Update: I met with the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America and they are cataloging the #MeToo movement as part of their archives collection. I alerted the manager of special projects for the #MeToo movement to include what is happening in children’s book publishing. So while the School Library Journal has chosen to delete the comments that detailed specific accusations of sexual misconduct against authors, illustrators, editors and publishers in the children’s book publishing industry, these comments (below) are now on their way to being permanently archived and accessible to the public to anyone interested for posterity.
#MeToo has reached children’s book publishing. The YA Kitty has compiled a list of everyone accused. Because I don’t cover YA on my blog, I am not covering the YA authors accused here but you can find them on her list.
Does it surprise anyone that there is rampant sexual misconduct in children’s and YA book publishing? Not really, right? For an industry that is 90% women, the men hold the highest positions of power. Social functions with alcohol are part of necessary networking. Authors, illustrators, and those trying to break in have no Human Resources to turn to for complaints. Worse, registering even indignation risks entree into this coveted field.
Everyone is watching what the repercussions of the accusations. While a few high profile authors have been scrutinized publicly, their book sales haven’t taken much of a hit. Those who haven’t received this same spotlight treatment are laying low, hoping all will blow over.
True, behind the scenes, everyone is talking and there are subtle repercussions. I sat on a small children’s book award committee where Drew Daywalt’s book was on the short list but removed after he was accused.
That’s not enough. Today, I am going to pair the books with the accused. I feel like the readers and gatekeepers haven’t gotten word so I hope this helps. I think we need to:
- Confront these authors and illustrators on social media and ask them, “What is your response to the accusations of sexual misconduct?”
- Believe the women. If you do too, don’t support the accused authors and illustrators. I’m not supporting them on my blog moving forward on my blog. Past book reviews will also be linked to this post.
- Please support Anne Ursu and other authors and illustrators who have been brave enough to come forward. Follow them on social media, send messages of support, and buy their books if you are able to!
If we want real change to happen, we must take it upon ourselves to ask the tough questions, and shine the light into this darkness.
And then this will happen more …
Georgia waitress Emelia Holden is seen on camera being sexually violated by 31-year-old Ryan Cherwinksi. Holden slammed him into a chair. She said, “I just did what I felt was best. I took the guy down and had my co-workers call the police.” Cherwinksi was charged with sexual battery.
Instead of this…
Louis Walsh Caught GRABBING And GROPING MEL B On Live TV. He gets away with it.
p.s. Related articles:
Sexual Harassment in the Children’s Book Industry by Anne Ursu
#metoo #ustoo Change Starts Now: Stand Against Harassment in the YA/Kidlit Community by Gwenda Bond
p.p.s. Please note that books are included where the illustrator is accused of sexual misconduct BUT NOT THE AUTHOR. Jacqueline Woodson and Monica Brown are not accussed of sexual misconduct but the illustrators for one or more of their books are (E. B. Lewis and David Diaz). Please read below.
Sexual Misconduct in Children’s Book Publishing
Matt de la Peña
Accusation 1: “I wonder if any of Matt de la Pena’s students have weighed in. A friend took a writing class with him and recounted several tales of transactional sexual relationships with his students and creepy behavior.”
Accusation 2: “I didn’t respond to Anne’s survey but Matt de la Pena is someone to steer clear of.”
Accusation 3: “Matt de la Peña. You are powerful and respected in this industry, you should be ashamed of the way you speak to and treat female students. Your business is how we write, not how we look. Among several inappropriate comments, you minimized me down to my appearance in a moment of my education that I worked hard for, that should have been one of my proudest. You made me feel small and objectified. I resent it. I am not shocked to see that I am not the only student you abused your power over.”
Matt de la Pena, hasn’t had time to offer an apology in between all of his speaking engagements, but he somehow found time to change his bio. He no longer considers himself a “love doctor.”
