Meredith Mooring
@meredithmwrites
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SFFH writer, employment lawyer, blind/albinism, guide dog user, she/her. REDSIGHT @rebellionpub (spring 2024) rep @erniechiara at @FuseLiterary
north carolina
Joined October 2017
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REDSIGHT👁️🩸 releases today in the US and Thursday Feb. 29th in the UK ❤️
This has been such a long journey. I remember writing this book in my apartment until 2 AM every night and having no sleep for two months. Then I just kept the book on my computer for months
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Petition to let disabled people write cyberpunk. “What if my arm was a gun” is not an interesting question. “What if I had to pay a monthly licensing fee to use my limbs” is.
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it's 🚨 International Albinism Awareness Day 🚨 !!!
I’ve made a lot of posts about how albinism is depicted in film/books but I wanted to share what it’s actually like to live with this disease. There are stereotypes around this illness because people don’t understand it 1/21
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If a young person reads an adult book with content they don’t understand, maybe it’s more appropriate to ask their parents to monitor what they read instead of expecting adult authors to consider accidental child readers. I do not consider 1/2
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the impact my books could have on kids because I write adult fiction and I’d expect their parents to decide those things. Some art is meant for a specific audience and that’s ok. 2/2
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Why are y'all always like this? Why do SFF books CONSTANTLY use albinism to show that something is evil, disgusting, weird, and bad? "It's just an albino rabbit not a person" do you know how many times people have compared me to these fucking rabbits.
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Ok publishing. We need to have another talk about albinism and your obsession with turning us into fantasy creatures.
ONCE AGAIN I started a book only to discover the author has used albinism, blindness, and disability as a fantasy aesthetic, all in a matter of pages. 1/6 🧵
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me writing the 1st draft vs. me on the 2nd draft figuring out what the fuck I meant
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If you’ve ever seen an albino animal, yes, that’s what I’m talking about. Albinism is a genetic disease that impacts around 1 in 20,000 Americans, but in certain parts of Africa it can be as common as 1 in 3,000 people 2/21
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The United Nations created International Albinism Awareness Day to address the discrimination and persecution people with this disease have to deal with. In some parts of the world people with albinism are accused of witchcraft and hunted for their body parts 3/21
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Hello everyone. I’d like to make a statement about recent events. A former friend severely harmed many other people and systematically lied to me for years on end. 🧵
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There are several subtypes and some of them cause additional health problems, such as a compromised immune system, difficulty clotting blood, and difficulty breathing. But the most common issue with albinism is vision problems and susceptibility to several types of cancer. 6/21
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Since learning about Jay Kristoff’s 4 special arcs for his upcoming book, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss a very serious problem with one of his other novels.
A thread about albinism in NEVERNIGHT by Jay Kristoff 1/31
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I’ve also had people tell me they didn’t know there were real albino people and they thought it was only in fantasy books. Because of this I think it’s important to share information about what it’s actually like to have this disease. 5/21
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Most people have melanin in their eyes. Melanin is pigment that gives color to the iris. If you don’t have melanin in your iris it can’t filter light, which makes it very difficult to see. “I thought everyone with albinism had red eyes” actually most of us don’t. 8/21
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Visual impairment is part of the diagnostic criteria for albinism, and that’s something most people don’t know until I explain it to them. 7/21
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It’s more common to have blue eyes, and for the red blood vessels to be kind of visible in certain types of light. This can cause a violet effect or really exaggerated red pupils in photos because of how the light reflects. Flash photography makes this stand out even more. 9/21
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"Why are so many fantasy protagonists 20 years old? Where are the 30-40 year olds?"
There's a specific reason for this, and it's due to how publishing functions and not due to what authors or readers want. 🧵1/5
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Some POC may have green or hazel eyes while still having albinism. Here’s more information from the Mayo Clinic about how this disease impacts vision:
10/21
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With assistive technology I can do many of the same things able-bodied people do. I hope this clears up some of the misconceptions people have about this disease and what it’s like to have it. 21/21
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I don't enjoy the accessible literature trend. I love having to look up new words. I love when authors use unusual syntax or totally different narrative structures. I love complex worlds. My favorite books break my brain in some way.
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That’s a question I get all the time. “How are you blind if you have some vision?” Most blind people have some remaining vision, even if it’s just the ability to perceive light and nothing else. 20/21
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So how do we live with these issues? There’s all kinds of devices for people with low/reduced vision, like this magnifying dome. I use one of these to read print. 11/21
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I’ll probably delete this, but when I was 11-12 I started reading adult books. YA was not a thing. And somehow I still understood that books aren’t real and fiction doesn’t have to model appropriate behavior at all times. Shocking, but a story can be fun without being didactic
It's the end of the year and everyone's too drunk and tired to start discourse, so drop your most controversial book take now.
