Alex Gino
@lxgino
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They/them. Stonewall-winning MG author. Fat femme. Pun wielder. Curser. Good, not nice. Defund cops and pay reparations. Making things complicated since 1977.
Western MA, US/Unceded Nipmuc
Joined October 2011
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![[Jukebox]](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1112370634367983616/GL8KVgYB.jpg)
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It's that time again! My latest, GREEN, is out on Oct 3. GREEN is the third loosely connected book, following MELISSA and RICK and their LGBTQIA+ friends. You can pre-order a signed copy at High Five Books () or Oblong Books ().
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As a queer person whose books have been banned and challenged, can I ask that folks steer away from this "if you want to tell your own kids what to read, fine!"
No! It's not fine! Queer kids in queerphobic homes especially need access to queer books away from home.
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Hurray! I can finally announce that Scholastic & I are officially changing the title of my first book to respect Melissa and all trans people. What we call people matters and we all deserve to be addressed in ways that feel good. New edition in 4/22.
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Hey
@lyft
! Your driver just kicked my mom and me out of a car because our feet don't reach the floor (we're short) and she said our shoes would touch the back of her seat the way we sit. Got my cancellation fee back but there's no way on your site to tell you about the ADA fail.
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Do not invite an author to your school if you don't have anyone on staff who can introduce them to over a hundred students without fucking up their pronouns. End tweet.
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I've addressed it before in various ways, but here's a fuller post on the title of my first book (George), which I now call Melissa's Story and hope you will too!
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And straight kids from queerphobic homes especially need access to better info. Point is, it's a bad concession that hurts the argument for the sake of niceness or something. But they're not playing nice and don't deserve our empathy.
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LOOKIT LOOKIT LOOKIT!!!!!!!! MELISSA IS FAMOUS!!!!!!
HOLY MOTHERFORKING SHIRTBALLS !!!!!!!!!!
@lxgino
is JEOPARDY FAMOUS and I am SCREAMING ALOUD
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OMG! Check out this ADORABLE picture!!!!!
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I am proud, delighted, amazed, and excited to share with you that my *third* middle grade novel, titled RICK, will be published by
@Scholastic
on 4/7/2020!!!!!!!!
Eeeeeeee!!!!! It's a companion book (not a sequel) to GEORGE!!!
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Hey folks, just a reminder that I made a huge mistake in the title of my first book, GEORGE. That is a name my MC never wants to hear again. She is fictional and it's in the narrative for a reason, but the title could have been just about anything different. I'm sorry, Melissa.
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It's official! My *fourth* book releases next spring!
So excited for this one, which features my first NB main character, takes place where I grew up on Staten Island, NY, and is filled with queer history and characters!
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Once more: You don't need to understand trans folk to respect us. I don't understand ppl who like tea over coffee, but I trust that they do.
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The first MELISSA stickers have come in!!! Spine stickers should be here within the week. Request your set(s) here:
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Meeting Zoe & Alex. Zoe's principal wouldn't allow a report on GEORGE. So I took her out for ice cream to kvetch.
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Noting how much of the inauguration is about music and poetry, and reminded that the arts are so very human and important. Keep creating, people!!!
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Rather than questioning whether books for kids are "age-appropriate" what if we talked about them being "age-conscious"?
What could traumatize one child could help another.
Instead: Is this book age-conscious? Does it acknowledge and respect the age of its readers?
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My Dad on my new book: it's good.
Me: Thanks?
Dad: It's not the best book I ever read but it's not the worst. There are some books I couldn't finish.
So effectively, my Dad on my book: I could finish it.
#realparentreviews
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From
@JasonReynolds83
talking about book bans on
@colbertlateshow
:
"We claim that we want our children to grow up to be better than we are. And in order to do so, they must have the information that we did not have."
Thank you, Jason, for putting it so clearly.
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Just wrote this in an email on sensitivity readers seeing the full manuscript and I'd like to share it with you:
It's often not the sentence we carefully construct that causes harm - it's the places where we didn't realize we needed to be careful.
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Eeee!!! I just adopted two kittens YESTERDAY! No names yet, but hopefully they will be more inspiring than distracting. :) For now, check out the octo-puss on my chair:
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The third person confirming my pronouns in relation to an event: "I understand that your pronoun preference is they/them."
Close. My pronouns are they/them. My *preference* is not to have to talk about it anymore.