Tim Federle
Accusation 1: “I have experienced predatory behavior from Tim Federle. I am a male. This was also at the SBCWI conference some years ago. He expressed interest in my book and invited me to his room to go over my query letter. I was 18 and starry eyed because he was a respected author for kids. When I arrived at his room and got out my laptop, he closed it and began kissing me. I was shocked at first. I was not assaulted, but it was all under false pretenses. He preyed on me in a very disturbing manner.
Drew Daywalt
Accusation 1: “My story was also mentioned in Anne’s article, and Drew Daywalt was the one that made me never want to return to Los Angeles. This is really tough for me to post, even anonymously, because I’ve always tried to be such a peacemaker, but honestly, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this goes beyond me. I felt confused and hurt over the entire interaction for a long while, and after reading Anne’s response in her article, she truly helped me understand why I felt the way I did. Thank you, Anne! And to those also speaking up, I’m glad we’re all having this conversation, and my hope is that those being called out will truly reach out for help and want to change. ”
Accusation 2 (via Twitter DM to me): “Hello, I was recently told about your blog post featuring comments about men in the kid lit community who are accused of sexually harassing women. When I read Anne Ursu’s article, I knew exactly who one of the men were. Drew Daywalt. He used the same lines with me and more. I am forever traumatized by that man. I wish to remain anonymous.”
Stephan Pastis
Accusation 1: “A dear friend of mine asked me to post this for her as she doesn’t feel comfortable adding it herself. ”My story was in Anne’s article. The man was Stephan Pastis.””
Accusation 2: “Stephan Pastis has sexually harassed me too.”
Mo Willems
Accusation 1: “I was quoted in Ann’s article my predator was Mo Willems.”
Sherman Alexie
Accusation 1: “I was in Anne’s survey as well. Mine was Sherman Alexie.”
Accusation 2: “I saw Alexie speak at a library conference several years ago, and I saw the way he interacted with the (mostly female) attendees before and after his talk. That he has sexually harassed people is not at all surprising to me. I believe you and I’m sorry you had to deal with that.”
Accusation 3: “Another raised hand for Sherman Alexie.”
Accusation 4: “Yes, me too with Alexie.”
Accusation 5: “Sherman Alexie. #Me too. I know of several others. I think there’s a very good reason (or many very good reasons) he stopped all appearances and disappeared from social media almost immediately after Weinstein.”
Accusation 6: “I dined with Sherman Alexie several years ago with a group of librarians and, throughout dinner he talked pretty continuously about sex, told us that he loved all types of women (age, body type, level of attractiveness, HINT HINT) and showed us his hotel room number. He also said that at author conferences no one slept in their own rooms. Maybe not harassment per se, but definitely gross. I don’t doubt he’s done worse.”
Accusation 7: “Sherman Alexie: me too. Looking forward to the end of him getting to do whatever he wants to young women with the full knowledge of the people in power.”
Earl Lewis/E.B. Lewis
Please note that Jacqueline Woodson is not accused of sexual misconduct, but the illustrator to Coming On Home Soon, E. B. Lewis, IS. This is not the only book E. B. Lewis has illustrated.
Accusation 1: “Add the opportunistic Earl Lewis [or E.B. Lewis as he likes to refer to himself as] to the list. He took advantage of me on two different fronts and I did report him. Thankfully he isn’t on the board anymore.”
David Diaz
Please note that author Monica Brown is not accused of sexual misconduct, but the illustrator to Maya’s Blanket, David Diaz IS. David Diaz has illustrated other picture books besides this one.
“I do think his response was the appropriate response, and I appreciated that,” Ms. Mercurio-Wentworth said, citing “his honesty and humility.”
“As for Mr. Diaz, he temporarily left the Society of Children’s Book Writers a few years ago after a woman complained to the leadership that he had made her feel uncomfortable. He completed a training course about sexual harassment and was put on a yearlong probation.
Mr. Diaz said the training had taught him that what he had considered innocent flirtation was perceived much differently.