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Lots of people use a CCTV to read books/papers. They’re expensive but I have one at home that Services for the Blind got me while I was in college. 12/21
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A lot of people with albinism still wear glasses but even with them on they don’t correct all our visual problems. My glasses correct my vision to 20/400, which means I’m still legally blind with glasses on. Most people can get corrected to 20/20 with glasses/contacts. 19/21
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“but how do you use twitter?” With the accessibility features that come on my Macbook 13/21
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Why are there no first time home buyers? Why is no one having large weddings? Why is no one having kids? Why does no one pay for golf memberships? Why does no one shop at the mall? Why are people getting 7 year car loans? Why does no one pay for a hair stylist anymore? Why does n
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I had to mute this thread but there are some very cool discussions happening in the comments.
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It’s really common for people with albinism to use a white cane or a guide dog to get around. There are several styles of white canes that function differently. 17/21
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When I’m using apple’s zoom feature I only have about ¼ of the screen on my monitor at a time, which means I can look at everything 4x the size it normally is. You can turn this on under system preferences > accessibility > zoom 14/21
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Some people use screen readers instead. On mac that’s called VoiceOver and it audibly describes everything on your screen and lets you navigate webpages with keyboard commands. I use that in the evenings when my eyes are tired. 16/21
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Why is “unlikeable” the go-to insult for women protagonists? Why are women expected to be enjoyable to other people at all costs, even in books?
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IPhones and IPads come with this feature too. I have a huge monitor so it’s enlarged 4x on an even larger screen. 15/21
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Please support this list of affected books. If your book was affected and is not on this list, please comment so I can add your work
Hana Lee
Bethany Baptiste
Kamilah Cole
Molly X Chang
Thea Guanzon
RM Virtue
KM Enright
Francis White
Katrina Kwan
Akure Phénix
Daniel Jensen
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I get bored of trends very quickly. We don’t need 1,000 heist books, or hundreds of books about fae that feel like they belong on the CW, or dark academia that does nothing to interrogate class/privilege in education
qrt with your unpopular bookish opinions that will leave you like this
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Additionally, I want to apologize to Bethany Baptiste for believing her statements were directed at me, and for misunderstanding Black southern vernacular. I’m sorry for not handling the discussion privately.
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If you guys think sci-fi and disability is interesting you should add my novel on goodreads!!!! It comes out in 2024
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There are so many people who read fantasy who refuse to read science fiction, and I think it’s partially due to exclusionary gender norms around genre, but also trad pub’s refusal to accept science fantasy. There’s no easy on-ramp to sci-fi if you aren’t already familiar with it.
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I told an IRL friend about my book and he said “so is it going to be in the young women’s paranormal fantasy romance section” with such contempt. I said no, it’s an adult novel, but it’s WILD how far the dislike for women authors goes. This guy doesn’t even read.
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There’s been a lot of discussion about fantasy books that get things WRONG with disabled characters, so I wanted to highlight a book that absolutely gets it RIGHT.
As a blind SFF reader, one of my favorite books from the past several years is BLACK SUN by
@RoanhorseBex
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Because albinism is a real disease that actual human beings have and when you treat us like fantasy creatures it makes life DANGEROUS for people with this disease.
People get murdered in certain countries because of the association between albinism and magic 4/6
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Bethany and I have discussed the situation privately. She has stated she had no intention of insulting anyone’s disability and I 100% believe her. I COMPLETELY CONDEMN any harassment or accusations of ableism directed towards her.
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@jo_mosexual
@Uber
Drivers have done this to me for having a disability and there is a disability complaint section on their website you can go to. I’ve had better luck with Lyft drivers and don’t use Uber anymore
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anyone who thinks romance novels have unrealistic plots should know I dated a taxidermist and when I got a literary agent he sent me a long DM saying he's thought about me every day for 10 yrs despite being married. actually this is more like a horror novel 🤔💀 protect yourself
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and their body parts are sold on the black market. Today. Right now. As I type this! I don’t think I can convey how WRONG it is to lean into that stereotype over and over. 5/6
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Apparently I really can’t convey it because I have been complaining about this problem in the book community for years. It’s honestly traumatic to have people who are my peers promote these ideas. At my expense. And at the expense of others like me. 6/6
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In 2019, I watched a movie so awful something in my brain SNAPPED and I became convinced that I could write a book that was better than this film that received millions in corporate investment. And I was right lmao!!!
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that they are promoting OFFENSIVE, STEREOTYPICAL, HARMFUL work. “But why is it a problem to have a fantasy character with white skin and red eyes and call them a ghost and make them seem inhuman.” 3/6
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This is a disease that human beings actually have, and every time people use this imagery it makes life worse for people with my disease.
