#metoo #ustoo Change Starts Now: Stand Against Harassment in the YA/Kidlit Community

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Earlier this week brilliant, award-winning author Anne Ursu published an essay about the responses and conclusions from a survey on sexual harassment in the kidlit and YA field she recently conducted, spurred by the #metoo movement. If you haven’t read it yet, go do so immediately. I’ll wait.

Like many, I was not so much surprised by the findings that our community is no different than any other. And, like many, I’ve felt frustrated and angry and helpless. I don’t have all the answers, but last night I found myself asking where our Scalzi is on twitter — referencing my friend John Scalzi’s convention harassment policy pledge *five years ago* when similar issues were being highlighted in the science fiction and fantasy community. As Scalzi pointed out right away:

 

And then this morning, I realized that I’m not comfortable waiting for someone else to take point. I firmly believe that we need male authors and illustrators and publishing professionals to sign on to any effort to combat sexual harassment in our community, and that perhaps it would be taken more seriously if one of them led the charge. I hope they’ll show up, but to wait for that is unacceptable to me. Many people are asking “what can we do without names?” A lot it turns out. We can send a message and we can apply pressure to advocate for change.

No one should have to feel unsafe at an event in the children’s lit world. No one should feel like they can’t speak up or have someone to go to if they are harassed at an event. And no one should be able to get away with harassment, no matter how much of a big deal they’re considered to be.

First, I invite all of us to adopt the same pledge that Scalzi set out several years ago, which I’m stealing whole cloth here and encourage you to post about on your own sites.

1. That the convention has a harassment policy, and that the harassment policy is clear on what is unacceptable behavior, as well as to whom those who feel harassed, or see others engaging in harassing behavior, can go for help and action.

2. That the convention make this policy obvious by at least one and preferably more than one of the following: posting the policy on their Website, placing it in their written and electronic programs, putting up flyers in the common areas, discussing the policy at opening ceremonies or at other well-attended common events.

3. In cases when I am invited as a Guest of Honor, personal affirmation from the convention chair that a harassment policy exists, that it will be adequately publicized to conventiongoers, and that all harassment complaints will be dealt with promptly and fairly, with no excuses or rationalizations for delaying action when such becomes necessary.

I’d also like to send the letter below to YA and kidlit specific festivals and organizations and to the heads of publishing houses with as many names attached to it as possible. If you would like to sign on, please post your name in the comments below (which I must approve so there might be a slight delay). Here’s the letter, which I know is not perfect, but hopefully it’s a starting point.

Dear conference or festival organizer or publisher,

You may be aware that larger discussions of sexism and sexual harassment have now—finally—turned to the children’s and YA literary community. Recently author Anne Ursu conducted a survey that received ninety responses detailing the unacceptable behavior that far too many women in our sphere have been subjected to over the years. We know that the problem is far wider, and it’s one we all have a responsibility to act to end.

If you have a sexual harassment policy, we would encourage you to make sure it’s strong enough and well publicized enough at your events or work functions to be effective. If you do not have a sexual harassment policy, we encourage you to develop one immediately or you may find many authors will no longer attend your events. This policy should, to borrow from author John Scalzi’s pledge wording, spell out “what is unacceptable behavior, as well as to whom those who feel harassed, or see others engaging in harassing behavior, can go for help and action.” In keeping with that pledge, we also ask that you promote and publicize this policy as widely as possible: on your website, in your programs and conference materials, through flyers in the event space, and by talking about it at the beginning of conference events.

You may feel this isn’t necessary or will somehow “send the wrong message” about your event. But, in fact, the lack of these things does just that. The lack of a clear harassment policy tells predators they can get away with bad behavior and it tells women and other community members that they will have no one to go to if they experience harassment, they will just have to remain quiet and accept it. Publicizing a message that harassment will receive zero tolerance tells everyone, including our young readership, what behavior they should expect in a professional environment. You can find resources to assist with your policy development and wording at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America website.

If you are a publisher, we encourage you to revisit your own harassment policies and to ensure they are observed at public events that you host. We would also ask that publishers communicate to their authors, illustrators, and staff that if harassment by them is reported in a professional setting it may lead to consequences related to employment or invitations to represent the publisher at events or on tour. Again, it may seem unnecessary or ineffective to take this step. But sending a message about what behavior will be tolerated and what will not is the only way change will come.

And this change must come. Time is up.

Sincerely,

Gwenda Bond

and hopefully many, many of you

Edited to add: Thank you THANK YOU all for supporting this effort. If your comment signing doesn’t show up immediately and you don’t get an error message, don’t fret. I just have to approve it and your name will be added. If you do get an error message, just contact me via the contact page or any other format and I’ll note your name and add it manually when I compile the final letter. THANK YOU.

Edited to add again: Comments are open, though the letter is closed for sending. 

1,459 Responses to “#metoo #ustoo Change Starts Now: Stand Against Harassment in the YA/Kidlit Community”

  1. Christopher Rowe

    Signed.

  2. Angele McQuade

    Signed, with many thanks to Gwenda. xoxo

  3. Kara LaReau

    Signed!

  4. Kelly Barnhill

    Signed.

    Can I call you Oh Captain my Captain from now on? I’ll take that as a yes.

    *salutes*

  5. Benjamin Kissell

    Consider me signed, Gwenda!

  6. Jasmine Stairs

    I’m just a fan, not a writer, but absolutely signing this.

  7. Madelyn Rosenberg

    Charge.

  8. Rachel Caine

    Love it.

    This is what I wrote down last night:

    I believe that as an author, I should be held to a high standard of professional behavior at sponsored events, just as I would at any place of conventional employment. When I appear at schools, libraries, conferences, conventions, festivals, or other literary events or functions, I am in my workplace and will conduct myself accordingly.

    I pledge that I will conduct myself in a manner that reflects positively upon my publisher(s) and my professional reputation. I pledge to be careful not to make any person (attendee, employee, or guest) feel uncomfortable in my presence or with my behavior, and if I violate this pledge, even inadvertently, I will take immediate, unqualified responsibility.

    When I observe others attending such events behaving in a manner that violates non-harassment policy, I will assist the event staff in any way possible to protect the victim of harassment.

    I will review and abide by every event’s non-harassment policies and procedures.

    I will refuse to attend events that (a) fail to provide an adequately robust non-harassment policy with detailed reporting procedures, or (b) has a history of failing to enforce such policies.

    Gwenda, what do you think?

    • Gwenda

      I like this a lot.

      • Armin Arethna

        Signed. Thank you for leading this, Gwenda. I hope it brings lasting change in our community.

    • Adam Rex

      Signed

    • Heidi R. Kling

      Signed.

      And THANK YOU!

    • J. C. Davis

      Signed. Thank you for doing this.

    • Cathren Page

      Signed! And way to go for the people speaking up about Daniel Handler. That kind of discriminatory micro-aggression happens all day long to women everywhere and makes us feel small. It’s one of many things that keeps women down in our society. It’s quite silencing. That took guts, Kate, to be the first one to call it out.

  9. Kit Rosewater

    Signed.

  10. John Scalzi

    I’m contracted to write three YA novels in the near future. I fully intend to apply the same standard for harassment policies to kidlit as I do to science fiction/fantasy. So: Co-signed (or re-signed, in my case).

  11. Becca Patterson

    Please sign my name to the letter.

  12. Karen Romano Young

    Sign me up!

  13. Ann Aguirre

    Signed–for both Gwenda and Rachel’s pledges.

    I also promise to be a safe space for any attendee who needs someone at their back. I will gladly listen, hand-hold, perform escort duty, or whatever may be needed in a time of crisis or discomfort.

  14. Cat Winters

    Signed.

  15. M.J. Rocissono

    Big thanks to Gwenda Bond & John Scalzi for working together on this incredibly important issue. I take this pledge with honor.

  16. Kate Milford

    Sign me up.

  17. Claire Bartlett

    Signed!s

  18. Julie Hedlund

    Signed!

  19. Sara Ryan

    Thank you. Signed.

  20. tanita

    Signed.
    It’s not a surprise that we’re just like everyone else, but I know that I don’t venture out of my cave enough to know anything about this… so while I’m horrified-not-surprised, I’m also baffled… how on earth have we put up with this quietly for so long?
    Here’s to SHOUTING now.

  21. Debbi MIchiko Florence

    Signed!

  22. Sarah Momo Romero

    Signed

  23. Jo Knowles

    Signed! Thank you for doing this.
    In addition to the letter above, I think this sort of policy should be part of any contract presenters are asked to sign ahead of time as part of an agreement to speak at conferences. When you sign the contract, you agree to follow the sexual harassment policy and if you violate it, the organizers can take back your pay and cancel any remaining speaking sessions you’re signed up to do at the event. I don’t know if I’m articulating this properly but hopefully it makes some sense.

  24. Tristan Dorrell

    Signed

  25. Matt Forbeck

    Signed!

  26. Sarah Darer Littman

    Signed. And I agree with Jo Knowles there should be consequences for not abiding by the contract. How long did SCBWI cover up for David Diaz? Conference organizers have a responsibility to both other presenters and attendees – who in SCBWI’s case, are paying no small sum to attend the conferences.

    • Gwenda

      I can’t help but suspect that SCBWI is hosting the conferences most often referenced in the survey. It’s where so many of the new writers go and the perfect place for predators — I know they have a policy, but it could be much, much stronger and more prominently discussed at the events. :-/

      • Emma D. Dryden

        As you’ll see on Twitter and social media this afternoon, Lin Oliver and SCBWI have confirmed SCBWI is addressing all of this immediately. Her tweet: “@SCBWI is re-defining our code of conduct re sexual harassment at conferences, and detailing our reporting procedures. @anneursu, appreciate your research and input.”

        • Gwenda

          This is wonderful news.

          • Sarah Darer Littman

            It is wonderful news, but I would also like some explanation of why they covered for David Diaz, who was still on the board until very recently, for so long. And others that I have heard about. THAT is what I find so disturbing about SCBWI. They knew and yet didn’t act. In my book, that’s enabling a serial harasser. And apparently others besides Diaz, who haven’t yet been named, but whose conduct was apparently swept under the rug.

      • Kim Turrisi

        I assure you it is on top of our list. We’ve reached out to Anne and others. Lin is committed to it. Can I share your letter with her? I’m a YA author and work at SCBWI. Thank you for doing this. Signed.

    • Linda Sue Park

      Sara, I’m on the SCBWI board. The facts out there at present are INCOMPLETE, and the statement that SCBWI ‘didn’t act’ is completely untrue. SCBWI acted *immediately* on learning of the complaints but did not go public out of respect for the wishes of some of the *victims*. I’m hoping that a statement will be issued soon to correct and clarify.

      • Sarah Darer Littman

        Linda-David Diaz was on the board until recently. I know they banned one bestselling author who had previously been a conference favorite, but why keep a known serial harasser on the board for so long? Also it’s Sarah, not Sara.

        • Linda Sue

          Aargh, I’m usually so careful about name spellings, sincere apologies, Sarah. And re Diaz, again there’s more to the story, and more info out now. I’m truly hopeful that the new SCBWI policies and procedures will help in this fight for societal change. Thanks for discussing, and all best always.

  27. Kate Elliott

    Signed!

  28. Gaia Cornwall

    SIGNED.

  29. Lance Rubin

    Signed!

  30. Susan Adrian

    Signed. And I love that this is female-led. Why shouldn’t it be?

  31. Darshana Khiani

    Signed

  32. Mike Jung

    Signed, and thank you, Gwenda.

  33. Brianna Zamborsky

    Signed.

  34. Erik Williamson

    I’m not a published author, but as someone who attends classes and conferences, etc. this is something I want to be behind 100%. Thank you for spearheading this, Gwenda!

  35. Deborah Kovacs

    Signed, with thanks.

  36. Anne Marie Pace

    Signed.

  37. Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz

    Signed as a team! (That’s how we roll.)

  38. Anne Ursu

    *fist bump*

  39. Heidi Schulz

    Signed.
    Thank you for this, Gwenda.

  40. David Arnold

    Signed!

  41. Maxine Kaplan

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  42. Adi Alsaid

    Signed

  43. Dan Gemeinhart

    Signed. Thank you!

  44. Rebecca Savill

    Signed. Thank you.

  45. Alex London

    Signed.

  46. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

    Signed. Thank you!

  47. Rachel Caine

    SIGNED!

  48. Luisa Perkins

    SIGNED.

  49. Lizzy Mason

    Signed. And thank you.

  50. Melissa Manlove

    Signed

  51. Tom Angleberger

    I’m ready to start asking these questions and expecting good answers before signing up for events. And I realize that’s just a start.

  52. Renee LaTulippe

    Signed! Thank you!

  53. Greg van Eekhout

    Signed.

  54. Jenn Bishop

    Thank you, Gwenda. Signed.

  55. Brendan Kiely

    Thank you for this, Gwenda. Yes! I sign as well. I also appreciate Jo Knowles’s suggestions above. I’m thinking a lot right now about the roles men have to play in this cultural conversation, how to step up and when, how to amplify the stories women are sharing, how to listen better, and when to take action and organize. I’d love to bounce some ideas by you, if you have time to chat, because while I really do want to act, I don’t want to do so stupidly or blindly, I want to do so thoughtfully and effectively. I do a lot of public speaking and I try to incorporate the discussion of harassment and misogyny in all my public talks, and in fact, I’m trying to organize a tour of locker rooms to speak directly and specifically with young men about the environments and behaviors we encourage (even with our silence) that are harmful and dangerous and that perpetuate misogyny, harassment, and assault. Thanks, again, for this. Eager to sign and support.

