I think it’s important in growth and learning to show what that has meant for me. My path started in college and has continued until now. It will continue long into the future. I am not done learning and I am not done rowing. I hope that I am not done changing.
I want to prove that I am not the person who posted those horrible tweets. I said terrible things and those things are unforgiveable, but they do not reflect the person I am now.
In college, I took many women’s studies classes which focused on diversity and intersectional feminism. My favorite author to read was bell hooks, but I also enjoyed Audre Lorde, Maya Angelou, Jacqueline Woodson, Toni Morrison and many more. These are authors I read in high school and college and have continued to explore since. I took a class on the Literature and Culture of India, and I am lucky that my English undergraduate and graduate studies involved diverse works.
I have always been an active ally and member of the LGBT+ community. One of my tweets involved a transphobic slur, and I know now how problematic it was. I was quoting a movie, a mistake I will never make again. I have learned that researching is important when it comes to quoting and making comments. I am vocal about my love for the LGBT+ community and will be a champion for these and all voices.
This is not an extensive list of what I have done. I have been vocal on Twitter supporting authors of color. My past and future reading lists are more diverse than ever. I am not the person who wrote those tweets. She is a version of me who no longer exists.
In terms of publishing, I have been out of the game for three years, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been paying attention. The publishing world is one I love, so I have continued to watch deals, read, and watch for new editors and job moves. I may not have been working in publishing, but I have kept myself involved quietly to ensure I could make a smooth transition back into the world. I still have my editor contacts list and have been reintroducing myself to the editors to get a feel for what they are looking for now. A lot can change in three years, but I am confident that it will be a smooth transition back into this world.
I know people are worried. People don’t trust me. I understand that position, and I know that there will be authors who won’t query me. There may even be editors who won’t consider me. I believe in writers, though, and I believe in the power of growth and change. I hope that I can earn the trust of those I hurt, and gain back the respect I once had in the publishing world.
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