The entire point of this cover is to use a real ILLNESS as visual shorthand for evil/weird/wrong. Even the way it ties hell with albinism.
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saw a tweet recently like "I want to see a heroine go dark and stay that way" and yes, cosigned. Another thing: I want heroines who rejects simplistic morality. I want heroines who become adults and have to deal with moral nuance
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I naively thought a person I’d known for that amount of time wouldn’t behave in such a malicious way toward other authors, but it quickly became clear that is the case. I have ended all contact with Cait and do not want to ever be contacted by her again for any reason.
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I am deeply sorry for any harassment she’s had to experience because of this. I should have been more understanding of her perspective. I am absolutely horrified that a former friend’s actions may have damaged Bethany’s career in any way.
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I’ve seen this exact problem in books by authors I otherwise like, in books represented by extremely successful agents, in books published at the most prestigious imprints. What this shows me is the most important people in publishing do not know, or care 2/6
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I went to vote and a poll worker said to my boyfriend “it’s good you get her out of the house to vote,” as if blind people don’t leave their homes???
What do Ableds conveniently get wrong about chronic illness in order to turn a profit, prop up supremacy culture, or just to be an asshole?
Use:
#KnivesOutSpoonies
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mass dropping authors, the decline in pitch events, the complete disappearance of mentorship programs, and the number of agents/editors leaving publishing are all related. the industry is contracting and this isn't a coincidence. things were so different 4-5 years ago
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If you think this thread is interesting please add my novel on goodreads it comes out in 2024!
I’m finally a goodreads author! Which means you can add REDSIGHT to your TBR!
If you’re a fan of GIDEON THE NINTH ⚔️or KILLING EVE 🖤 this book is for you. You can ask me questions about the book on this webpage -->
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I am horrified and disturbed that anyone would engage in this type of behavior for any reason. I want to apologize for supporting someone I thought was a friend and believing them when they told me they had nothing to do with what went on.
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And quite a few of you who claim to care about diversity and different points of view seem to think this kind of imagery is ok. Albinism is a disability that people actually live with. Please stop being so ignorant and educate yourselves.
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@iamaroadtrip
@StrivingAlly
the topic was consent and they only invited one woman? that must have been very hard to endure
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In hindsight, I should have waited for more information before taking any action. What Cait did was reprehensible, and I support the authors whose books were affected.
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A restaurant just refused me service because I have a guide dog. Even when I explained that she’s a service dog and I’m blind. This happens all the time and I should be used to it but it always makes me feel bad.
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✨NEWS ✨
I’m very excited to announce that I’m now represented by
@Erniechiara
at
@Fuseliterary
!!!! I feel incredibly lucky to have an agent who really gets my gothic space opera about a blind priestess who bends space time. For news about 💫🩸REDSIGHT 🩸💫 watch this account!
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Don’t use this to harass Dan Brown or GRRM, either.
However, I would like an apology and a commitment to do better in the future. If you guys have questions about albinism in media or what everyday life is like with this disorder I’m happy answer them. 31/31
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The other reason: I wasn’t sure that anyone would care. Disability representation seems to be an afterthought in traditional publishing. Trad pub is getting better about this for other marginalized groups, but representation of disability has a lot of room for improvement. 28/31
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did anyone else write a "book" in high school? I wrote a novel for my senior project and I'm terrified to look at it now 😅
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What the actual fuck. This is not funny.
There are actual blind people who write books, myself included. If that sounds impossible to you, then ask yourself why, exactly, you feel that way.
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REDSIGHT is an adult science-fantasy with
✨ Blind witches that bend spacetime
🩸Body horror
💞Sapphic Hades and Persephone inspired romance
🐍Serpent goddesses
💀Space pirates
#amquerying
#amwritingfantasy
#WritingCommunity
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Adult fantasy is an extremely small market. There aren't many editors to pitch to compared to other genres, and if you write a crossover book with characters in between adult and YA, you can pitch the same book to adult imprints and YA imprints 2/5
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I really don't like that I have to constantly explain this to people who should know better.