    • Sarah Darer Littman

      Brendan, I love that you are doing the “locker room talks.” I have some examples and ideas for you if you want. I actually gave up political writing because it got so toxic being a woman expressing a political opinion online in the last few years. I got tired of talking to the police and being blown off. I’ve had to take things into my own hands on more than one occasion – thankfully my husband is a computer guy, so with his help I could do what the police were unwilling to bother with. We have to redefine what it means to be a “real man” and just as we are trying to model being strong women who fight for our rights so our daughters don’t have to put up with we did, we need men like yourself to model how to be a man of character and ethics.

      • Brendan Kiely

        Sarah, I’m with you, absolutely. I’d love to talk. Want to reach out to me an twitter, and then we can switch to email? I’m @KielyBrendan on twitter. Thanks, and I look forward to speaking!

  56. Laurie Halse Anderson

    Very happy to add my name to this. Thank you!!

  57. Caroline Carlson

    Signed. Thank you!

  58. Rebecca Hahn

    Sign me up!

  59. Adam Silvera

    Signed. Thanks, Gwenda.

  60. Megan Frazer Blakemore

    Signed

    Thank you so much, Gwenda.

  61. J. Anderson Coats

    Signed.

  62. Shannon Hale

    Sign me up!

  63. Jason Black

    Signed.

    I mean, I’m nobody (yet!) but that shouldn’t stop me from advocating for what’s right.

  64. Maria Gianferrari

    Thanks, Gwenda. Signed with a <3

  65. Varian Johnson

    Signed.

  66. Michelle Falkoff

    Signed. Thanks so much for doing this.

  67. Michelle Falkoff

    Signed, and sorry if this comes up a whole bunch of times…internet is being a little cranky. Thanks so much for doing this.

  68. Jeff Zentner

    Signed.

  69. Ashley Blake

    SIGNED. Thanks for doing this!

  70. Bev Katz

    Signed! Thank you for doing this!

  71. Elana K. Arnold

    Signed.

  72. Brooks Benjamin

    Consider me signed!
    And if there’s a place to physically sign then I’ll sign that, too. I’m ready to help fix this.

  73. Megan Maynor

    Signed.

  74. Laurie Wallmark

    Signed.

  75. Kami Garcia

    I don’t know what to sign, but I’m in.

  76. Deborah Freedman

    Signed. Thank you!

  77. Rebecca Donnelly

    Signed!

  78. Katey Howes

    Signed with my heartfelt thanks.

  79. Debra Driza

    Signed!

  80. Laurel R Snyder

    SIgn me up!

  81. Cecil Castellucci

    Signed

  82. Garth Nix

    Signed. I already informally adopted this policy with SF/F conventions after Scalzi’s post but much better of course to apply it more widely and to be public about it. Thank you, Gwenda, Anne and everyone.

  83. Sarah Aronson

    Signed!

  84. Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket)

    Yes.

    • Kate Messner

      Hi, Daniel – I’m glad you’re here and I appreciate that you’ve signed this pledge. It’s so important, for all of us. What I’m about to write is a lot less comfortable, but because this kind of pledge usually means people care if they’ve crossed lines, I feel like you’d want to know about how your behavior made me uncomfortable at a book festival several years ago.

      It was the Rhode Island Children’s Book Festival – one of the first times I’d been invited to something as a featured author. I was nervous for a pile of reasons. I was a relatively new author. There weren’t many women on the lineup at all. And the other names were all big ones –people whose work I’d admired for a long time. I was also nervous because you’d recently reviewed my first picture book in the New York Times. It wasn’t a positive review – that was fine (my daughter had put it all in perspective by saying “But Mom! This means Lemony Snicket actually READ your book!) – but I was still worried that you’d make a joke about it in front of everyone at this festival.

      You didn’t end up joking about that. But on the festival bus that transported the authors, you made another joke that shut me up for the rest of the morning. I was talking with another author who was sitting in the seat in front of me. He asked where I lived and said he’d thought I was from the Midwest. “It’s probably the cardigan,” I joked. “Are you a virgin, too?!” you shouted from several seats away. It was the first thing you’d spoken to me all weekend. I didn’t know how to respond, so I didn’t say anything. But I felt smaller and like maybe I shouldn’t be talking with any of these big-name authors at all.

      Later that night, a large group of authors & a few spouses were waiting in the lobby to go to dinner. Many of us were just being introduced to one another when you made another joke. “These children’s book events always turn into orgies!” It probably didn’t occur to that you some of the women in that lobby were likely survivors of sexual assault. A few people laughed awkwardly. I just stood there. And hoped that I wouldn’t be seated near you at dinner.

      This is, of course, minor stuff in the grand scheme of things and pales in comparison to many of the truly horrific reports we’re hearing from the children’s book world right now. We’ve heard stories of serial predators, and I have never heard anyone suggest that you are among them. But as someone who’s signed on to this pledge, you should know that this stuff matters, too. It all matters.

      This festival was an amazing event, organized by fantastic people, and there were wonderful moments throughout that weekend. But when I think back to that event, what I remember most is how small I felt that day, how on-edge about what you might say next.

      Later, when you made the watermelon joke at the National Book Awards, I hated myself for not having said something to you about your comments at the time. If I had, I wondered, might you have thought twice about making that joke? I realize what ridiculous thinking that is, but it bothered me for a long time. I talked with a group of women friends about it, and learned that two other ladies had similar uncomfortable memories of feeling humiliated by your “jokes” at children’s book events. We’ve had conversations about it. Is it possible that he has no idea the impact these loud uncomfortable jokes have on women? I’ve thought about writing to you since then, but worried too much about what the fallout might be.

      But here you are today, signing Gwenda’s pledge. To me, this says, “I care about this. I want to be part of the solution.” So I’m taking a deep breath and taking you at your word. I’m glad you’re here. And I’m writing to request that your commitment involve not just signing this and making public statements in support of #metoo, but also rethinking some of your jokes. I understand that being edgy in this way has long been a part of your public persona. But you are talented and funny in so many other ways. You can still be big without making others feel small, and I’d love to know that your commitment includes a pledge to leave behind this sort of humor.

      Best,
      ~Kate

      • Gwenda

        Thank you for this comment, Kate.

      • E. Kristin Anderson

        Thank you for sharing this, Kate. I know it wasn’t easy.

        • R.M.Rivera a.k.a. Roberta M. Rivera

          Thank you, Kate! Thank you for sharing you account and holding Daniel Handler accountable. I agree with you, there is nothing funny about those jokes. I think, Mr. Daniel Handler owes you a public apology. If he is going to sign this, with, “Yes,” and wants to be part of the solution, then it starts with an apology.

      • Stephanie Ruble

        Thank you so much for saying this, Kate. These types of jokes are a problem too.

      • Ishta Mercurio

        Thank you for sharing this, Kate.

      • Cheryl Blackford

        Thank you for sharing this Kate – a brave act.

      • Allie Jane Bruce

        Kate, what you’ve said here rings true, all of it.

        Daniel, a few years ago when you visited my school, a child in the audience asked “why do you write under the pen name Lemony Snicket?”

        You answered, “Lemony Snicket is not a pen name, he is a person. My pen has a name. See? Uniball. It’s named after an obscure medical condition.”

        This was to a room full of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders. I was onstage with you, and had no idea what to do in that moment. I ended the event as quickly as possible.

        A few minutes later you were out of the building, leaving me to clean up.

        It wasn’t sexual harassment, but it was way over the line, and made me feel smaller. You paid no mind to the labor I’d done to facilitate your visit, or the extra labor this joke of yours would cause me. Of course I was there to serve you and your way-too-cool image. Why else would I be there?

        Like Kate, after the NBAs, I went into a spiral of “what if I’d said something?” I wondered if the incomparable Jackie Woodson might have been spared a lot of pain. I talked with other women, who told similar stories of jokes from you that should have been out of bounds. Kate, thank you for sharing–I am breathing a little easier knowing I wasn’t the only one.

        A few years after that, I felt sick when I read your essay in the Times about how what teenage boys really need is more books with “filthy” and “juicy” sexual content. You congratulated yourself on being a “better feminist” for having read so widely, while claiming that the “guardians of young people’s literature get so easily riled up about sex.” I am here to call bullshit on all of that. I hope my reasons are obvious. Let me know if they are not.

        Daniel, I read–and loved–WHY WE BROKE UP. It told me that on some level, you get it. If you meant that “yes”, which you signed above, acknowledge what Kate and I have said, and please, apologize for what you did to us, and for that Times piece.

        If you don’t, you will stand firm as someone who collects the benefits of publicly declaring yourself an ally, while privately reinforcing the culture that empowers men at the expense of women. In other words, you will continue to capitalize on our pain.

        Sincerely,
        Allie

        • Gwenda

          Thank you for sharing this, Allie.

        • Kate Messner

          Thank you, Allie. I’m so sorry you had to deal with this on a day that should have been about kids and celebrating reading.

        • Martha Brockenbrough

          I admire this courage. Thank you, friends.

        • Becky Levine

          Thank you, Kate and Allie.

        • Matthew C Winner

          Allie,
          Thank you for sharing this. It is appalling and disgusting that Handler would joke this way, and in front of children no less. I am personally grateful for this comment thread and others on the SLJ post and social media recently. There are a number of would-be podcast guests that will not be supported by my platform and I will make sure that friends and colleagues consider this information before considering these men for theirs as well.
          _Matthew

          • Gwenda

            Thank you, Matthew. You’re such an important voice in our community — thank you.

          • Kate Messner

            Thank you, Matthew – I really appreciate your comment & your voice. Men have so much more power to stop this behavior in other men than women so but are often silent when it happens as well as when people speak up.

      • Kimberly Sabatini

        Kate–it took a lot of courage to say that and a bottomless amount of class to still hold the door open. Thank you for always being so brave and kind. It’s an incredible combination.

      • Jo Knowles

        Dear Kate and Allie,
        Thank you for sharing these stories. I hope they are widely read, if not responded to by Mr. Handler. These are examples of how powerful words are. These kinds of jokes wound and weaken us, and when they come from people of power, they risk inspiring others to join in. We authors and teachers are role models. People, and especially kids, are watching and listening and learning from us. Nothing should entitle us to a pass when it comes to being decent, thoughtful and kind. This responsibility comes with the job we’ve been extremely fortunate to acquire. And it’s a hell of a lot more rewarding than a cheap laugh.

        • Gwenda

          Well said.

        • Allie Jane Bruce

          Thank you so much, everyone, for the support here and on twitter. I so, so appreciate it.

        • Gwenda

          Oof. I just want everyone to know that I emailed Daniel Handler over the weekend, because I thought if he was signing this he’d want to know about the few stories I had of him making women uncomfortable or small (including one of my own) and knock off that type of humor. He responded graciously to me, but it now seems I may have been too charitable. Because for every comment here I’ve received many similar private stories.

          ETA on Thursday, Feb. 15: I have emailed links to these comments to him and encouraged him to respond, but I am just so grateful and proud to all of you speaking up here and telling your stories. This is UNACCEPTABLE. It must end or there is NO allyship. I’ve let Daniel know that I’ll have no choice but to remove his name from the final letter if he can’t make a public apology and commit to doing better in the future. Comments like these would certainly violate any decent harassment policy.

        • Allie Jane Bruce

          Thank you, Lisa, and thank you again (and again and again), Gwenda.

          I agree–unacceptable.

          And yes, I think we can agree at this point, that Daniel has decided to bury his head in the sand rather than take responsibility for his actions. He stands firm as someone who wants to collect the benefits of publicly declaring himself an ally, while privately reinforcing the culture that empowers men at the expense of women.

          I wish I were surprised or disappointed. Nope–just angry.

        • Cheryl Blackford

          Thank you for speaking out Lisa.

      • Lynn Plourde

        Part of what is so concerning about all this is the SO UPSET/COULDN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT versus NO BIG DEAL/TOUGHEN UP, BUTTERCUP. Thank you to Kate and Allie for coming forward with their specific details and concerns about their experiences with Daniel Handler.

        Sexual assault is wrong, sexual harassment is wrong, sexual/suggestive talk in a professional setting is wrong. Different degrees, but all wrong.

        Those of us with #METOO experiences whether in the kidlit field or elsewhere have for years questioned ourselves–What did I do wrong? Did I trigger this? How could I have avoided this? How can I avoid this in the future? What can I say? What can I do? Who can I tell? Who will believe me (I’m not powerful)? We have played what happened over and over in our minds and even more of a replay with our emotions. We remember every sleazy, dirty detail. It made us sick to our stomachs then. It still makes us sick to our stomachs years later.

        My guess is that the “locker room” talk type may actually blow this off as “no big deal.” It’s funny to them. Other guys laugh. It couldn’t be such a big deal since they don’t remember it the same way, all those details. “Don’t be so sensitive.” “No harm meant.”

        Harm DEALT. Harm DEALT BIG TIME! Women have suffered silently for years. Have resigned ourselves to “It’s part of being a woman.” “There’s nothing we can do about it.”

