Sunday, July 14, 2013

Colleen

A few days ago, I was asked by a reader to talk about mental health issues on this blog, a topic about which I know nothing about. I was hesitant at first— in fact I still am— because there is nothing worse than being given the wrong advice. And me? I have no advice to give.

But these last few signings have been interesting. I've met quite a few people who have made me stop and think about my role and my responsibilities an an author. This isn't something I wanted. I didn't write these books to be famous or to be listened to— I wrote them to write them. That's it. By my reckoning, I shouldn't have any responsibilities towards any of you. I just write books that you happen to read. Why should I care about you beyond you reading my work and giving me your money?

But of course, I do care. Quite by accident, I assure you. This was not planned. I've met a few of you, I know a few of you, and I've heard from even more of you. I read your comments and your tweets and your letters. Some of you have stories to tell, and I end up listening. 

These past few months, since The Maleficent Seven has been released, I've met a lot of new people.  I met a girl who thanked me for mentioning the fact that Tanith once had a thing with Aurora Jane— and she thanked me again for not making a big deal out of it. I met a girl with selective mutism who, by the end of our encounter, was chatting away and grilling me about plot details. Then I met a girl who thanked me for Clarabelle.

I smiled and told her how much I loved writing that character. The girl nodded, smiled, told me again how much she loved Clarabelle. Then she told me she had mental health issues, and sometimes she found it hard to separate what was real from what wasn't, and she loved Clarabelle because she saw in her a person who was different from others but who was loved, and accepted, and allowed to thrive. 

And I looked at this girl and I didn't know what to say. I came up with Clarabelle because I needed a certain kind of warmth and a certain kind of quirkiness. Never in a million years did I think that someone out there would relate to her. 

These three girls have all sorts of pressures on them that I can't understand, and all three of them have a handle on it. The Clarabelle fan was getting the help and support she needs. The girl who couldn't speak was speaking, and she even fist-bumped me on her way out. And the Tanith fan was as strong and confident as anyone I'd ever seen. And as each one of these girls walked off, I realised that they were my readers. These girls, and boys and girls and men and women like them all around the world, are my readers, and if I can do anything to help them in any way, even if it's just to raise a smile when they're feeling low, then I have managed to do something that I never thought I'd be capable of. I'd be able to help them. 

We all have problems. We all have issues. We all have pressures. If you don't seek the right kind of help, if you don't know where to look or you don't have the friends and family to support you, things can go wrong. But there is help out there. There are people, unlike me, who know what they're talking about. Every country will have its own helplines and websites, sites like SpunOut.ie here in Ireland. Search for them. Find them. And for god's sake use them.

I am now going back to being selfish and egotistical, and absolutely sure that Holly Smale fancies me. 

4,972 comments:

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Trip Castalan, Lord of The Hobbits, The Fourth Most Popular Folk/Parody Banana Thief In The Land said...

I'm gonna go now. I've had no sleep an- *falls asleep on the spot*

#ChaseForBook9

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

Blech... I hate swallowing pills. Will be drowsy soon... Then I'll sleep.

#ChaseForBook9

Snow said...

bye trip!! *pats on shoulder and teleports to a bed*

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

Bye Trip [waves]

#ChaseForBook9

Jophiel said...

*Shrugs*

Jophiel said...

*Waves to Trip*

Snow said...

-.- i have to go... but i'll be back in about 10 min *hugs all and disappears*

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

bye bye trippy:)


I should go guys. i need my breakfast/lunch/dinner food.

BYE GUYS:) I LOVE YOU ALL!! <3

#CFB9

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

See you Snow...

#ChaseForBook9

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

See you, Eld...

I. Will. Write. An. MC. Chapter. [Nods]

#ChaseForBook9

Jophiel said...

*Waves to Snowy and Eld*

Jophiel said...

*Pulls out thermos of tea and pours self a drink* *Offers some to Ari*

Alastair Cruciatus said...

*accepts tea* Thanks.

Feel like talking?

#ChaseForBook9

Jophiel said...

*Shrugs*

Alastair Cruciatus said...

*nods and sips tea* Ok. Anytime you feel like it.

#ChaseForBook9

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

[Tiptoes away]

#ChaseForBook9

Jophiel said...

*Nods and leans against trunk*

Alastair Cruciatus said...

Hey! Don't go, Fabi!

#ChaseForBook9

Jophiel said...

