Monday Miscellany

The biggest Miscellany this Monday is that I'm leaving for Amsterdam this afternoon, and this will be my only post for a couple of weeks--unless something spectacular happens in Amsterdam and I can't wait to tell you. I'll be back to my regular Monday-Thursday posts by the 27th. Enshala.



But there's more. I have to keep up with my ROW80 writers who are truly spectacular. Please join the effort or go over the Linky and find those hard working people. Give them a boost and a hug--cyber is fine. Also don't forget my special YALitChat ROW80 writers. Drop in and say hi and tell them they will make their goals. Everyone needs a bit of encouragement Sheri Larson, Susan Kaye Quinn, and Margo Berendsen.



My goals for this week are to Enjoy, Enjoy. Enjoy. Read. Read. Read.



My last Miscellany is about last week's edgy YA clash with Megan Cox Gurdon when she wrote this  article for the Wall Street Journal  Here's the link if you happened to miss it. Rebuttals poured in and I'm sure there are more than the ones I'm listing here, but these were the early responses.

Laurie Halse AndersonThe Guardian; The Guardian again.Cheryl RainfieldYes,  This Will be on the TestSpeak EasyType Faster

I didn't respond with an article, but I did chime in on the #YASaves Tweets. My view is that parents, teachers and librarians should read any book they're prepared to hand over to a young reader. If it's offensive, they have a right to say so, but I think they need to check out the real world that their teens inhabit. Some of these books are tame by comparison to reality.



Writers should be able to write what they want but never lose sight of the power these books have with teens. This is a huge responsibility and I take it seriously when I'm writing. I don't think my books will ever be banned, and I don't want that to happen. I want them to be read. I want the stories to create awareness of these social issues among readers, especially those parents, teachers and librarians who might be in a position to help a troubled teen.



I didn't write about cutting and suicide to encourage destructive behavior. I wrote about it because I hate that kids cut themselves. I hate that teens even think about suicide, but the fact is they do and some "succeed" in taking their own lives. I find that horrifying, and so I  crafted a story that shows "It only gets better."  At least, that's what I hoped readers would find.

Now on to my vacation. I'm taking a break from angsty books and heading out. Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09