sheilaruth

[sheilaruth]

I don’t want partisan elections dividing our tax-exempt houses of worship & charities. Protect the #JohnsonAmendment http://thndr.me/7jcQuL

[sheilaruth]

Do u want a gov run by people, not money? Ask your elected reps 2 take the #28thAmendment pledge #ConstitutionDay http://thndr.me/CfcnJT

[sheilaruth]

#AWAKE streaming worldwide on #EarthDay www.AwaketheFILM.org From #Joshfox & #OurRevolution #StandingRock #NoDAPL http://thndr.me/mtNQVG

[sheilaruth]

I love this amazing poem.

Revenge

Since you mention it, I think I will start that race war. I could’ve swung either way? But now I’m definitely spending the next 4 years converting your daughters to lesbianism; I’m gonna eat all your guns. Swallow them lock stock and barrel and spit bullet casings onto the dinner table; I’ll give birth to an army of mixed-race babies. With fathers from every continent and genders to outnumber the stars, my legion of multiracial babies will be intersectional as fuck and your swastikas will not be enough to save you, because real talk, you didn’t stop the future from coming. You just delayed our coronation. We have the same deviant haircuts we had yesterday; we are still getting gay-married like nobody’s business because it’s still nobody’s business; there’s a Muslim kid in Kansas who has already written the schematic for the robot that will steal your job in manufacturing, and that robot? Will also be gay, so get used to it: we didn’t manifest the mountain by speaking its name, the buildings here are not on your side just because you make them spray-painted accomplices. These walls do not have genders and they all think you suck. Even the earth found common ground with us in the way you bootstrap across us both, oh yeah: there will be signs, and rainbow-colored drum circles, and folks arguing ideology until even I want to punch them but I won’t, because they’re my family, in that blood-of-the-covenant sense. If you’ve never loved someone like that you cannot outwaltz us, we have all the good dancers anyway. I’ll confess I don’t know if I’m alive right now; I haven’t heard my heart beat in days, I keep holding my breath for the moment the plane goes down and I have to save enough oxygen to get my friends through. But I finally found the argument against suicide and it’s us. We’re the effigies that haunt America’s nights harder the longer they spend burning us, we are scaring the shit out of people by spreading, by refusing to die: what are we but a fire? We know everything we do is so the kids after us will be able to follow something towards safety; what can I call us but lighthouse, of course I’m terrified. Of course I’m a shroud. And of course it’s not fair but rest assured, anxious America, you brought your fists to a glitter fight. This is a taco truck rally and all you have is cole slaw. You cannot deport our minds; we won’t hold funerals for our potential. We have always been what makes America great.

-e.c.c.

[sheilaruth]

I support #KeithforDNC. Keith Ellison is an organizer who will inspire grassroots activism and unite our Party. http://thndr.me/Th9Gcn

[sheilaruth]

BREAKING: Workers on STRIKE. Arrests happening now across the country. Follow #FightFor15 + www.fightfor15.org http://thndr.me/CtNXli

[sheilaruth]

#IKneelWithColin for Terence Crutcher, Keith Scott, Oscar Grant, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice & Countless Others: http://thndr.me/mn2GQm

[sheilaruth]

Travel thru time by opening The Door at the Crossroads, a new novel by Zetta Elliott. Enter the Goodreads giveaway! http://thndr.me/zxFm38

[sheilaruth]

A Beginner's Guide to Researching Your Diverse* Fantasy or Science Fiction Novel

This month for Fantasy and Science Fiction Month, we’ve invited Asks about writing diverse fantasy and science fiction. This answer comes from writer and DiYA co-founder Malinda Lo.

* “Diverse” = a book with a non-Western setting or inspired by a non-Western culture; or with a main character who is non-white/non-Western, LGBTQ+, and or disabled

iwouldrobabanktosavemylibrary said: Hi! Thanks so much for doing this. What suggestions/resources do you have for a white writer writing other races? I’ve found the writingwithcolor tumblr, know I need to find some beta readers, listen and process, and do more and more research, but do you have some great resources that are almost sure to help? Especially ones that have intersectionality? Most of my MCs are not white (and I am), so I’m trying to find everything I can to write as genuine a character as possible. Thanks!

daybreaksgaze said: In regards to writing diverse sci-fi/fantasy, how does one go about researching cultures other than their own (if they’re using other cultures)? And how do you know when ‘enough is enough’ in regards to research?

Questions about how to do research are among the most common questions I hear when it comes to writing books based on non-white cultures. Often the questions are like the first one: “do you have some great resources that are almost sure to help?” (emphasis mine) The answer is: no. There is no guarantee that any resources will be universally seen as true and right. The first thing you should do is forget about hoping for a 100% accurate resource. The second thing you should do is forget about the word “genuine” when it comes to writing a character, because “genuine” implies “authentic.” It implies that there is a true way to be something (e.g., an “authentic” Chinese person), and in reality, everybody is different. You should aim to write a character who is multifaceted, complex, and human.

