#allkindsofother

When I first started writing my YA novel, All Kinds of Other, it was early 2016, and transgender equality seemed to be making great strides. There was a sympathetic president in office, federal protections, more inclusive language… I wondered if the problems my young characters encountered would even be relevant to teen readers when it was published. Progress always moves forward, right? 
Cut to 2023. 
There are more than 300 bills circulating at this moment through Republican-controlled state legislatures (Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, South Dakota… it’s relentless), aimed squarely at harassing, demonizing, and even eradicating the trans community. Outlawing medical care, policing restrooms and locker rooms, even criminalizing parents and doctors who are trying to help their children get the gender-affirming care they need. It’s fear-mongering and cynical political opportunism at its worst, paid for by vulnerable trans kids, their friends, families, and larger communities. It’s all part of a larger plan to suppress nonconformity and stifle our individual freedoms by policing queer bodies.  
The trans community has always been on the forefront of the LGBTQ struggle for equality. It’s time to step up for them: our trans siblings; our trans parents; our trans children; our trans friends. Be an ally. Push back against hate. Stay informed (@chasestrangio @alokvmenon @therealalexandrabillings @pinkmantaray are good people to follow) Donate. Reach out. Vote. 

#transrightsarehumanrights #lgbtqia #AllKindsofOther @weneeddiversebooks #lgbtq  #queerlit #protectstranskids 
#protectqueerkids  https://www.instagram.com/p/CpndEbQJeez/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

One guy’s hand is docked into the other’s so smoothly, like it was meant to fit there. No one stares or points, nothing. The two keep holding hands as they walk up the steps. The action of one hand slipping so easily into another—that’s what I want. I want that for my hand. 🥺 #jamessie #allkindsofother https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd38ltoLYkc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

One of the reasons that I wanted to write ALL KINDS OF OTHER was that, at the time, there were very, very few love stories that centered trans teens, and virtually none with trans masculine teens. Luckily, now there are many more queer YA love stories, and authors (many of them trans and nb-identifying) like @aidenschmaiden , @toblymcsmith, Kacen Callender, and @emeryleebooks , who have filled the gap. To the queer teens out there— Valentines Day is for you, too. What makes you different makes you special. You are worthy of love, from yourself, and from others. ❤️❤️❤️ #queerlit #transrightsarehumanrights #lgbtqia #AllKindsofOther @weneeddiversebooks f#bookstagram #authorsofinstagram #authorlife #quilltreebooks #queerya @harpercollins #lgbtqia https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ9-KIiv13K/?utm_medium=tumblr

We just watched Ordinary People for the first time in a long time. It wrecked me. WRECKED ME. I started welling up on the first notes of Pachelbel’s Canon in D, and the movie never let me go from there. And after watching it, I realized just how much of that movie was a touchstone for me—the heartbreak of a dysfunctional family; overcoming trauma as an adolescent; the challenge, and necessity, of connection—these are themes that I’m attracted to in movies and books, and themes that run throughout my writing. Judith Guest’s novel was great, but the movie adaptation has imprinted itself in my DNA. #ordinarypeople #weeping #pachelbelscanoninD #AllKindsofOther #bookstagram #authorsofinstagram #authorlife #nextupSophiesChoice https://www.instagram.com/p/CP8iLyVJSRK/?utm_medium=tumblr

@shaandasani​ is a STANDOUT in this audiobook. I mean, he nails all the nuance, the snark and the heart of Jack. Just take a listen. He's got such clarity and warmth to his voice, and there are emotional beats to his performance that I didn't even know were in the text. I think his narration is the perfect alchemy of talent and authenticity. This is his first audiobook, and if my book can introduce him into that world, it has already done a good thing indeed. • • • #bookstagram #harpercollinsaudiobooks #authorsofinstagram #authorlife @epicreads @mbc_books @weneeddiversebooks @harpercollins #AllKindsofOther #historyisallyouleftme https://www.instagram.com/p/CPbRiEhJyza/?utm_medium=tumblr

So proud to be part of this list! @kirkus_reviews #allkindsofother @epicreads @mbc_books @weneeddiversebooks @harpercollins #quilltreebooks #queerya #transvisibility #transrightsarehumanrights https://www.instagram.com/p/CO22mBVJ9Z6/?igshid=13ul94oshxb2y

I’d play the song “Visions of Gideon” over this one. @epicreads @mbc_books @weneeddiversebooks @harpercollins #quilltreebooks #queerya #transvisibility #transrightsarehumanrights #AllKindsofOther #bookstagram #authorsofinstagram #authorlife #sufjanstevens https://www.instagram.com/p/COxw9Cyp8wq/?igshid=tu37idj4ilvp

On my way to @skylightbooks for some signing action! GUESS WHAT: We sold an outstanding 77 COPIES of ALL KINDS OF OTHER at Skylight as of Sunday night. That’s double lucky! The significance of that, of course, is that it means we raised (pulls out calculator) $385 for the @lalgbtcenter ! That, combined with a FB donation page connected to the launch, means that over $500 will be shuttling over to the Center, to help our queer community with housing, training, and health and social services. A HUGE thank-you to all of those who placed an order at Skylight—you’ve made a big difference! @epicreads @mbc_books @weneeddiversebooks @harpercollins #quilltreebooks #queerya #transvisibility #transrightsarehumanrights #AllKindsofOther #bookstagram #authorsofinstagram #authorlife https://www.instagram.com/p/COtC2qPJsLS/?igshid=1j2088d7mcw1l