Authors, Kai Strand & LA Dragoni

I feel like there is this totally conspicuous silence out there in the world. A big, yawing void of nothing happening and a big part of the silence stems from a single organization.  If an organization has a huge platform they should use it, right? So, why hasn’t the NRA and their extensive education program thrown their weight and their voice behind things like supporting the existing , responsible gun laws to make sure that criminals can’t buy guns and to assure background checks are done? Why aren’t they riling up their 5 million members to feel that gun owners/buyers/sellers follow the law or chance losing their individual rights? Why aren’t they being more proactive instead of so defensive? It doesn’t make any sense to me. A far more effective way to protect the 2 nd Amendment is to throw your money behind prosecuting and/or rehabilitating lawbreakers. There is no single solution to our out of control problem, but there are very impactful things that can b...

Like so many others, the #metoo news that broke within the last week in the children's publishing arena really surprised/disappointed/pissed me off. It isn't just that we write for children and should know how to better comport ourselves, it's that we are grown ups and should know better than to prey on each other. Even as it sickens me, I'm so glad this conversation is happening on a huge scale. It is absolutely not acceptable to use your position of power or celebrity to take advantage of someone. And it needs to stop. While I'm not comfortable seeing people accused, tried, and found guilty in the comments section of an article, in the media, or online, I am very encouraged that this major elevation in awareness will finally, FINALLY create a safe environment for the victims to come forward immediately. To be heard. And for there to be proper investigations into conduct - without repercussions to the victim. I know a lot of why this has been allowed to go on ...

I admit, when the wolf whistles stopped, it made me a little sad. Even though I knew that being whistled at by some passing guy wasn’t anywhere near the measure of my worth, I had been brainwashed by society and maybe my upbringing to think it was important that my appearance draw positive attention. Dudes – we need to stop this culture. It makes me so sad when I see Facebook friends post pictures of their pre-teen or teenage daughters and the responses say things like, “She’s beautiful. She’ll be trouble.” Why does a pleasing arrangement of features automatically equal rebellion, trickery or seduction to some people? What if that daughter is raised with conservative values and has a whole hell of a lot of common sense? What if she has morals? Just because she’s beautiful doesn’t mean she will say yes to lecherous men, but your comment will certainly encourage those lechers to lech. It is so counter productive to the current women’s movement. We can’t expect men to stop ...