        Time’s up! Times have changed. There’s lots we can do and we’ve only just begun. We won’t be passive anymore. We will call out sexual harassers and sexual talkers. The excuses of “I didn’t know.” “No harm meant.” won’t cut it anymore. You’ve been warned. It’s your choice, harassers. Change your behavior. Respect is a two-way street. It’s your career–if you want to blow up your career with bad behavior, YOU are making that choice. We aren’t. We’re standing up for ourselves, for each other, for what’s right. We choose to live in a world that’s harassment-free and bully-free. Join us or get out of the way!

      • Rosanne Parry

        Kate and Allie Jane, thank you for speaking up. I had a similar experience with Mr. Handler.

        Years ago we were both guests of Oregon Literary Arts, and you made a crass and belittling joke to me. Before I could even respond to you a 16 year old girl stepped between us, gave you a hard stare and said–Dude, you have to stop talking to women like that. And in response you said something crass to a child, someone half your size and not old enough to vote. This teenager again said–Dude, I have a blackbelt and I’m telling you, you, have to stop talking like that to women. At which point you sauntered off without acknowledgement or apology.
        I don’t think you’re a monster, Mr. Handler. I think you’re a person who is socially ill at ease who has chosen to cope by using the belittling humor and sarcasm that serves you well on the page but poorly in life. The time for that humor is up. I’m not equating this experience with sexual predation, but I do believe that tolerating crass and belittling behavior creates a climate where more egregious predation is possible.

        Gwenda, I am very happy to see the final paragraph in your remarks above addressed to publishers. They are in the best position to take action with authors who are predators and also with the ones who are socially clueless. In addition to writing books, I am a bookseller at an indie bookshop. When we have trouble with an author’s behavior at an event, we contact the publicist. It happens very rarely. 99% of our authors, including the men, are lovely and gracious people. But the few who aren’t do real harm. Like Kate I can’t help thinking that if I and many others had spoken to Mr. Handler’s publisher about the inappropriate remarks he’d been making for years, they would have chosen someone else to represent children’s literature at the National Book Awards.

        Thank you for pulling these resources together. Sign me up as one who is already working on clearer policies at my local SCBWI and other writer’s organizations in town.

        • Gwenda

          Thank you for sharing your story. I am still hoping that Daniel will show up here and apologize to everyone who’s been caused hurt by thoughtless and inappropriate comments (which I’ve communicated to him). It IS time for this not-funny humor to end.

      • Debbi Florence

        Dear Kate and Allie,

        Thank you for sharing, for being brave, for speaking up in a kind, respectful, but honest way. I hope the response is just as respectful. HUGS! xoxo

      • Cynthia Lord

        Just want to tell you how much I love and admire you, Kate. Thank you for sharing this.

      • Gwenda

        Another thought on this that just hit me and I don’t know why I didn’t think of it this way before and maybe this makes clearer what’s so problematic about this in terms of “why wouldn’t I behave this way?” (I mean, lots of reasons, but) — when you make sexualized jokes with women (and girls, for that matter) you don’t know or just met, you have NO IDEA whether they are assault or abuse or rape survivors and it’s a fair bet at least some of them are. No matter what setting it’s in.

    • Angie Manfredi

      Mr. Handler: at the 2011 ALA Conference in NOLA at the Printz reception I was with a group of fellow librarians who were all too intimidated to talk to you. After all, you’re Lemony Snicket. I wasn’t intimidated. When I approached you, I opened with this: “My friends were too afraid to come talk to you, but I’m not afraid.” You were surrounded by fellow publishing big names, I was a solo female librarian, a nobody and a stranger to you. You looked right at me and said, “If you’re not afraid, go knock on the door of (some random room number) and make out with whoever answers.”

      I have NEVER EVER forgotten this. It was clear you thought this was quite the clever riposte – but I was a stranger to you, a woman, and someone with ostensibly much less power than you. I was, it was obvious, a fan. And, in front of a large group of ALL of our peers (they’re just as much my peers as yours) you decided to open with a sexual implication about what I should do with my body. (with a total stranger. And those are the kind of decisions I like to make on my own, thanks.) It wasn’t funny. And it didn’t intimidate or belittle or humiliate me, though it felt like that was your goal. It just made me so sad for all the time I’d spent admiring your wit and your style. And it made me angry for the other women of all ages I knew you’d reduce and try to belittle.

      You can keep ignoring these comments, but they won’t go away. Think on that.

      • Allie Jane Bruce

        Thank you for sharing this story, Angie, and for naming that “never forget” quality. Daniel, every time a kid asks me for help finding your books, my chest tightens a bit. Every time I see an ad on Netflix for your series, my gut clenches. I will never, ever forget.

      • Gwenda

        Angie, thank you for posting this. I can also add that for every comment here, I’ve had at least two come in privately (or more). This behavior has to stop.

      • Kate Messner

        Angie, thank you for posting this. Like Gwenda, in addition to what’s posted here, I’ve gotten private notes with similar stories from people who didn’t want to speak up publicly. It needs to stop.

      • Paula Willey

        Yep. Yep yep yep. I will never forget the Guys Read panel at ALA in Anaheim during which Daniel decided it was appropriate to read a lengthy – lengthy- explicit makeout passage from Oscar Hijuelos’ Mambo Kings, at the culmination of which the male character had his whole fist in.
        And then Daniel closed the book and said “Oh I’m sorry, I thought we were talking about what boys want to read.”
        Not respectful to the (majority female) audience and not respectful to boys either.
        And then afterwards, when my husband was introduced to him, he made an icky comment implying/denying a physical relationship between us. I do sincerely believe that these “jokes” are a symptom of a vast social discomfort especially with women, but it’s been years now. Do some work. Fix that.

    • Dana Reinhardt

      I’ve hesitated before responding to this thread about Daniel Handler because I am aware of how it might be received, but then not speaking up out of fear of retribution feels both wrong and ironic.
      So here goes. I do hope a reasonable discussion can follow. Or at least a fair hearing of what I’m trying to say.
      I am a lifelong feminist who has watched the recent turning of tides with pride and exhilaration, however, as many other smarter women have written, there are dangers and pitfalls to this powerful movement and I fear that what I’m seeing happen on this thread to Daniel Handler is a perfect example. To be clear: I am not discounting or undercutting anyone’s truth. I am willing to take every single story told here at face value. In other words: I believe the women who have come forward. But in all these cases, at least the stories I’ve read here, the ones made public, Handler is telling a joke that the listener did not think was funny. Or maybe thought was inappropriate. This is not sexual assault and it is not sexual harassment and to equate the stories here with assault and harassment both undercuts the seriousness of these problems and unfairly tarnishes a decent human being who happens to be a famous man. In none of these cases was Handler someone’s boss. In none of these instances did he inappropriately touch anyone. He made a joke (or in one accusation, he read aloud a scene from a Pulitzer prize winning novel) and sure, maybe you didn’t think the jokes were funny, or maybe they even offended you, but does it really seem just to excoriate him like this in a public forum and then shame him for not wading in to defend himself and/or apologize? Because it doesn’t seem right to me.

      • Gwenda

        That would perhaps be true if these were private conversations — but they occurred in professional settings and *that* is sexual harassment. You don’t find it all unusual that the stories — going all the way back to the watermelon joke — manage to belittle women or put women in an awkward position? I believe Daniel can be funny without making women the butt of his jokes IN THEIR WORKPLACE.

        And obviously there will be no ‘retribution.’ Everyone is welcome to their opinion. That said, I’m curious… if this were any workplace besides a creative one, would you think these types of jokes were appropriate? If it was a meeting in a school principal’s office and the principal made these jokes to a teacher would that be just bad jokes? Or would it create a hostile work environment? I know you say he’s no one’s boss and that’s true — but he is at the top of the power hierarchy. I’m just asking to consider it from that POV.

        I contacted Daniel privately because I was willing to have that conversation with him in private, but not everyone can do that. The first time I met Daniel at a conference reception he referred to me in front of other people as a “hot blonde.” This is necessarily an uncomfortable conversation but it’s an essential one. Sexual harassment exists on a scale. I firmly believe this is on it.

        • Hannah Barnaby

          I would add, Gwenda, that while it may be technically true that Daniel Handler’s comments would not, perhaps, be technically categorized as sexual harassment, these stories show a consistent pattern of DH introducing sexual content in situations where it DOES NOT BELONG. Whether he does this out of social discomfort or misplaced ideas about humor or any other intention is not my concern. My concern is that he is exposing children and women to uncomfortable, inappropriate implications that are just not acceptable at school visits, book festivals, conferences, or any professional context. He needs to examine that and make a decision about what matters more: his public image or his impact on other.

          • Gwenda

            Thank you, Hannah. Well said.

            I know I point to SFWA’s policy a lot, but this is one that I know is being used as a model by a lot of the types of events we’re talking about now. Note that “unwanted jokes” is included.

            “Sexual harassment proscribed by this Policy includes (1) unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other physical, verbal or written conduct of a sexual nature, and (2) creating an intimidating, hostile, or sexually offensive environment by severe or pervasive conduct. Written conduct includes postings or similar conduct in online or electronic venues. Sexual harassment may occur in hierarchical relationships or between peers, and between persons of the same sex or opposite sex. A hostile environment can be created by, among other things, unwanted jokes, gestures, and unwelcome comments and repartee; touching and any other bodily contact such as scratching, rubbing, or patting a person’s back, backside, or chest, grabbing another person around the waist, or deliberately interfering with a person’s ability to move, or written conduct referring to same; repeated requests for dates or sex that are turned down, or other unwanted flirting, and transmitting or posting emails or pictures of a sexual or other harassment-related nature.”

      • Kate Messner

        Hi, Dana – Thanks for sharing your thoughts. As I noted quite clearly in my comment, we’re talking about a whole spectrum of behaviors, all of which contribute to the bigger problem. As I also noted above, I’ve never heard anyone suggest that Daniel Handler is some kind of sexual predator. But his patterns of behavior would indeed violate many companies’ policies on sexual harassment.

        It is difficult for me to imagine anyone reading the comment I wrote above and using the word “excorciate” to describe it. I think it’s important to remember that individual people have the right to share their stories in situations like this. When there are many such stories (the ones shared publicly here are a fraction of what Gwenda and I have received in our inboxes) the effect of people speaking up can feel like a pile-on. I get that. But just because someone has exhibited a behavior with a large number of women doesn’t mean those women are required to be silent about it to avoid that effect.

        I don’t wish Mr. Handler harm. My wish is still exactly what I asked for in my original comment that he’s ignored for nearly a week now – that he’ll read these stories, reflect, and change so that other women aren’t made to feel this way when they’re trying to do their jobs.

        • Paula

          Agreed, Lisa. If nobody else had noted their discomfort I would put it down to a personal response (and that of my husband, who is not a participant in our industry and whose response was not colored by any “rockstar” preconceptions). It just seems to be a pattern of emphasizing difference: the watermelon thing, you have boobs so that’s what I’m going to talk about, pointing out height, hair color, hotness … and that emphasis, regardless of intent, reduces its object.
          Similarly, picking out ‘the dirty part’ from an acclaimed novel as the part that boys would be most interested in reduces them.
          I wish this didn’t have to all get worked out in a public forum, but it’s only in the aggregate that this behavior appears notable. And I think it’s worth it for all of us, not just men, to see what a pattern looks like. God knows I am one of the rudest people I know, and this conversation has prompted a lot of reflection.

          • Gwenda

            Some great points here, Paula. I don’t think anyone here wants to shame Daniel Handler — I think we are all engaging from a place of honestly hoping he wants to not go around carelessly hurting people with comments like these. And, for my own part, now that this conversation IS happening in public (and had to, for people to be heard and see what others have experienced) I hope it can also be something that causes other people to reflect about what type of humor is okay when and where and it sounds like that’s already the case.

        • Sabrina fedel

          Kate,
          Your comments did not excoriate, and the incidents that you and others have brought up were all in professional settings. Before I was an author, I was an attorney, and the persistent culture of men in that field toward me where I was belittled-sometimes openly and sometimes veiled in a joke-was something I thought I just had to accept. Because people are speaking out, we no longer have to accept these persistent, targeted microagrressions. Thank you for speaking out because it is in the aggregate that these kinds of microagrrssions matter and do harm to women and other marginalized groups. Individually, these microaggressions seem small, but their aggregate impact is to lessen, demean, and sometimes ultimately silence those targeted. Anyone can make a badly judged joke. But when there is a pattern of behavior-over time and across events-and we all remain silent because we don’t know what has been done to others and we feel that our experience is (again) “too little” to “make a federal case” out of it, then we are demeaned and lessened and silenced. And these men who are constantly operating in this way are validated that their behavior is somehow okay, when it is anything but okay. So thank you, because it takes, in my opinion, authors (or celebreries in any industry) who have name recognition and sucess to have the power to call out these men and not to be dismissed as unequal women seeking attention. Thank you for risking the possible (and now effective) backlash to speak up for others who have felt powerless, and thank you to everyone who has exposed this pattern of microaggression. Only when we stand together can these changes be made. I don’t want my daughter to have to “deal with it.” I want her to wonder that it ever happened to the women before her at all.

