INCLUSIVITY Statement
For transparency, I’m a neurodivergent person with mental health challenges, chronic pain, and chronic illness. I’m not BIPOC or LGBTQ+.
Many of the people I consider my found family are BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+. I spend every day online immersed in inclusive bookish communities. I live in the most racially diverse neighborhood of an 85% Latine community on the US/Mexico border.
This doesn’t make me an expert on anyone else’s experience or allow me to claim my words are never problematic. But it’s a beautiful reality I want to honor in fantasy.
I am also human. Every human should care about human rights – and gay rights are human rights. Trans rights are human rights. Racial justice is human rights.
Words aren’t enough, especially right now, so my goal is to show what I believe through my actions.
How I write inclusive books
I’m committed to building fantasy worlds that make readers of all races, orientations, identities, and ability feel not only included, but seen and valued.
My books feature a diverse cast of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ characters, as well as people with disabilities and mental health challenges. I write as much of this as I can from my own experience living inside my brain and dealing with my own health.
When I’m writing outside my experience, I start with in-depth research. I then build sensitivity reading into my process at every stage. By the time a book is published, it has been been through multiple passes with authors and readers who have lived those experiences and give me multiple points of view on what I need to change to be accurate and respectful.
Action I take in the bookish community
I strive to keep my author space safe for my marginalized colleagues and readers. I have a zero tolerance policy for hate, including homophobia, transphobia, racism, misogyny, and ableism.
When readers and authors engage on my socials and in my reader group, comments or posts of a prejudiced, hateful, or harassing nature will be deleted without reservation.
If someone in my space ever makes you feel at risk or uncomfortable, you are always welcome to reach out to me directly. Your report will be kept in the strictest confidence, and I will take swift and appropriate action.