“Don’t call anyone ‘honey,’ don’t touch anyone, don’t engage in any kind of flirtatious manner,” he said in an interview. “And after training I understood my only purpose is to talk about books and the craft of making books.”
Then, after the #MeToo movement caught fire, the writer Ishta Mercurio-Wentworth told Ms. Oliver of an incident that occurred six years earlier, when Mr. Diaz had touched her hair, said, “You’re kinky, aren’t you,” and then walked away. Mr. Diaz then sent her an apology.” from NYTimes
Ishta Mercurio came forward to identified David Diaz wrote this: Thoughts From the Front Lines of the MeToo Movement
There are the long conversations I had with people (so many people!) in which I tried to explain that, yes, what had happened to me was inappropriate and horrifying in the moment that it happened, and no, it was not at all okay, and yes, I thought this person deserved to be believed when he said that he was trying to do better. There is a world of difference between someone who wrongs you and admits it and apologizes and promises to do better, and someone who denies that he did anything wrong at all. I think it’s important that we recognize that. I don’t think he deserves any rewards or special praise for apologizing, because apologizing and trying to do better are basic levels of human decency. Nobody gets a cookie for meeting the basic requirements. But I hope his friends don’t all alienate him. I hope he has people around him who will help him meet this standard of behavior, who will expect it of him and who will hold him to it.
Even so, I never want to see him again.
Then there was the moment when I learned that even though he had been prohibited from attending any more SCBWI conferences, he had arranged to meet people just outside the venue, and I wondered why he would push against the boundaries of his banishment in this way. If he had really meant his apology. If he understood that rules should be respected with their spirit, and not only their letter, in mind. I wonder if he has friends who will remind him that New York City is a big place, and all the women he has hurt have a right to attend a conference without the fear of running into him just outside the venue. I hope he does. But his apology seems less genuine to me now.
Ishta Mercurio: So, You’ve Decided to Speak
Know that if you have made a formal complaint about your harasser through the appropriate channels — the organizers of whatever conference you met them at, the publisher that sent them on that marketing tour, the HR department if you’ve been harassed at work, the producer of their movie or show, wherever – it will add weight to anything published in the press. You don’t have to do this – you don’t have to speak up at all – but it is a good idea to do this.
When the article about your harasser is published, there is one rule: Don’t read the comments. Have friends who will pass the supportive ones on to you, and who will respond in a clear and rational manner to those comments that are less supportive. You have done enough by sharing your story; you are not obliged to educate the rest of the world on how to be an ally to a harassment or abuse survivor.
Lemony Snicket/Daniel Handler
The comments in which his victims talk about how he treated them are very long and unlikely to disappear, so I’m simply linking them and quote an exceptionally relevant piece of said comment.
Richard Paul Evans
I want to briefly explain, especially to non-Utah friends, why I and many of us are spreading so fiercely the accusations against author Richard Paul Evans.
This isn’t my M.O. My personal online policy is to only point fingers at culture and institutions, not individuals (I carve out exceptions for Jonathan Franzen, just cuz, and John Grisham, b/c child pornography apologists should have no safe haven)
The piece many of you may be missing is that Richard Paul Evans is HUGE in Utah. If you’ve never heard of him, you won’t get the enormous name recognition and impact he has here.
So while I’ve heard dozens of stories of his behavior (fondling, stroking women, grabbing a feel from behind, stalking women to their hotel rooms and banging on their doors, bullying and general harassing) he’s largely protected by fame.
When a man does something to one woman that makes her feel like trash, it’s easy for the woman, alone in her head, to feel like she somehow brought that on herself.
But when we can put out in the light of day that this is this man’s pattern of behavior, that he does this crap to A LOT of women, then it’s easier for victims to see, it’s not me. It’s him.
I want this all out in the light, so women know. If people still love his brand of “playful touch” and seek him out, at least they will know in advance.