That said, it is certainly very important to research the cultures you’re writing about, and although many writers know that they need to do research, they often seem flummoxed by how to do it, as the second question illustrates. That’s why I’ve put together this beginner’s guide to How To Do Research. It is truly a beginner’s guide, so if you feel like you have a handle on how to do this, the post may not be for you. Toward the end of the post there are some more advanced research ideas, as well as links to further reading.

One thing I want to stress is that this is a long process that takes a lot of work. If you want to write about cultures you know little about, you have to put in a lot of time. You cannot expect to get all your answers from one person or one website or even one day at the library. There are no shortcuts to doing research properly. If you’re not willing to put in the time, then it might not be a good idea for you to write this kind of book.

A second thing I want to say up front is this: If you’re interested in writing about a culture different from your own, do you have any friends who are from that culture? I mean relatively close friends — someone you can talk to about your families. If not, then why do you want to write about that culture? I fear that if a writer has no personal knowledge of that culture via at least a close friendship, they may have a difficult time seeing the culture as a living experience. Research can tell you a lot, but shared, personal experiences between you and a close friend can tell you a lot more.

Because this post is quite long, I’m putting the rest of it behind a cut.

Keep reading

[sheilaruth]

A heartbreaking response to Meg Rosoff

Empty yearning, white nonsense, and Meg Rosoff

I am so angry at Meg Rosoff that I am practically shaking.   

For those who don’t know, Meg Rosoff is a white YA author who has written several award-winning books including one that has been made into a movie.  And in the fine tradition of clueless straight white people everywhere, Rosoff recently shot her mouth off on facebook in response to an article of Huffington Post about Large Fears, a childen’s book about a black boy who loves the color pink.  In the article, the author talks about how young queer black boys need representaiton in literature.  

And Meg Rosoff went off:

Can I just take a second to say, 

You can read the entire horrid exchange here, including Rosoff changing what she claims to be saying, being rude, speaking white nonsense, and inexplicably digging herself into a deeper hole.

Plenty of people have had really well-written responses, particularly this piece called The Unbearable Whiteness of Meg Rosoff, as well as great personal response from Kay M, Linda Sue Park, and others.  They are rightfully using this incident to call out white privilege in the publishing world and talking about the necessity of this conversation.  Rosoff has responded by blocking people who disagree with her on twitter.  

But it wasn’t just any black boys that Meg Rosoff was slamming.  It was the queer ones.  And that’s why I feel like I need to say something here.  

Dear Meg Rosoff:  

You have NO idea.  You have no idea the volumes of asks we get on this blog that sit unpublished, full of queer people desperate for characters who look or act like them.  You have no idea that they so often go without response because we can’t find things for these people no matter how hard we try.  Do we have books with Latina biromantic asexuals?  How about autistic bisexuals?  Asian trans girls?  Black boys who don’t know if they are really bi?  How about demisexual bisexual genderqueer people?

In almost three years of running this blog, I cannot think of a SINGLE black bisexual boy protagonist in YA Fiction.  Not one.  I only know of one black bisexual character in YA, Enki in The Summer Prince.  I went through our bisexual character tag and I’ve got nothing else.  Voluminous amounts of nothing.  I know of no YA books with black trans boys and very few with black gay boys (I know of none where they are the protagonist).  

Some days I log into our inbox, and it breaks my heart.  It is a vast expanse of human longing oozing out in desperate grasps across a digital void.  I see the numbers over the little envelope symbol and on some days, I dread clicking it.  I dread seeing that naked yearning that I can’t soothe.  I dread leaving it unanswered, staring at me every time I check the inbox, because I don’t have anything to give these people.  They don’t want what they have which is oodles and oodles of white straight people.  They want something more.  

And you know NOTHING about what they need if you think they want a goddamn pamphlet.  

So let me reiterate that Rosoff (and everyone else who might share her views) has no clue.  

She might have some cracked out white straight lady idea of what teens should get, but she knows NOTHING about what they want.  Or what they need.  Or what they reach out for with quiet desperation.  

Now I personally believe that living well is the best revenge, so go buy yourself a copy of Large Fears, the children’s book that started this all.  Give it to a queer black boy you know.  Give it to any child you know so they can know that queer black boys are real.  Give it to them because you can, because in this case you have something to give.  

Black queer boys are important and they deserve EVERYTHING that white straight boys (and girls) get in YA novels in spades.  They deserve books, not just pamphlets (the fuck?? pamphlets?  Seriously pamphlets??).  They deserve better than what we have to give.  And they sure as hell deserve a lot better than Meg Rosoff.  