      • Cheryl Blackford

        Dana, nothing is “happening to” Daniel Handler on this thread. Comments he made are being discussed. If your elementary-age child was in the room where he referred to Uniball as a male medical condition, would you laugh about his little “joke”? If your child was attending a Children’s literature festival and heard him yell “Are you a virgin too?” Would you think it was funny? These are absolutely examples of sexual harassment and they are not isolated incidents – he has made many women uncomfortable with his crude remarks. His position of power within the publishing industry means that women are reluctant to speak out when he does this. For authors book festivals, school visits and conferences are their workplaces. This unacceptable behavior equates to sexual harassment at work. Daniel Handler is responsible for his own actions and his silence on this speaks volumes.

  85. Becky Scharnhorst

    Signed!

  86. Court Stevens

    Signed!

  87. Brendan Reichs

    Signed. We must advocate for clear, strict, and non-negotiable zero tolerance sexual harassment policies at all kid-lit events.

  88. Elisa Zied

    Thank you so much for doing this. The kidlit community is truly incredible and it pains me to think it’s been at all tainted by such wrong, inappropriate, unacceptable and harmful behavior. Hopefully, this conversation will lead to changes that will result in everyone in the community feeling and being safe and respected. Kudos to you for being a vital part of the change, and for helping all of us participate in that effort.

  89. Kate Hart

    +1

  90. Stephanie Kuehn

    Signed. Thank you.

  91. Kaitlin Ward

    Signed. Thank you for doing this, Gwenda!

  92. Elisa Zied

    Signed. Thank you so much for doing this. The kidlit community is truly incredible and it pains me to think it’s been at all tainted by such wrong, inappropriate, unacceptable and harmful behavior. Hopefully, this conversation will lead to changes that will result in everyone in the community feeling and being safe and respected. Kudos to you for being a vital part of the change, and for helping all of us participate in that effort.

  93. Courtney Summers

    Signed.

  94. Phoebe N North

    Signed!

  95. Kody Keplinger

    Signed.

  96. Joseph Taylor

    Happy to sign. Thank you for helping us to take this important step.

  97. Jilanne Hoffmann

    signed

  98. Fran Manushkin

    I would sign, but I don’t see a link for it.

  99. Fran Manushkin

    Signed!

  100. Becky Albertalli

    Signed. Thank you for this. <3

  101. Anne Sibley O’Brien

    Signed

  102. Julie Rowan-Zoch

    Signed

  103. Brent Hartinger

    Signed (and then some!)

  104. Jennifer DuBose

    Signed!

  105. S.E. Sinkhorn

    Signed.

  106. Erin Dionne

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda!

  107. Shauna Granger

    Signed!

  108. Molly Beth Griffin

    Signed. Thank you!

  109. Larissa Hardesty

    Signed. And thank you.

  110. Miriam Busch

    Signed.

  111. Veronica Roth

    Signed!

  112. Somaiya Daud

    Signed.

  113. Donalyn Miller

    Signed. Thank you.

  114. Matty Daley

    Signed.

  115. Kathleen Glasgow

    Signed

  116. Kathleen Glasgow

    Signed!

  117. Robin Herrera

    Signed.

  118. Margo Kelly

    Yes. Signed. Thank you.

  119. Cathy Camper

    Signed. Thanks for creating language to make it happen!

  120. Joni Nemeth

    Thank you.

  121. Carol Brendler

    Signing on.

    • Carol Brendler

      Returning to this post again to read all the new comments and thinking about how Gwenda is just the right person to spearhead this project—informed, energetic, and immensely well spoken. Just sayin’ thanks, Gwenda.

      • Gwenda

        I missed this, lady. Thank you. Means the world coming from you. <3

  122. Stephanie Olivieri

    Yes to this. Consider me signed as well. THANK YOU!

  123. Emily Wayne

    Consider me signed.

  124. Jocelyn Rish

    Thank you for leading the charge. Signed.

  125. Anne Sibley O’Brien

    Signed. (Tried earlier multiple times but it didn’t “take.”)

  126. Maria Selke

    I’m not an author – but I’m signing as a reader, as a teacher, as a fan of kidlit. I see the names listed here, and I thank you all.

    • Joan Raphael

      Yes, Maria has a great point. I am a reader who buys books and a retired librarian. If I still worked, I would be reluctant to recommend David Diaz’s work. Of course, if specifically asked, I would immediately find it for the person. I would be interested in knowing that my dollars are not going to men and women who do not respect other’s humanity. Apparently David Diaz (my system has a bench painted by him which I’ll never sit on again!) was known in the industry. We readers deserve to know such things as well. Please reach out to readers and let us be aware of what sort of person we are supporting with our money.

  127. Erica Secor

    Signed ❤️

  128. Tracey Baptiste

    Signed. Thanks Gwenda!

  129. Bethany Olson

    Signing as a teacher, a reader, and mother of an aspiring author…that when she joins your ranks, none of this issue will remain.

  130. Kristy Acevedo

    Signed. Thank you for this.

  131. Elizabeth Dulemba

    Add my name! Thank you! e

  132. Elisa Nader

    All of this! Yes! Signed.

    And thank you, Gwenda.

  133. Robert Hardy

    Signed.

  134. Alexia Andoni

    Signed. Thank you!

  135. Barb Collie

    Signed!

  136. Kat Howard

    Signed.

  137. Marla Frazee

    SIGNED!

  138. Gail Nall

    Signed!

  139. Jennifer Naughton

    Signed

  140. Traci Sorell

    Signed. Thanks!

  141. Carrie Jones

    Thank you, Gwenda.

  142. Gina Perry

    Signed. And thank you, Gwenda.

  143. Hannah Schultz

    Signed. As someone who hopes to join this community after my MFA, I’m thankful for all the authors fighting for transparency for this issue and hopeful that change will happen soon!

  144. Minh Le

    Signed (and thank you)

  145. Brian lies

    Please add me as signed! Thanks for putting this together. It’s essential.

  146. Sheela Chari

    Signed. Thank you for putting this together.

  147. Rebecca Petruck

    Signed. With great hope and love.

  148. Bianca Schulze

    Signed!

  149. Hannah Holt

    Signed.

  150. Pam Warren

    Signed. Thank you.

  151. Clo Carey

    Add me too, please! And thanks for doing this.

  152. Shae McDaniel

    Signed!

  153. Andrea Wang

    Signed! Thank you!

  154. Nathan Lyon

    Signed.

  155. Diane Magras

    Thank you so much for doing this. Signed, with pride.

  156. Jen Cervantes

    Signed

  157. Dawn Metcalf

    Signed. And underlined. Thank you!

  158. Cynthia Leitich Smith

    Signed.

  159. beth phelan

    Signed, and thank you.

  160. Grace lin

    Signed

  161. Louise Hawes

    Signed,
    with thanks!

  162. Tamara Ireland Stone

    Thank you, Gwenda. Signed.

  163. Tom Birdseye

    Signed. Thank you for spearheading this!

  164. David Gill

    Signed.

  165. David Macinnis Gill

    Signed.

  166. William Alexander

    Signed.

  167. Joey Paul

    Signed thank you

  168. Melinda

    Gwenda, I love this. Hell yes they need to sign on with this, and add in Jo’s addendum as well. Cosigned with a signature you can see from freaking space.

  169. Marissa Doyle

    Signed!

  170. Liz Garton Scanlon

    Signed and also thank you.

  171. Stephanie Burgis

    Signed.

  172. Liz Garton Scanlon

    Signed and thank you

  173. Melanie Conklin

    Thanks for organizing this, Gwenda. I’m happy to sign.

  174. Michael Northrop

    Signed!

  175. Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

    signed

  176. Kelly Ramsdell

    Signed. And thank you.

  177. Patrick Nielsen Hayden

    Signed.

  178. Tracy Abell

    Signed.
    I’m a former conference organizer for my local SCBWI chapter and am sickened to think women may have felt unsafe at those conferences. Thank you for this, Gwenda.

  179. Patrick Samphire

    Signed!

  180. Holly Westlund

    Signed

  181. Rae Carson

    Signed

  182. A.S. King

    Signed and thank you.
    I would like to thank you extra for stressing that having a policy listing resources to contact if one is harassed at a conference/festival is a good idea. I had a world-shattering situation a few years ago and we could not report it. And the woman at my publishing house who was in charge of my being at that event did nothing about it. Every organization who runs professional conferences or festivals should have a contact in place–someone who is NOT in charge, but who is there to field complaints.

    • Gwenda

      I am so very sorry that happened to you. And yes, yes they should.

    • Anne Broyles

      I’m so sorry this happened to you. I’m hoping things are about to change so other women won’t have to have their lives shattered.

  183. Samantha Mabry

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  184. Darby Karchut

    Signed! And thank you!

  185. Kelly Jones

    Signed. Thank you.

  186. Sarah Albee

    Signed!

  187. Hannah Barnaby

    Signed! Emphatically!

  188. Amy Sundberg

    Signed, and thank you.

  189. Heather Tomlinson

    Signed! Thank you for drafting this.

  190. Carter Higgins

    Signed.

  191. Laurie L Young

    Signed. Thank you for stepping up.

  192. Anne Broyles

    I’m with you. Signed.

  193. Angela Matteson

    Signed. And thank you.

  194. Heather W. Petty

    Signed! Thank you so much, Gwenda! This is brilliant.

  195. Stephanie Scott

    Signed

  196. Sharon Levin

    Absolutely add my name! Thank you for doing this

  197. Bill Cameron

    Count me in.

  198. Nanci Tirner Steveson

    Signed and thank you. It’s time. N.

  199. Ronni Davis

    Signed.

  200. Erin Murphy

    Can those of us in the industry who aren’t writers sign? If so, please add me.

  201. Patti Brown

    Signed & shared. Thanks, Gwenda.

  202. Emily Martin

    Signed.

  203. Emma Trevayne

    Signed.

  204. Jeff Dougan

    I am neither author nor illustrator, but I’m a parent, a high school science teacher, and a devoted fan of several people who have already signed this.

    I tend to frequent SFF/gaming conventions, and aside from one commitment I don’t feel I can ethically break (folks counting on me to help teach a couple games to tweens), I promise to actively pay attention to the existence and content of harassment policies. So consider me signed, with the added promise to be an available third party for anybody who needs an ear, a shoulder, a rock.

    Could I suggest that you & Mr Scalzi maintain, or find someone to maintain, a list of SFF/kidlit/gaming conventions whose policies meet the tests above?

    • Leslie Hawkins

      Author Alexandra Duncan and some others have been putting together just such a list, if you’d like to check it out and/or add to it: http://bit.ly/2su3VN2.

      • Gwenda

        Duh! I knew this and have tweeted it but haven’t had a chance to look! I will add it to the follow-up post when I compile and post the final letter with everyone’s names. THANK YOU!

  205. Kate Messner

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  206. Emma D. Dryden

    Please add my name as a signer. Thanks!

  207. Heather Bouwman

    Signed. Thank you.

  208. Marietta B. Zacker

    Thank you, and yes, please add my name.

  209. Robin Galbraith

    Signed. Thank you for doing this.

  210. Laura Sebastian

    Signed!

    Thank you so much for putting this together, Gwenda. As a new author, reading Anne’s article was eye-opening and scary, but I truly believe there are more good people in this industry than bad ones, and this letter is an excellent way to make it harder for the bad ones to thrive.

  211. Jan Gangsei

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  212. Caleb Zane Huett

    Signed!!

  213. Daniel José Older

    Signed and thank you

  214. Alison Cherry

    Signed! Thank you, Gwenda.

  215. Daniel Mauleon

    Signed

  216. Aaron Starmer

    Signed. Many thanks, Gwenda.

  217. Ally Condie

    Signed. Let’s do this.

  218. Janet Fox

    So important. Thank you, Gwenda.

  219. Janet Fox

    Signed. Thank you.

  220. Crystal Perkins

    Signed.

  221. Erica Chapman

    Signed. Thank you!

  222. Nancy Werlin

    Signed.

  223. Rebecca Behrens

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda

  224. Dana Mele

    Signed

  225. Eric Smith

    Signed. Thank you for doing this work.

  226. Stephanie Ruble

    Signed!

    Hopefully it will show up this time. Thank you for this, Gwenda!

  227. Kim Cohen

    Signed and *in solidarity. I also think that it is crucial that organizations and conferences do some work to collect data themselves. In K-12 schools, there are climate surveys to gauge how safe and inclusive students, staff, teachers, parents, etc. feel schools are and how responsive they are when dealing with issues. This is what we need. I’m grateful that @AnneUrsu took it upon herself to collect research, but this should be a new and formal commitment to collect post-conference anonymous data.

    • Mira Reisberg

      This is an excellent idea! It’s sad that we need some kind of accountability, but clearly we do.

  228. Jaime questell

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda!

  229. Jennifer Laughran

    Signed! Thanks, Gwenda.

  230. Susan Tan

    Signed! Many many thanks!

  231. Brittany Cavallaro

    Signed.

  232. Kell Andrews

    Signed .

  233. Catherine Rose

    Signed

  234. Martha Brockenbrough

    Signed with gratitude.

  235. Diane Zahler

    Signed.

  236. Diana Gill

    Signed. Thank you Gwenda.

  237. Karen Rivers

    Signed.

  238. Tatum Layne

    Signed.

    I don’t know who it happened to and I don’t know who was the abuser, but that doesn’t matter in the slightest. It shouldn’t happen in any line of work.

  239. Jennifer

    Signed.

  240. Michelle Schusterman

    Signed, and thank you.

