Books In the Time Of Trump
I want to say I’m shocked that Trump was reelected, but I’m not. I used to be deeply religious, and while I was never a Christian nationalist, I understand how moving outside what you’re told is true feels like it puts you in danger of, well, hell.
I’m not shocked, but I am deeply disappointed, hurt, and heartbroken. I’m also scared.
I fear for my daughters who may one day need an abortion while living in Arkansas, which has an incredible restrictive abortion policy.
I fear for my friends and clients who are Black, brown, indigenous, Asian, who find themselves, again, in a country which seems delighted to hate them.
I fear for my trans friends and clients who may face virtirol for who they are and lose access to gender-affirming care.
I fear for queer friends and clients, including myself.
I fear for anyone who doesn’t fit the white, cis, het, male, Christian, straight-sized, able-bodied, neurotypical identity. And that is many of us.
But I still have hope.
Because, in my work, I am surrounded by beautiful souls who care. Who show up every day in their soft, frail, human bodies and see and love and choose to confront what scares them and share it with the world through stories.
I believe in my work as a book coach now more than ever, because I truly believe that stories can change the world.
I am proof that stories can change the world. They have changed me.
Stories are the only way we can experience what it’s like to live as someone else. Our brains are wired to experience story as if it were happening to us. They are the best tool we have for helping people know they are okay just as they are. They are the best tool we have for helping people know they don’t need to be afraid of those who are different..
We need stories now more than ever.
We have to keep supporting stories by the people we least often hear them from.
It is vital that, amongst our protests and mutual aid and introspection and movements, we create, we imagine what could be. Without knowing what the future could be, we have nothing to work toward.
So I have a very specific request for you.
I am launching the Underrepresented Writers Scholarship which helps people who have historically marginalized identities write novels that feature characters like them.
I need your help funding the program.
If you have the means, please donate to the Underrepresented Writers Scholarship.
Each scholarship costs $12,000 a year, and I’d like to offer three scholarships.
This program is one way we can get more stories into the world from people who have been silenced. And it’s a way of telling those people that we believe in them, that they deserve to be heard, and that we are willing to support them as they raise their voice.
Writing is a slow, quiet, private work, but it has the potential to open minds like nothing else can.
If story has sustained you, made you feel seen, taught you about yourself or someone else, please support historically marginalized people in writing stories that can continue this work.