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Hello friends, Today is International Women’s Day. This day began in the US but shifted to an international project in 1911, as a way to uplift women’s rights and demand social and economic change. As you can imagine, women’s global rights in the early 20th century were sorely lacking. During late March of the year IWD was first celebrated, the terrible Triangle Factory Fire happened in New York, giving a stark reminder that the lives of working women were daily at stake. 140 women died—trapped inside the building—as a result of management negligence and lack of safety regulations. Most of them were Italian and Jewish immigrants. During a time when too many people’s rights are under attack, I want to honor all women working hard for themselves, their families, and their communities. I honor women doing labor organizing and community outreach. I honor cis and trans women, immigrant women, stay at home moms, women in the fields, women cleaning bathrooms, women running businesses, women making art… all women. I also honor every single person working for their rights and the rights of others right now. Whether you are a woman, nonbinary, or a man. Whether you labor with your hands, heart, or mind. I hope you find something to celebrate today, and someone to celebrate you. And I hope you are finding solidarity and support, wherever in the world you may be. Best Wishes — Thorn Fantasy Book Lovers: I'm part of this terrific StoryBundle featuring 38 fantasy books from 10 authors. You can get the whole thing for only $30, which is a steal! The bundle also benefits World Central Kitchen who continue to feed people around the globe: Fantasy StoryBundle
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Hello friends, The REM song “Hold On” is playing through my head this week. Partially because, after years of trying, someone in my family couldn’t hold on any longer, finally succumbing to a host of illnesses they just could not shake. The song is also with me because of the sheer number of people struggling right now. Struggling to simply survive. Whether because they don’t have money for food or rent, or lost their job, or struggle with mental or physical health, or they are under attack...
Hello friends, This will be a short missive because I've been in Las Vegas all week, at the big Author Nation business conference and the big Reader Nation book fair. While Vegas is not my favorite place—an understatement. I actually find it very trying—I travel here to learn. I travel here to get out of that proverbial comfort zone. It is good for me to stretch myself, body, spirit, and mind. Sometimes, in order to learn, we must cast ourselves into the strange and challenging... And let me...
“Pray for the dead, and fight like hell for the living.” — Mary “Mother” Harris Jones Hello friends, It’s a rainy day in Portland, Oregon. Outside my window, cars shush by on slick dark streets. Autumn leaves catch the moisture from the sky as fluffy squirrels dart about, preparing for the coming cold. Last night, we made dinner, setting out a plate for the ancestors. We lit up a giant Jack O’Lantern on the porch, to beckon any spirits wandering by, ready to appease them with treats, should...