Tamora Pierce's Blog, page 10
May 19, 2011
Let's talk about rape for a moment, shall we?
Or rather, I'm going to let my friend
![[info]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380451598i/2033940.gif)
ginmar
talk about it first, about:
the bad art of screeching "false accusation" in rape cases
victim blaming and slut bashing
They're kinda long, but they're worth reading, because I swear, the treatment of rape victims in the media and by those who know them, and the number of rapes, are growing--probably because of reportage but also because, as R.A.I.N.N.'s statistics show, 60% of women don't report their rapes.
And let me just say for the record,
being in the wrong place at the wrong time qualifies no one for rape
dressing in a manner that some asshole defines as "slutty" or "provocative" or "ho wear" qualifies no one for rape
being present at a fraternity or an office party qualifies no one for rape
being a sex worker qualifies no one for rape
having a rocky marital history qualifies no one for rape
being drunk or drugged or sick or in police custody qualifies no one for rape
not responding in a "suitably aggressive" (in anyone's judgment) manner qualifies no one for rape
being married or a man's significant other does not qualify his partner for rape
being FEMALE or GLBT qualifies no one for rape (babies, children, and teens are also off limits)
The only thing that creates a rape?
IS THE PRESENCE OF A RAPIST
ginmar
talk about it first, about:the bad art of screeching "false accusation" in rape cases
victim blaming and slut bashing
They're kinda long, but they're worth reading, because I swear, the treatment of rape victims in the media and by those who know them, and the number of rapes, are growing--probably because of reportage but also because, as R.A.I.N.N.'s statistics show, 60% of women don't report their rapes.
And let me just say for the record,
being in the wrong place at the wrong time qualifies no one for rape
dressing in a manner that some asshole defines as "slutty" or "provocative" or "ho wear" qualifies no one for rape
being present at a fraternity or an office party qualifies no one for rape
being a sex worker qualifies no one for rape
having a rocky marital history qualifies no one for rape
being drunk or drugged or sick or in police custody qualifies no one for rape
not responding in a "suitably aggressive" (in anyone's judgment) manner qualifies no one for rape
being married or a man's significant other does not qualify his partner for rape
being FEMALE or GLBT qualifies no one for rape (babies, children, and teens are also off limits)
The only thing that creates a rape?
IS THE PRESENCE OF A RAPIST
May 17, 2011
I love this man
Most of you probably know by now that Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the International Money Fund, also a candidate for president in France, is accused of raping a hotel maid in New York City, and is now in an American jail. It's a story that's shocking the western world.
Jeff Goldberg is one of the bloggers for The Atlantic Monthly online. His main field of expertise is the Middle East, but he does post about other things. This is what he has to say about The New York Times's coverage of the case.
I love him. I would to high heaven that other reporters took the same view.
Jeff Goldberg is one of the bloggers for The Atlantic Monthly online. His main field of expertise is the Middle East, but he does post about other things. This is what he has to say about The New York Times's coverage of the case.
I love him. I would to high heaven that other reporters took the same view.
May 4, 2011
The next person who asks me why I write so many girls
I am going to direct them here, to a study that finds that men, even if they are animals, are the main characters in 57% of books that are published per year, contrasted to 31% women. (Don't ask me where the other 12% went.) Adult men or animals show up in 100% of books, adult women or animals 33%. Male animals are central characters in more than 23% of books; female animals in 7.5%. 36.5% have a male in the title; 17.5% have a female in the title.
Most of you probably know it burns my bacon to be asked, as I so often am, why I write so many books with girl characters. This just rubs salt into my burn. In terms of children's books, with their large numbers of female writers (though a number of the stars in the industry are male), this just burns me worse. We need intelligent, lively, fun, real female characters in every aspect of kidlit--why are we writing in a majority area that isn't our own?
I know the answer: to make money. But we aren't going to make money writing female characters unless a lot more of us stand up and say, hey, there are more books out there for guys, when girls are the big readers. Isn't writing even more guys shooting ourselves in the foot? Let's write for the bigger audience, what do you say?
Or at the very least, fight for the damn girls, for cryin out loud!
Most of you probably know it burns my bacon to be asked, as I so often am, why I write so many books with girl characters. This just rubs salt into my burn. In terms of children's books, with their large numbers of female writers (though a number of the stars in the industry are male), this just burns me worse. We need intelligent, lively, fun, real female characters in every aspect of kidlit--why are we writing in a majority area that isn't our own?
I know the answer: to make money. But we aren't going to make money writing female characters unless a lot more of us stand up and say, hey, there are more books out there for guys, when girls are the big readers. Isn't writing even more guys shooting ourselves in the foot? Let's write for the bigger audience, what do you say?
Or at the very least, fight for the damn girls, for cryin out loud!
May 2, 2011
So not ecstatic
At the risk of disappointing people, I am not over the moon about the death-by-SEAL-squad of Osama bin Ladin.