Additionally, I have heard that he has started many money-making ventures charging writers astronomical fees with promises that they’ll have self-publishing success like his. Again, I want these people to have all the info before losing their cash.
Not to be missed: RPE has also started a “fraternity for men” called “Tribe of Kyngs.” Here’s one little quote about that from the HuffPost:
Not to be missed: RPE has also started a “fraternity for men” called “Tribe of Kyngs.” Here’s one little quote about that from the HuffPost:
So Richard Paul Evans is a wealthy man with an enormous amount of influence, support, and name recognition in Utah who is using that to (allegedly!) harass women, bilk hopeful writers, and make himself a king leader to a group of middle aged married men.
For the record, I’ve met him but don’t know him. He’s never harassed me. I have no ax to grind. I’m not jealous of his success (guess what–I’m wildly successful in Utah too!) I have nothing to gain from speaking up. Just want to protect people.
Junot Diaz
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Diaz accused of sexual misconduct, misogynistic behavior
As a grad student, I invited Junot Diaz to speak to a workshop on issues of representation in literature. I was an unknown wide-eyed 26 yo, and he used it as an opportunity to corner and forcibly kiss me. I’m far from the only one he’s done this 2, I refuse to be silent anymore.
After allegations of sexual misconduct, Junot Díaz is a cautionary tale on the trouble with tokenism
And one more for poor behavior though not of a sexual nature …
Mike Lupica
Here’s a little story I’ve told often in private but never in public. Several years ago I was the emcee of a high profile author event.
Whenever I do this, I prepare a lot, reading books by the authors I’m introducing, interviews and bios, writing up intros that are both informative and funny. I love funny.
One of the authors was a guy who wrote middle grade books with sports themes. I thought it would be funny if beforehand we worked out a several-step, silly handshake we’d do when I introduced him.
So my editor and I found him and his editor at the book conference beforehand and I told him I was going to intro him that night and asked him if he’d be willing to do a bit with me.
He said, “No, I don’t do that,” but in such a curt manor I assumed he was kidding. Everyone in kid lit is supposed to be nice, after all! So I kidded back and said, “Yeah, I heard you were a diva.”
I hadn’t heard that. Again, I thought we were joking with each other. But apparently I’d hit too close to home, because he turned his back to me, the back of his head literally an inch from my face,
His editor turned to my editor (they knew each other) and he said, “Sorry, I can edit him on the page but not in public.”
Later the publicist from my publisher told me publicists from his publisher were asking to know, who had told me he was a diva? Because he was on a witch hunt and someone was going to be in trouble.
Um…no one told me! For years I’ve felt so bad that what I said caused alarm and perhaps harm to anyone from his publisher, but now I’m like, why am I taking this blame? Why isn’t he feeling bad?
Anyway. That night I took the page of carefully crafted and researched introduction I’d written for him and crossed out 2 paragraphs. Also, can we not send these tools out in public anymore? Thanks.
By contrast, one time I had the honor of introducing Katherine Paterson. I had never met her, so I sought her out beforehand. There was one line I’d written that I thought was funny but I wanted to make sure she wouldn’t be offended.
It was, “And now, our grande dame. Or as her grandchildren call her, our damn Gran.” I read it too her, she laughed and said, “yes, please say that.”
Oh, and I guess I can share his name. There were plenty of witnesses at the time. The polite lady in me is used to protecting people, but why? It was Mike Lupica.
Barry Goldblatt
A PRH art director has resigned after artist and writer Charlyne Yi accused him of sexual harrassment. From MPH Books.
“As Jim Milliot reports at Publishers Weekly, Giuseppe Castellano, an art director at Penguin Workshop, resigned this week after artist and writer Charlyne Yi published on Twitter allegations that Castellano had sexually harrassed her during a meeting in early November. In a series of Tweets, Yi claimed that she’d met with Castellano at a bar to discuss the possibility of working on a book at some point in the future. While there, Castellano began a conversation about the unrelenting torrent of shit that has overwhelmed media over the last few months, professed to be an ally, and then, after waking Yi back to her hotel, insistently suggested that they have sex.
