Monthly Archives: August 2018

Support refugees! Head to weareallhumanity.org/send-photo, upload a photo to add the #humanity tag, then post to instagram with #weareallhumanity and tag @citizensofhumanity . They’ll donate $10 to @usaforunhcr !
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Via @ninaberrybooks

#weareallhumanity #refugees #unhcr #standwithrefugees #activism #loveisstronger #feminism Continue reading →

This beautiful post by reader Asia Faith is why I write. Books change lives. They can support us, encourage us, help us to feel seen and understood, help us survive. They did for me, growing up (and still do) and I am so grateful that my books do that now for others. Thank you Asia! (Smiling at you) I am so glad you got through! .
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#bookssavelives #YAsaves
#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #LGBTQwriter #booknerd #bookworm #ireadYA #survivor #feminist #YAlit #YAbooks #scars #selfharm #sexualabuse #trauma #healing #MeToo Continue reading →

Snuggles with sweet Petal, and reading a good book.
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#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #LGBTQwriter #booknerd #bookworm #ireadYA #survivor #feminist
#petalrainfield #chinesecrested #hairyhairless #dogstagram #ilovemydog #ilovemychinesecresteddog #dogmom Continue reading →

One of my favorite things that I received for my birthday is this gorgeous happy flying pig print that my dear friend Julie Schoerke got me from rainbowofcrazy on Etsy. It makes me feel happy just to look at. I love flying pigs. Love the idea of doing the impossible in a joyful, triumphant way.

And another of my favorite things from my birthday is also in this picture. It’s a sparkly stuffed unicorn with all my favorite colors: purple, turquoise, and pink, that Jean, who is like a mom to me and who I dedicate every book to, gave me.

It is such a lovely thing to have someone know you so well and care about what makes you happy, and also to have tangible reminders around of the people I love who love me. The people who are my chosen family. I am so grateful for each of the people and animals that are so deeply connected to me.
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#chosenfamily #friendsarefamily #friendshipismagic #flyingpigs #rainbowofcrazy #unicorn
#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #LGBTQwriter #booknerd #bookworm #ireadYA #survivor #feminist Continue reading →

I am always so proud of people when they speak out and stand up for themselves and for others. When they stand up against injustice and hatred and prejudice, racism and sexism and misogyny, which can be so hard to do – especially when it is directed at ourselves.. I applaud Loan aka Kelly Marie Tran for her courage.
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Via @huffpostwomen – Kelly Marie Tran is speaking out for the first time since she wiped her Instagram account in June after months of racist and sexist online harassment. ■ “Their words seemed to confirm what growing up as a woman and a person of color already taught me: that I belonged in margins and spaces, only valid as a minor character in their lives and stories,” Tran wrote in an essay for The New York Times. ■ “And those words awakened something deep inside me ― a feeling I thought I had grown out of,” she continued. “Their words reinforced a narrative I had heard my whole life: that I was ‘other,’ that I didn’t belong, that I wasn’t good enough, simply because I wasn’t like them. And that feeling, I realize now, was, and is, shame, a shame for the things that made me different, a shame for the culture from which I came from.” ■ She summed up her essay on a powerful note, writing: “You might know me as Kelly. I am the first woman of color to have a leading role in a ‘Star Wars’ movie. I am the first Asian woman to appear on the cover of Vanity Fair. My real name is Loan. And I am just getting started.” // 📸: Getty Images
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#kellymarietran #loveisstronger #lovetrumpshate #racism #sexism #misogyny #feminism Continue reading →

I’m excited to see this! I love Veronica Mars. Such a strong girl character, so smart. We need more of that.

Via @huffpost – Fans don’t even have to fund it this time. 🗣 Perennial outcast Veronica Mars has finally made a new friend: Hulu. The streaming service is nearing a deal to revive the cult neo-noir detective series with both series star Kristen Bell and creator Rob Thomas attached. // 📸: Getty Images // Story by: @coledelbyck // #KristenBell #VeronicaMars #Hulu #marshmallows Continue reading →

If you like YA fantasy and strong girl characters, check out AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir @sabaatahir . I loved it so much that I didn’t want the book to end! https://amzn.to/2MJQlOv It completely sucked me in. I loved the characters–especially Laia and Elias–and their emotional journeys, inner change, and becoming better people so much. It was a fantastic ride and a great distraction from my pain. I also love that the ending was emotionally satisfying, even though it was clear there would be a sequel and they would continue their journey. There were also things that reminded me of THE HUNGER GAMES (in a good way), and also that reminded me of my experiences as a torture and cult survivor. I highly recommend it. I am starting the sequel and I am so excited!
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#anemberintheashes #sabaatahir #yafantasy #YAlit #yareads #YAbooks #yareads #bookrecs #bookrecommendations
#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #LGBTQwriter #booknerd #bookworm #ireadYA #survivor #feminist Continue reading →

I am struggling a bit on my birthday as I always do. Cults teach victims to kill themselves on their birthdays if they are no longer being abused (or abusing). BUT each year it gets a little easier and better. I so appreciate all the birthday wishes and caring comments. They mean so much to me! I usually try to answer each one but can’t with my torn rotator cuff. Just know that I read each one and I so appreciate it! Jean, my therapist who is like a mom to me, and who I dedicate every book to, is coming to see me; I have some gifts from my dear friend Julie in front of me (comics! Art!), and got myself a few things. And I am grateful for my books that help others, for my friends, Petal, chosen family, and all of you.
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Also I am grateful for speech-to-text! It helps a lot.
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#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #LGBTQwriter #booknerd #bookworm #ireadYA #survivor #feminist #YAlit #YAbooks #scars Continue reading →

I am grateful that I didn’t break any bones in my fall; that I only have a partial tear to my rotator cuff; that Petal didn’t get hurt and I didn’t drop her when I fell; that hospital staff were so nice; that I had so many neighbours helping me yeaterday; that my neighbour and friend Denyse brought me fruit, water, and arnica when she picked me up from the hospital (arnica helps us heal faster); that I have a great book to read – AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir (loving it SO much) that helps distract me from my pain and helped in the night; that I have less pain than yesterday; and that you all responded, helping me feel less alone. Grateful! (Also grateful for speech-to-text.) Continue reading →

SCARS was rejected more than 200 times (I think more than that; I just don’t remember how many) over 10 years. In the last few years before I got it published, I felt so much despair and wanted to give up. I’m glad now that I didn’t.

Once SCARS was published, it became #1 in YALSA’s Top 10 Quick Picks (2011); a Governor General LIterary Award Finalist (2010); on ALA’s Rainbow Project List; a staff pick for Teaching Tolerance; on many more lists and nominations; and has saved many lives and helped many readers know they are not alone. If you have a dream, don’t give up. #LGBTQ #Selfharm

#ShareYourRejection
#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #LGBTQwriter #booknerd #bookworm #ireadYA #survivor #feminist #YAlit #YAbooks #bookstagram #bookrecs #scars #selfharm #sexualabuse #trauma #healing Continue reading →