  241. Janet Sumner Johnson

    Signed. Thank you for doing this, Gwenda!

  242. Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich

    signed.

  243. Jamie Forgacs

    Signed, and thank you to all.

  244. Nova Ren Suma

    Signed.

  245. Lindsay Ribar

    Signed!

  246. Linda Sue Park

    Signed, with thanks.

  247. Lisa Schroeder

    Signed and adding my thanks to the chorus.

  248. Melanie Crowder

    signed

  249. J.C. Lillis

    Please add me as signed. Thank you, Gwenda!

  250. Shaun David Hutchinson

    Signed! And thank you.

  251. Kara Thomas

    Signed.

  252. Leslie Connor

    Signed!
    Heartfelt thanks, Gwenda.

  253. Rachel Lynn Solomon

    Signed. Thank you.

  254. Steven Schend

    Signed in solidarity

  255. Katie L. Carroll

    Signed

  256. Laurie Devore

    Signed.

  257. E. Kristin Anderson

    Signed. As I said on Twitter in a jillion-word thread, we need to end this “you’ll never eat lunch in this town again!” culture where even having a dissenting opinion on a bestselling novel can land you in social pariah jail. It’s not okay, it keeps women/nonbinary people silent, and it keeps abusers in power. Thank you for doing this, Gwenda.

  258. Lauren Thoman

    Signed.

  259. Lynda Mullaly Hunt

    Happy to sign this. Thank you, Gwenda!

  260. Sarah Prineas

    Signed in support of the women who have spoken up–and in support of those who can’t.

  261. Shenwei Chang

    Signed.

  262. A. L. LeGore

    Signed. As someone coordinating school visits for a new and growing book festival, your linked resources helped me draft our first Code of Conduct and it will be going to our board for approval and use in our 2018 festival. Thank you.

  263. Shae Carys

    Signed, and thank you. Having been put into too many uncomfortable positions by trusted “friends” in my life, I never thought the day would come where this conversation would be happening on such a broad scale. I’m beyond happy that it’s happening, and, again, thank you for your part in it, Gwenda.

  264. Michael M. Jones

    Signed as a writer, reviewer, editor, student, and of course as a rational human being. I believe our community should be safe.

  265. Lisa Freund

    Signed.

  266. Teri Hall

    I never attended even a single conference precisely because I heard about how they are and have already been injured enough by #MeToo sorts of things in my life. I wanted to keep my writing safe and separate from those memories. In choosing this, I have isolated myself from a great community, but I just never wanted to take a chance that my writing, which has saved my life, might be muddled with crap. But this is a wonderful, brave, REQUIRED effort, and if signing can help, I sign! Let’s hope it’s beginning to truly change.

  267. Ellen Wittlinger

    This may be the second time I’ve signed–wasn’t sure it went through the first time. Thank you, Gwenda!

  268. Lorin Oberweger

    So important. Signed.

  269. Andrea Cremer

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  270. Katie Bayerl

    Signed

  271. Tracy Holczer

    Signed.

  272. Robyn Schneider

    Signed, with thanks.

  273. Bethany hegedua

    Signed. And we are working on a policy here at The Writing Barn and will add it to our website soon as well as make sure all faculty and attendees have printed copies at events.

  274. Tina Barbour

    Signed as an aspiring kid lit author who wants us all to feel safe and be safe. Thank you.

  275. Nikki Loftin

    Thank you for your leadership, Gwenda. Signed.

  276. Tina Barbour

    I’m sorry if I show up twice. I’m signing as an aspiring kid lit author who wants us all to feel safe and be safe.

  277. Monica Edinger

    Signed.

  278. Lindsey Leavitt

    Signed with gusto

  279. Christina June

    Signed. Thank you. <3

  280. Jess Capelle

    Signed. Thank you Gwenda.

  281. Sylvia Liu

    Yes, thank you.

  282. DongWon Song

    Signed!

  283. Jess Capelle

    Sorry if this shows up twice but signed with thanks.

  284. Lauren Wengrovitz

    Signed! Thank you for doing this.

  285. Suzanne Lazear

    signed.

  286. Kathi Appelt

    Signed baby, signed!

  287. Sara Lewis Holmes

    Signed. Change takes all of us. Thank you.

  288. Julia Ember

    Signed!

  289. Cheryl Klein

    Signed for myself as an author and presenter, and as an editor, I will have a conversation with people in my house about publicizing our policies. Thank you.

  290. Heather Bouwman

    Tried to sign before, but it looks like it didn’t go through. So–signing again! 🙂 Thank you, Gwenda.

  291. Gae Polisner

    This is a perfect and necessary starting point, and a no-brainer for these entities to have such clear and visible policies in place.

    Signed.

    Gae Polisner

  292. Nora Raleigh Baskin

    signed

  293. Casey Lyall

    Signed. Thank you.

  294. Henry Neff

    Signed. Thank you for doing this, and for proposing concrete steps to improve the industry and culture. Onward and upward.

  295. Kati Gardner

    Signed

  296. R.M.Rivera a.k.a. Roberta M. Rivera

    Signed. Sealed and delivered. Thank you, Gwenda. I’m unpublished illustrator in the traditional kidlit publishing. I’m a SCBWI member and I support this. Again, thank you, Gwenda!

  297. Rae Chang

    Emphatically signed

  298. R.J. Anderson

    Signed, with thanks to Anne, Gwenda, Kate and others in this thread and elsewhere who have contributed to this important conversation.

  299. Wendy Shang

    Signed – and thank you.

  300. Brad McLelland

    Signed, and THANK YOU.

  301. Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

    Signed with much gratitude, Gwenda.

  302. Lindsay Beth

    Signed.

  303. Katie Cotugno

    Signed!

  304. Sarah Cannon

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda!

  305. Stephanie Diaz

    Signed!

  306. Melanie Stanford

    Signed.

  307. Nina LaCour

    Signed.

  308. Christina Diaz Gonzalez

    Signed! Thank you Gwenda.

  309. Saundra Mitchell

    Signed.

  310. Mindy McGinnis

    Signed

  311. Phil Bildner

    Please add my name. Signed. Thank you. Thank you for all of this.

  312. Dean Gloster

    Signed.

  313. Jennifer Mathieu

    Signed. Thank you.

  314. Zach J. Payne

    As an aspiring writer who hopes to be part of this community someday, signed.

  315. Joanne Stapley

    I am a book blogger from the UK. If that’s not a problem, then I’ll sign this, too.

    Thank you for all you’re doing to raise awareness, and to create change.

  316. Jenny Moss

    Signed.

  317. Henry Herz

    Signed.

  318. Kir Talmage

    I’m wholly in favor of having public, enforced, anti-harassment policies of the Scalzi-style. Thank you.

  319. Kelly Light

    Change please. now. Thanks. Agreed.

  320. Austin Siegemund-Broka

    Signed on behalf of myself and my writing partner, Emily Wibberley. Thank you for this!

  321. Brook Gideon

    Signed. Yes please and thank you.

  322. Ashley Poston

    Signed.

  323. Brooks Sherman

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  324. Brigid Kemmerer

    Signed. Thank you so much for doing this.

  325. Mark Thurber

    Signed.

  326. julie murphy

    Signed!

  327. Dahlia Adler

    Signed. Thanks, Gwenda.

  328. Jo Whittemore

    SIGNED! A couple years ago I spoke at a conference and was emailed by an attendee who wrote the following:
    [You were speaking of your early successes and said, “and then I sold a piece, and then I sold a piece, and then I sold a piece.” You are an attractive woman and can only get away with saying that once. After that you lose context and all the men in the audience are reaching for their wallets.]
    The conference chairs immediately dealt with him when I told them, but ALL conferences/festivals/conventions should make this plain to attendees. And this should never be acceptable human behavior to begin with.

  329. Mike Winchell

    Signed

  330. Kate Rudd

    Stepping over from the audiobook community to say thank you! Wholeheartedly signed.

  331. J.A. White

    Signed. Thank you!

  332. Christine Lynn Herman

    Signed. Thank you so much, Gwenda.

  333. Sarah J. Schmitt

    Signed because even one moment where any woman feels unsafe is one too many.

  334. Aliza Weinberger

    Signed, as someone who writes about books and runs book events. Thanks for doing this, Gwenda!

  335. SAMIRA AHMED

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  336. Meredith Ireland

    Signed! Thank you

  337. Veronica Bane

    Signed. Thank you.

  338. Katie Slivensky

    Signed. And thank you.

  339. Dana Alison Levy

    Signed and so grateful, Gwenda, that you are taking this on. You’re right…we need to be our own heroes of this story.

  340. Jennifer Dugan

    Signed. Thank you for this.

  341. Kristin L. Gray

    Signed.

  342. Mary McCoy

    Signed, and thank you.

  343. Sarah LaPolla

    Signed. Thank you so much for this, Gwenda and everyone else signing as well. <3

  344. Patricia Valdez

    Signed

  345. Malinda Lo

    Signed. Thank you Gwenda!

  346. Sam Brody

    Signed, and thank you, Gwenda.

  347. Sarah LaPolla

    Signed. (Tech difficulties might make me double-signed but I’m OK with that!) Thank you for this. <3

  348. Alexandra Duncan

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda!

  349. Jen Petro-Roy

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  350. Matthew Cody

    Signed. Thanks for this, Gwenda.

  351. Alexander Slater

    Signed, with gratitude.

  352. Jeannine Atkins

    Signed, with sincere thanks.

  353. Katy Manck

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  354. Susan Rankin-Pollard

    Please add my name and note that I am the illustrator coordinator for San Francisco South.

  355. Samantha Grenier

    Signed <3

  356. Joy Keller

    SIGNED! Thank you, Gwenda.

  357. Jacqueline Garlick

    Signed with thanks! Good job Gwenda!

  358. Anthony Piraino

    Signed. Thank you, and Anne, and everyone else leading the way on this issue.

  359. Lindsey Anderson

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  360. Michelle Hodkin

    Signed. And Gwenda–thank you, thank you, thank you.

  361. Amy Kenney

    Signed.

  362. Jennifer Jacobson

    Signed. Thank you!

  363. Lisa L. Owens

    Signed.

  364. Kate Berube

    Signed

  365. Jess Creaden

    Signed!

  366. Jennifer Azantian

    Signed. Thank you so much for standing up, Gwenda.

  367. Andrew Forrester

    I’m not yet published, but I am agented, and this seems like the right way to start my career. Signed!

  368. Pamela Penza

    Signed

  369. Dow Phumiruk

    Signed.

  370. Jacob Devlin

    Signed! Thank you!

  371. Ishta Mercurio

    Signed.
    Thank you, Gwenda.

  372. Jill Diamond

    Signed.

  373. Keely Parrack

    Signed. Thank you.

  374. Sarah Willis

    Signed. Thank you.

  375. Jenn Bennett

    Signed.

  376. Caleb Roehrig

    Signed!

  377. Janae Marks

    Signed. Thank you so much for doing this.

  378. Jennifer Austin

    Signed!!

  379. Tobias Salem

    I’m not a published writer (yet, anyway). But I’m committing to this. Harassment has no place in our society. Lit conventions/conferences need to do what they can to prevent it. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for all who’ve experienced such behavior. I’ve pledged to have the hard conversations with male friends, coworkers and family.

  380. Jessica Day George

    Signed.

    Thank you, Gwenda.

  381. Margaret Owen

    Signed. Thank you for doing this.

  382. Allie Jane Bruce

    Signed.

  383. Pat Zietlow Miller

    Signed. Thank you.

  384. Sara Crowe

    Signed. And thank you!!

  385. Melissa Sarno

    Signed. Thank you.

  386. Stephanie Haft

    Signed!

    I’m just a reader and amateur writer, but here to support what’s right.

  387. Rin Chupeco

    Signed, and thank you so much for this, Gwenda.

  388. Will Taylor

    Signed, and thank you!

  389. Christina Soontornvat

    Signed. Thank you so much, Gwenda.

  390. Sarah Krammen

    Signed.

  391. Melissa Hed

    Signed. Thank you for this, Gwenda. It’s so important.

  392. Hannah Moushabeck

    Signed! Thank you.

  393. Cheryl Blackford

    Signed. And thank you for this Gwenda.

  394. Margaret Dilloway

    Signed. Thank you!

  395. Lyla Lawless

    Signed.

  396. Katie Doyle

    Signed

    I’m no where near being invited or asked to go to a conference or festival, but I think it’s important to support this and the victims, both anonymous and not, that have come forward.

  397. Gibran Graham

    Signed.
    Thank you!

  398. Justin Colussy-Estes

    Signed! Thanks, Gwenda.
    As a member of the programming committee of a book festival, I cannot thank you enough for this– I’ve been anticipating this conversation with dread, but now, with the tools and voices here, I’m excited for us to take this up. Thanks to you all, every brave person whose has contributed here.

  399. Ailynn Knox-Collins

    Signed. Thank you.

  400. Katie Kennedy

    Signed.

  401. Wendy Mass

    Signed! Thank you!

  402. Whitney Leader-Picone

    Signed.

  403. Jennifer Coryell

    Signed! Thank you!

  404. Lauren Spieller

    Signed.

  405. Tasslyn Magnusson

    Signed. Thank you.

  406. Seth Fishman

    Signed. That I had to scroll and scroll to be able to was heartening. Thank you Gwenda and everyone for lighting the way.

