Friday, May 24, 2013

Lost and Found

[Today I'm featuring a very special book - a charity anthology from Featherweight Press entitled Lost and Found, dedicated to young people who are rejected by their families because of their sexual orientation. Please read - please buy! Thank you! ~ Lisabet]



Some statistics say that 40% of all homeless teens are GLBT. They're on the streets after their families have thrown them away, told them that they don't matter, that they're not normal. Well, guess what? Those families are wrong. This collection of stories by ten talented authors spans the spectrum (historical, paranormal, transgender, cutter, gay) to show that - it's okay, there are people out there that care, and these teens are perfect just the way they are.

All royalties from this 430 page anthology are being donated to Lost-n-Found Youth in Atlanta, Georgia. A wonderful charity working with these teens, helping them find their new place and get on their feet.

Buy Link: http://www.featherweightpublishing.com/ShowBook.php?YA=ANTH_LOSTNFND

Table of Contents
  • Bridges and Angels by MF Kays
  • A Ghost of a Chance by Diane Adams
  • A Chance with a Ghost by T.A. Webb
  • Protective Instincts by Tabatha Heart
  • Blessing by Dakota Chase
  • The Preacher's Son by Caitlin Ricci
  • Clay Rocks by T.A. Webb
  • Sam I Am by Jeff Erno
  • Thrown Away by DC Juris
  • You Have Never Mattered by Michele L. Montgomery
  • I Have Always Mattered by D.H. Starr
  • About the Authors
Excerpt
From Thrown Away by D.C. Juris

"Jeremy? Is that you?"

"Yeah, Mom." I ran up the stairs, dumped my backpack in the middle of my bed, and came back down to the dining room. She had the table all made up, her and Dad on opposite sides and me at the far end. Three place settings, each with a dinner plate, a smaller bread plate, a salad bowl, two forks, a knife, a spoon, and a glass of water. I frowned and swallowed a lump that lodged in my throat. This was going to suck so bad.

We sat down together, and I listened as they talked about "adult things." Which was just Mom's fancy name for gossip. She talked about the lady who lived next door, how she'd seen a man coming in and out of the house at all hours of the day and night. Dad said maybe he was a handy man, and Mom told him not to be ridiculous, of course he wasn't a handy man. Why would a handy man be coming by the house at three in the morning? Dad wanted to know why Mom was up snooping on the neighbors at three in the morning. Of course, that made Mom angry-it's not snooping if you're up for a glass of water and the neighbors are making enough noise for you to hear them-and the conversation finally made its way to me.

"How was school today?" Mom asked.

I looked down the table at her. So close, yet she suddenly felt so far away.

I took another deep breath and steeled myself, clenching my fork tight in my fist. "So. um." I coughed and cleared my throat. "Can I talk to you guys about something?"

"Of course you can, honey," Mom answered.

"What's on your mind?" Dad asked.

I looked down at my plate, hoping for.what? Courage? "I think. I think I-"

"Oh, no, you got someone pregnant!" My mother shrieked the words at me.

"What?" I jerked my head up and stared at her, open-mouthed. "No. No. God, no. I didn't get anyone pregnant. It's just-"

"Are you sure? Because even if you use protection-" My father rolled his eyes. "Spit it out already, Germ." Germ. My dad's pet name for me. Isn't that cute? Not.

"Okay." I turned to my mom. She'd probably be the easier of the two. "You remember last month, when we went shopping for school clothes, and I picked out those three shirts from the girls' section, and you said that you didn't understand fashion fads these days?"

Mom shook her head. "I still don't understand them. Why on Earth would you want to parade around looking like something you're not is beyond me. You're a very handsome young man. You should be proud of yourself, not pandering to what your friends think is cool."

Irony, thy name is my mother. "I'm not doing it because of my friends." I took another deep breath, let it out slowly. "Remember when I talked to you guys about my friend who thought he might be transgender? I don't have a friend like that. I was talking about me. I picked girls' clothes because.because I want to look like a girl. I want to be a girl. I think.I think I'm transgender. I looked it up online and Eric has a friend who-"

"Eric?" Mom folded her hands in front of her. "You've been hanging around with that degenerate?"

Great. As if things weren't bad enough. "Just at school, I swear."

Silence stretched out between us, hanging in the air like an invisible wall.

