Ellie Lieberman's Blog: Dusty Shelves - Posts Tagged "apology-to-readers"
Apology to readers for Society's Foundlings
I owe a huge apology for my book, Society's Foundlings. First and foremost, I want to apologize to any reader who has been hurt by certain sections I should have realized contain some transphobic moments.
When I took the book down the first time over a number of concerns I had, this, too, should have been addressed. I should have just taken down the book permanently.
Looking back over the newest author note, I recognized there was still something wrong, even if I could not put it into words. And when I was on Webtoons the other night, I came across a comic about growing up trans that really solidified and put into words for me the specific issues.
Feeling like something was wrong to begin with should have been enough even without the words. And I should have reached out to a sensitivity reader, if I was still unsure. There are plenty of resources that are very easy to find and that I should have taken advantage of.
It never should have been there in the first place.
The author's note was inappropriate as well, even with the recognition in there. I do firmly believe that books have a responsibility. The last thing I want is for my book to reinforce what is problematic in our society and to hurt anyone. And, being a good ally, at least my understanding of it, is that when we recognize we've done wrong, we don't dig in, which, looking back on it, that is what I've done with that author note. I apologize on that front as well.
There is no excuse. And going forward, I will work on being a better ally.
Society's Foundlings has been taken down from Amazon & Kofi, as well as delisted and deleted from Drafts2Digital. It's currently on restricted access on itch.io until support gets back to me on how I can delete it.
I'm currently in the process of calculating how much money I've made off Society's Foundlings and figuring out some organizations or authors/creators in the trans community to donate it, too.
A few organizations I am aware of and encourage others to check out and support include:
* The Transfeminine Review
* Trans Journalist Association
* Trans Rescue Action
* Transform
* The Trevor Project
* Trans Lifeline
I also recognize that an apology is not enough. That a donation is too easy and not enough. Going forward, I will work to do better, to better educate myself and seek out more trans voices to read, watch, listen to (as there are plenty out there) so I can and will continue to educate myself. I will work to do better both in the books I put out there, as well as my own actions in my daily life. I will work on doing better to confront more of the transphobia I come across in my own daily life, as well, and I will work to elevate more trans voices and trans stories.
And I will continue to do so, not just in the face of my own misdoings. I will continue to do so not just in the face of fascism and censorship. I will continue to do so when what are current events for us are gathering dust in the history books.
I highly encourage others to seek out trans representation in media, especially work that is Own Voices. Read the books, the webcomics, watch the shows and the movies. Review. Spread the word about these stories on your own platforms and in your own daily interactions, as well. Support the authors and creators directly, financially or otherwise.
When I took the book down the first time over a number of concerns I had, this, too, should have been addressed. I should have just taken down the book permanently.
Looking back over the newest author note, I recognized there was still something wrong, even if I could not put it into words. And when I was on Webtoons the other night, I came across a comic about growing up trans that really solidified and put into words for me the specific issues.
Feeling like something was wrong to begin with should have been enough even without the words. And I should have reached out to a sensitivity reader, if I was still unsure. There are plenty of resources that are very easy to find and that I should have taken advantage of.
It never should have been there in the first place.
The author's note was inappropriate as well, even with the recognition in there. I do firmly believe that books have a responsibility. The last thing I want is for my book to reinforce what is problematic in our society and to hurt anyone. And, being a good ally, at least my understanding of it, is that when we recognize we've done wrong, we don't dig in, which, looking back on it, that is what I've done with that author note. I apologize on that front as well.
There is no excuse. And going forward, I will work on being a better ally.
Society's Foundlings has been taken down from Amazon & Kofi, as well as delisted and deleted from Drafts2Digital. It's currently on restricted access on itch.io until support gets back to me on how I can delete it.
I'm currently in the process of calculating how much money I've made off Society's Foundlings and figuring out some organizations or authors/creators in the trans community to donate it, too.
A few organizations I am aware of and encourage others to check out and support include:
* The Transfeminine Review
* Trans Journalist Association
* Trans Rescue Action
* Transform
* The Trevor Project
* Trans Lifeline
I also recognize that an apology is not enough. That a donation is too easy and not enough. Going forward, I will work to do better, to better educate myself and seek out more trans voices to read, watch, listen to (as there are plenty out there) so I can and will continue to educate myself. I will work to do better both in the books I put out there, as well as my own actions in my daily life. I will work on doing better to confront more of the transphobia I come across in my own daily life, as well, and I will work to elevate more trans voices and trans stories.
And I will continue to do so, not just in the face of my own misdoings. I will continue to do so not just in the face of fascism and censorship. I will continue to do so when what are current events for us are gathering dust in the history books.
I highly encourage others to seek out trans representation in media, especially work that is Own Voices. Read the books, the webcomics, watch the shows and the movies. Review. Spread the word about these stories on your own platforms and in your own daily interactions, as well. Support the authors and creators directly, financially or otherwise.