  407. Anna Raff

    Signed.

  408. Aubrey Poole

    Signed.

  409. Kelly Gallucci

    Signed and thank you <3

  410. Margo Sorenson

    signed

  411. Roshani Chokshi

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda!

  412. Janet Geddis

    Signed.

  413. Cyndi Marko

    Signed! And thank you.

  414. Hannah Moskowitz

    signed, thank you.

  415. Alanna Rossi

    Signed.

  416. Robison Wells

    SIGNED.

  417. Kat Yeh

    Please add me. And thank you, Gwenda.

  418. Lyn Miller-Lachmann

    Signed. Thank you for doing this, Gwenda!

  419. Alison Morris

    Signed! Thank you so much for doing this.

  420. Julie Segal Walters

    Signed. With much gratitude.

  421. Robyn Arend

    Signed

  422. matt mikalatos

    Signed. Thank you.

  423. Pete Knapp

    Signed. Thank you for this.

  424. Carla Mino

    Signed.

  425. Samantha Berger

    Signed so hard.

  426. Megan and Jorge Lacera

    Signed. Thank you!

  427. Coert Voorhees

    Signed.

  428. Nora Ericson

    Signed

  429. Jessica Spotswood

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  430. Tara Dairman

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  431. Mackenzi Lee

    Signed. <3 <3 <3

  432. Mackenzi Lee

    Signed <3 <3 <3

  433. Jeremy West

    Signed and seconded. Thank you for this!

  434. Rotem Moscovich

    Signed!

  435. Lisa Super

    Signed. Thank you.

  436. Kathryn Ault Noble

    Signed. Thank you!

  437. Janel Kolby

    Signed

  438. Cassandra Whetstone

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  439. Mark McNulty

    Consider this signed. I wish I was a bigger fish in this pond and could be an even greater influence… make an even greater difference. I definitely need to get writing more. But whether I forever remain on the outside fringe looking in or I become a national bestseller, my pledge will always be with me, close to my heart.

  440. Lisa Yee

    Signed.

  441. Brandy Colbert

    Signed. Thank you.

  442. Francina Simone

    Signed!! Thanks Gwenda!

  443. Brie Spangler

    Signed!

  444. Shannon Messenger

    Been offline for deadlines and just saw this, so I’m a little late but–signed and thank you!

  445. Greg Pincus

    Signed. And thank you for not waiting….

  446. Sarah Kettles

    Signed. Thank you!

  447. Robin Kirk

    Thank you!

  448. Jessica Petersen

    Signed. Thank you!

  449. Linda Urban

    Signed.
    Thank you, Gwenda. The pledge is important, as is having this space where people can see how much support there is behind this effort to change things.

  450. E. Lockhart

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  451. E. Lockhart

    Signed. Thank you.

  452. Lisa Papademetriou

    Signed. And thank you. Forwarding link to NESCBWI organizers.

  453. Anindita Basu Sempere

    Signed. Thanks, G ❤️

  454. Debbie Reese

    Signed.

  455. K. Callard

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  456. Nancy Stone

    Signed! Thank you!!

  457. Amy Reed

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  458. John David Anderson

    Signed!

  459. Gabrielle Carolina Nash

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda!

    (Do you think this is the time to also advocate for requirements for panels, meaning the ratio of gender is a little more even at these events?)

    • Gwenda

      Hi there! I believe there is something separate already in the works to address that issue that will be announced soon. But in short yes! It is time.

  460. Cheryl Keely

    Signed. Thank you.

  461. Loree Griffin Burns

    Signed.

  462. Adib Khorram

    Signed. Thank you!

  463. Lucie Witt

    Signed.

  464. Rachel Hawkins

    Signed. Thank you for this, Gwenda!

  465. Anna Langford

    Signed. Thank you. You’re a force for good.

  466. Nia Davenport

    Signed.

  467. Nia Davenport

    Signed. Thank you!

  468. Sarah Jude

    Signed. Thank you. Truly.

  469. Caitie Flum

    Signed

  470. Maggie Hall

    Signed.

  471. Liz Wright

    Signed. As a grad student just joining the field—thank you.

  472. Erin Scott

    Signed.

  473. Jocelyn Hall

    Consider me a signer.

  474. R.C. Lewis

    Signed.

  475. Elora Cook

    Signed!

  476. David Smeaton

    Signed. Thank you!

  477. Patty Blount

    Add my name! Definitely signing!

  478. Jodi Kendall

    Signed

  479. Shannon Schuren

    Signed. And thank you.

  480. Lola Sharp

    Signed. Thank you.

  481. Amanda Smith

    Signed. Thank you, and thank you to the women speaking up!

  482. Karen Mahoney

    Signed.

  483. Emery Lord

    Signed. Thank you.

  484. Mary E. Cronin

    Signed.

  485. Laura Purdie Salas

    Signed. I am so inspired by the courage of many commenters! Thank you for leading this charge.

  486. Andrea Torrey Balsara

    As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, writing kidlit has been my way to give a voice to the child who had no voice. If I’d been approached by one of these sexual predators, or even had sexually-loaded comments directed towards me, I’d have crumpled up and fled. To me, sexual predators in the kidlit field are akin to the Boy Scout leader who is a secret pedaphile. It is a double betrayal, because we are supposed to be the caretakers of childhood innocence, the ones who show the rest of the world that childhood, empowerment, innocence, are to be treasured. As women we have taken enough. Our work, our opinions, and our bodies have been taken for granted, and often either exploited or discounted. I, for one, and I know I am not alone, am done. I’m done with being complicit by not calling people out for stupid jokes that are not only not funny, but demeaning. I’m done measuring my success by my book sales, knowing that the system has been rigged. The blinders are off. I will not be silent anymore.

  487. Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

    Signed, with gratitude.

  488. Penelope Burns

    Signed.

  489. Jonathan Roth

    Signed. Thank you!

  490. Sarah Floyd

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda, and thank you brave contributors who have shared your stories.

  491. Jessie Sima

    Signed.

  492. Sheena Boekweg

    Signed!

  493. C.L. McCollum

    Signed. Thank you!

  494. Lyndsay Ely

    Signed.

  495. Michael J Wyant Jr

    Absolutely signed.

  496. Natalie Dias Lorenzi

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda!

  497. Lori Kilkellly

    Signed.

  498. Sophie Bergeron

    Signed.
    Thank you for this, really<3

  499. Alan Gratz

    Signed. Thanks for this, Gwenda!

  500. Isabel Sterling

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda, for putting this together.

  501. Daphne Kalmar

    Signed. Thank you.

  502. Lily Tschudi-Campbell

    Signed. I’m an aspiring author and a children’s bookseller. I’ll be bringing this up with the people in charge, and try to make sure we sell books at conferences that follow these guidelines.

  503. Kayla Whaley

    Signed.

  504. Rhonda McCormack

    Gwenda, thank you for standing up with and for dignity. Signed.

  505. Bill Konigsberg

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  506. Tanya Seale

    Signed.

  507. Dane Johns

    Signed. Thank you.

  508. Kara Gebhart Uhl

    Signed. And thank you.

  509. Jackie Jacobi

    SIGNED. Thank you.

  510. Kathleen Feeney Chappell

    Signed. Thank you!

  511. Kelly Calabrese

    Signed. Thank you!

  512. Nicole Osti

    Signed!

  513. Laura Pohl

    Signed, and thank you for this.

  514. Rachel Simon

    Signed.
    Because I brushed off how uncomfortable I felt and shouldn’t have. Because all those who told their stories are incredibly brave. Because change is necessary.

  515. Laurie Ann Thompson

    Signing. Thanks for taking the lead, Gwenda!

  516. Tom Sebanc

    Signed!

  517. Lillian Clark

    Signed.

  518. Julia DeVillers

    Signed.

  519. R.M.Rivera

    I’m signing this. Thank you, Gwenda!

  520. Kari Anne Holt

    Signed.

  521. Liza Wiemer

    Signed! Thanks, Gwenda, and thank you to the courageous individuals who have spoken out and shared their personal stories.

  522. Gareth Hinds

    Signed, with many thanks for what you’re doing here.

  523. Martin Cahill

    Signed, and thank you so much, Gwenda.

  524. Sue Fliess

    Signed with sincere thanks.

  525. Bonnie Pipkin

    Signed!

  526. Julie Falatko

    Signed!

  527. Natalie Metzger

    Signed.

  528. Erin Casey

    Signed.

  529. Megan Paasch

    Signed!

  530. Lauren Myracle

    Signed indeed. Thanks, Gwenda.

  531. Jen Malone

    Signed with enthusiasm and gratitude!

  532. Maya Prasad

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  533. Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic

    Signed.

    Thank you, Gwenda, and thank you to everyone here signing and speaking truth to power.

  534. Alysa Wishingrad

    Signed, with gratitude to you, Anne and everyone sharing their stories

  535. Rose Green

    Please add my name as well.

  536. Mary Pleiss

    Signed. Thank you, Glenda.

  537. Kathleen S. Allen

    Signed

  538. Heidi Heilig

    Co-signed. Thank you for this important work.

  539. Carrie DiRisio

    Signed

  540. Lenka Vodicka-Paredes

    Signed. Thank you.

  541. Mark O'Brien

    Signed. Thank you for doing this.

  542. Carrie Firestone

    Thank you for taking the lead on this!

  543. Karen M. McManus

    Signed, and thank you.

  544. Lily Anderson

    Signed.

  545. Rebekah Faubion

    Signed! Thank you, Gwenda.

  546. Breeana Shields

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  547. Sandhya Menon

    Signed.

  548. Leigh Bardugo

    Signed.

  549. Jennifer Lynn Barnes

    Signed, with thanks. I’ve been in the position of having to report harassment at a book event with no policy in place, and I agonized over whether or not to do it so much more than I would have if there had been one.

  550. Kami Kinard

    Signed.
    Thank you.

  551. Cynthia Platt

    Signed, with great thanks.

  552. Rita Meade

    Signed. Thank you. Ready for the next steps.

  553. Nancy Lambert

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  554. Myrna Foster

    Signed. Thank you.

  555. Kurtis Scaletta

    This has my signature as both author and organizer of conferences.

  556. Mary E. Pearson

    Signed. Thanks, Gwenda.

  557. Amy G Koss

    Thank you for this. Signed.

  558. Sharon Darrow

    Signed!

  559. holly black

    Thank you, Gwenda. Signed.

  560. LAURA Sign

    Signed

  561. Kim Baker

    Signed.
    Thank you for working on this, Gwenda.

  562. Margaret Mayo McGlynn

    Signed, with gratitude.

  563. London Shah

    Signed––and thank you, Gwenda.

  564. Kaitlyn Sage Patterson

    Signed.

  565. Amy Butler Greenfield

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  566. Suzie Townsend

    Signed.

  567. Ashley

    SIGNED. Thank you for this. This needs to be printed out into a booklet and handed out to people…or be given as required reading as part of a writing contract.

  568. Bridgette Johnson

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  569. Rebecca Coffindaffer

    Signed

  570. Cory Putman Oakes

    Signed.

  571. Michael Stearns

    Signed.

  572. Jordan Brown

    Signed. And thank you, Gwenda, so much.

  573. Amanda Foody

    Signed.

  574. Hannah Whitten

    Signed!

  575. Melissa Marr

    Happy to sign this. It’s overdue that the issue be made public & a conversation started.

    Thank you for stepping up to organize/draft this.

  576. Sara Volpi

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda, for doing this and posting resources. As a festival organizer, this has been a crucial thread/issue to take into account & keep up with, and I am in the process of writing a very clear harassment policy to post at our event, on our website, and etc.

  577. Debbie Duncan

    Signed with gratitude

  578. Isabel

    Signed!

  579. K.C. Held

    Signed.

  580. Z Brewer

    Signed!

  581. Sharon Levin

    I can’t remember if I signed, but I DO sign, wholly and completely. I also vow as an ‘Industry Big Mouth’ reviewer, that I will use my Big Mouth to talk about this on line, at my presentations, etc.

  582. Adalyn Grace

    Signed

  583. susie ghahremani

    signed
    & thanks.

  584. Loretta Ellsworth

    Signed as an author and event coordinator.

  585. Susan

    Signed. And thank you, Gwenda.

  586. Kate Brauning

    Signed!

  587. Mary Crockett

    Signed

  588. Maurie J Manning

    Thank you so much for organizing this.

  589. Emily Hall

    Signed.

  590. Sarah McGuire

    Signed. Thank you for this.

  591. Alyson Greene

    Signed. Thank you

  592. Rachel Hartman

    Signed. Thanks for taking the initiative.

  593. Emma Jones

    Signed.

  594. Susan Lubner

    Signed! Thank you, Gwenda

  595. Sarah Ahiers

    Signed

  596. Megan Crewe

    Signed. Thank you so much for doing this!

  597. Mary Johnson

    Echoing everyone else; thanks for doing this.

  598. Jesse Klausmeier

    Please add my signature. Thank you for all the time and energy to put this together.

  599. Kimberly Sabatini

    Signed

  600. Julie Polk

    Signed. I’m not a YA author, but I am the former curriculum director of a writing non-profit serving NYC high school girls, which has many ties to the community. I’ll share this with them. Thanks, Gwenda, and all who’ve signed and commented.

  601. Andrea Paz

    Co-signed.

