and I’m spending October (aka Preptober) preparing for the challenge. If you, too, are planning on giving NaNoWriMo a shot, AutoCrit has some great resources for NaNoWriMo. And of course, there’s the NaNoWriMo official website, where you can register your project, track your word count, find friends, and build a community to rally your buddies.

The Girl with the Demon Spider is an urban fantasy, paranormal, cozy mystery.

NYCMidnight

My story, Escape, qualified me for the next round in the NYCMidnight writing contest. This contest isn’t like most. This contest challenges writers to create a short story in a particular genre, using a specific word, and take place in a particular location.

My first round story, Escape had to be a comedy, contain a leash, and take place in an indoor pool. This 2k-word story was a challenge indeed. But I made it through to the next round.

My next story had to be a Thriller, containing a sugar cube, at a birthday party. Thus, Old Fashioned was born. Results for the second-round qualifiers will be posted on October 25, 2021. Wish me luck!

Latest Vocal Articles

Get your creep on this October with these Halloween-inspired tales published on Vocal.

Halloween Poisoned Candy: Fact or Fiction The Killer Upstairs and other Babysitting Urban Legends Halloween Urban Legends: Fact or Fiction?

The post NaNoWriMo 2021, NYCMidnight Round 2, and Spooky Stories appeared first on Cynthia Varady.

My Latest Vocal Short Fiction Stories

I have been writing non-stop for the last few weeks. I have entered three Vocal+ contests, the NYCMidnight 100-word short story contest as well as their 1000-word flash fiction challenge. That last one threw me for a loop, and I’m happy to not think about it again until August when qualifiers are announced.

Here are two recent contest entries for Vocal+.

Haven is a piece of short fiction for the Doomsday writing challenge at Vocal.

I stepped outside of my comfort zone for this one and wrote it in 2nd person. The goal was a love letter to someone now deceased. It’s hard to tell if I pulled it off.

The second story, The Carter File, is one that I’ve had floating around for a while now. It’s has a pretty big twist in it, so I don’t want to give too much away. Let’s just say, Molly and her buddies aren’t going to put up with Mrs. Carter and her shenanigans.

I’ve entered this short story into Vocal’s Summer Fiction Series. Currently, I’m working on my first murder mystery for the second challenge in the SFS challenged themed, Death by Chocolate.

If you’d like to try your hand at some of Vocal’s contests sign up using my code to get receive a percentage off your membership.

Become a Vocal+ Member

The post My Latest Vocal Short Fiction Stories appeared first on Cynthia Varady.

My Latest Vocal Stories

I have been writing non-stop for the last few weeks. I have entered three Vocal+ contests, the NYCMidnight 100-word short story contest as well as their 1000-word flash fiction challenge. That last one threw me for a loop, and I’m happy to not think about it again until August when qualifiers are announced.

Here are two recent contest entries for Vocal+.

Haven is a piece of short fiction for the Doomsday writing challenge at Vocal.

I stepped outside of my comfort zone for this one and wrote it in 2nd person. The goal was a love letter to someone now deceased. It’s hard to tell if I pulled it off.

The second story, The Carter File, is one that I’ve had floating around for a while now. It’s has a pretty big twist in it, so I don’t want to give too much away. Let’s just say, Molly and her buddies aren’t going to put up with Mrs. Carter and her shenanigans.

I’ve entered this short story into Vocal’s Summer Fiction Series. Currently, I’m working on my first murder mystery for the second challenge in the SFS challenged themed, Death by Chocolate.

If you’d like to try your hand at some of Vocal’s contests sign up using my code to get receive a percentage off your membership.

Become a Vocal+ Member

The post My Latest Vocal Stories appeared first on Cynthia Varady.

Frank the Christmas Gargoyle

Frank, the Christmas Gargoyle, is as his name namesake would suggest, is a gargoyle, yet the Christmas title wasn’t part of his moniker before December 2019. Frank, a heavy stone sculpture, stood guard on Denise Starr’s porch for three years before a nosy Karen began leaving notes that Frank was out of step with the Christmas holiday, demanding his removal. Starr refused and instead doubled down, adding a Santa hat, you know, to make Frank more festive. Karen left more notes decrying Frank’s new attire. Starr added friends to stand with Frank including, Christmas hippos and a skeleton dog. When COVID-19 hit, Starr added a plague doctor to the mix.