- Sarah 

[sheilaruth]

2015 Cybils Nominations Open!

It’s here!!! Time to nominate your favorite kids books for the 2015 Cybils. I’m a Round 1 judge in the Fiction Picture Books category, and I’m so excited to see (and read) all the books that get nominated!

A few tips/reminders:

1. Check the Cybils category descriptions before nominating to make sure you’re picking the right one for your book(s).

2. ONE book per CATEGORY per PERSON.

3. The book(s) you nominate must have been published (or will be published) between October 16, 2014 and October 15, 2015. Nominations close on October 15th!

4. The book(s) you nominate must have been published in the US or Canada in English. Bilingual books count!

Any more questions? Check out the Cybils FAQ section!

Ready?

GO!

[sheilaruth]

Great support from publishers for KidLitCon! If you’re attending, bring an extra suitcase. (Also, you can bring ARCs that you’re done with to pass on to others).

My rows and piles of swag

Advance registration is closed for KidLitCon 2015, but there’s still a chance to join us and to score heaping helpings of publisher-provided swag! You can register at the door for either Friday or Saturday sessions. Either day is $50.

And you totally should - because in addition to the incisive and sparkling speakers and panels we have planned, we have accumulated a truly impressive amount of books and bookmarks and posters to distribute to KidLitCon attendees.

Check it out:

Publishers recognize the value of people who write about children’s literature - often for free - and we have had wonderful response from the people who benefit monetarily from the passionate conversations and reviews that KidLitCon attendees post all year long.

We’ve got boxes and bales and stacks of books from Little, Brown, Candlewick, Bearport, Papercutz, and more! But you can’t have that creepy statue in the above picture - that stays at Sheila’s house.

Publishers and vendors - there’s still time to pitch in and show your love! Find us on Facebook and ask about sponsorship opportunities! (Hint: $250 will buy us all a round of drinks at dinner Friday night!)

[sheilaruth]

Are you coming to KidLitCon?

KidLitCon 2015 Attendee List

One of the best things about KidLitCon is the chance to meet and hang out with so many smart, interesting people who share a passion for children’s and YA literature. To give you a taste, here’s a partial list of attendees.

There’s only one week left to register for KidLitCon, and only three more days to get the Early Bird rate and save $25, so don’t delay! Register Now

Paula Willey unadulterated.us

Sheila Ruth Wands and Worlds

Melissa Fox Book Nut

Jen Robinson Jen Robinson’s Book Page

Kathy MacMillan KathyMacMillan.com

Barb Langridge ABookandaHug

Cecilia Cackley Latin@s in Kid Lit

Alysa Stewart Everead

Alex Baugh Randomly Reading

Matthew Winner The Busy Librarian

Sharon Lanasa

Sondy Eklund Sonderbooks

Liz Brown Between the Covers

Pam Brown Margolis An Unconventional Librarian

Ms. Yingling Ms. Yingling Reads

Dr. Ellen Prager Tristan Hunt and the Sea Guardians

Marjorie Ingall Tablet Magazine, MarjorieIngall.com

Liz Burns A Chair, A Fireplace, & A Tea Cozy

Minh Lê Minh Lê Books / Bottom Shelf Books

Katy Manck BooksYALove

Becky Birtha Becky&Books

Sam Musher Parenthetical

Miriam DesHarnais

Judy Poyer

Cecelia Larsen Adventures of Cecelia Bedelia

Katy Kramp alibrarymama

Libertad Araceli Thomas Twinja Book Reviews

Guinevere Zoyana Thomas Twinja Book Reviews

Charlotte Tayor Charlotte’s Library

Shayna Parr Bibliophilia: A Love Story

Ellen Zschunke On The Shelf 4 Kids

Susan Kusel Wizards Wireless

Nancy Peters

You…

KidLitCon 2015 will be held October 9-10, 2015, in Baltimore, MD. Here are some helpful links!

Register

Get the conference discount on your room reservation

See the full schedule

Full Details

[sheilaruth]

Just over 2 weeks to go! I can’t wait to see everyone.

KidLitCon 2015 Attendee List

One of the best things about KidLitCon is the chance to meet and hang out with so many smart, interesting people who share a passion for children’s and YA literature. To give you a taste, here’s a partial list of attendees.