In response to Yi’s accusations (which she forwarded to Penguin Random House’s HR department before going public), Castellano wrote a lengthy blog post in which he strenuously denied any wrongdoing, called Yi’s account of the evening “fabricated,” and claimed that the pressures of the accusations, and the social media furor that erupted in their aftermath, had made continuing to work at PRH “untenable.”
It’s a pretty remarkable document. Castellano is strident in his denial and more than a little agressive towards his accuser. He calls Yi’s claims “strained and contorted,” “absurd,” “defamatory and false,” and low-key suggests that she was too drunk to be a reliable narrator of the evening: “We both drank too much and shared deeply personal stories.”
Unfortunately for Castellano, Yi appears to have kept her receipts. After the blog post was published, Yi took to Twitter again, posting screencaps of the email exchanges between her and Castellano that seem pretty clearly to demonstrate he was lying about the events in question:
Here you go: correspondence about business, your email asking me to get a drink after I asked for a response on my book, my response to you gaslighting me after you suggested having an affair several times, then you admitting it. May you never abuse your power or harm another. pic.twitter.com/PtW73DszHs
— Charlyne Yi (@charlyne_yi) December 4, 2017
Screenshots of alleged email correspondence between Giuseppe Castellano and Charlyne Yi from Charlyne Yi’s Twitter account. from Bookmarked
This isn’t the first time this year that Yi has made a high-profile accusations of bad behavior. She called out David Cross earlier in the year, describing a seriously unpleasant, racist exchange with the comedian, which he also denied had happened as she described it. No receipts have been forth coming there, but Yi’s credibility seems to have been vindicated, at least in this instance.”
From Jezebel: A Running List of Alleged Predators Facing Accusations and Consequences Post-Weinstein
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Thank you for your bravery Mia. Standing strong with these women is what it will take. We are stronger together. We must believe and support each other.
I really appreciate your support as well Bethany. It seems like the sexual misconduct in children’s book publishing is being given a pass with the m/o to lay over until it “blows over.”
OMG!! I went to Pragmatic Mom home because I wanted to share the site with a YA author of my acquaintance. To open it and find all the abuse warnings was not my expectation and while they made me heartsick, I was so proud and admiring of the women who wrote of their negative experiences. At 68 I thought perhaps I had a broad view on the traps and struggles women face. Children’s’ and YA literature had not crossed my mind and yet why not? For whatever reason power and money can lead to abuses of people who are fighting to be recognized and respected. Would that I could do more to support these women in their hard journey.
Thanks for getting the word out to more people. I’ve been following this conversation on Twitter for months and it hasn’t gotten as much notice.
One extra I would add is Richard Paul Evans – his children books are the Michael Vey series. Inform for his misconduct is on Twitter via – Shannon Hale, Ally Condie, Brendan Reichs,
Thanks! I’ll add that one.
Thanks Aliza! I’ve added Richard Paul Evans along with the Twitter conversations by Shannon Hale.
So what is going to happen to all of these wonderful books? Yes, I support the #MeToo movement that is moving into about every field, but I struggle with boycotting really good children’s books. I’ve reviewed many of the author’s books over the years and I’m not going to remove my reviews of the books. I don’t know what the answer is. All of the books mentioned are still in bookstores and in libraries.
Hi Pat,
I think the books will continue to be circulated but perhaps new books by the accused authors and illustrators will be given more pause. I’m not really sure, to be honest. At my house, we talk about the books and what that author or illustrator has been accused of. Usually, my kids don’t want to support that person anymore.
It’s unfair to condemn the authors whose illustrators are accused. Many times the authors have no voice in who illustrates their books. List the names of the illustrators, but not the author of one or two books he illustrated. It’s not fair to amazing authors like Eve Bunting and Jacqueline Woodson.
