Cheryl Rainfield's Blog, page 114

Enter to win a signed copy of Scars

Read the first page of Scars and enter to win a signed copy of Scars.

cool book video

I love book, reading, and writing related videos, especially when they're good. I think this stop-motion video made out of books is really cool! To me it's like a huge metaphor of books shaping our lives, or of what we read becoming a part of us. I think the video is a trifle too long, but I enjoyed it. What do you think?

This Is Where We Live from 4th Estate on Vimeo.

Free writing technique ebook this week only

WRITING FICTION FOR DUMMIES Kindle ebook by Randy Ingermanson is FREE this week for US only. (Ingermanson has some good writing technique articles and books.) As a Canadian, I can't get it free. Bah! But thought many of you might be interested.

James Frey exploiting desperate writers

I've been finding it disturbing to read about James Frey exploiting desperate writers–and that he's specifically targeting YA writers. There's been a LOT of chatter about it on Twitter from book industry professionals and writers, but I haven't seen much discussion elsewhere. Have you read about the issue, or seen the article? I think there are likely many of them, now, but a few good ones to start with are:

A YA Reader and Writer's Perspective on James Frey's Writing Assembly Line

and

Read the Brutal Contract from James Frey's Fiction Factory on NYMag.

I think this quote from Conrad Rippy, a publishing attorneya sums up what Frey is doing:

"It's an agreement [Frey's contract for writers] that says, 'You're going to write for me. I'm going to own it. I may or may not give you credit. If there is more than one book in the series, you are on the hook to write those too, for the exact same terms, but I don't have to use you. In exchange for this, I'm going to pay you 40 percent of some amount you can't verify—there's no audit provision—and after the deduction of a whole bunch of expenses." He described it as a Hollywood-style work-for-hire contract grafted onto the publishing industry—"although Hollywood writers in a work-for-hire contract are usually paid more than $250."

Scary, eh?

If you care about the pedophile-book-on-Amazon thing

then please read this powerful post on silence! Like Melissa Wardy, the author of the post, I was shocked at the pedophile guide becoming mainstream; my abuser parents bought & traded in secret. Books like that shouldn't be readily available.

I hope we all continue to care and to speak out. And thank you so very much to everyone who made your voice heard!

If you don't want to support Amazon…

after their keeping books up promoting pedophilia for so long, you can buy your books at Book Depository.

They offer free worldwide shipping! And they have 2.2 million books.

And, I was glad to see, they sell Scars. (beaming)

I am VERY glad that Amazon removed the pedophile books–after pressure. I'll likely buy more books through them–as well as from my local indie bookstores, and other online booksellers. I think it's just good to know about alternatives.

The same pedophile author has another book on Amazon still encouraging pedophilia

I was so hoping it was over. I felt so good this morning, discovering that Amazon took down the book for pedophiles that instructed how to rape and molest a child with a possibly lighter sentence when caught. It was incredible for me, as a child abuse survivor, to see how many people cared, and spoke out against this, and how we all together made a real difference.

But the same author–Phillip Greaves–has another book up, still–The Grand Book of the Godless and the Free–and it has a chapter on pedophilia. "Consensual Pedophilia." How can pedophilia EVER be consensual? Sex with a child–RAPE, whether the child agrees or not–is not only against the law, it is emotionally damaging (and can be physically). It is an abuse of power that leaves emotional scars for the rest of that child's life. I know that personally.

I am against censorship and book banning. If you've read my site before, you'll know that. But I am much more against the rape of children, and the encouraging people to do so. To me, that is basic–ensuring that a child is not raped.

PLEASE do not let this issue pass you by. Please take a few minutes to call Amazon's customer support (1-866-216-1072) or email them, and ask that this book be removed. I do not understand how any company can sell a book that directly and specifically encourages the rape of children. Amazon–this is another instance of #AmazonFail.

The pedophile book is down – thanks to many voices & Anderson Cooper

We DID it! Voices speaking out loud together make a real difference! (beaming) The pedophile book has been taken down. Amazon said it is no longer for sale. I got an email saying that, and I also clicked on the link to be sure. It is gone–thank goodness!

The discussion even got on CNN with the wonderful Anderson Cooper; he did an expose (hurray Cooper!!) where he actually quoted excerpts from the book. The author of The Pedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure said in the book that if a pedophile was disease-free they didn't have to use condoms with the children they raped, and he went on to tell what kind of kissing and fondling was legal–how far they could go without getting arrested. That is horrifying on so many levels.

I am so thankful that Cooper helped shine a light even more on this–and that each of us, in speaking out, helped bring this to the media's attention.

Thank you so very, very much to everyone who added their voices and who helped to make a difference!! (hugging you all)

Amazon is selling a book for pedophiles…

The Pedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure–on how to rape children more safely. I cannot believe Amazon is selling this! This is not okay on ANY level. How is it ever okay to encourage ways to rape children "better"? A book like that should NOT be sold. Or pubbed!

PLEASE #SpeakLoudly, and tell Amazon what you think about this!! Ask them to remove this book from their site. It's not okay, ever, to encourage the rape of children! Of anyone. This is the kind of book my parents used to buy in secret. To have it be so accessible online–it sickens me. Please write Amazon.

NY K-2 students can create anti-bullying comic for chance to win iPods for class

NY K-2 students have the chance to create an anti-bullying comic with ToonBooks' online tool, and then submit their comic to enter to win an iPod Touch–1 for every student in class.