Writing ramble…

Despite the weather bouncing like a rubber ball in a fast-paced game of jacks, I’ve been having an exceptionally strong week in terms of writing. I’ve been able to knock out several episodes of All Maid Up, and I’ve finished at least one chapter of Thicker Than Blood every day this week. My word count in just seven days is higher than the last three months combined, so it’s safe to say that the article I read on being weird has got me back in the groove.

I’m working on a couple of side projects for petty cash, and coming up in the next month or so, my editor will be launching an Indiegogo campaign for Roll the Bones, book three in the Peter the Wolf series. I’m arranging the goodies that Tara gives out as incentives, but she’s setting up the campaign so she can collect all the funds for her diligent efforts. Even if we meet the goal and get her a decent editing fee, I’m still cutting her in for 10% of sales, just like I have for the first two books. But as I think I’ve said before, sales haven’t been high enough to pay her properly for all the work she’s done. Which is not to say sales have been terrible. They’re just not enough to properly pay my editor what she deserves for all her work in the last few months.

I’ll be honest and admit I’m nervous about this campaign. Neither the fate of the book nor the series hangs on its success, but I do want to give Tara more money to help her care for her toddler and pay some bills. No, I’m nervous because I don’t know if I can convince enough people to donate to make the whole effort worth all the work Tara’s put into the books, and into the campaign itself. I’ve had friends online who ran campaigns for their books and hit their goals within two days of starting, and then I’ve seen others run a campaign for a full month and only make a quarter of their goal. Add to this my history of weak promotions and weaker reception to said promotions, and I’m feeling more nervous about this than I ever have submitting my work with publishers. Cause really, if you get a rejection from a publisher, there’s always someone else to go to. If you can’t get a project funded from the readers, there’s not many options left.

CeCe McDonald

I’m not going to make a long post on this because this article is better at explaining the details of who CeCe is, and why she’s now imprisoned for manslaughter despite defending herself during a hate crime attack. Before I say anything, I also want to bring to your attention this legal brief explaining that the judge in CeCe’s case is married to the assistant county attorney. This is not just a minor problem. It’s a breach of the justice system. With the cards stacked so heavily against her, CeCe was forced to take a plea bargain.

For self-defense from men who were trying to kill her while shouting “faggot” and “nigger.” This case should have never gone to trial. The charges should have been dismissed. If we lived in a rational world, CeCe should be talking to the mayor and getting some kind of merit award for her bravery in the face of certain death.

But CeCe is trans, and she’s black, and we don’t live in a rational world. So CeCe now looking at a 41 month sentence for defending herself. The message to the trans community couldn’t be more clear: if you’re attacked by a group of men, kindly lay down, shut the fuck up, and drop dead.

I’ll be following CeCe’s story if anything comes of the motion filed against the judge, but for now, CeCe is trapped and dealing with an inhumane punishment. She needs some support, and she needs to know she’s not alone. So, I don’t ask y’all to do anything too often, but I’m asking you to visit this link and take down the address to write directly to CeCe. Let her know that you care, and that she hasn’t been abandoned by everyone. You don’t have to send gifts, since packages will just be returned anyway. Just send a short letter expressing your support.

And if I can get you to do one more thing, please write to the governor of Minnesota to let him know about CeCe’s case. If enough people write in, perhaps we can swing a pardon for CeCe even if her case isn’t overturned via other legal maneuvers.

Like I said, I don’t bug you folks to get out there and do things for other people, but this case is extremely upsetting to me because it never should have gone this far. If a white cisgender woman fought off her attackers and killed two of them, her story would be heading to Lifetime for a movie of the week. It isn’t fair that because of CeCe’s lower social status, she’s bounced through a kangaroo court and serving time for self-defense. If this seems as disgusting to you as it is to me, then please, help Cece with a couple letters.

Thank you.

EDIT: If, like me, you cannot use the governor’s contact form because you are outside the US, here is the regular mail address:

Office of the Governor
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155