But what about authors of picture books who don’t illustrate their books but are accused? If you give them a pass, then that could very well be their body of work in children’s book publishing. I think the book is tainted when one person is accused even though the other person is not. It’s why Charlesbridge Publishing had a book ready to go to print, but it was by illustrator David Diaz. They yanked the book from coming out, will re-illustrate and then release even though this is a two year plus delay. I think the publishers need to feel some pain or nothing will change.
Also, I am NOT naming the authors or illustrators who are not named. In some cases, I even make the clarification.
Hi Dyan,
I think that everyone will have a different and valid reaction of what is fair. In some cases, the accused illustrator has only illustrated and not created a book entirely.
I tend to think of this like the company Enron. Not everyone at Enron was involved in the sketchy accounting practices that led to its downfall, but the entire company went under including their accounting firm, Arthur Andersen. Not only were employees detrimentally affected of both companies, but shareholders as well.
https://www.investopedia.com/updates/enron-scandal-summary/
1st: I really want to meet that 16yo from Oregon who stood up to Handler.
2nd: I too am torn about what to do with the books now. I am cleaning off shelves anyway, so it will not be too hard to rid my home of the bad vibes. But I usually donate them to a school or library. Should I pass on the stories and just personally not support the creators now? It is not in my nature to trash or destroy books 😧
Hi Janflora,
I hate to trash or destroy books too! I’m just sitting on mine now … I still have the Dr. Seuss ones too that I find offensive. I think I will eventually donate them. The books are already purchased and $ distributed to the publisher and author/illustrator so the book is a sunk cost. I think I just won’t support these people in the future and I will note them on my blog in the old book lists. I think we can only go forward.
Honestly, I would like to hear from the accused author/illustrator if they feel that they are being falsely accused. I would happily publish their side of the story. A good example of this is George Takai who was accused of sexual misconduct. He initially replied thoughtfully that he did not think that this happened but wanted to give it due consideration. He addressed it publically. Eventually, it came out that his accuser recanted his story and cleared George Takai’s name.
Not addressing it makes me think the person is laying low and is perhaps afraid to respond for fear of others coming forward.
I’ve recycled books that offend me. Would possible do the same to books by authors who have said/done horrible things. I felt good about doing it, as the paper would see new life…and I wouldn’t be foisting garbage on other people/bring attention to the work of evildoers/what-have-you. The cover would have to be removed (often aren’t recyclable), but the innards can go in the green bin, I believe.
Hi Beth,
That’s a good idea to recycle the paper for the offending books.
Some farmers are accepting pages of discarded books, shredding the paper and using the shredded paper as bedding for their livestock.
I’m not one to jump on the Band Wagon and start burning books but find it highly appropriate, bordering on Cathartic, to have an animal “do their business” on books by authors who have said/done horrible things.
Thank you for posting. I had a graduate student who reached out to Steven Pastis … she asked a question about his writing process. He DM’ed a really weird response about climbing into a tub for a long soak by candle light.
She blocked him and we discussed what to do.
I love Timmy Failure. He’s a character I cherish for his vulnerability and silliness. But, I can’t teach or recommend the books any longer.
I hadn’t changed my reviews but I think that’s the next step.
Hi Laura,
I love Timmy Failure too. It was one of my son’s DEAR series but now my son and I don’t support Stephen Pastis. When his books are on my old lists, I also link to the sexual misconduct post.
All I want to say is there is nothing redeeming at all in the series of unfortunate events books. Nothing. Yes, as a teacher I read them because my students were reading some of them. So it would seem to suggest something is wrong with an author if the books are sick.
Hi Carolyn,
My kids were not fans of Daniel Handler’s books either. They think they are boring and not at all funny.
Litsa Dremousis, whose absolutely tireless and selfless work on the Sherman Alexie affair merits the reconsideration she gives it this week in Publisherweekly (“Calling Out Sherman Alexie “), makes a very important point in her new article. She writes:
“Document everything. You’ll need ample proof. Contrary to what detractors say, no one credible approaches these situations as a witch hunt. There is and should be a reasonable standard of proof.”