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I am excited and delighted to announce that my second middle grade novel, YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING, JILLY P! will release from
@Scholastic
on Sept 25. Fabulous cover reveal and more thoughts from me here:
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If you have a copy of MELISSA with its old title (George) and you'd like a free set of stickers to fix it, I'll be sending out a batch soon. Just fill out the form here:
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There are a lot of reasons why I, a nonbinary femme, never legally changed my name or gender. Frankly, news like today's is one of those.
Trans/GNC/questioning folk: I see you, I love you.
Cis folks: Tread lightly with us. Listen to our fears. Proclaim your shock elsewhere.
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Rough draft gem from Book 3. I hope I get to keep it!:
“Dad says I’m a late bloomer.”
“Maybe. Or maybe, you're blooming now, and you’re just not the kind of flower he was expecting.”
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Sing it with me:
Ally is a verb not a noun
Ally is a verb not a noun
Allying is an action, not an identity
Ally is a verb not a noun.
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Kirk Cameron is posting hate about me (and tagging me in it - tacky.) This is not the future that childhood me could have predicted. Talk about Growing Pains. (Not asking for a pile on. I just think we live in bizarre world.)
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I'm sorry for my part in furthering the notion to literally thousands of people that it is ever acceptable to refer to a trans person by a name that doesn't work for them. I refer to it as "Melissa's Story" and I ask you to do the same when reasonable. Thank you.
#NamesHavePower
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Gave my Dad THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END by
@AdamSilvera
. His comment: "OK, I just won't read the last page then."
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@getnicced
OMG. "Gender natural" was my favorite part of this article, hands down. My gender totally has a perm.
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Having a hard time writing. Then I remembered why. We're only days from the anniversary of the start of our national nightmare. So how about this:
I'm gonna go have a snack.
USers: if you have/plan to vote, like this tweet.
When I get back, I will edit a minute for every like!
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My roommate and I are living our best Christmas tree lives.
@nicolebyer
is our star!
#NailedIt
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Detailed recommendations on how to write and talk about trans people:
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Taking the first batch of MELISSA stickers to the post office today. Get yours here, or sign up to distribute to schools/libraries:
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Librarians: You can redownload the OCLC master file and it should have "Melissa's Story" as an alternate title. Did I say that right?
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Taking another batch of stickers to the post office today. I've now distributed over 1,000 sets of Melissa stickers. Get yours for free/donation here:
Get a bunch and distribute to your local libraries, schools, etc.!
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About ready to include a "mispronoun fee" rider on all future public speaking contracts. It'll still suck to walloped in my intro, right when I'm trying to compose myself, but the green will soften the blow. That's how capitalism works, right?
#ItHappenedAgain
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Looking for a bright spot this spring? Look no further because ALICE AUSTEN LIVED HERE, the MG novel I'm proudest of yet, is out from
@Scholastic
in exactly 2 months!!! Chosen family, exploring LGBTQIAP+ history, fabulous baked goods, and so much more!
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@thatlauraruby
@lyft
In New Orleans, no less. If she's that upset about how people are in her car, this is not the job for her. I wish her a 1000 service ponies.
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This line in an email to my editor is the best thing I will write all week. I should pack it in and go take in the fall foliage:
"I'd love to pull references to my Hogwarts house & patronus from the FAQ [at the back of MELISSA]. They're inTERFering with the tone of the piece."
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Update: Lyft has reached out. Wish I could have just sent an email instead of causing a public stink, but here we are.
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Oh, and before you suggest to me what *I* should to do fix it, trust me, I've been in conversations with my publisher. But queer & trans community is all about Do-It-Yourself while pushing for systemic change. Just use her name, k?
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- TALK TO YOUR LIBRARIANS ABOUT THEIR COLLECTIONS! They are generally very proud of them. And if there's someone on staff causing resistance, saying "a patron asked about" can hold a lot more weight than "I think".
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In other words, I was a LOCAL LIBRARY HERO!!! And you can be too!!!
- If you see a discarded book that is a current, quality title, ask to check it out instead of buying it. (If there isn't already a copy on the shelf.)
- No Pride display? Ask why not.
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I just finished season 3 of One Day At A Time and really, I don't care if you press play and leave the room. Get this show hits so they keep making it. I have never seen a Dad center his queer kid like that anywhere in media. What if my family and I had grown up watching this?
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I just got my first ever(!) tattoo to celebrate the release of my THIRD book, RICK, in April. Impossible and queer as heck, just like me. It's a variation on a Penrose triangle, an optical illusion I've loved for years, and three sides are perfect for three books.
