A brief look back at events earlier in the year.: seanan

A brief look back at events earlier in the year.

Every time I confirm a publication date, I write it in my dayplanner. This is both because my planner is my secondary brain (I would be lost without it, and probably homicidal), and because that way, I never forget to post when something new hits shelves. I don't like going "buy buy buy" all the time, but a certain amount of promotion comes with the job, and I like letting people know when things are available.

When I opened my planner to today, I found a note from myself, written months upon months ago, letting me know that today was the release date for Wicked Pretty Things.

Well, damn.

For those of you who may have missed the whole sordid mess, Wicked Pretty Things was a YA paranormal romance anthology in which I was supposed to have a story. I withdrew my story, as did many other authors. You can see my original post on the situation here, which includes links to various other posts on the topic. As you can probably guess (if you don't already know), it was a big mess. Eventually, so many people pulled out of the book that it was canceled. It's not coming out today; it's not coming out ever.

I hate that this book had to die. I hate that withdrawing my story was necessary. I am so very proud of our community of authors and readers and bloggers for standing up and saying "no, this is not okay; no, this is not that time; no, this is not that place; no, we will not say that we're against bullying and discrimination, and then sit passively by while we bully through exclusion, while we discriminate against teens who need literary escape as much, if not more, than anyone." We said no. We said no, and because of that, things changed, even if it was only a very little bit.

I'm sorry that I'm not celebrating this book's release day today. I'm sorry that I'm not running a contest and babbling about how wonderful it all is. But I am very, very proud of everyone who was involved with this project and stood up for what they thought and knew and believed was right. Things are getting better.

We're making them a little bit better every single day.

archangelbeth

August 2 2011, 21:35:37 UTC 5 years ago

New comment

Condolences on, well, the loss. But cheering you on for doing it.

seanan_mcguire

August 2 2011, 21:36:05 UTC 5 years ago

I really am just sad it had to happen that way.

Deleted comment

August 3 2011, 16:34:45 UTC 5 years ago

Yay!

lysystratae

5 years ago

cryptaknight

August 2 2011, 22:11:48 UTC 5 years ago

If it makes you feel better, all the drama surrounding Wicked Pretty Things and your response to it was what made me go purchase Feed for my Kindle. When your name came up, several people recommended your books; I had an Amazon gift card and thought that any author that responded in such an awesome and eloquent way had to be worth reading.

Is the short story that was intended for that anthology going to be released in another collection or sold separately?

paksenarrion2

August 3 2011, 02:18:34 UTC 5 years ago

The drama surrounding Wicked Pretty Things is what drew me to Seanan as well. So *counts fingers* eight books later, I am a huge fan of hers, not only for her writing but for her willing to take a stance on this.

dusky_rue

yellowblackhaze

August 2 2011, 22:28:15 UTC 5 years ago

It would be nice if the work that was intended for this does see the light of day in some form or another.

emurphy42

August 3 2011, 15:23:59 UTC 5 years ago

And you could call it The Last Dangerous Visions! *ducks quickly*

jenjen4280

August 2 2011, 22:36:27 UTC 5 years ago

So say we all!

August 3 2011, 16:35:51 UTC 5 years ago

Hee.

August 3 2011, 16:35:58 UTC 5 years ago

Agreed.

avahgdu

August 3 2011, 00:44:41 UTC 5 years ago

Thank you. I was not aware of you at the time this happened. So, I will thank you now.

This is just one of the many reasons you are my secret girl-friend. Ya know, even tho I am totally gay, and tell Holly Marie Combs that SHE is my secret girlfriend.

August 3 2011, 16:36:37 UTC 5 years ago

You are very welcome, and I am glad to be among your secret harem.

August 3 2011, 16:36:48 UTC 5 years ago

Word.

wfw_sj

August 3 2011, 01:22:39 UTC 5 years ago

I totally support you. Maybe "it gets better", but if it does it's because people like you make it better.

August 3 2011, 16:37:01 UTC 5 years ago

I think you're right about that.

kyrielle

August 3 2011, 02:24:22 UTC 5 years ago

I am very sorry that it had to happen the way it did.

