Last month, C.J.’s Dad and I went to New York City. So many of you suggested things to do while we were there, that I thought I’d share a little bit more about our trip.
We were in New York to meet the wonderful group of people who are working to make my book a success. They are people who have come to know our family, care about our message and believe wholeheartedly that it needs to be shared with the world.
While meeting all of them and finally putting faces to names and voices, I was reminded of how lucky I am and how thankful I am for my blog’s readers.
If I completely oversimplify it, this is how my journey to becoming a published author went.
I started a blog. Some people read it and liked it. They shared it with others. One reader posted a link to it in the comment section of a hugely popular news and gossip website. An agent saw it, clicked it, liked it, emailed me and helped me get a book deal.
Condensed like that, it leaves out a massive amount of excitement, anxiety, struggle, contemplation, thought and wine.
We went to New York to meet my agent for the first time. We also met with “my team.” I have a team. How weird is that? Here we all are.
Sheila, Publisher
Danielle, Marketing
Julie, Marketing
Sarah, Publicity
Me
Kari, Agent
Annsley, Publicity
Thank you to all of you who have read my blog and shared it with others. You have played a huge part in making me an author. That reader who left my link in a comment box on the Internet changed my life forever.
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Can I ask for a favor? For the second year in a row, I have been nominated as one of Southern California’s Top 25 Bloggers by Circle of Moms. Will you please vote for me? No sign up needed. Click here, look for the “Top Blogs” list, find my blog and click on the heart/vote button. You can vote every 24 hours until July 30.
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Check out these to music videos featuring gender nonconforming boys. Both are really well done. Love them!
Kingsley Flood: Sun Gonna Lemme Shine
Jillette Johnson: Cameron
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This weekend is the Gender Spectrum Conference in Berkeley. I’ll be speaking and blogging/Facebooking/Tweeting live from the event.
Raising My Rainbow 
“That reader who left my link in a comment box on the Internet changed my life forever.”
It always amaze me how one simple little act can have such a huge power. It makes me think that everytime we say to ourselves something like “Meh, it doesn’t matter if I do (not) do it. It’s not like it’s a big deal.”, we’re just lying to ourselves.
I wish I had this constantly in mind… It could make me go out of my comfort zone more often. <:)
Oh! I forgot to add: Congratulations on your book! You’re a brave person. 😀
The videos were so beautiful and touching. Thanks for sharing them. I voted for you.
Voted and pre-ordered your book on Google Play.
Beyond excited for you. You deserve every success. You gave me my back up when I needed it with my own son. I have never felt alone on this journey, thank you!! Congratulations Lori!
Jenny 🙂
You have my vote. I’m looking forward to reading your book. I recently read a book you and your readers might be interested in A Fairy’s Daughter: Growing Up with a Gay Dad by Allison Wearing. You can read my review on my blog at
http://brianbassingthwaighte.wordpress.com/
Reblogged this on JerBear's Queer News, Views & Memories and commented:
I want to give you, my readers, the chance to vote for “Raising my Rainbow” (read her post and you’ll see the link) also videos of gender creative kids.” So check this post out!
I just wanted to comment on the first video. For the most part it shows how,unfortunately, a lot of children react to nonconformity. And while at first glance the end of the video seems to give a positive message-acceptance, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
You see, all the children ostracized the gender nonconformist while at school, but are then seen wearing dresses at the concert, dancing together and holding hands. To me this seems to be giving the wrong image. It seems as though they’re saying it’s not ok to break conformity at school, a very public and “normative” institution, but it is ok at something like a concert. As if to say, “there’s a time and a place for that.”
To me that’s not right. Cj, myself, and anyone who yearns to live our lives the way we want, even though we are seen as “abhorrent or outliers” within our communities, should be free to do so in all aspects of our lives; not just in the dark shadows of night or only in certain places (like concerts or conventions).
As long as we’re being a responsible person, fulfilling our duties as parents, coworker, spouse, whatever, then we are not hurting anyone.
Just yesterday I met a lovely married man that dresses as both a man and a woman. His wife lets him do so as long as it’s not in one of the states they live in. So part of the time he lives as a woman and the other half a man. They say this is the only way it makes their wife feel comfortable. It broke my heart to hear that, but if it works for them and their wife happy, then I have to be ok with that.
I guess what I’m getting at is that I can’t wait til the day where it’s not looked twice at except to say “what a pretty dress.”
Wow! We don’t know each other but I faithfully read your blog and I am so proud of you and your family. And congratulations on “coming out of the closet” publicly– a name and a face to go with your always entertaining and insightful words. I hope your success has a positive influence on many more little boys and girls who dance to their own beat.
I wish I’d seen these when I was little.
Those videos made me cry……But I’m glad to see more supporters for kids like your son–and education for the rest.
I voted!
23 votes!
LOVE the videos! Thanks for sharing!
Totally voted for you 🙂 You’re up to 19 now, not doing too bad for just starting off!!
I voted! x