*Tilts head at Fabi*

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

[Mutters incomprehensibly about not sure, Lilac and roleplay]

[Waves]

#ChaseForBook9

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

[Tilts head at Death]

#ChaseForBook9

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

[Hands Death and Ari some chocolate and begins tiptoeing off again]

#ChaseForBook9

Jophiel said...

*Frowns and jumps out of tree* *Lands lightly and walks over to Fabi then drags her to the tree* *Points to Fabi then at branch where Aretha is*

Alastair Cruciatus said...

*beckons to Fabi from branch*

#ChaseForBook9

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

[hugs Death]

[Shrugs and climbs up tree]

Um... I will still have to go soon, I took the stronger pain meds so I could sleep, and they will make me drowsy and dizzy.

#ChaseForBook9

Snow said...

BACK!!!!

*appears holding cup of tea*

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

[hugs Ari]

#ChaseForBook9

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

Hello again Snow [hugs]

#ChaseForBook9

Jophiel said...

*Grabs Snowy's wrist and point to tree*

Snow said...

*looks up at everyone in tree*

*shrugs and sits on another branch*

Jophiel said...

*Sits against base of tree sipping tea*

Snow said...

*holds up tea*

hears to trees and tea!!

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

I need to ded still...

#ChaseForBook9

Jophiel said...

*Raises thermos lid in agreement*

Snow said...

*looks up at sky*

were exactly are we??

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

Blogland, presumably.

This ded might rhyme...bad poetry alert!

#ChaseForBook9

Snow said...

i mean... we cant be in blogland... blogland has many forests, never just 1 solitary tree

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

Who said there weren't more trees?

This one's just special because we're all sitting it/leaning against it.

#ChaseForBook9

Jophiel said...

*Speaks very quietly and keeps head down* There are many trees here. I'm just making everyone sit in that tree.

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

And I think Zaf's tree is solitary...not sure, though.

#ChaseForBook9

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

I dedicate this page to everyone who has been hurt by this...disagreement. You're all perfect people and I hate to see you like this. [hugs]

Also to trees and tea
Death and Ari
Snow and snow peas
Thank you and please
Ankles and knees
Chatting, RPs
Writing MC
Ember, Jubi
Mara, Lucy
Star and Ieni
Eld and Missy
Dau and Saphy
Em and Zaffy
Trip, Persephone
And really bad poetry. :-P

Also to Adra, Val, all other minions currently located in Washington State. 

Also everyone I didn't mention.

And to ice cream and chocolate pudding.

And Mycroft and his umbrella

#ChaseForBook9

Jophiel said...

*Raises thermos lid in agreement*

Snow said...

*claps*

great ded!!

and yeah... i guess we could be in blogland *shrugs*

*climbs down tree and hugs death*

why are you being so quite??

Jophiel said...

*Shrugs*

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

[hugs Death, Snow and Ari]

#ChaseForBook9

Snow said...

*looks at death skeptically*

okay...

but here, have this
*hands deathy a pillow*

Snow said...

pillows are good to sit on *nods matter-of-factly*

*hugs fabi back*

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

Woah, I can't be getting dizzy and sleepy yet!

I have an MC chapter to write and friends to sit in/around a tree with!

Msd :-(

#ChaseForBook9

Snow said...

aw... fabi must not go!!!

*ties fabi to tree*

*looks triumphant*

i guess you can still leave though...

*deflates*

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

Im back^_^ *huggles everyone*

Snow said...

*huggles blax=ze*

people are being quiet!!

Snow said...

*blaze

Jophiel said...

*Shrugs and waves*

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

[hugs Eld]

[hugs Snow] Sorry, I really do have to go, the pain medicine is making me take longer because I'm making lots of typos and undoing and redoing them and I need rest now. Night

[hugs Ari and Death]

#ChaseForBook9

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

*gasps*

*gives out mini dinosaurs.*

Snow said...

*hugs the fabienne*

bye!!

Snow said...

MINI DINOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMHG!!!!!!!!

Fabi S. - Fashion-Conscious Fire Wraith said...

[Gives Death a chocolate cupcake with purple and red frosting]

[Gives Eld a chocolate cupcake with blue and yellow frosting]

[Gives Ari a vanilla cupcake with purple and green frosting]

[Gives Snow a vanilla cupcake with blue and green frosting]

[Vanishes]

Night!

#ChaseForBook9

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

bye Fabi^_^

Snow said...

*gaps at where fabi was standing*

FABI YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!

*eats cake*

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

*takes a picture of the amazing cupcake and eats it*

Jophiel said...

