Twenty-seven were killed today at an elementary school,...

Twenty-seven were killed today at an elementary school, according to latest press accounts. 

I write novels in which people are killed like this. On days like today, that feels gross and awful.

When I wrote The Bubble Gum Thief, I wanted to challenge readers to think about things like the workings of our criminal justice system, the vortex of public outrage, and the way the media covers terrible tragedies like the one today.  But there’s nothing in the book that challenges the culpability, if any, of art in its portrayal of violence.  It’s easy to say that books like mine simply reside within and reflect the world as it is.  But just because it is easy, doesn’t mean it’s right. 

I’m uncomfortable with the kind of violence that I write about, which is why I’ll sometimes cut away from it before it happens.  I wish I had some wisdom about it, but I have nothing but despair to offer.  Because it’s the smartest thing I know about this kind of violence, here’s Dan Bern’s amazing song, Kids’ Prayer.  I’ve posted this many times before, and sadly, I’m sure I’ll post it again.