There’s only one week left to register for KidLitCon, and only three more days to get the Early Bird rate and save $25, so don’t delay! Register Now

Paula Willey unadulterated.us

Sheila Ruth Wands and Worlds

Melissa Fox Book Nut

Jen Robinson Jen Robinson’s Book Page

Kathy MacMillan KathyMacMillan.com

Barb Langridge ABookandaHug

Cecilia Cackley Latin@s in Kid Lit

Alysa Stewart Everead

Alex Baugh Randomly Reading

Matthew Winner The Busy Librarian

Sharon Lanasa

Sondy Eklund Sonderbooks

Liz Brown Between the Covers

Pam Brown Margolis An Unconventional Librarian

Ms. Yingling Ms. Yingling Reads

Dr. Ellen Prager Tristan Hunt and the Sea Guardians

Marjorie Ingall Tablet Magazine, MarjorieIngall.com

Liz Burns A Chair, A Fireplace, & A Tea Cozy

Minh Lê Minh Lê Books / Bottom Shelf Books

Katy Manck BooksYALove

Becky Birtha Becky&Books

Sam Musher Parenthetical

Miriam DesHarnais

Judy Poyer

Cecelia Larsen Adventures of Cecelia Bedelia

Katy Kramp alibrarymama

Libertad Araceli Thomas Twinja Book Reviews

Guinevere Zoyana Thomas Twinja Book Reviews

Charlotte Tayor Charlotte’s Library

Shayna Parr Bibliophilia: A Love Story

Ellen Zschunke On The Shelf 4 Kids

Susan Kusel Wizards Wireless

Nancy Peters

You…

KidLitCon 2015 will be held October 9-10, 2015, in Baltimore, MD. Here are some helpful links!

Register

Get the conference discount on your room reservation

See the full schedule

Full Details

[sheilaruth]

Peek behind the scenes at book awards with this panel at KidLitCon 2015, October 9-10 in Baltimore

“And the winner is …” Friday at 2pm

by Anne Boles Levy, author of The Temple of Doubt

I like handing out fabulous prizes. I imagine that on Valentine’s Day every year, a bunch of authors wake up to a big hug from the Cybils judges. Hey, look, we love you! Maybe it’s not really the same as giving flowers or chocolate, but you can’t stick those things on your book cover anyway, like you can with our shiny stickers. 

But it’s a long journey from nominations to winner, at least for judges. We’re the ones charged with whittling down the initial entries into a manageable short list, and then winners. That means reading, debating, more reading … and still more reading. Whew.

So what does it take for a book to break out of the pack? What are judges looking for? The panel “And the winner is …” takes a sneak peek behind the scenes with judges from some of your favorite book awards. We’ll discuss what we love (or even hate) about judging, and try to dispense some pithy advice to writers, readers, and bloggers about what our awards are really all about.

Joining me on the panel:

Liz Burns (Printz, Schneider Family, Cybils, YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, Edwards - currently serving)

Francisca Goldsmith (California Young Reader Medal, Odyssey Award, Printz Award, Eisner Awards, Audie Awards, and Alex Awards) Susan Kusel (Caldecott, Cybils, Maryland Blue Crab Award, Sydney Taylor Award)

Jennie Rothschild (Cybils, YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, YALSA/ARCL Outstanding Books for the College Bound (chair), Maryland Library Association Blue Crab Award)

John Scott (Caldecott, Newbery - currently serving)

Alysa Stewart (Cybils)

* Cece Bell, Jacqueline Woodson, Dan Santat & Yuyi Morales at the Newbery Caldecott Banquet, June, 2015. Photos by Paula Willey

[sheilaruth]

KidLitCon 2015 Attendee List

One of the best things about KidLitCon is the chance to meet and hang out with so many smart, interesting people who share a passion for children’s and YA literature. To give you a taste, here’s a partial list of attendees.

There’s only one week left to register for KidLitCon, and only three more days to get the Early Bird rate and save $25, so don’t delay! Register Now

Paula Willey unadulterated.us

Sheila Ruth Wands and Worlds

Melissa Fox Book Nut

Jen Robinson Jen Robinson’s Book Page

Kathy MacMillan KathyMacMillan.com

Barb Langridge ABookandaHug

Cecilia Cackley Latin@s in Kid Lit

Alysa Stewart Everead

Alex Baugh Randomly Reading

Matthew Winner The Busy Librarian

Sharon Lanasa

Sondy Eklund Sonderbooks

Liz Brown Between the Covers

Pam Brown Margolis An Unconventional Librarian

Ms. Yingling Ms. Yingling Reads

Dr. Ellen Prager Tristan Hunt and the Sea Guardians

Marjorie Ingall Tablet Magazine, MarjorieIngall.com

Liz Burns A Chair, A Fireplace, & A Tea Cozy

Minh Lê Minh Lê Books / Bottom Shelf Books

Katy Manck BooksYALove

Becky Birtha Becky&Books

Sam Musher Parenthetical

Miriam DesHarnais

You…

KidLitCon 2015 will be held October 10-11, 2015, in Baltimore, MD. Here are some helpful links!

Register

Get the conference discount on your room reservation

See the full schedule

Full Details