Cheryl Rainfield's Blog, page 106

Stop dangerous practice of "weight grades" on report cards by signing the petition! (And enter to win 1 of 2 copies of Scars)

So many of us struggle with negative body images and issues with food. Girls and teens are especially susceptible; eating disorders and body image issues (including self-harm) are on the rise. Now there's something that will make this worse–many states are now sending "weight grades" and BMI scores home on students' report cards. Can you imagine the affect that will have?

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I can. As a sexual abuse survivor, I hated my body. HATED it. I wore baggy clothes, trying to hide from anyone seeing me; I used food in binge episodes to try to suppress my pain; and I cut myself up–a lot. There were many other reasons I cut–mostly to escape the pain of the abuse, to get through another minute, to punish myself, sometimes to keep from killing myself–but hatred for my body was in the mix.

And at home, I had my abusers telling me I was a fat cow when they'd rape me. I had forced impregnations–god, how I dissociated from my body, wanted to be anywhere but in my own flesh.

If I had had BMI and weight grades on my report cards, my abusers would have used it as another form of emotional abuse. I would have used it to beat myself up more. I know I would have been cutting more, and I would probably also have gotten a lot more messed up with food than I already was. And I am sure that the bullying I experienced, especially by other girls, would have increased.

I could barely get through some of those days as a teen. I wince to think how much worse they would have been with my BMI on my report cards.

We know girls are pressured to be thin. We know eating disorders and negative body issues are on the rise.

We know that:

• Anorexia has the highest mortality rate among all psychological disorders.

• 10% of all eating disorders cases are children under the age of 10.

• The most common behavior that will lead to an eating disorder is dieting.

• 4 out of 10 Americans have either suffered or have known someone who has suffered from an eating disorder.

• One-half of 4th grade girls are on a diet.

• Among high school students, 44% of the females and 15% of the males are attempting to lose weight.

• Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescents.

That is scary enough. Putting "weight grades" and BMI on report cards is only going to make it worse. When I read a newspaper article on this, I knew I had to do something. Together, author Sarah Darer Littman and I wrote and created a petition to help stop the spread of this dangerous practice. I really believe that we can make a difference if enough voices are heard.

Please, please–sign the petition, let your friends know about the petition, and help us make a change for the better.

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I care about this so much that I'll do another giveaway. Let me know that you've signed the petition in the comments, or let others know about it, and you are entered to win one of two signed copies of Scars. These are first edition, hardcover copies. Sound good? Please go sign the petition and help spread the word!

Hunted: My new paranormal fantasy coming out this October

photo credit: The Travelling Bum

I just found out the name of my new YA paranormal fantasy coming out this October from WestSide! It's HUNTED. I'm SO excited! I love the name–it was one of my top favorite names that I came up with. I don't think authors always get a say in their final title, so I was so happy that they asked for my input. (My editor, Evelyn Fazio, is a dream to work with.)

If you haven't read about HUNTED yet, read on:

In HUNTED, Cassie is a telepath in a world where that is illegal. She is on the run from the government troopers, trying to stay hidden and alive–and trying to help make the world a better place for others with paranormal talents.

I drew on many of my trauma experiences in writing HUNTED, just as I did with Scars. Like my main character, Cassie, I know what it's like to have my life threatened, to face oppression, to experience torture, and to break free from cult or from a group of oppressors.

My main character isn't gay this time, but there is a queer character who's important in the book.

I care about this book a lot, too. I needed both realistic and fantasy books to survive my child- and teenhood. You've probably heard me say it before, but realistic fiction helped me know I wasn't alone, and fantasy helped me dream and hope. So I'm delighted that this fantasy book is going to be published and reach readers!

Sound interesting? Here's more detail on HUNTED:

As a child, Cassie watched as an angry mob killed her father, murdering him for being a Para. Since then, she and her mother have been on the run from government troopers, and constantly searching for her missing brother who disappeared during the riots. When Cassie starts at a new school she thinks she will have to do what she's always done–blend in as hard as she can, and never, ever let anyone know she's a Para–able to read people's thoughts. But then she meets Alex, a fellow swimmer who she starts to fall for hard, as well as Rachel, one of her first true friends, and she finds herself not wanting to hide any more. But the government is closing in, and someone is killing Paras, draining of them of their life energy. Cassie knows that she doesn't have much time before her identity is discovered. Ultimately, she must make the decision whether to save herself or save the whole human race.

