RED BUTTERFLY Winner!

And the winner is . . .

Jessie Oliveros!

Congratulations!! You've won a pre-order of Amy Sonnichsen's RED BUTTERFLY, which is set to release Feb. 3, 2015.

I have sent an email, and I'll get you all set up as soon as I have your address.

Hope you all have a great Monday!

Passionate Discussions on Social Media

***Five days left to enter for a chance to win a pre-order of RED BUTTERFLY (link)***

I am a person with strong opinions. Only natural considering my family loves to discuss. After meals, we'd sit around the family room and "passionately discuss" (my husband's euphemism for the sport). I never thought much about it until my then-boyfriend, now-husband sat in with us. He was shocked that we hadn't all leaped over the coffee table to beat each other up. I was shocked at his take on the evening.

But since that time, I have thought a lot about how a discussion can come across. Especially in the last few years, given the explosion of social media. I love discussing things passionately, but I have been amazed at how quickly a discussion turns to mud-slinging on the internet.

Instead of discussing issues, people turn to name-calling. Anyone who doesn't agree with them is a jerk, and a whole slew of much more vulgar insults. To make things worse, intent of the Written Word can be much harder to interpret than that of the Spoken Word. Plus, it's easier to be rude when you don't have to look your audience in the eye, and it's double easier when you can post that rudeness anonymously.  The exchanges can leave you feeling like this:

Which is why I've hesitated to join in. Instead, I've kept my posts/tweets/status updates innocuous.

Once, I broke my silence. Expressed my confusion on a current Media to-do. I sincerely wanted to understand and said as much, asking commenters to keep it civil.

From that, I had a "friend" explode on me. It was crazy. She unleashed her anger on me over a slew of subjects that had nothing to do with my post, and before I could even figure out what had gone wrong, she unfriended me. And I don't just friend anyone on Facebook. This was someone I knew well. Someone I truly considered to be a friend. It made me sad.

More thinking ensued, and in the end, I determined that I can't avoid discussion forever. But I refuse to let others dictate my behavior. As such, I have come up with three rules of conduct for social media:

1. Treat others the way you would want to be treated (the Golden Rule, yo).

This means you gotta show respect. People will have different opinions than yours, but going all kinds of piranha-crazy-fish on them isn't going to change anyone's mind. When someone can express their views passionately yet respectfully, I'm much more likely to listen. 

2. Let your work gel before hitting "send."

Does what you are typing really need to be said? Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. Let it sit for a few hours and see if you still feel that responding to something is the best choice. But ask yourself: What am I accomplishing with this tweet/facebook post/response/social-media-message-of-choice? Are you really convincing others of something, or are you speaking to dead air? Are you venting, or are you defending something that needs defending? Time gives better perspective.

3. Accept that you cannot possibly please everyone.

No matter how nicely you say something, you will find people who just don't want to hear what you have to say. People have their own reasons for doing what they do. I've found people ready to be offended at nothing. We can't change others, we can only change ourselves. But if we are respectful in what we say on social media, try to consider other's points-of-view, well, in my book we will be happier.

What suggestions do you have for engaging in social media debates?

"The Butler" and Standing Up for What You Believe

This weekend I finally saw Lee Daniel's The Butler. Yes, yes, I'm behind in the movie-going world, but that's what you get when you have 3 kids and a husband still in training. (Let's just say the medical path is a long one, my friends).

But getting back to the point, this movie had me all over the emotional chart. You read about the civil rights movement, and the events and the horrors, but it's different seeing it a bit closer. So much courage! So much patience. I am in awe of Martin Luther King Jr. and his conviction and understanding of how to change people's minds. He and Dumbledore would get along great, because the answer really is LOVE. And the world desperately needs more men and women like him.

But I digress. There is so much I could say about this movie, but I won't. I'm choosing to focus on one aspect. One aspect that is the main theme, but I feel gets buried a bit by the end.

You see, the movie does this amazing job of showing the parallel lives of Mr. Cecil Gaines and his son, Louis. Cecil is a butler at the Whitehouse. Louis is a Freedom Rider who takes part in the sit-in at Woolworths, and other infamous events.