  602. Meredith McCardle

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  603. Katie Henry

    Signed. Thank you.

  604. Alex Bracken

    Signed. Thank you for organizing this, Gwenda!

  605. Anika Denise

    Signed. Thank you.

  606. Bobbi Miller

    Signed. Thank you!

  607. Amalie Howard

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  608. Matt Killeen

    Signed

  609. Annie Kuhn

    Signed! Thank you, Gwenda!

  610. Kira Brighton

    Signed!

  611. Kerry Aradhya

    Signed….and thank you for looking out for everyone…

  612. Joy McCullough

    Signed. Thank you.

  613. Martin Segal

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  614. Lola Schaefer

    Thank you, Gwenda, for your leadership.
    With respect,
    SIGNED.

  615. Eric Wight

    Please add me as signed. Thank you!

  616. Chris Barton

    Signed!

    Also, in case it helps identify conference recipients for the letter, I recently compiled this list:

    http://chrisbarton.info/blog/2018/01/all-the-college-kidlit-conferences-as-of-january-2018.html

  617. Jennifer Ziegler

    Signed. Thank you for doing this, Gwenda.

  618. Jacque Summers

    Sigbed

  619. Rose Deniz

    Signed.

  620. Vicki Palmquist

    Signed! and thank you.

  621. Shelli wells

    I believe these policies should be clear and public. I am with you all.

  622. Bethanie Murguia

    Signed. Thank you!

  623. Liam Coy

    Signed! This is something incredibly important.

  624. Tim Byrd

    I’m in, 100%.

  625. Jim Hill

    Signed.

  626. Jocelyn Davies

    Signed! Thank you for this, Gwenda!

  627. Tamara Kawar

    Signed.

  628. Andrew Munz

    Signed. Thank you for putting this together.

  629. Bel McNeill

    Signed.

  630. Andrew Kozma

    Please sign my name to this. And thank you for leading this charge.

  631. Molly McC

    Signed!

  632. Anya DeNiro

    signed

    <3

  633. Pete Ford

    Signed.

  634. Chelsea M. Cameron

    Signed. Thank you.

  635. Abigail Marble

    Signed, with my thanks for spear heading this.

  636. Jo Treggiari

    Signed. And thank you.

  637. Christy Mihaly

    Signed. Thank you.

  638. Ellen Emerson White

    Signed.

    Thank you for your hard work!

  639. Alex Villasante

    signed – and thank you!

  640. Ryan North

    Signed, thank you Gwenda!

  641. Kristen Lippert-Martin

    signed

  642. Colleen Oakes

    Signed, and gladly

  643. Brian Kennedy

    Signed. Thank you!

  644. Cynthia Cotten

    Signed.

  645. Christine Taylor-Butler

    Agreed. Although I really did enjoy the enforcement at MidAmericonII and at Snake River ComicCon where harassment was spelled out and dealt with swiftly. Children’s literature conventions and industry conventions need to walk more of their talk. #TimesUp

    • Gwenda

      YES. There are definitely a lot of cons that are ahead of the game that can be models. This isn’t even a wheel that has to be reinvented!

  646. Erica Silverman

    Signed!

  647. Kiersten White

    Signed

  648. Shannon Doleski

    Signed. Thank you.

  649. Rebecca Stead

    Signed, with thanks.

  650. Amy Dixon

    Signed.

  651. Robin Brenner

    Signed.

  652. Lamar Giles

    Signed. Thanks, Gwenda!

  653. Jane Kohuth

    Signed, with thanks for your hard work.

  654. Kimberly Derting

    Signed, and thank you!

  655. Fiona Kenshole

    Signed. Thank you!

  656. Maya K

    I’m not in the business but I support this so much. Thank you. And signed in solidarity.

  657. samantha stoughton

    signed

  658. Nora Stewart

    Signed. Thank you!

  659. Danette Vigilante

    Signed!

  660. Melissa Wiley

    Signed.

  661. Sarah Tolcser

    Signed. Thanks for your work!

  662. Mia Garcia

    Signed!

  663. Annie Cronin Romano

    Signed.

  664. Shannon Lee Alexander

    Signed.

  665. Jenny Perinovic

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  666. Jennifer Iacopelli

    Signed with many thanks! x

  667. Jessa Bateman

    Signed. As a young aspiring author, this conversation has been terrifying the past several days. Thank you, Gwenda, for being proactive.

  668. Colleen Cotelessa

    Signed!

  669. Elia Ben-Ari

    Signed by a relatively new member of the kidlit community. Thank you, and bravo, to all who are bravely speaking up and speaking out.

  670. Vanessa Ricci-Thode

    Signed

  671. CONFERENCES: Gwenda Bond on harassment policies – Publishing Too

    […] Author Gwenda Bond has some suggestions for harassment policies for conferences. […]

  672. Greg Pak

    Signed.

  673. Justin Wallace

    Signed.

  674. Elle Cosimano

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  675. Marcy Pusey

    SIGNED! Standing with and for you (us) all.

  676. Olivia Hinebaugh

    Signed.

  677. Tere Kirkland

    Signed. Thanks for this, Gwenda

  678. Marianna Baer

    Signed. Thanks and hi, Gwenda!

  679. Katelyn Detweiler

    Signed. Thank you!

  680. Jessika Fleck

    Thank you. Signed.

  681. AdriAnne Strickland

    Signed. And thank you.

  682. Elizabeth Knox

    Hey Gwenda! Signed.

  683. Amy Allgeyer

    Signed. And thank you!

  684. Kelley Armstrong

    Signed, and thanks for doing this. Gwenda!

  685. Michelle Witte

    Signed with thanks.

  686. Melanie Savransky

    Signed and thank you.

  687. S.F. Henson

    Signed

  688. Breanna J. McDaniel

    Signed and thank you

  689. Maggie Stiefvater

    Absolutely signed. And will be looking for other ways to make this industry safe. Thanks, Gwenda.

  690. S.A. Larsen

    Signed! Many thanks to you and to all the brave folks speaking up.

  691. Ruth McNally Barshaw

    Signed. Thanks so much for taking the lead on this important and long-overdue step, Gwenda.

  692. Siri Weber Feeney

    Yes indeed. Signed and thank you for doing this.

  693. Destiny Soria

    Signed! Thank you.

  694. Tori Bovalino

    Signed. Thank you for doing this.

  695. Lev Grossman

    Signed.

  696. greg andree

    Signed. I’m not anyone consequential, but I have friends who have been hurt, and I appreciate you for doing this.

  697. Melissa de la Cruz

    Thank you Gwenda!!!!

  698. Nicole Maggi

    SIGNED! Thank you.

  699. Vanessa Torline

    Signed.

  700. Brenna Yovanoff

    Signed!

  701. Dawn Malone

    Signed

  702. Eva Beliaeff

    Signed. Thank you.

  703. Candysse Miller

    Signed, and thank you so much!

  704. Leah Clifford

    Signed with many thanks

  705. Jake Nuckolls

    signed. Vital. Thank you.

  706. S. K. Ali

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  707. Casey Murphy

    Signed

  708. Melanie Hope Greenberg

    Sign me up! Thank you!

  709. Katie von Campe

    Signed!

  710. Carrie Finison

    Signed, with many thanks.

  711. Abby Cooper

    Signed. Thank you!

  712. Lauren Palumbo

    Signed

  713. Parker Peevyhouse

    Signed. (I submitted earlier but I don’t think it went through? Sorry if I signed twice!)

  714. Bree Despain

    Sign me up! This issues is of upmost importance to me. Thanks for taking the lead with this letter.

  715. Sarah Glenn Marsh

    Signed! Thank you so much.

  716. Caitlin Starling

    Signed!

  717. Kevin Hearne

    Signed.

  718. Lydia Carlson

    Signed!

  719. Stephanie Rabig

    Signed.

  720. Jes Trafton

    Signed.

  721. Misa Sugiura

    signing.

  722. Jake Burt

    Signing and boosting

  723. Marthe Jocelyn

    I appreciate the wise, constructive calm of this thread. Signed.

  724. Kevin Emerson

    Signed. Thank you for doing this.

  725. David Purse

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  726. Tim Brandhorst

    Signed. Thank you for your leadership.

  727. Debbie Reed Fischer

    Signed. And thank you so much.

  728. J.M. Lee

    Signed. Thank you.

  729. Holly Huckeba

    Signed!

  730. Rachael Allen

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda!

  731. Scott Perkins

    Signed.

  732. Amy Knepper

    Signed. And even though I am female, I hope to never make another person feel uncomfortable around me, male or female. I know that it can go both ways. Thank you for setting this up!

  733. David Daily

    Signed. Thank you for your leadership.

  734. Lori Steel

    Signed! And thank you.

  735. Shirley Harazin

    Signed.

  736. Sarah Jane Marsh

    Signed. Thank you.

  737. Anne Greenwood Brown

    Signed. (And thank you.)

  738. Heather Hughes

    Signed.

  739. Megan Shepherd

    Signed!

  740. Nicole Valentine

    Signed and thank you!

  741. Candace

    Signed.

  742. Maureen Johnson

    Signed!

  743. Danielle D.M Gembala

    Signed. Thank you.

  744. Kate Alessandri

    Signed (not yet published in the industry but attend conferences). Thanks for this.

  745. Brooklyn Skye

    Signed!

  746. Taylor Deushane

    Signed. Thank you.
    -A bookseller and teacher

  747. Dot Hutchison

    Signed, and thank you so much for the work you’re doing here.

  748. Lindsey Becker

    Signed.

  749. Elizabeth Snell

    Thank you for believing in ALL of us

  750. Mike Lasagna

    Signed.

  751. Isabella

    Signed with all my heart.

  752. Sara Farizan

    Signed and thank you.

  753. Kate A Boorman

    Signed.

  754. Willow

    Signed!

  755. Brianna Shrum

    Signed. Thank you for doing this.

  756. Alex Harrow

    Signed. Thank you for putting this together!

  757. Marilou Reeder

    Signed. Thank you!

  758. Katie Nelson

    Signed!

  759. Jessica Landes

    Signed!

  760. Carson Jones

    I am signing this pledge to affirm that I will not attend any convention that does not have a clear and efficient anti-harassment policy. Additionally, I will not attend any convention that does not include a significant number of women and people of color among its line up of guests. Finally, let the record show that Gwenda is awesome, although most certainly everyone knows that.

  761. Diana Urban

    Signed! Thank you for doing this!

  762. Gia Cribbs

    Signed.

  763. Alys Arden

    Signed!

  764. Andrew Shvarts

    Signed!

  765. Taylor Rouanzion

    Signed.

  766. Jessica Aelwood

    Signed. Thank you.

  767. Eric Kim

    Signed!

  768. Jodi Meadows

    Signed, with thanks for your work and the work of so many others.

  769. Elizabeth Dorathy

    Signed.

  770. Alexandra Monir

    SIGNED! Thank you so much, Gwenda.

  771. Michele Bacon

    Signed.

  772. Steve MC

    Signed. And following on Twitter to learn what else I can do.

  773. Tara Hudson

    Signed. Thank you for this, Gwenda.

  774. Anna M Lewis

    Signed. Thank you <3

  775. Kara Reynolds

    Signed. Thank you to everyone pushing for change.

  776. Nathan Hale

    Signed

  777. Amie Kaufman

    Signed.

  778. Hafsah Faizal

    Signed. Thank you for doing this.

  779. Sarah Stevenson

    Signed. Thanks, Gwenda.

  780. Justine Winans

    Signed.

  781. Erica Silverman

    Signed. Thank you!

  782. Stacy Mozer

    Signed. And thank you.

  783. Manny Soto

    Signed!

  784. Danielle Smith

    Signed! Thank you so much to both you, Gwenda and Anne, for furthering this work that needs to be done.

  785. Jay Kristoff

    Signed. Thank you for taking point on this, Gwenda.

  786. Mindy Alyse Weiss

    Signed! Thank you. With this kind of support, I’m hopeful that events will be safer in the near future.

  787. Kaia Sonderby

    Signed.

  788. Victoria Flickinger

    Signed. Fantastically put.

  789. Molly O’Neill

    Signed.

  790. Rita Crayon Huang

    Signed. Thank you.

  791. Rachel Grinti

    Signed

  792. Margaret H. Mason

    Signed, and thank you for shining the light.

  793. Ash Parsons

    Signed

  794. Kristy Dempsey

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  795. Karen Healey

    Signed.

  796. Mari Mancusi

    Signed. Thank you for spearheading this.

  797. Margaret H. Mason

    Signed, and thank you for shining a light.

  798. Jodie

    Signed.

  799. Jarrett J. Krosoczka

    Signed.

    Thank you for your inspiring work!

  800. Laura Shovan

    Signed. Thank you!

  801. NJ Damschroder

    Signed

  802. India Kiely

    Signed, please add my name.

  803. Jodell Sadler

    Signed

  804. KK Hendin

    signed.

  805. Jeffrey West

    Signed!!

    Thank you for doing this!

  806. Pam Margolis

    Signed.

  807. Charley Cook

    Sign me up!

  808. Shelly Romero

    Signed. Thank you.

  809. Melissa Fox

    Not an author, but as an organizer of conferences (well one) and author visits, I wholly support this. Signed.

  810. Beth Brezenoff

    Signed.

  811. Marc Tyler Nobleman

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda, and thank you to all who signed.