*Takes cupcake wearily* How do you know my favourite colours non-here Fabi?

Snow said...

fabi has the power of the knowing*nods at dethay*
she is smart

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

*runs around in circles humming welcome to the black parade while being a plane.*

Snow said...

hmm... i need to diside on a first name (other then snow, because it is a last name)

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

*Starts flying still pretending to be a plane and humming*

Snow said...

:DDDDDDDDDD

listening to derek reading chapter 1 of lsodm!!!!

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

No snow. You stay snow and you will be my snow:]

Snow said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCQ_AXrfYRY&list=WL98B58E3BCEBAF15D




:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

THAT IS DEREK READING THE FIRST CHAPTER!!!!!!!!!

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

*flies around blogLANDY and draws mustaches on everyone*

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

Ill watch it laterzzz

^_^ Deathy? Are you still here? *looks around blogLANDY*

Snow said...

tis funny!!!!!!!

DEATHY!!!!! WHERE ARE YOU??!!??!!

Duck said...

Only 100 or so more comments until the limit!

#ChaseForBook9

Snow said...

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

why did you have to piont that out ducky???

*hugs the flaming duck*

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

YO DUCK©

Yess u must all OWE ME SOMETHING WEN U SAY DUCK©s name!

Snow said...

i shall owe you hugs!!!

Snow said...

funneh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

duck, watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCQ_AXrfYRY&list=WL98B58E3BCEBAF15D

tis the 1st chapter of LODM

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

Where did everyone go?

Snow said...

*LSODM

Snow said...

okay... who is being me

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

more like who is being me?

Snow said...

-.- deathy is that you?

Snow said...

it is isnt it deathy!!

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

no. I'm Snow! are YOU Deathy?

Snow said...

-.-

stop being me, just... stop you insane female!!!!! (yes i just said that)

Snow said...

i know its you death, just by looking at your profile!!!!

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

you pretend to be me. And then insult me. That isn't very nice.

Snow said...

there, now i can tell which is me

Snow said...

a tiny change, but sufficient... i think

Snow said...

deathy, we are going to confuzzle people with this

Jophiel said...

*Cocks head to the side*

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

Im not Deathy. I swear Im not

Snow said...

*scowls at death*

i know it was you, just from the "my blogs" section

who else has a blog called "why we love death rose"??

Jophiel said...

I'm Deathy... Don't start being me...

Snow said...

AHA!!!! BLAZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jophiel said...

I know who you are...

Snow said...

sorry deathy!!! i really thought it was you!!!

blaze stop

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

OMGG IM NOT DEATHY!!!

Snow said...

i know its you now blaze, i just had to look at the "from" section on the why we love death rose blog!!!

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

You were totally thinking i was deathy XD that. is. hilarious.

Snow said...

yup!! :DD

i laugh at myself!!!

Snow said...

:P

blazey, change back now!

Snow said...

-.-

really, stop being me ASAP so i can go.....

Snow said...

oh... do you know what DFTBA means??????????????????????????????????????????????????????


it means
Dont Forget To Be Awesome

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

Im Normal! I think... Muwhahaha that wS hilarious! Sorry Snow that was just too good!!

Jophiel said...

*Laughs quietly and slips into forest*

Snow said...

>;3
it might come back to bite you!!!

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

Not a clue...

Snow said...

okay, i have to go!!!

*huggles all*

BYE BYE!

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

O_o

Im worried...

Snow said...

O_o

Im worried...

Snow said...

O_o

Im worried...

Snow said...

O_o

Im worried...

Snow said...

O_o

Im worried...

Jophiel said...

...?

Snow said...

MWAHAHAHA

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

BYE SNOWY OWY OW OW!!!

Snow said...

BYE SNOWY OWY OW OW!!!

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

YES! DOUBLE MEEEE!!!! WHOOP WHOOP *starts dancing*

Snow said...

BYE SNOWY OWY OW OW!!!

Snow said...

BYE SNOWY OWY OW OW!!!


BYE SNOWY OWY OW OW!!!


BYE SNOWY OWY OW OW!!!


spamming

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

Lololol ^_^ *runs around in circles*

FLASH AHHH

SAVIOUR OF THE UNIVERSE

doo doo do!!!!!

Snow said...

i just had to coe back and threaten blaze again...

and.....

what??

Snow said...

*scowls at brother*

my brother is annoying

Snow said...

byeeeeee (for reallzyzy!!)