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I just dyed my hair and it came out really good. And I made next to no mess in the bathroom! This is truly a book announcement day miracle.
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Also, I want to own that the initial mistake of letting the book be called "GEORGE" was mine. There's a history of cisdominant culture behind it, but it was still a mistake.
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Starting an email and "happy" felt a little strong, so I went with, "Hey! Precarious New Year!"
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People tell me that George "opened their eyes". And great. But I wish it hadn't taken me writing a book to get them to respect trans people.
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I'm so delighted that RICK is out in the world. Happy-as-a-clam Melissa, a middle school LGBTQIAP+ rights group, exploration of asexuality, a cosplaying Grandpa, and much more!
I hope you'll join me today at 3 PDT/6 EDT for the Virtual Launch Party at
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Something I noticed at the ALA children's book awards this morning: no book but the Caldecott or Newbery got as many cheers as the Stonewall for Julian is a Mermaid. And if you were cheering, I would like you to ask yourself what that's about.
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"Okay it wasn't THAT good but it was still good. My head didn't pop off because of boredom."
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No. Fucks. Left. Was just offered an ARC of a YA that I looked up and found has a gender neutral (or gender unstated) main character (not mentioned in the email). Written by a straight cis person who has spoken out against the need for diverse lit. My response:
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When teens say "no one understands me", they're not wrong (and neither were we.) Part of growing up is realizing that every else has unique perspectives as real as our own and we may never *fully* understand each other. That's a HARD blow. No wonder they're melodramatic.
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Eeee! They wrote a paper about my book. Not an essay. A freakin' *paper*, people.
@CaitlinLawRyan
and I are delighted that our paper about
@lxgino
amazing book is out in the Journal of Children’s Literature. If you aren’t a subscriber and want to read it before it is available online, DM me
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End result. I went with 3 purples to coordinate with my new tattoo. (The "blue" in front is a dark purple. Really.)
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I just met a 6 year old who asked me, "what's your favorite letter? Is it Q?"
"Um, yes." How does she know? "Is it your favorite too?"
"No. My favorite's V." Talks about violins.
"So how did you know Q was mine?"
"I looked into your 'magination."
Kids are delightful. And spooky.
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Hunh? Why do I have so many twitter notifications. Oh, right! It's
#TransDayOfVisibility
! I'm right here, in case you hadn't noticed, being transer than ever.
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Oregon Battle of the Books update for those following:
The actions of a few loud bigots have, in this case, backfired.
1/3 of George sales in the last 2 months have come from Oregon.
Keep fighting and please, for the love of cheese, VOTE like your life depends on it. Many do.
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A1: To be frank? It sucks. It's not a "badge of honor". As a trans person writing about another trans person, when Melissa's Story is challenged, someone is saying that my existence is too scary, too deviant, too monstrous, to show to children. It hurts. [1/3}
#BannedBooksChat
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"I have absolutely had people say mean and ignorant things to my face. Sometimes I correct them. Sometimes I decide not to get into it. But I always go back to my people later and get support to remind myself that I am real and that I deserve to be happy just as I am."
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Hey folks! I just got an email this morning that sparked me to remind you of this PSA about apologizing for pronoun slips:
Spoiler: I recommend three steps.
1) Apologize.
2) Move on.
3) If you have feelings, process with a cis person.
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I know they make "I Read Banned Books" shirt but but what about "I Write Banned Books"? Niche market, I know. I may have to get one made.
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To any queer/trans youth who are outraged and active right now: YES! SHOUT! WE NEED YOUR VOICE!
And to any queer/trans youth who are overwhelmed and feeling like they "should" be doing something more: EVERY DAY YOU MAKE IT THROUGH, YOU ARE ENOUGH AND THEN SOME!
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It's Monday and you could probably use cheering up. So here's a first look at the cover for ALICE AUSTEN LIVED HERE, out 4/5/22. It's filled with queer community, family, and history, all set where I grew up!
Pre-order here for a personalized signature:
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Awww!
With permission and encouragement from the author
@lxgino
, a Gr. 8 student redesigned this cover to accurately represent the main character.
#sharpieactivism
@TCSBears
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Yeah, so basically, I spent 20 minutes telling kids that who they are is real and worthy, right after they all witnessed me not being held as real and worthy. I'm really not loving.