In case you're worried about it, HUNTED has a happy ending. Not over-the-top Hollywood happy, but happy enough to work for me (who doesn't like unhappy endings; I had enough of that in my life). I hope HUNTED interests you, and hope you'll check it out when it comes out!

great signing at Indigo Yorkdale

Mahtab, Cheryl, Neesha, and Helene at our book stand

I really enjoyed the signing at Indigo Yorkdale. The staff were incredibly helpful and thoughtful, especially one man (I wish I'd gotten his name, but I arrived rushed). I had fun talking with my fellow authors Helene Boudreau, Mahtab Narsimhan, and Neesha Meminger; we had some great conversations. And I tried to make sure we were approachable, and not just sitting behind a table (which I can find intimidating, myself). I called out hello to people when they came near or walked by, and a few times I got up and invited teens from the teen section to come talk to us and ask us any questions about writing or anything if they wanted to. That was a bit outside my comfort zone, but I wanted to make sure we were engaging people.

Cheryl, Helene, Mahtab (in back), and Neesha, all at our table

I was honest with the teens when they asked about Scars and my arm. One girl said "And I thought I had it bad at home," and kept asking me more. After a long discussion, a bunch of teen girls asked me to sign bookmarks for them, which I thought was sweet.

our table, all set up

It was also lovely to see some people I'd only met on FaceBook, such as Christie Harken, and also other fellow writers who came by to support us such as Gillian O'Reilly. And it was also lovely to sell some books! There weren't quite as many people as there might normally have been, since it was Easter weekend, but it was a good experience, and I think we all had fun.

our books on display next to our table

I liked that we had freebies to give away. I had three different bookmarks (each have different tips about dealing with self-harm on the back) and cards; Helene had bookmarks and buttons; and Mahtab had postcards.

I have trouble smiling for photos sometimes (the child porn stuff I went through as a kid), but I think these photos turned out pretty well. It helps that I was with people I liked!

picture book review: Ladder to the Moon

Ladder to the Moon

written by Maya Soetoro-Ng

illustrated by Yuyi Morales

Publisher: Candlewick (April 2011)

ISBN-10: 9780763645700, ISBN-13: 978-0763645700

Reading level: Ages 4-8 (and up)

My rating: 5/5 stars

Ladder to the Moon is such a rich, warm book that it seems to enfold you within the pages, encouraging you to hope and to dream. It touched me deeply, making me cry, and felt hopeful, comforting, and tender. This is a book you will want to read and to share.

In Ladder To The Moon, Suhaila never knew her grandmother, and asks about her. That night, she climbs a ladder to the moon and gets to know her grandmother, and listens to the songs of the moon and the earth with her, finding strength. Together, they invite children and people away from various troubles on the earth, and bring them to the safety of the moon. After a long night, Suhaila heads home again, and tells her mom all about her experience.

I love reading about children and people being saved from horrors and finding safety, and I especially love reading about children getting comfort, love, and strength, and Suhaila and all the other children do from Suhaila's grandmother. The horrors the other children escape from–earthquakes, floods, and more–are not written in a frightening way, and all the children (and adults) find safety and work together for peace. Soetoro-Ng writes hope for humankind–hope that we can embrace, help, and love each other.

Soetoro-Ng's text flows beautifully, drawing the reader into the story and pulling us along to the end. Soetoro-Ng uses great details to enrich the story–sensory details such as the night deepening and the crickets growing louder; I also love the metaphors, such as Suhaila tossing herself out of bed like a tumbleweed. And the emotion behind the language, such as "Grandma Annie wrapped her arms round Suhaila's chest, taking the shiver out of the child" warmed me, and worked beautifully.