Dad went back to eating. Mom stared at the ceiling. No one spoke for minutes, but it felt more like hours. I sat there, looking at each of them in turn, waiting for the questions, the yelling, the anything.

"So. You never did say how school was today," Mom said.

"How..." I sputtered. "School was fine. Mom, did you hear what I said?"

[It seems really appropriate to bring this book to your attention during the Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia. And if I get at least twenty comments on this post, I will donate $25 to Lost-and-Found. If I get a hundred comments or more, I'll donate $50!]

30 comments:

sxswann said...

What a great idea from MLR and the authors. These stories look really good - hard but good.

Moondancer said...

The charity itself is enough to guarantee a buy from me.

Anonymous said...

I loved the excerpt, and the cause is one that isn't spoken about enough. Good luck.

Kris Jacen said...

Thank you, Lisabet. You might need some tissues when reading but there is hope in each story.

Unknown said...

Good stuff here. A worthy read, and worthwhile cause...

Kristoffer Gair said...

You've got some incredible talent lined up for this! It's nice to see authors doing something like this for a good cause. I hope to see more of this kind of thing in the future.

Bravejoker said...

Excellent book, excellent charity!

Jambrea said...

It is so wonderful that the authors and MLR are doing this!

Pommawolf Emeraldwolfeyes said...

I love this excerpt! My own son's name is Jeremy, and my own Mom nicknamed him "The Germ" when he was just a baby. This is the first time I have ever come across anyone else making that wonderful leap....I love it! Another reason to love DC Juris...*S*
My heart breaks every time I read the numbers, see the faces, and hear the stories of our abandoned youth. Yes abandoned. I will never understand why parents toss their precious children out like so much garbage. I just want to wrap my arms around them and let them know that they are loved.
Thank you for sharing the info...and wishing that the world was a safer place, and a more loving one even more. It's awesome that MLR is doing this marvelous thing!

Darcy
pomma @akwolf.com

Susan said...

My mother never understood me, but she never kicked me out of our home. Such a worthwhile cause!

skadlec1@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

This will be so intense, but it's really important!

vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

sharon baker said...

People should really wise up. Everyone is born the way they are and not the way they turn. This is suppose o be a smart country.

aureliatevans said...

My parents think that what I want is perverse, but they still love me and never kicked me out of the house. I think they actually resolved to never do that to any of their kids, no matter what they thought about what we did. They may not like things about me, but they refuse to abandon me. Regardless of some of the issues we have because of my orientation, I appreciated that.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful read

Cinders

Anna Lee said...

It is so wonderful that the authors and MLR are doing this! I love that there is hope in each story. :)

Pelaam said...

Awesome collection and very worthy charity

Sweet said...

Love this, and I will be purchasing it soon! :)

ShirleyAnn said...

I enjoyed reading the excerpt.A great book for a great cause.

ShirleyAnn@speakman40.freeserve.co.uk

kchichester said...

What a great excerpt. Too many parents don't want to really listen and understand/accept what their kids tell them.

Jackie mcKenzie said...

I purchased this the day it came out and all I can say is WOW. This collection of stories are wonderful. Yes, they are sad, and yes you will need some tissues, but the best part is the message of "it gets better" is shown throughout the entire anthology. I hope all of you get the chance to read this.

Emily said...

This is such an awesome book, I can't wait to read it. Thanks so much for featuring it.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great book for a great cause. Can't wait to get it.

Marci Nichelle Jansen said...

You're such a sweetie, Pomma :-) ::hugs::

Marci Nichelle Jansen said...

Thanks for showcasing our anthology, Lisabet! It's a cause that's very close to my heart, and a project I'm humbled to be a part of.

H.B. said...

Sounds wonderful, not to mention it's for a great cause.

humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com

Penumbra said...

Great excerpt and a wonderful idea for charity.

Lisabet Sarai said...

Thanks to all of you who have commented! We're past the 20 comment mark. Think we can get it up to 100. Please share and tweet!!

Warmly,
Lisabet

Unknown said...

Great anthology, great stories, great cause. And a great gesture of you to throw in some extra money, Lisabet! Off to buy this and spread the word :)

Amanda said...

Can't wait to read this. It breaks my heart to think people can treat their children like that. I would never treat mine that way. It just makes me want to take them all in and show them that they matter and people do care. Love the idea for charity. :)

RhoMelie said...

Bought the book because of the charity but it's also the type of stories I would want to read anyway. This is a charity I support

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