Frank enjoying St. Patrick’s Day with his buds.

It should be noted that Frank wasn’t Starr’s first run-in with her crabby neighbor. Previously, Karen had complained about Starr’s holiday decorations, which included an inflatable hippo. Hippos are beloved by Starr, but Karen informed her that hippos aren’t Christmasy. Those Karens, they sure do know everything. Am I right?

As a means of chronicling Frank’s saga, Starr started a Facebook page. It didn’t take long for Frank to win the heart of the internet, and his story went viral. Starr decided to capitalize on Frank’s fame and began raising money for a Food Bank, INC in Dayton, Ohio.

Hoping that Frank’s fan base would raise about $4k for the food bank over the month-long fundraiser might have been putting too little stock in Frank’s pull. But, instead, the fundraiser brought in $4k in the first ten minutes. In a week, over $65k had been raised.

Starr’s pesky neighbor didn’t take kindly to Starr’s refusal to remove Frank or the addition of his new friends. Karen wrote a letter of complaint to their HOA as well as the mayor. Starr retaliate with a poster of Kevin McAllister cooly staring into the camera with the quote, “Are you guys giving up yet? Or are you thirsty for more?

Yes, please, can we have some more?

Since starting the Facebook page, over 700k followers have watched Frank’s saga unfold. In addition, Starr has received fanart of Frank, pictures of other people’s holiday skeletons, and notes of encouragement.

Denise Starr poses with Frank and Christmas hippo

In lieu of removing the prised family member from his post at the door, Starr instead decided to turn a joke into an act of charity. Throughout the year, Frank donned any number of holiday outfits, and the cash kept rolling in. Over $250k has been raised for various charities including, food banks, the Hospice of Dayton, the Gary Sinise Foundation, and the Cincinnati Zoo, not to mention people Frank inspired to give to their local institutions.

Just think, if that nosy Karen hadn’t complained about Frank, Starr might not have started fundraising. So for once, we can say, “Thank you, Karen. You’re still lame AF, but thank you.”

If you would like to join Team Frank and get in on the shenanigans, head over to his Facebook page. You can even sport your very own Frank-themed t-shirt, the proceeds for which go to various charities.

Photo credits:

All photos were used with the permission of Denise Starr.

The post Frank the Christmas Gargoyle appeared first on Cynthia Varady.

The Dark Woods: Chapter 4: A Mushroom Named Vates excerpt

In which James and Monique speak with mushrooms, lose a shoe, and meet Oaf. 

Thunder led them deeper and deeper into the woods. The path became so overgrown in spots that they had to push their way through waist-high ivy, ferns, and the occasional scarp of brambles that pulled and tore at their clothes and skin. The whole time they trudged, the fairies waited patiently, their wings beating the air like tiny propellers. Just when James and Monique had convinced themselves that they had made a grave mistake by coming into the woods, the dense trees bordering the path opened to a vast clearing.

Encircled by massive oak trees, the clearing played host to a wide variety of mushrooms. They grew so thick that it would be impossible to step into the clearing without crushing them underfoot. There were tiny brown mushrooms, large red-capped mushrooms, vibrant orange cup mushrooms, strange slimy yellow mushrooms, and bioluminescent mushrooms that glowed blue and green. From the safety of the path, Monique and James marveled at the clearing.

James took a tentative step forward to better see a patch of the glowing green mushrooms at the edge of the clearing. As his foot came down, his shoe hit a soft bit of earth. James slipped for a half-second before coming to a sudden stop. James stiffened and tried pulling his shoe free of the sticky substance but had no luck.

“What the?” he murmured as he yanked his foot upward, but the substance held his foot fast. On the third try, his shoe came free from his foot. James reeled backward, and Monique caught him as he hopped, trying to catch himself, the bat swinging wildly. 

