Okay. Let's not pretend I'm free of bias, shall we?
I just received an email from an anonymous source using the option that Livejournal affords that says "you can send me email if you want to" (and I will be turning that option off now; if you want to reach me, you can use the website contact form and go through my PA, like everyone else). The author didn't sign their name (hence the "anonymous"), and went out of their way to say that the email address used will be invalid in two weeks. I am not reproducing the entirety of the email here, but as points have been raised that I feel are relevant to certain ongoing discussions, I will be reproducing parts of it. I will note that I have printed fan mail, both in parts and its entirety, on this blog before, and that this is not a change of policy.
In order to fairly address certain points raised by my anonymous correspondent, I will need to provide relationship spoilers for some of my works. This includes all currently published books in my three primary series; the "Velveteen vs." short stories, which are available here; and Sparrow Hill Road, which is not currently available, but is a part of the InCryptid universe. To avoid these spoilers, please do not click the cut-tag or read the comments.
I grew up very Southern Baptist, very small town America, very white bread Protestant. I have been married (to a man) for almost 20 years. It has only been by reading about alternative lifestyles and alternative love lives in novels like yours and other authors (think Laurell K. Hamilton) that I have learned that the things I want and dream about are "normal," although my husband and I joke that "normal" is just a setting on the washing machine. LOL I have found that using blue prints like I find in y'all's books, we are carving out our own acceptable (to us) lifestyle. So, thank you. And keep writing what is inside you. You inspire others. :-)
You could be writing about me. Where I grew up, homosexuality wasn't a "thing" because it didn't "exist" (that I knew of.) I was quite innocent. My only exposure to homosexuality was Mercedes Lackey's Last Herald Mage series. It was so matter-of-fact that I never had a chance to learn bigotry towards homosexuality.
Then I figured out some 8+ years into my heterosexual marriage that I am, in fact, bisexual.
Do you think the author thinks that Toby/Tybalt is bestiality? Technically he is a cat...
You know, I not-so-secretly hope that one of Verity's relatives is QUILTBAG, and that they get their own book where they are the star, or star in an interracial romance, maybe. I say this not to pressure you to write what I want; if I want this written it's my responsibility to take up the pen and make it happen. However, maybe you have the inclination, but are afraid (or someone is afraid on your behalf) that a QUILTBAG character or romance won't sell. If you ever get nervous, you can look/point to this (and posts like mine) to remind you that you have an audience hungry for that kind of story, and it will sell just fine. :)
And one of Verity's relatives is a lesbian, actually: Elsie. She doesn't currently have her own book planned, but her relationship is the core romance in the Antimony-does-roller derby stories.
Knowing me, she will eventually develop her own book.
What a complete waste of time that e-mail was to send. Not only was it off base it was completely without merit. I'm not surprised but I am disappointed that they didn't have the courage to stand behind their convictions. Says an awful lot about how strongly they feel about the subject if they're not willing to have their name attached to it.
grumpy
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June 28 2013, 04:43:13 UTC 4 years ago
June 30 2013, 17:26:24 UTC 4 years ago
Then I figured out some 8+ years into my heterosexual marriage that I am, in fact, bisexual.
Funny how things work out.
July 28 2013, 17:03:52 UTC 3 years ago
Thank you.
June 29 2013, 14:13:43 UTC 4 years ago
You know, I not-so-secretly hope that one of Verity's relatives is QUILTBAG, and that they get their own book where they are the star, or star in an interracial romance, maybe. I say this not to pressure you to write what I want; if I want this written it's my responsibility to take up the pen and make it happen. However, maybe you have the inclination, but are afraid (or someone is afraid on your behalf) that a QUILTBAG character or romance won't sell. If you ever get nervous, you can look/point to this (and posts like mine) to remind you that you have an audience hungry for that kind of story, and it will sell just fine. :)
July 28 2013, 17:04:49 UTC 3 years ago
And one of Verity's relatives is a lesbian, actually: Elsie. She doesn't currently have her own book planned, but her relationship is the core romance in the Antimony-does-roller derby stories.
Knowing me, she will eventually develop her own book.
June 30 2013, 02:14:40 UTC 4 years ago
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
*gasp*
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Best use of location ever...
July 28 2013, 17:05:12 UTC 3 years ago
July 1 2013, 12:59:01 UTC 4 years ago
July 28 2013, 17:05:23 UTC 3 years ago
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