Many of the allegations listed here have zero documentation. Not all, but many. They have been made anonymously. They meet no standard of proof. Some, like the ones against Junot Diaz, have been investigated by an employer (in his case, MIT university) and dismissed outright for lack of credible evidence.
In the interest of decency and credibility, we should follow the Dremousis Standard, If what we have to say in any forum, including this one, doesn’t meet a reasonable standard of proof, we should not repeat it. If the evidence is there, then follow Litsa’s lead, but not until the evidence is there.
Like your points. It’s not right to publish info unless there is credible evidence. And, many of us don’t really know. It is not up to any of us to come to conclusions. I support the #MeToo movement, but it has to be based on facts. And I don’t like to trash books, either.
Hi Pat,
Thanks for responding.
While I agree that documentation is important for a lawsuit about sexual harassment, I also realize that it’s not always possible. It’s not like the person has a video camera going at all moments. In the case of Junot Diaz, there were three women who stepped forward. Would you also say that Junot Diaz wasn’t raped as a child if he doesn’t have proof of that? What burden of proof does he have to produce from his childhood experience?
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jul/02/junot-diaz-says-sexual-harassment-allegations-didnt-happen-zinzi-clemmons
It is entirely possible to:
1. Believe these women. They felt hurt and uncomfortable—and sometimes threatened by the words and actions of these men. They should be supported and heard.
2. Believe that in some cases, these men were GOOD MEN who made a mistake. Period.
This absolutist position that the industry has taken is both hypocritical (a certain leader of the movement had an affair with her editor)* and wrong.
* Two women informed me of this. And I #believewomen.
Hi Anon,
Good points! Thank you!
There is a spectrum of behavior being discussed here ranging from disrespectful comments to possibly criminal actions. I don’t think it’s right to lump it all together. I think it’s unfortunate that the dam burst in the comments on two or three articles – although I’m in there, I know how it felt when we were finally talking about all this, there was a strong sense of ‘oh my god it’s not just me.’
But the result was that anyone whose name showed up in that long scroll now shows up in roundups like this one, and I don’t think the consequences for these creators should all be the same. There is a big difference between habitual othering of women and attempting to trade professional support for sex.
Two popular series in my library are A Series of Unfortunate Events and the Michael Vey books. I’ll keep buying Lemony Snicket as long as the kids keep asking for it, but Richard Paul Evans is off my list.
Hi PW,
I agree that the behavior is a spectrum but I think it’s important not to hide the accusations as School Library Journal has done. It’s better to have a list, read the list, and process each one individually. It would be nice for those accused to address these claims but until they do, I am not supporting anyone on this list.
I have read this post several times since you first posted it. And I stayed away, because of fear (though I can’t fully articulate those fears). Now, however, I am ready to tell you and your readers that Drew Daywalt hurt other women; I am one of them, and I know of others. The author who found and helped us told us that Daywalt used nearly-identical tactics to groom, use, and abruptly cut ties with us. Even after learning there were others like me, it took me weeks (maybe months) to come to terms with the fact that none of what he did to me was my fault. Drew Daywalt is a serial predator, plain and simple. The worst part is, when authors and event coordinators heard my story, they said that people “in the business” already knew about him, which means that “his people” did nothing to make him stop. They let him run wild, hurting who knows how many women. Please keep reminding people about these sexual predators. Not only do potential women targets need to know — parents need to know about the authors who wrote the books they’re reading to their children.
I’m curious if there have been any updates with regard to any of these authors.
In this country, we are innocent until proven guilty. Accusations should not equal cancellation. I say this as a survivor of severe childhood sexual abuse and trafficking. Believing women just on accusations has ruined lives only for so many women to admit they lied. Evidence is needed. Testimonies are part of evidence, but they aren’t all evidence. This is shocking and disturbing.