Reasons for withdrawal: why I have pulled out of WICKED PRETTY THINGS.: seanan

Reasons for withdrawal: why I have pulled out of WICKED PRETTY THINGS.

Just last week, I announced that I would have a story in the YA anthology Wicked Pretty Things. I was extremely excited; this was going to be my first young adult publication, and I really, really want to start publishing some of my YA (werewolves and movie stars and sociological experiments, oh my). It seemed like a great opportunity.

Then I heard that one of the authors, Jessica Verday, had pulled out of the anthology. Which seemed a little odd, given how late we were in the process.

And then I found out her reason. To quote her blog post on the subject (originally posted at http://jessicaverday.blogspot.com/):

"I've received a lot of questions and comments about why I'm no longer a part of the Wicked Pretty Things anthology (US: Running Press, UK: Constable & Robinson) and I've debated the best way to explain why I pulled out of this anthology. The simple reason? I was told that the story I'd wrote, which features Wesley (a boy) and Cameron (a boy), who were both in love with each other, would have to be published as a male/female story because a male/male story would not be acceptable to the publishers."

...uh, what? That's not okay. I mean, really, that's not okay. I began, in my slow, overly careful way, to get angry. Then I saw a statement from the editor, saying that the decision had been entirely hers, and had been in no way a reflection of the publisher's views. I sat back. I thought very, very hard. And I decided that, barring any additional developments, I would stay in the anthology, rather than hurting the other authors involved with the project by pulling out.

Naturally, there were additional developments. In light of the ongoing situation, my own discomfort with this whole thing, and the fact that discriminating on basis of sexual orientation is never okay, I have withdrawn my story from the collection.

And here's the thing. There is absolutely no reason to censor a story that was written to the guidelines (which dictated how much profanity, sexuality, etc. was acceptable, as good guidelines should). If Jessica had written hard-core erotica, then rejecting it would have made perfect sense. Not that kind of book. But she didn't. She wrote a romance, just like the rest of us, only her romance didn't include any girls. And she didn't get a rejection; she got her story accepted, just like the rest of us. Only while we got the usual editorial comments, she got "One of your characters needs to be turned into something he's not." And that's not okay.

Books do not determine a person's sexual orientation. I was not somehow destined to be straight, and led astray by Annie On My Mind and the Valdemar books. I was born with universal wiring. I have had boyfriends and I have had girlfriends and I have had both at the same time, and none of that—NONE OF THAT—is because I read a book where a girl was in love with a girl and I decided that being bisexual would be a fun way to kill a weekend.

But those books did tell me I didn't have to hate myself, and they did tell me that there was nothing wrong with me, and they did make it easier on everyone involved, because here was something I could hand to Mom and go "See? It's not just me, and it's not the end of the world, and it's not the only thing that defines me." Supposedly, ten percent of people are gay or bi with a tropism toward their own gender. It stands to reason that there should be positive non-hetero relationships in at least ten percent of YA literature. And they're not there. And things like this are why.

I am not withdrawing from this book because I'm not straight. I am withdrawing because of my little sister and her wife, and because of my girlfriend, and because of my best friend, and because of all the other people who deserve better than bullying through exclusion. Thanks to Jessica for bringing this to our attention, and thank you to everyone who has been supportive of my decision to withdraw.

I am sorry this had to be done. I am not sorry that I did it.

lietya

March 29 2011, 03:40:44 UTC 6 years ago

New comment

Another fan for life here, and another who canceled a pre-order on that anthology and vowed never to buy anything else with the Telep name on it. (I also reposted to my own LJ as I know quite a few people who might otherwise have bought it.)

I'm bisexual, poly, and married to a woman who came out as trans last year - something like this pushes ALL my buttons lately. Thank you so much for taking a stand, from another person who glommed on to Vanyel in part because he was the only non-straight fantasy character I could find at that age.

(A shame Lackey herself is so transphobic, but that's a rant for another day.)

seanan_mcguire

March 29 2011, 21:54:24 UTC 6 years ago

You are very welcome; thank you for boosting the signal.

gwyd

March 29 2011, 03:46:42 UTC 6 years ago

I am so proud to know you, even if mostly online.

March 29 2011, 22:00:07 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks, sweetie.

dr_zrfq

March 29 2011, 04:07:31 UTC 6 years ago

Not that it hasn't been said a zillion times already, but I totally support your action in withdrawing your story, and the reason behind it. I won't be buying that collection.

March 29 2011, 22:00:24 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you.

queenlyzard

March 29 2011, 04:13:37 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you. Thank you for your decision and for this entry. And thank you for the phrase "bullying through exclusion."

March 29 2011, 22:00:34 UTC 6 years ago

You're very welcome.

drcpunk

March 29 2011, 04:20:10 UTC 6 years ago

Hm. After following the link to the additional developments and spending an hour or so trying to do a post-without-stupid, I thought I was asking about the possibility of redemption for folks who've FUBARed as badly as the editor and the publisher.

And, I was. It just occurs to me now that I'm also fumbling to find a way to ask something covered in what

osewalrus called Feld's Laws of Hand Grenades. Still trying to figure out a coherent way to express that part of the question, although I may essentially have covered it.

Regardless, I am sorry you needed to do what you did, and I support you.

March 29 2011, 22:01:24 UTC 6 years ago

I think redemption is absolutely possible. It needs to start, however, with the admission that there's something to redeem. Thus far, that hasn't happened, and that's just giving the flames more time to grow.

oneminutemonkey

6 years ago

iamthemog

March 29 2011, 05:33:26 UTC 6 years ago

There are already so many comments here that I don't have nearly the time to read them all and perhaps someone else has already suggested this, but have you considered talking to either of the publishers about releasing the story in another anthology with a different editor that was specifically designed to include the full range of LGBTQ and straight stories?

