The Last Word

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the ongoing conversation about the NoirCon painting of me. That was my intention from the beginning, to encourage dialog about the default sexual stereotypes in our genre and ask people to think before perpetuating them, ironically or otherwise.

Yes, it made me angry, and I encourage women everywhere to speak up when you are angry. Don't let pressure to be polite or fear of being branded as a bitchy cunt who's probably on her period or something stop you from speaking up when something makes you mad.

But understand that it was never my intention to vilify organizer Lou Boxer or nuke NoirCon, which remains one of my favorite crime-related events in the US. 

I will not be driven out of the boys club by this. I plan to attend the next NoirCon and keep the dialog going. I hope to see you all there.