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

AWWWW! :'( bye bye Snowy.

Jophiel said...

Bye!!!!!!!!

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

You wanted to threaten me? Thats not very nice. *shakes head in shame*

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

Im just gonna sit here *sits on a cloud in outerspace*

Jophiel said...

*Nods and continues doing boring homework*

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

HOLY CRABS! You reminded me of my assigment due next week! That i havnf started! Ahhhhhhh!!!! *runs of to menorise poems*

Duck said...

THAT YOUTUBE THING DOESN'T WORK!!!!!!!!!
WHY WONT'T IT WORK!!!!!!!
IT IS MAKING ME VERY, VERY ANGRY!!!!!!!

#ChaseForBook9

Duck said...

And now there is only 50 comments left!

#ChaseForBook9

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

39 ACTUALY ;)

Duck said...

Yeah...........


-__-


#ChaseForBook9

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

we could count down all day :P

actualy we couldnt. because there isnt that many comments left..,

-_________________________________-

Duck said...

-______________________________________-


#ChaseForBook9

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

-________________________________________________________________-

Duck said...

-______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________-

That had better not be too big...

#ChaseForBook9

Duck said...

Hmm.... That just don't look right...

#ChaseForBook9

Unknown said...

Hey

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

HI:] *huggles person I do not know.*

Unknown said...

*Hugles back*

Hello there,

i am an aussieminion!

Duck said...

DOSHY!!!!

#ChaseForBook9

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

SAME!! AHHH random stranger your awesome :p

#cfb9

Unknown said...

DUCK!

You champ!

what time is it where you are?

Unknown said...

Hello Eldritch,

If you have the ability to recognise my awesomeness so early, you too, must truly be awesome! what part of aus?

Duck said...

10 past 6

#ChaseForBook9

Unknown said...

Duck The Awesome And Supremely Powerful!: Are you a Brisi Ausiminion

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

Im in WA my good new friend ^_^


AM OR PM DUCCCCKKKKYYYY

SC said...

nice :)

Unknown said...

Eldritch Blaze: I am in QLD, its 6:14pm !

Unknown said...

Darquesse!

Have at thee! (Hug?)

Your an aussieminion too?

Duck said...

PM.

I live in NSW.
Dosh, you're from QLD right?

It would be appreciated if you don't bring up State of Origin...

#ChaseForBook9

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

hEY Darquessio

yes thats your name now.

Unknown said...

I wont cause that would be mean...

cant wait for the eaigth book though!

so excited, (just died like 8 times)


Fiery ducks are cool. Nuff said. :p

Unknown said...

I was just testing the sharpness of the knife I keep under the pillow and I pressed it to my fingure thinking,
'this isn't sharp' and now I cant stop bleeding. WORTH IT!

Darquessio: (I would fist bump you but I think I would die form it...)

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

DARQUESSIO dont you love me so much now? :P kill me if you can catch me!! *laughs madly while running around in circles*

Unknown said...

woop
woop
woop
woop
woop

Duck said...

Dosh, if you want to hear the first chapter (and lets be honest, you do) you can find it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCQ_AXrfYRY&list=WL98B58E3BCEBAF15D

#ChaseForBook9

Unknown said...

Duck my man!

so tempting, but it might ruin it..

but nothing can ruin it...

but i should wait for the book...

.....


sighs (ill keep the link for later)

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R_DBtHwVS8

DEREK AND I HAVE A BOND

Duck said...

And you can listen to the WHOLE book here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCQ_notreal=wontwork357>dontbother_9W7397RWH4W9Y883RH3

#ChaseForBook9

Unknown said...

#ChaseForBook9#ChaseForBook9#ChaseForBook9

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

NO!

what how... ba?

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA



GOOD ONE DUCK. really you thought i was going to fall for that. NOT REAL at the end eh? hahaha how shallow do you think me?

Unknown said...

Am I the only person here that likes Fletcher Renn and wants him to return?

Inevitably. Agian.

Unknown said...

I fell for it for a moment.

But then I realised and now I better.

woop woop woop woop

Unknown said...

Sorry if I ask dumb Questions, I am still kinda new...

Eldritch Blaze the Prince of Plants said...

VIDEOS OF DEREK LANDY BROUGHT ME TO BENNY!!!! I SHIP IT BENNY AND I IS A SHIP AND IT SHALL NOT SINK!!!

Unknown said...

Yeah!

Gone to make a sandwhich be back in 45 seconds.

Unknown said...

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