It seems like there is more than enough support for such an anthology and several authors that would be willing to contribute. If either publisher would agree to such a collaboration it would go a long ways towards them showing that they really do support the community.

March 29 2011, 22:01:51 UTC 6 years ago

I think there are several such anthologies now in discussions, and I really hope one (or more than one) will come to fruition.

fairestcat

March 29 2011, 06:19:39 UTC 6 years ago

The whole situation is awful, but this post makes me very happy.

Thank you for taking a stand on this issue.

March 29 2011, 22:02:02 UTC 6 years ago

You are very welcome.

quartzpebble

March 29 2011, 06:23:51 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you, and thank you for this post. I didn't even know I would end up queer when I was in high school, but am so glad that I at least knew even then that not being straight was a fine thing to be--and while my mother was a huge part of making sure of that, I think that Mercedes Lackey and other books/stories helped by giving me examples (even dramatastic, angst-filled examples) about what that might actually look like.

March 29 2011, 22:02:33 UTC 6 years ago

Books are important. They show us the future. Taking those futures away because we don't approve of them...that's just not right.

You're very welcome.

caersidi

March 29 2011, 07:12:56 UTC 6 years ago

Both you and Jessica are among my favourite new authors and I totally support this action. You are both awesome!

March 29 2011, 22:02:44 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you!

la_marquise_de_

March 29 2011, 10:29:48 UTC 6 years ago

Good for you.

March 29 2011, 22:02:54 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks, darlin'.

taldragon

March 29 2011, 13:44:10 UTC 6 years ago

i've just finished reading the third Toby Daye book, and saw you have a LJ.

thank you very much for making a stand and for publicising this. we're in the 21st century - homophobia is very not-ok!

March 29 2011, 22:38:16 UTC 6 years ago

Absolutely agreed.

smoooom

March 29 2011, 13:56:10 UTC 6 years ago

You totally rock. Vicky will be told about this and we will not be buying this book. That is so beyond the pale that I don't know where it is. You really do rock.

March 29 2011, 22:38:26 UTC 6 years ago

biomekanic

March 29 2011, 14:01:53 UTC 6 years ago

I'm sorry that this had to be done at all.

Some people's kids...

March 29 2011, 22:38:34 UTC 6 years ago

Word.

ducktape74

March 29 2011, 14:17:56 UTC 6 years ago

You go, girl! :)

March 29 2011, 22:38:43 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks. :)

popehippo

March 29 2011, 14:55:32 UTC 6 years ago

On behalf of this bi woman who, as a bi young girl, always hoped and wanted for more authors to be this confident on providing content to more than just straight kids... thank you.

March 29 2011, 22:38:54 UTC 6 years ago

supermouse

March 29 2011, 14:57:15 UTC 6 years ago

In order to show my true appreciation of your words, do you have any books out currently on Kindle or, failing that, as epub? (Kindle search is being less than helpful and my google-fu is apparently broken today).

deakat

March 29 2011, 16:24:02 UTC 6 years ago Edited: March 29 2011, 16:25:15 UTC

I'm not Seanan, but you may find this (link to Amazon's Kindle editions) helpful.

deire

March 29 2011, 16:23:33 UTC 6 years ago

I respect you and your decision completely. I think that you did the right thing, and I am proud of you for it. I am also proud of all of the people who brought attention to these developments. Thank you.

Not all readers look at the publisher when they buy books. I do. Running Press is on my 'questionable' list from here on out.

March 29 2011, 22:40:02 UTC 6 years ago

I'm hoping they can redeem themselves.

tiferet

March 29 2011, 16:24:31 UTC 6 years ago

There you go, giving me another excuse to love you more! <333

March 29 2011, 22:40:12 UTC 6 years ago

That's what I live for!

March 29 2011, 16:24:32 UTC 6 years ago

I will also be writing a polite letter to Running Press.

March 29 2011, 22:40:21 UTC 6 years ago

Good idea.

Well Done

kittikins

March 29 2011, 16:46:20 UTC 6 years ago

This is well done. My wiring is fairly one way (despite a lightheaded soft spot for Eva Green) but YA fiction that contains different perspectives gave me a sense of acceptance from a very young age that I will *forever* be grateful for. Vanyel's tale in Valdemar taught me so much about love, in all its forms. I've reread that trilogy hundreds of times over the years and every time I bawl like a baby.

Re: Well Done

March 30 2011, 04:08:41 UTC 6 years ago

It's amazing, isn't it?

jacylrin

March 29 2011, 17:27:14 UTC 6 years ago

I applaud your withdrawing from the anthology. And I applaud your honesty on your own orientation. As one bi poly geek gal to another, lots n lots of love!

Granted, my young adult does not generally read things from the Young Adult section (she's read all 5 of your currently published books more than once--including Late Eclipses, which she's already been through at least twice). But if you are in a collection, we will get it.

March 30 2011, 04:09:01 UTC 6 years ago

I read a lot from the YA section. It's soothing and fun. :)

glam_k

March 29 2011, 17:33:42 UTC 6 years ago

And once again, you've just proven that you are made of pure WIN. (And AWESOME.)
Thank you for making a stand... and for giving a damn. (It would be so much easier to do neither--especially when it's costing you a paycheck!--but you're not about the "easy" way out.) YOU. ROCK.

March 30 2011, 04:09:36 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks.

I admit, being cost a paycheck makes my inner Anya whimper. But the rest of me points out that money does you no good if you're too ashamed of yourself to ever leave the house again.

marsdejahthoris

March 29 2011, 17:53:28 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you so much for this. I'm asexual, and while it's totally not the same experience... well, there aren't any stories out there for me, either. (With the possible exception of Sherlock Holmes.) So it means a lot that you're standing up on this point. Thank you.