Louis is out doing. He is fighting for his freedom, and for the freedoms of all African-Americans. He is brave. He sacrifices his time, his safety, and even his family for what he believes. And he suffers. Countless stints in jail. Beatings. Every time he stands up in protest, he risks death. In short, he is a hero. Very obviously. No question.

And then there is Cecil. He does not fight. He plays the role that society expects of him. Subservient. Soft-spoken. Not allowed to express political views at the risk of losing his job. He is paid less than white men doing the same job, but doesn't even dare express discontent about that (at least at first). In short he fears. Fears for his life. Fears for his son's life. And yet . . .

And yet, he is a noble figure. In his own way he is fighting, too. It is not obvious. It is not brazen. But he is fighting, and his influence is felt. At one point Louis speaks of his father with Martin Luther King, Jr.. Louis has been ashamed of his father his whole life, but Dr. King responds with this:

"Young brother, the black domestic defy racial stereotype about being hard working and trustworthy. It slowly tears down racial hatred because it's an example of a strong work ethic and dignified character. Now while we perceive the butler to be mainly subservient, in many ways they are subversive, without even knowing it."

In short, Cecil is more powerful than either of them realized. Cecil's honest decency. His care and concern for others regardless of their personal views. He influenced people. He changed them.

There are so many parallels to this story in today's world. We are called on to stand up for what we believe in (whatever that may be). Sometimes we think there is only one way to do that. That we must fight. We must be brazen heroes like Louis, with courage that is obvious.

But quiet heroism. Love for others. Treating others kindly, even when you know their views diametrically oppose yours. That is power, too.

**Don't forget to enter for (link-->) a chance to win a Pre-order of RED BUTTERFLY**

THE RED BUTTERFLY's Cover Reveal!! + Win a Pre-order

Not quite two years ago, my blogging friend and I exchanged manuscripts. I knew hers was a novel-in-verse, but I didn't know quite what to expect. Well. Let's just say, I was blown away. Blown!

That, of course was a draft of Amy Sonnichsen's RED BUTTERFLY. It was touching and delicate. Beautiful and surprising! I still think about this story. And even though Amy didn't have an agent at the time, I knew it wouldn't be long.

Last Summer it was picked up by Simon & Schuster, Books for Young Readers, and is slated for publication in Winter 2015. And I'm THRILLED to be part of her cover reveal! Go Amy!! [And I'm sure she'd love it if you stopped by her blog, The Green Bathtub, to congratulate her!]

So first, the book blurb:

Kara never met her birth mother. Abandoned as an infant, she was taken in by an elderly American woman living in China. Now eleven, Kara spends most of her time in their apartment, wondering why she and Mama cannot leave the city of Tianjin and go live with Daddy in Montana. Mama tells Kara to be content with what she has … but what if Kara secretly wants more?

Told in lyrical, moving verse, Kara’s story is one of a girl learning to trust her own voice, discovering that love and family are limitless, and finding the wings she needs to reach new heights.

And if that doesn't have you dying to read it, just look at this beautiful cover!
 

 

A.L. Sonnichsen grew up in Hong Kong and then spent eight years in China as adult. She now lives on the dry side of Washington State with her dashingly handsome sidekick, five talented children, and a luxury cat. Red Butterfly is her first novel. Learn more at alsonnichsen.blogspot.com. Twitter: @alsonnichsen


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And because I love this book so much, I want to give away a pre-order of it! Just enter in the Rafflecopter below, and feel free to spread the word. This contest is open to US and Canada addresses, and will close June 27th at midnight EDT. Best of luck!

Congratulations, Amy! I'm so excited for you and your beautiful book.
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In Which I Impatiently Await Amy's Cover Reveal

This is my normal posting day, but I'm kind of excited, because Amy Sonnichsen is having her cover reveal this week for RED BUTTERFLY, and I get to be part of it!

Sooooo, I need ya'll to come back here on Friday, June 6 to see Amy's beautiful cover. It's beautiful guys. And perfectly perfect! I can't wait for you to see it, and I even more can't wait for you to read it. Will Winter of 2015 never come?!! :)

I'm so in love with this book, I just can't even . . . yeah. I can't.

See you on Friday! and P.S. if you aren't following Amy on twitter, you seriously should be. She tweets here: @alsonnichsen