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Check out my personally curated Pride recommendations at
@BooksIncEvents
in Campbell!
@katebornstein
@mrjaycoles
@AdamSilvera
@corey_whaley
@andimJULIE
@billkonigsberg
@ca_london
@kheryncasey
@JackieWoodson
@MollyOstertag
@ashleyhblake
@GaylePitman
@MayaGonzalezArt
and more!
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Also, go and read Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender. That book deserves equal cheer!
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I didn't quite realize this was a full interview, rather than one to get some pull-quotes. So I was a little looser than I might otherwise have been. But it lead to my favorite way to end an interview:
"It is a fricking culture shift."
Author of the most-banned book in the U.S. speaks out: 'I expect to be relegated to the edges'
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If you're feeling like you don't know what to do about
#Charolettesville
, think big picture. Get diverse books into kids' hands.
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Today's Ally thought:
The moment you're sure you're doing it right, you are not. Doing it right itself requires recognizing that you can't always know when you're wrong. And what's right for one person is wrong for another. Welcome to the Uncertainty.
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Why yes, I DID run out of MELISSA stickers and ordered 4 times as many.
Why yes, I DID try to take a selfie.
Why no, it DID NOT go well.
Get yours here:
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It's happening! MELISSA cover and spine stickers have been ordered. If you'd like yours, or you'd like to help distribute, fill out the form here:
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Thanks for the love, all. It still feels weird. I'm so used to being "tolerated" sometimes that it feels normal. How many times did I hear "well you have to admit it's hard."
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I LOVE school visits. (Really, I do! Let's plan one!) And I also love this new bit of my
@AuthorVillage
fact sheet:
"If you use the wrong pronoun, please correct yourself and move on. If a representative or the sponsoring school or organization does not correct themself, [1/2]
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Quick tip for cis writers writing trans characters:
1) Search your manuscript for phrases "trapped" & "wrong body"
2) If found, replace them
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Thinking of the fierce, mostly trans, mostly POC folks who rioted at Stonewall Inn and who made a Children's LGBT award from ALA possible.
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As a kid raised on Little House (Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls was my first crush), what I give up in not passing these stories onto my niblets is nothing compared to what we all gain in acknowledging the genocide of Native Americans. Rename the award!
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A young reader emailed me to say they'd never experienced an ace character before RICK. And then they said something that hit super close to home: "If there was no label to describe me, I’d just have to be who I was, whether or not I could see myself in real or fictional people."
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"Given that Xxxx Xxxxx is a straight cisgender person writing a gender neutral character, combined with hxx past comments disregarding the importance of diverse representation in literature, I will need to pass on this."
Sorry
@literaticat
. I know telling people off is your job.
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Read more about my thoughts on the decision here:
And download a new cover for your copy from
@Scholastic
!
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Some thoughts on name/pronoun goofs. In summary:
1. Say "excuse me"
2. Move on
3. Talk to someone who isn't me
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I'm seeing posts about revising lately. Yaay! As someone who's currently in the "build a mountain of words" stage, I am envious of the "pick at it until it's a book" times. And can I make a special request, if you haven't already?:
CHECK YOUR WORK FOR CASUAL FATPHOBIA.*
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A teacher asked me what age my book is appropriate for. I asked a fellow author how often she hears that word: appropriate. "Almost never" she told me. The teacher laughed and said, "what, did I offend you?" This is why I can't have nice things - I see the turd under the shine.
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Omg. Living THE DREAM. Recording the audiobook for RICK. Consonants are my enemy. Red leather, yellow leather. Also? Consistent character voices.
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I found my author copies of MELISSA from
@Scholastic
at my front door this morning. To celebrate, I'll send a personalized, signed copy to FIVE people who preorder ALICE AUSTEN LIVED HERE (out June 7) from anywhere but am*z*n. Just send preorder proof to alex
@alexgino
.com.
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It's my 43rd birthday!!!
If you're a US citizen who was 13-16 years old when Melissa's story (GEORGE) came out, you're now of voting age. Some gifts I would cherish from you TODAY:
- register to vote
- check your status
- make a voting plan
- help a friend register
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When there's a fuss about a book in a library, that's a CHALLENGE. I encourage you to use that word and BAN if a book is, in fact, removed from a collection. Not that challenges aren't terrible, but they are rarely effective. "Ban" gives them credit for a game they usually lose.
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Check it out! This is completely delightful!!!
@Scholastic
, I think we may have a future book designer on our hands.
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