  812. Frankie Diane Mallis

    Signed. Thank you for doing this!

  813. Fiona Robinson

    Signed! Thank you!

  814. Susan Graham

    Signed, thank you!

  815. Samuel Eddington

    Signed. Thank you!

  816. Atsiko Ureni

    Signed

  817. Ena Jones

    Signed.

  818. Liz Starin

    Signed, emphatically!

  819. Eva Gibson

    Signed!

  820. Mark Holtzen

    Signed.

  821. Lynn Plourde

    Signed & thx!

  822. Kelsey Macke

    Signed, with my thanks.

  823. Lindsay Leggett

    Signed. Thank you for all you do. Xo.

  824. Vivi Barnes

    Signed! Thank you.

  825. Leanna Renee Hieber

    Signed, with infinite thanks!

  826. Katie Brookins

    Signed. Thank you all!

  827. Virginia Gamsky

    Signed because as a recently agented author I’ve been warned so often about men at conventions and how kindness in YA can lead to victimization. No one should be afraid to go to kid lit cons.

  828. Camille Andros

    Signed. Thank you for this.

  829. Cindy McDonald

    I may be new to the world of published writing, but I’m no stranger to the world of conventions and what can happen there. This is an important step. Thank you.

  830. Pintip Dunn

    Signed!

  831. Bea Birdsong

    Signed. Thank you!

  832. Amy

    I don’t work in publishing but I signing as an avid YA reader.

  833. Fitri Y Tapri

    Signed!
    And Thank you, Gwenda 🙂

  834. Jennifer Mann

    Signed.

  835. Scott Reintgen

    Signed. Thanks for starting this, Gwenda.

  836. Christopher Healy

    Signed. Thank you.

  837. Shea Fontana

    Signed!

  838. Kirsten Larson

    Signed!

  839. Jodi Turchin

    signed.

  840. Patrick J Murphy III

    I stand with all of you against this happening in our community, as well as with every other community where these actions happen.

  841. Amy Rose Capetta

    Signed! And thank you for making this happen, Gwenda.

  842. Lauren Karcz

    Signed!

  843. Zachary Wilson

    Signed!

  844. Michael Burns

    Signed!

  845. Laura Lam

    Signed.

  846. Lisa DiDio

    Signed.

  847. Nita Tyndall

    Signed!

  848. Doreen Cronin

    Signed!

  849. Evelyn Christensen

    Signed

  850. Annie Silvestro

    Signed! Thank you!

  851. K.B. Wagers

    Signed.

  852. Andrew Durkin

    Signed. Thank you.

  853. E.J. Stevens

    Signed.

    Thank you, Gwenda. I love this job, but I’m tired of repeatedly being seated beside harassers on panels and at signings. I’m exhausted from having to work beside men who have stalked, gaslighted, and harassed me. I am so ready for our industry to make real changes.

  854. Melanie Sumrow

    Signed and thank you.

  855. Annie Stone

    Signed!

  856. Russ Cox

    Signed and TAHNK YOU!

  857. Tiffany Meuret

    Signed

  858. Kimberly Bea

    Signed. Thank you!

  859. Adam Rakunas

    Signed. You are awesome, Gwenda and Rachel.

  860. Cinda Williams Chima

    Signed. Also, you are a GODDESS !

  861. Heather Flaherty

    Signed! Thank you.

  862. Peter Glassman

    Please add me as signed!

    As an author, editor, and bookstore owner, I am very grateful to all those who have come forward and spoken out, to Gwenda Bond and John Scalzi for there efforts and initiative, and to all the many authors, artists, agents, editors, and others who I have worked with who have signed on to this letter. Reading through Gwenda’s article and the many thoughtful comments by others has forced me to recognize that I need to do more to make sure such incidents never happen at my store — and if they do, that I am informed and prepared to act on it. I also worry that I have not been made aware of such incidents in the past (and cringe to realize that though I certainly never intend to, I too, may be guilty of having said something that may have hurt an author or artist who was a guest at my store). If any of you reading this were the victim of such an experience at Books of Wonder, I ask that you let me know (my email is pglassman@booksofwonder.com) — no matter how long ago it was. This goes for agents, editors, publicists, etc. who may have heard of such an instance happening at Books of Wonder.

    As the owner of a children’s bookstore, it is vitally important to me and my staff that the store be a safe zone — not just for our customers, but for our author and artist guests as well. Though we don’t host conferences, we do host author and artist panels — and thanks to this letter and the many thoughtful comments expressed here — I have come to realize that it is possible that at these panel events (whether during the actual panel or while the authors are socializing before and after the “public” part of the event) that someone’s behavior may have been inappropriate without my staff or me being made aware of it. I feel very strongly that it is incumbent upon me and my staff to make sure that everyone feels that not only are they safe from such incidents when visiting the store, but that should such an incident occur, they are not only welcome to, but actively encouraged to let us know about it.

    Thank you, Gwenda, for doing this. And thank you to all the authors and artists who have shared their experiences. Though it has made me very sad, it has served to make me more aware. And that is what is most important.

  863. Sarah Gailey

    Signed.

  864. Kayla Cagan

    Signed and thank you.

  865. Kendra Levin

    Signed.

  866. Tricia Lawrence

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda.

  867. Kelly McCullough

    Signed.

  868. Hillary Monahan

    Signed.

  869. Amy Trueblood

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda for being such an amazing leader in the writing community.

  870. Robin Rosenthal

    Signed. THANK YOU.

  871. Jenn Marie Thorne

    Signed – thank you for this, Gwenda!

  872. Pseudonymous Bosch (AKA Raphael Simon)

    Signed! And thank you!

  873. Pseudonymous Bosch AKA Raphael Simon

    Signed! And thank you!

  874. Hillary Monahan

    Signed and thank you, Gwenda.

  875. Meghan Daniels

    Signed. Thank you.

  876. Josh Funk

    signed.

  877. Karen Hattrup

    Signed!

  878. Colten Hibbs

    Signed! With gratitude

  879. Marieke Nijkamp

    Signed, and thank you.

  880. Linda White

    Signed and thank you! I want to add, in answer to Jeff Dougan’s suggestion of a list, that instead – and maybe a lot easier to maintain – there could be something like a seal of approval, for people to look for to find conferences/conventions that meet the standard. Maybe an organization like SFWA or SCBWI could vet that. Or somewhere like PW or an org like the NBA. I don’t know, seems harder now that I write it. I’m not an author, either, but my work ranges widely through publishing spheres, and I am so glad to see them being made safer one by one.

    • Gwenda

      Still mulling this — SFWA does maintain a not-comprehensive list of cons with good policies, so it is possible that SCBWI could take it on for children’s lit…once they get their own house in order.

  881. Paula Willey

    As one of the organizers of KidLitCon, consider me signed!

  882. Katherine Locke

    Please sign my name to the letter. And thank you for doing this, Gwenda.

  883. Kathy Halsey

    Signed with great thanks. (I am not yet published, but am thankful for everyone’s bravery and work. As a former teacher/school librarian who is still involved in the library community and schools, I pledge to make these issues at the forefront of school library conferences I attend.

  884. Terri Windling

    Signed. And thank you, Gwenda.

  885. Stephanie J. Blake

    Thank you. Signing.

  886. Sheri Fink

    Signed with support and gratitude!

  887. Tracy Clark

    Signed and THANK YOU.

  888. Hannah

    Signed!

  889. Michael Link

    Bookseller signing in solidarity!

  890. Jordan Hamessley

    Signed. Thank you so much, Gwenda.

  891. Sarah Gross

    Signed as a reader and teacher.

  892. Elliott Kay

    Signed.

  893. Sara Fujimura

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda!

  894. Lisa Mantchev

    Signed.

  895. Leslie Hawkins

    Signed as a children’s bookstore owner/buyer/event coordinator and sometime attendee of industry trade shows. This may be of interest to many of you: a spreadsheet detailing which cons & festivals have anti-harassment and/or accessibility policies put together by author Alexandra Duncan and others. It’s a work in progress; feel free to add to it and share it. http://bit.ly/2su3VN2

    • Gwenda

      Thank you again! I’ll add this to the next post — thank you guys.

  896. Wendy McLeod MacKnight

    signed and many thanks!

  897. Jess Keating

    Signed with gratitude, and love to all who need it!

  898. Lindsay Eagar

    Signed.

  899. Sabaa Tahir

    Signed. Thank you Gwenda.

  900. Aisha Saeed

    Signed. Thank you, Glenda.

  901. Megan Whitmer

    Signed, and thank you.

  902. Michael Strother

    Signed. Thank you for doing this!

  903. Lenore Appelhans

    Signed!

  904. Kristine Asselin

    Signed. Thank you for all you’re doing.

  905. Robin Talley

    Signed. Thank you for doing this!

  906. Dan Santat

    signed. Thank you

  907. Madeline Franklin

    Signed. Thank you for this.

  908. E.C. Myers

    I signed Scalzi’s pledge then, and I am signing this now. Thank you!

  909. Linda Camacho

    Signed.

  910. Anny Rusk

    Sign me up. As a co-rep for a Chicago SCBWI Network, I can tell you that my region and HQ are already taking steps to address and improve the orgs’ response. As far as I know, nothing has happened at my network events, but if they have, I encourage our members to come to me directly!!! In our network we will have an informal non-SCBWI town hall discussion for anyone who wants after our formal event tomorrow. I continue to strive to be part of the solution. I am also a #metoo, but not in kidlit. I saw our industry as the one safe space because women dominate. Bubble burst, I am determined not only to create safe spaces, but to find ways to empower all of us, famous or not, to speak up and be lauded, not punished, so future members of our community are spared.

  911. Susie Sharp

    Signed as a Librarian, reader, grandmother. Thank you for this Gwenda!

  912. Brad Duncan

    Signed! from an unpublished/unproduced writer…

  913. Imogen Howson

    Signed. And thank you.

  914. MarcyKate Connolly

    Signed, with thanks!

  915. Sarah Rees Brennan

    Signed.

  916. Lydia Kang

    Signed, and thank you.

  917. Susan Wood

    Signed.

  918. Shalanda Stanley

    Signed!

  919. Becky Levine

    Signed. And thank you.

  920. Patricia Morris Buckley

    Signed. The San Diego kidlit community stands with you!

  921. Kim Zarins

    Signed.

    Thank you for doing this work, Gwenda.

  922. Susan Orton

    Thank you all for responding to this call for action and change.

  923. Roger Sutton

    I’m with you. The Horn Book and Simmons College (our usual conference partner) both have sexual harassment policies in place, but I thank you for this prod to make sure they work the way we want them to.

  924. Katya

    THANK YOU.

  925. Molly B. Burnham

    Signed. With thanks.

  926. Sally Riley

    Signed! And thank you.

  927. Elizabeth Eulberg

    SIGNED
    (And thanks for doing this, Gwenda!)

  928. Megan Baird

    Signed. While not an author or publisher myself, I am a librarian/branch manager who works with and selects for all ages. Thank you for doing this.

  929. Erin E. Moulton

    Signed!

  930. Catherine Egan

    Signed, and thank you.

  931. Mary Kuehner

    As an early literacy librarian and (as yet) unpublished author, I wholeheartedly add my name. Thank you!

  932. Tim Travaglini

    Signed! And as I have recently been asked to attend a writers conference, I had the modest satisfaction of acting on this straight away.

  933. Jared Wright

    Signed, with admiration and appreciation

  934. Kristen Kittscher

    Signed. Thank you so much.

  935. Katie Sparks

    Signed!

  936. Anna Maxwell

    Signed.

  937. Lindsay Crist Lawson

    Signing in bookseller support.

  938. Lesley Livingston

    Signed.

  939. Kate McLaughlin/Kady Cross

    I’m in. I also promise to be provide a safety zone for anyone who needs it.

  940. Anne Nesbet

    Signed! Thank you for organizing this effort!

  941. Nina Berry

    Signed.

  942. Paula Stokes

    signed <3

  943. Schuyler Esperanza

    Signed as a reader and fan.

  944. Kate Gilbert

    Signed. Thank you so much for taking this on.

  945. Michelle Edwards

    signed, thank you

  946. Michelle Edwards

    Signed. Thank you. I

  947. Kerri Lorenz

    Signed! Thank you.

  948. Sarah Viehmann

    Signed!!

  949. Danielle Dreger

    Thank you, Gwenda, and everyone else who shared their story.
    Signed.

  950. Matthew Holm

    Signed. Thank you, Gwenda!

  951. Lissa Price

    Signed. Thank you!

  952. C. E. Lambert

    Signed with great appreciation for all of you–thank you!

  953. Rebecca Kim Wells

    Signed. Thank you.

  954. Meghin Roberts

    Signed.
    As a teen librarian I was thrilled to see so many familiar names while scrolling down the page. I’m glad I can still feel comfortable putting books by these authors into my teen’s hands, especially since that is no longer the case for a few of their favorites.

  955. Andrea Cascardi

    Signed!

  956. Allie Stevens

    Signed. Thank you.

  957. Jordan Sonnenblick

    Please sign me on. And thank you for your leadership!

  958. Karen Harrington

    Signed!

  959. Nadine Takvorian

    Signed!

  960. Lisa McMann

    Add my signature, please. Thank you.

  961. Ellen Oh

    Thank you Gwenda! Signed.