But given what started it, I am so impressed by everyone who made sure that it was clear that what happened was not okay.

I hope that every story that didn't get printed in this particular book will eventually see the light of day in another.

August 3 2011, 16:37:08 UTC 5 years ago

Me, too.

morvab

August 3 2011, 02:36:30 UTC 5 years ago

what everyone else said - thank you for taking this stand and we really hope to read the story elsewhere someday.

August 3 2011, 16:37:18 UTC 5 years ago

I am hoping it can be made to happen.

labelleizzy

August 3 2011, 04:59:21 UTC 5 years ago

thank you for standing your ground.

August 3 2011, 16:37:50 UTC 5 years ago

I wish more people would.

emberleo

August 3 2011, 06:15:12 UTC 5 years ago

Well said, and well done!

--Ember--

August 3 2011, 16:38:48 UTC 5 years ago

Thank you.

baka_kit

August 3 2011, 06:15:40 UTC 5 years ago

(((hugs)))

Thank you for taking a stand.

August 3 2011, 16:38:56 UTC 5 years ago

I try.

mythos_amante

August 3 2011, 13:59:34 UTC 5 years ago

YES, YOU ARE! <3!!

August 3 2011, 16:39:03 UTC 5 years ago

Love ya, bunny.

ladymondegreen

August 3 2011, 14:43:29 UTC 5 years ago

I am proud of you, and sad it had to be this way, but I never expected any less of you, because you've always been this awesome.

Love, and hugs.

August 3 2011, 16:39:15 UTC 5 years ago

Love and hugs are good.

reedrover

August 3 2011, 17:24:25 UTC 5 years ago

I saw this post yesterday, and explained the whole story to a friend. Then I quoted your comment at the bottom, about how things are getting better. She and I got a little teary-eyed.

Your post back in March, where you pointed out that books didn't make your sexuality, was much appreciated. Though I think I have to disagree just a touch for myself. Books may not have caused my sexuality, but they sure made sure it bloomed and grew into something unstinting and untwisted.

Books gave me freedom to know that the many facets of sexuality existed, and might - just might - be okay even if it they are different. To use your own topical example, I started into Valdemar with Arrows of the Queen in sixth grade. Three lesbian heroines (albiet secondary characters) didn't even make me blink. Three books later, three homosexual guys showed up, and that was just fine too. ("Stick to the sheep, they don't snore." is still my favorite ending line to a book ever.) While those books, and many others, didn't influence my genetic makeup, they certainly helped me stay away from the pitfalls of assholism and name-calling, of self-doubt and anxiety, as I had to figure out who and what I was.

August 5 2011, 19:21:39 UTC 5 years ago

Oh, honey.

I am so glad you had those books.

August 3 2011, 19:34:37 UTC 5 years ago

I'd rather the book be cancelled than do what they were going to do; hopefully they learned from the experience.

August 5 2011, 19:21:45 UTC 5 years ago

hasufin

August 4 2011, 20:01:06 UTC 5 years ago

I think that you did the right thing in pulling out.

... wait, that sounds kinda wrong.

August 5 2011, 19:21:56 UTC 5 years ago

But I get your meaning. :)

ShootingStarMag

August 5 2011, 03:08:37 UTC 5 years ago

Wonderful, I'm very proud of all the authors. Did you know that Jessica Verday's short story (that was the cause of all the hoopla) is now available? She's even helping me out with a scholarship I started for LGBT and Ally youth through her sales this mouth. You can see that here:

http://jessicaverday.blogspot.com/2011/08/flesh-which-is-not-flesh-wicked-pretty.html

Thanks for being part of this!

-Lauren

lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

August 5 2011, 19:22:29 UTC 5 years ago

Oh, that's fantastic! Thank you for letting me know.

phoenixrave

August 5 2011, 03:24:12 UTC 5 years ago

This story makes me think of you the way I describe Toby to the folks whose hands I'm shoving R&R into: She's not a hero, she's just herself...who happens to be a hero.

Once again, thank you!

August 5 2011, 19:22:07 UTC 5 years ago

Oh.

Thank you.

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A brief look back at events earlier in the year.

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