I'm pleased--the man was on the run for over a decade for a series of murderous actions (not just 9/11), and he got the end that men like him deserve. And as a New York dweller on 9/11, I have that purely atavistic thrill of "Gotcha, you bastard!" He won't be around to plan mass murders anymore, and so far at least (knock on wood) his fellow travelers have proved themselves incapable of the kind of planning and execution that murders hundreds at a time.
But.
My first response--Tim's first response--was "Are they sure? How are they sure?" This man has been on the run for so long, and there have been so many false alarms, that it's hard to believe he won't be the Terrorist Bogeyman anymore.
Second response: Pakistan is taking this very well, not long after they signed a major trade agreement with India. Does this mean Pakistan is leaning more toward the West and our allies than last year, when Pakistan's takeover by militant Muslims seemed possible? I'd really like to see Pakistan on better terms with us and India, so a portion of the killing will stop.
Third response: This isn't a football game. We didn't beat the "enemy" from the next town. We didn't tackle him just short of a touchdown; we're not "#No. 1" or anything like it. One operation, conducted by a small group of highly trained military personnel, does not make every American #No. 1, and if Americans stopped thinking global life is like the local high school football game, Americans and global citizens would be a lot better off. Our service people worked long and hard for this and pulled off a highly sensitive operation with no casualties on the American side. They're to be celebrated.
Fourth response: backlash. Will his fellow thugs decide on some attacks to prove they're just as bad, claiming vengeance instead of their actual desire to emulate the fallen "hero"? (Or maybe it's both.)
Fifth response: I think it's wonderfully sensitive of us to bury the man at sea within the 24 hours dictated by Islamic practice, but I fear that's going to backfire on us. Just as there are those who claim Obama is Kenyan, there will be those who say all this is a fake and that Osama still lives. There are already reports online that one of the photos is faked.
And sixth:
I'm pleased--the man was on the run for over a decade for a series of murderous actions (not just 9/11), and he got the end that men like him deserve. And as a New York dweller on 9/11, I have that purely atavistic thrill of "Gotcha, you bastard!" He won't be around to plan mass murders anymore, and so far at least (knock on wood) his fellow travelers have proved themselves incapable of the kind of planning and execution that murders hundreds at a time.
But.
My first response--Tim's first response--was "Are they sure? How are they sure?" This man has been on the run for so long, and there have been so many false alarms, that it's hard to believe he won't be the Terrorist Bogeyman anymore.
Second response: Pakistan is taking this very well, not long after they signed a major trade agreement with India. Does this mean Pakistan is leaning more toward the West and our allies than last year, when Pakistan's takeover by militant Muslims seemed possible? I'd really like to see Pakistan on better terms with us and India, so a portion of the killing will stop.
Third response: This isn't a football game. We didn't beat the "enemy" from the next town. We didn't tackle him just short of a touchdown; we're not "#No. 1" or anything like it. One operation, conducted by a small group of highly trained military personnel, does not make every American #No. 1, and if Americans stopped thinking global life is like the local high school football game, Americans and global citizens would be a lot better off. Our service people worked long and hard for this and pulled off a highly sensitive operation with no casualties on the American side. They're to be celebrated.
Fourth response: backlash. Will his fellow thugs decide on some attacks to prove they're just as bad, claiming vengeance instead of their actual desire to emulate the fallen "hero"? (Or maybe it's both.)
Fifth response: I think it's wonderfully sensitive of us to bury the man at sea within the 24 hours dictated by Islamic practice, but I fear that's going to backfire on us. Just as there are those who claim Obama is Kenyan, there will be those who say all this is a fake and that Osama still lives. There are already reports online that one of the photos is faked.
And sixth:
April 30, 2011
Shades of John List
(Shocking crime talk ahead)
I don't know how many of you are aware that I'm a crime buff (though I would think the Beka Cooper books and The Circle Opens quartet would be a giveaway). One story that keeps me fascinated is that of husband/fathers who are family destroyers, as in, when things get bad they murder their entire families. Some kill themselves, but others, particularly the surprise ones, take off to have a new life elsewhere. I got this from the case of John List, who managed to hide out for years until the TV show "America's Most Wanted" aired his case and caught the attention of those who knew him in his new life.
Now the French are shocked to their souls by the work of another family destroyer--Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes, one of those seemingly settled guys who isn't really settled at all. In fact, his story shares a number of points with John List, including the happy family, the failing livelihood, and the religious underpinnings.
I hope they find de Ligonnes, and soon. And I hope he goes to prison until the end of time--or he gets shanked by someone who thinks he's as bad as I think he is.
I don't know how many of you are aware that I'm a crime buff (though I would think the Beka Cooper books and The Circle Opens quartet would be a giveaway). One story that keeps me fascinated is that of husband/fathers who are family destroyers, as in, when things get bad they murder their entire families. Some kill themselves, but others, particularly the surprise ones, take off to have a new life elsewhere. I got this from the case of John List, who managed to hide out for years until the TV show "America's Most Wanted" aired his case and caught the attention of those who knew him in his new life.
