Unfortunate Shout Outs
It seems like every movie or book that has a love story with a disabled character has an obligatory sentence about those freaks who are attracted to disabled people. It really annoys me. It’s always a love story where the people “really” love each other, as though that’s different from how a devotee and a person with a disability could feel about each other. The guy (in my case) will complain that he can’t get a normal date. Of course there are these weird people out there who will date guys in wheelchairs because they like it, but who would want that? Thank goodness the heroine is a nice normal non-dev woman. You know what? A lot of devs are reading and watching these stories. And it is painful when we’re going along, enjoying...
Read MoreAllies
Disability civil rights is a subject that I am very passionate about. I got started in it as a way to put my devness to good use, as it were. I didn’t want to use it for my own pleasure, but to take my great interest and put it towards helping people. I’ve sometimes encountered a bit of a problem with that, though. My help in this situation is not always wanted. There’s a long history of non-disabled people deciding what’s best for people who have disabilities. We swoop in all cocky and sure of ourselves to help save the poor crippled people. There’s a strong backlash against this. I think this person on Tumblr put it the best… Able bodied people…did I ask for your opinion? The Sequel I must now interrupt your...
Read MoreReveal…
There’s a new book I’m working on and I’m very excited to share some of the details with you. It started as a short story idea, but quickly the characters took hold of me and insisted on a full novel to tell their story. Be(Longing) A talented paraplegic singer finds success when his able-bodied brother pretends to be him. Dylan Sinclair wants a future in music, but he feels held back by his disability. In a moment of desperation he hatches a plan to have his brother, who can’t sing at all, impersonate him. Record executives are happy to go along with the charade and David’s career quickly takes off. Dylan must watch and keep quiet, never getting any acknowledgement for his work. When a beautiful reporter starts writing a biography...
Read MoreFriday Excerpt: True Tales
I have a couple of really big projects in the works right now. Two novels on the horizon! While I’m busy working on those, here’s another excerpt from my little book of true stories from my dating life… ### “I’ll call you tonight when I get back,” he said and I kissed him through his car window. He didn’t call that night. Though he had been calling me every single night, a week went by without a word. I knew already that he had no intention of continuing with me, but I wanted him to be man enough to say it. I called him on the next Sunday and left a voicemail. I calmly told him that I would like an explanation for his disappearing. He did call back and he said that the distance was too much. I knew that it was just an easy excuse for him. He...
Read MoreA Writer’s Responsibility
There are those who say that one should “write what you know.” And how far does that get you? What can I be said to “know”? I can write the experience of a white, middle class girl in America and that’s about it. So I have not heeded that advice. I’ve needed to have male characters, so obviously that’s not writing what I know. However, I’ve pushed the envelope farther than that. I’ve written from the point of view of Indians (and I do have extensive experience with Indian culture in my every day life) and, obviously, I’ve written from the point of view of people who have physical disabilities that I do not have. I think that I do it well. Others might feel, though, that I don’t have the right to...
Read MoreProgress Trackers
At proofreaders; available for pre-order
What Is Meant To Be
Second draft
Homework & Homicide (working title)
Second Draft
Book Montage
RFW winner October 7, 2011
