Let's End Bullying!

I'm not the most serious person in the world. I can usually find humor in just about any mundane thing.... and I'd much rather be laughing about something goofy rather than having a heated political debate any day of the week. In turn, I try to keep my blog light-hearted and fun, because that's how I like to be most of the time. However, this week has thrown my happy spirit for a loop. When I heard the horrible news about what happened to Tyler Clementi, the amazingly gifted Rutgers student who was betrayed and humiliated by his roommate and ultimately committed suicide, it not only broke my heart... it disgusted me! Now, I don't know whether the incomprehensible actions of Tyler's roommate were a hate crime, a horrible act of bullying, a ridiculous act of ignorance, a very mean prank, or a combination of all the above, but what I do know is the devastating outcome is all too familiar in our society... and it bothers me beyond words. It's truly tragic and heartbreaking!

I can't be silent about something I feel so passionately about. I have a public outlet through this blog, and I'd be doing my principles an injustice by not commenting on something so important to me. Teen bullying is a pandemic in our country that has to end! Everyone has differences, that's what makes this world such a wonderful place.... and it's about time that we as a society (and world) respect and celebrate our differences rather than stifle them with intolerance. It's about time we support and uplift our fellow classmates, colleagues and neighbors, however different they may be, rather than tear them down because of prejudice, jealousy, or ignorance. It's about time we stop turning a blind eye to injustice, cruelty and discrimination because of indifference, ambivalence, fear, or not wanting to get "involved". And it's about time we stand up to people who bully and hurt others out of callousness, spitefulness, unawareness, or the need to make themselves feel better about their own shortcomings and insecurities.

I know there are millions of people who feel the same as I do, but unfortunately to those being bullied, the voices of their bullies are louder than our voices of support and acceptance. Please unite with me to make our voices louder than the taunts of intolerance and hurt. Help our voices multiply and echo to drown out the callous voices of bullies all over the country (and world). Please take a moment to post your own anti-bullying message on your online outlet. And/or help me spread this message by adding the anti-bullying ribbon to your website or blog.

The only intolerance that should be accepted in our society is intolerance to bullying and cruelty.



*Ribbon image borrowed from www.stopbullyinginourschools.com*

Before the Split Blog Tour and Charity Auction Interview with Swati Avasthi, Author of SPLIT! Plus a Signed Book Giveaway!

Today, I'm welcoming Swati Avasthi (the fantastic author of the must-read book SPLIT) to my blog for an interview and signed book giveaway. But this isn't your typical author interview and giveaway... because Swati is also sharing the details of her upcoming book blog tour and charity auction for Domestic Violence Awareness Month starting on October 1st. Please help support the cause by reading the important info discussed in this interview, and checking out the blog tour and auction event (button links to tour & auction follow this interview). If you decide to bid on any of the auction items, you'll be helping a very important cause.

*Signed book giveaway entry details to follow this interview*

Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming blog tour and charity auction?
Of course. Thanks for asking!

To honor National Domestic Violence Awareness month, I'm combining a blog tour for my debut novel, Split, with a fundraiser for Family Violence Prevention Fund. I'll be on twenty-six blogs with guests posts, a contest, an animated scene, a photo essay, cut scenes, and a, 8G pink nano ipod prize. Kari Olson from Teen Book Scene, coordinated the tour and you can see where I'll be at: http://theteenbookscene.weebly.com/split-details.html. Or my blog at www.swatiavasthi.blogspot.com, for that matter. For every comment, I'll donate $1/comment with a goal and cap of $250. If I receive 250 comments, I’ll double my donation.

But that's just the start. Even better, more than 40 agents, editors and authors have generously donated cool stuff for an online auction. Nathan Bransford donated a query critique, Sara Zarr donated a 25 page manuscript critique, etc, etc. We have memberships to YALITCHAT.ORG and Children's Literature Network, a wide array of different types of critiques, personalized signed books from wonderful authors, and even some items donated by other artists, including photographer John Magruder and graphic designer/author Amy Holder (a name you might recognize). All donations should be ready to bid on on October 1st. Follow the tour, get stuff you want, and help out a great cause all at once.

Why is the cause against domestic violence close to your heart?
I coordinated a domestic violence legal clinic for three years and, in that time, listened to thousands of victims. It was inspiring to watch people with so much courage leave their abuser and get an order of protection, facing down the devil they didn't know and reject the devil. It was also heart-breaking. The experience left me asking a lot of questions about the nature of love and violence and of what it would mean to grow up with abuse as a regular occurrence.

What inspired you to write SPLIT?
Once a woman came in with her two kids. While she was telling me about the abuse, I interrupted her and asked her if she wanted an intern to look after her kids. She said, "No, they seen it anyway." That was one of the hardest moments in the clinic for me because I was angry at her, instead of being angry with the man who was beating her. I knew better than to victim blame, but I found it hard to reconcile how she did nothing to protect her kids with my sympathy for her. I understood, intellectually, that if she couldn't protect herself, then she couldn't protect her kids and that it was the abuser's fault, not hers. But it took the writing of Split for me to accept that emotionally.

Although SPLIT is a fiction novel, Jace's situation is all too familiar to many individuals dealing with domestic violence in real life. How can people get involved to help domestic violence victims and/or survivors?
If you think you might be experiencing abuse, it's worth talking to someone. There are a number of organization that can help. For teens, call the National Teen Dating Abuse Help 866-331-9474. Or, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE, or at www.ndvh.org who can direct you to local resources. But do remember that what you do on your computer can be tracked, so be sure to connect from a safe place.

What's something you hope readers will take with them upon finishing SPLIT?
That there is a life after abuse and, even though recovery is long, it is possible because we are defined by what we do, not by what has been done to us.

Thank you so much for this amazing interview and the details about your upcoming blog tour and charity auction, Swati! Is there anything else you'd like to add before we go?
Thanks so much for having me. Good luck with your book! I'm excited to read it. Also, thanks so much for your donation to the Before the Split Blog Tour and Charity Auction.

You're very welcome, Swati! And thanks for including me in your auction! If you'd like more info about Swati and her must-read book, please check out her WEBSITE and BLOG. If you'd like to order SPLIT today, here is the Amazon Link.

Watch the very cool trailer for SPLIT:


Also, be sure to check out Swati's blog tour and charity auction! The button links are below. There are some great items to bid on, and remember, you'll be helping an important cause:

Button link to go to the blog tour schedule:


Button link to go to the charity auction site for the event:


And don't forget to comment at the various blog tour stops! Your comment(s) will add to the amount Swati donates to the Family Violence Prevention Fund!!!

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SPLIT Signed Book Giveaway Entry Details:
1) Comment below for a chance to win a signed copy of SPLIT.
2) You will receive an extra entry to win the signed copy of SPLIT with each online shout-out you give about this giveaway (tweet on twitter, facebook status, and/or blog about it). Be sure to leave links to your shout-out(s) in the comment section of this post.
3) Help spread the word and support the cause by adding Swati's Blog Tour Schedule and Charity Auction links to your blog for an additional two extra entries to win the signed copy of SPLIT. Remember to let me know where I can find the links in your comment.

*Sorry, this giveaway is open to USA and Canada residents only*

The winner of the signed copy of SPLIT will be randomly selected and announced on October 7th here on my blog. Good luck!
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