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Like having visual impairment. Not having melanin in your eyes or having a reduced amount of melanin does impact vision, and these stereotypical depictions never mention this. The disability is erased. 14/31
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You may hear folks refer to animals or people as “albino.” I don’t like saying that, I prefer to say “person with albinism.” Calling someone “an albino” can be dehumanizing. 4/31
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I’d like to add that my complaint is not with Leigh as a person. She’s a writer, not a cover designer. I’m concerned with the overall trend I’ve noticed with how this disease is treated in SFF circles. I’m also concerned that publishers don’t research these choices at all
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To start, I have albinism, a disability that causes me to have reduced pigment in my skin, hair, and eyes. Albinism causes some degree of visual impairment. In my case I’m legally blind, I can’t drive, and I use a guide dog. 2/31
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As a blind person I am still waiting to read a novel about blind people WRITTEN BY another blind person. I’ve been waiting all my life. But the only way to move the needle on these issues is to discuss them and educate folks. 29/31
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It's implied they have an incestual relationship. This is every negative, harmful stereotype about albinism combined. And the worst part is albinism has no impact on the narrative or the characters. It's there to show the reader that these people are evil and weird. 8/31
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You guys are so tiring. There is way more nuance to the magical cure trope when you're writing about disabled people. I have eye pain every day and yes I want it gone. I think of that differently from being blind on its own. 1/3
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What “encouraging” writing advice does your family give that’s actually discouraging? My favorite is “JK Rowling got turned down by 12 different people” 🙃
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This is my book 😃 I’m excited that people will finally be able to read it! Thank you
@erniechiara
@bardythoughts
and
@RebellionPub
!
We're absolutely delighted to announce the acquisition of Redsight by
@meredithmwrites
, a queer science fantasy of priestesses, pirates and power with a blind heroine.
Redsight will be released in Spring 2024. Find out more here:
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I am not ok with online harassment. Please DO NOT use this thread to harass Jay Kristoff.
Please DO NOT use this thread to harass his readers/fans.
I wrote this for educational purposes. I don’t know Jay Kristoff, I do not want to attack anyone personally. 30/31
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But when I got to the passages where Adonai and Marielle are introduced my stomach turned. I did not realize this book had not one, but TWO stereotypical "evil albino" cartoon villains that serve no purpose besides shock value. 6/31
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who probably had an original age category in mind and had to adjust it for market reasons. But I don't think this issue is going away any time soon because no one is creating new imprints in the adult space. 5/5
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It’s called the “evil albino” trope, or the “magical albino” trope. Examples: Silas in THE DA VINCCI CODE by Dan Brown and Bloodraven in A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE by George R. R. Martin. 12/31
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There is a stereotype in real life and in literature that people with albinism are evil, associated with sorcery, that we’re not really human, that we’re ghosts, etc. 11/31
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Do YOU have an author website?
If so, you should find out if your website is accessible for people with disabilities. I put together a list of easy, helpful info on basic accessibility standards. This info doesn’t require programming knowledge or spending money 🧵 1/?
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Those stereotypes are not okay. In fact, there are a lot of people who get murdered because of them. People with albinism get their arms and legs cut off because there is a mistaken belief that our body parts are magical and can heal ailments. 17/31
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It's weird how stereotypes in media can be really obvious to some people and not to others, especially with European folktales and ableism, antisemitism, etc.
"It's not based on [prejudice], it's based on fairy tales"
I'm sorry but I have news for you
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in fantasy books, do you guys expect magic to be VISUAL? sometimes I really struggle because if I'm writing from the POV of a blind character I'm describing PHYSICAL/TACTILE magic, and I feel like it might be too cerebral for reader to understand???
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I use assistive technology to use the computer. I have some remaining vision. That’s how albinism has impacted me personally. 3/31
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Publishing is the most unprofessional industry I have ever encountered, and I say this as someone who has sued used car dealerships. If I said something like this to my clients, I would have to answer an ethics complaint at the state bar lol.
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Imagine pitching 40-ish people vs. 15. Or only 30 people vs. 40+ Which sounds easier? Obviously it's easier to find someone who connects with your work if you have more options. So books that could go in either category are more likely to get picked up 3/5
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There's nothing wrong with crossover books, but it's way more difficult to find a home for something that targets one audience vs. multiple audiences. This makes things frustrating for readers, who aren't finding what they want, and authors 4/5
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I don’t expect the general public to know everything about every harmful stereotype out there, but I have different standards for a novel that’s been through professional editing at a Big 5 publisher. 25/31
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Adonai and Marielle are twins. Both of them are “sorcerii” with albinism. They practice dangerous, forbidden magic. Adonai literally drinks blood and Marielle is a disfigured sadist, a “flesh weaver” that becomes disfigured when she uses her powers. 7/31
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What’s notable about all of these examples (including the ones in NEVERNIGHT) is that the real life parts of albinism are never mentioned. 13/31
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You may also be wondering why I didn’t write any of this a year ago when I first read this book. The main reason is I was really upset at the time and did not have the emotional capacity to talk about the book in a public space. I needed time to process what I was feeling. 27/31
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As a person with this disorder, this book hurt me. I had no idea albinism was in NEVERNIGHT. I had no clue it would be presented this way until I read those passages. At the time I had to put the book down because I was so upset. 22/31
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Those beliefs are encouraged by depictions like this. To be clear, people are violently attacked and sometimes murdered because of these stereotypes. That’s how serious the problem is. 18/31
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