Morales' artwork is luscious, beautiful, and comforting, with texture that adds to the illustrations such as the brush strokes visibly laid over top the painting creating the sensation of wind. The large, rounded bodies and sweet, gentle faces, warm colors, and rounded edges add to the comfort of the story. These are rich illustrations, powerful to look at. Morales perfectly captures the feeling of the text, shows the story in a sensitive, sweet way, and enhances the story by adding details that weren't in the text, such as flowers on the moon that bloom once Suhaila reaches her grandmother. Each spread is art that I'd gladly have on my wall.

Both the text and the illustrations are beautiful, complimenting each other perfectly. Ladder to the Moon is a rich, full, hopeful story–one to dream on, one to share. Highly recommended.

Book source: review copy from publisher

Signing Scars today at Indigo Yorkdale at 1pm

I will be signing Scars today at 1pm at Indigo Yorkdale with the wonderful YA authors Neesha Meminger, Mahtab Narsimhan, and Helene Boudreau. If you're around, I hope to see you.

Check out the cool poster.

Why Did You Become A Writer?

photo credit: dotmatchbox

I can't remember a time I didn't read. Books were my escape from the horrific abuse of my child and teenhood–doors into other worlds, revelations on how people could really be (kind, caring, and compassionate), and hours of enjoyment.

Writing, too, is something I took to right away. My abusers frequently threatened to kill me if I talked about the abuse, and they criticized most things I said or turned it into psychological, sexual, or physical abuse, so I quickly learned not to speak much. But writing–writing was safe. It was a world mostly untouched by my abusers. It was a way I could tap into my inner world, everything that was going on inside, and get it out onto paper. It was also a way that I could safely express myself, and "talk" to others.

And when I wrote, the words flowed. They still do.

I love how I can reach others through my writing. I love how I can weave my own truths, compassion, caring into fiction, and make the fiction stronger. I love how I can break silences, show injustices, and help show ways of fighting horrors, all through fiction. Writing and books are like food to me. Necessary, and they feed my soul. I need to write, and I love to write.

Why do you write?

Donate to the making of a film on feminism.

I just donated to feminist filmmaker Jennifer Lee to help her make a film on feminism. To some people, "feminist" has become a dirty word. But to me, feminist means equality, freedom, fighting against oppression and for what is right. Feminism has made such a huge, positive difference in the world–especially for abuse survivors, those of us who are queer, but also for those of us who are oppressed. It's certainly made a difference in my life.

Watch the video, and I think you'll see what I mean! Feminism has done so much good.

I love the sound of Lee's project, and I hope you'll check it out and consider donating, too. There are buttons to donate $1, if that's all you feel you can give, and even that can help.

On Writing Bravely – My Guest Post Today at Cynsations

Writing bravely can be hard; you make yourself vulnerable. But I think it's worth it–for you and for the reader. I hope you'll check out my guest post today on Cynsations about writing bravely.

A quote from the post:

"…I believe that writing that taps into our own experiences and emotional truths can be among the most powerful writing. I think that it can touch others on a deep level, evoke compassion or thought, create change. And that's something I always want to do.."

Do you make yourself vulnerable when you write? Do you write your truths into fiction?

Do emotional truths resonate with you in novels you read?

Great company while I work (my dog)

I have such great company while I work!

One of Petal's favorite places to be while I work–on my shoulder!

Of course, I can work much better once she lays her head down and I can see what I'm doing.

Other times she just lies across my shoulders and neck, as she's doing now.





Where do your pets sleep while you work?

Book-Inspired Art: Cakes based on children's and teen books

photo credit: mags20_eb

I love book-inspired things–especially when they're based on children's or teen books. So it was a special treat to see these absolutely gorgeous cakes based on children's and YA books.

My top favorites are the cakes based on Where The Wild Things Are; Chronicles of Narnia; and The Hunger Games. Of course, that might have something to do with my loving those books. And then I noticed the link to a bunch of cakes based on the Dr. Seuss books–and you know I love Dr. Seuss. What a delight to pore through those! They make my top faves, too.

And the one of Clarice Bean I found on Flickr is pretty cool, too.

Which ones are your favorites?

And–do you have any photos you've taken of book-inspired things? If you do, send them in and I'll feature them!