Now the French are shocked to their souls by the work of another family destroyer--Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes, one of those seemingly settled guys who isn't really settled at all. In fact, his story shares a number of points with John List, including the happy family, the failing livelihood, and the religious underpinnings.
I hope they find de Ligonnes, and soon. And I hope he goes to prison until the end of time--or he gets shanked by someone who thinks he's as bad as I think he is.
April 29, 2011
Alabama Dog Rescuer Needs Help for Dogs
Shannon has lost everything, but all she wants is help in fostering her dog rescues. I can't help, not with 11 cats and uncounted more ferals and strays to feed, but can you? Or if you can't, please pass this along.
And for the rest, help can be given through the American Red Cross. This time it's our own folks, flattened and grieving after an unimaginable disaster.
And for the rest, help can be given through the American Red Cross. This time it's our own folks, flattened and grieving after an unimaginable disaster.
March 28, 2011
Goodbye, Diana Wynne Jones
In this gray and gloomy winter, having already lost Brian Jacques, we've lost another of our greats. Diana Wynne Jones went to the Summerlands on Saturday after years (longer than this article states) of fighting cancer.
I admire her more than a very few other writers. She shaped fantasy for middle graders and teens more than many people realized, and she has had profound effect on writers of fantasy all over the world.
And I've run out of words. I'll let the Guardian's article state the facts.
(<1>crossposted to fan lj</i>)
I admire her more than a very few other writers. She shaped fantasy for middle graders and teens more than many people realized, and she has had profound effect on writers of fantasy all over the world.
And I've run out of words. I'll let the Guardian's article state the facts.
(<1>crossposted to fan lj</i>)
March 13, 2011
Japanese earthquake help
You probably think I'm far behind the fair on this. The truth is that I was on a trip to Massachusetts over the last three days and hadn't taken my laptop, since I didn't think I'd need it. Better late than never, though, particularly when the situation in Japan following the recent 8.9 earthquake and tsunami is still really bad, and the potential dangers posed by the leak in one of the Fukushima reactors continue to grow.
Those of you who are familiar with my ljs know that I post the URLs of help organizations in case you can spare cash for those in need. Often readers will add the URLs of other organizations, so check the other posts if you can afford to help. The best known, most reputable outfits are:
American Red Cross
Doctors Without Borders
Oxfam America, also available in French and Spanish
Save the Children
Additionally, you can also take your change banks to any store that turns change into bills and, instead of taking the cash home, ask if they accept the money as a microdonation for the Red Cross. Tim's done this at one of the local grocery stores: the change-counting machines are in the area where they cash checks, and they do indeed send the money to the Red Cross. Every little bit can add up to a lot!
Things are really bad at this point. No one is sure, but the death total from the tsunami itself may go as high as 10,000; as of today, Sunday the 13th of March, the confirmed count from the quake is over 1300. If you can't spare cash, you can send your prayers and your good thoughts to Japan's people, who are facing an economic crisis that will affect their entire nation.
Those of you who are familiar with my ljs know that I post the URLs of help organizations in case you can spare cash for those in need. Often readers will add the URLs of other organizations, so check the other posts if you can afford to help. The best known, most reputable outfits are:
American Red Cross
Doctors Without Borders
Oxfam America, also available in French and Spanish
Save the Children
Additionally, you can also take your change banks to any store that turns change into bills and, instead of taking the cash home, ask if they accept the money as a microdonation for the Red Cross. Tim's done this at one of the local grocery stores: the change-counting machines are in the area where they cash checks, and they do indeed send the money to the Red Cross. Every little bit can add up to a lot!
Things are really bad at this point. No one is sure, but the death total from the tsunami itself may go as high as 10,000; as of today, Sunday the 13th of March, the confirmed count from the quake is over 1300. If you can't spare cash, you can send your prayers and your good thoughts to Japan's people, who are facing an economic crisis that will affect their entire nation.
March 1, 2011
A visit to Randombuzzers
cross-posted to my tammypierce live lj
Random House invited me to visit their Randombuzzers website and blog in celebration of the publication of TORTALL AND OTHER LANDS. If you're interested and want to sign up, I've been answering whatever questions people want to ask for the next week!
Random House invited me to visit their Randombuzzers website and blog in celebration of the publication of TORTALL AND OTHER LANDS. If you're interested and want to sign up, I've been answering whatever questions people want to ask for the next week!
February 22, 2011
It's here!
TORTALL AND OTHER LANDS, my very first ever short story collection, is officially published as of today, and is already 707 in the Barnes and Noble online sales ranks!
Most of the stories are previously published, but you may not have encountered them. You'll see old friends and hopefully make new ones, and you'll get the chance to see how my writing has changed since 1985. And with luck it will hold you until late October, the new publishing date for MASTIFF!
edited to add:
And the Kirkus review for the book, also on the Barnes and Noble page, is a very nice one!
also edited: if this link to the book doesn't work, I hope you'll just search my name and find the entry. I've tried linking directly to it three times and it's not working.