James sighed with relief. “Thanks, Monique,” he said. His stocking foot held protectively above the forest’s floor. 

“Is that mud?” Monique asked, releasing Jame’s shoulders.

“I think so,” James said. He crouched, using the bat for support, keeping his sock from touching the ground, and reached for his shoe. Before his fingers could grasp it, the shoe began to sink.

“Don’t touch it!” Thunder yelled. He flew and hovered between James and his sinking shoe.

“It’s just mud,” James explained. “It can’t hurt us.” He started to reach around Thunder, but the small fairy grabbed Jame’s thumb and bit down. Startled, James shook his hand, trying to dispel the Thunder, but the fairy held tight.

“James, look,” Monique said, pointing at the shoe. James stopped shaking his hand, and Thunder released the boy’s thumb. Together, they watched as the white tennis shoe disappeared beneath the surface of the strange mud.

Join the Book Club to read the whole chapter at Patreon.

The post appeared first on Cynthia Varady.

The Dark Woods: Chapter 3 Excerpt

In which Monique and James enter the Dark Wood, learn something about the Folk of the Woods, and are surprised by the singers.

“Like, right now?” Monique asked as she took in her dew-dampened pajama pants. Despite the warmth of her jacket, she shivered.

“Something horrible could have happened to the singers,” Thunder said, his small wooden features screwing up in a frown. “We might already be too late.”

Monique glanced at James, who shrugged. “Should we?” she asked. A troubled ball settled in her stomach at the thought of entering the woods at night with mythical creatures and no responsible adults.

Thunder turned towards the woods, disregarded Pine’s disapproving grunt, and flew past the shed. The fairy stopped where the yard met the trees and waited.  Thunder’s blue light fell to the ground, revealing a hidden path.

The other fairies buzzing around the yard entered the forest, lighting the overgrown dirt path like Christmas bulbs illuminating the eaves of a house.

James peered at his ensemble of jacket, tennis shoes, and pajamas. Not his preferred hiking gear, but going back into the house for supplies would wake their parents. He glanced at Monique. “A fairy is asking for our help. How can we say no?” he said before he made his way to where Thunder hovered. He turned back to Monique and waved for her to follow.

Pine stomped a foot in the air and took off like a lightning bolt into the woods, ignoring the others. His golden light winked out of sight.

Monique squared her shoulder and started towards James and Thunder. As she passed the shed, she stopped and retrieved the hammer. Its weight reassured her. As she approached, Thunder sagged in the air, falling several inches before he caught himself.

“I’m afraid you can’t bring that with you. The metal is poison to the Folk of the Woods,” Thunder said. “The nails nearly killed me today.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Monique said, and she dropped the hammer to the ground once more. The troubled ball expanded in her stomach, reaching her throat.

James sensed her hesitation and said, “Wait here. I have an idea.” He sprinted back to the house and tiptoed onto the porch, and grabbed something before returning. “How’s this?” he asked, his eyes sparkling in the fairy’s light. In his hand, he held a wooden baseball bat.

Thunder flew to the bat, sniffed the handle, and then licked the lettering before giving it a hardy knock. “Maple wood. Yes, this will be fine. I’ve seen these. What are they used for?”

“It’s for a game called baseball. You hit a ball with the bat and run in a circle,” James said as he shouldered the bat. “I don’t much like it, but Monique’s really good.”

“Interesting,” Thunder said, his voice thoughtful. He gave the bat another taste before flying into the woods. The other fairies lighting the path bobbed in the fragrant summer breeze, waiting.

James pushed his glasses up onto this nose and headed after Thunder. Monique gave their dark house a final solemn look before stepping into the woods.

It was several degrees colder in the woods. James and Monique pulled their jackets tightly around themselves as they walked. Despite the fairies’ glow lighting the path, the woods were dark. Very dark. The thick canopy allowed little of the moonlight to trickle down to them.

“Um, Thunder,” James said as he took in the black looming shapes of trees beyond the fairies’ light, “what exactly are the singers?”

To read the rest of The Dark Woods, head over to Patreon and join The Book Club.

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