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Being Me
The Being Me Campaign presents well written stories by authors who write with passion and guts. Authors not afraid to delve into the sometimes murky and dark world of characters who find it difficult to accept themselves. Authors who delight in taking their readers on a journey fraught with insecurities and flawed characters who eventually come into the light. These are stories that explore the emotional growth of troubled young men and women all with differences. Various characters are explored; the bullied, disabled folk, people of colour, even an alien, and futuristic caste systems. They are mostly HEA, with characters going through change to celebrate their differences. Sixteen stories from gifted authors take Being Me to a higher level. If one of these stories helps another person overcome his/her burden, then this anthology will have helped in some way to dispel the myths surrounding our own psyche; because who we are now, is just a small step towards who we can be in the future.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 28, 2017
Anthologies typically give you a various range of stories to enjoy, different styles of writing to relish, sometimes new author’s to discover, and in Being Me you are also making a difference with your purchase, which in my mind makes me feel even richer for having read all the poems and short stories within.
This benefit book to aid the Being Me Campaign has everything from gay romance to heterosexual, cowboys and aliens, poems about how we see ourselves in the reflection of a mirror, discovering ones bisexuality, how the power of social media can divide us or bring us together, messages about prejudice being manifested by opinions from others…and so much more! Even a few stories that have nothing to do with romantic relationships at all but will make you question society and belief.
Each and every tale has a beautiful message to convey and will touch anyone who has ever felt different in one form or another. And who among us hasn’t?
With scenes that fade to black this collection is perfect for young adults yet will easily appeal to any reader who enjoys when an author is able to touch your heart.
In fact, Louisa Mae’s Lost and Found is a powerful, heart-stopping story of forbidden love, first love, lost love, and second chances all rolled into one, that had me weeping into my pillow during the wee hours of the morning.
Melissa Costa uses Losing Sight, the narrative of a blind man finding his independence, to remind us that acceptance takes everyone and we are only blinded by our own self-imposed limitations.
The Wall, by Jack L. Pyke, is a beautiful piece with the emotion we’ve come to expect from this talented author. Being yourself is challenging enough but add to that a neurobiological disorder, bullying from your peers, and labeling from authorities and that sense of being is magnified. As the protagonist thinks to himself, “Liam was never more happy in his skin, both with his disability and being transgender. Nobody could ever make him feel as scared and confused as not knowing why he felt displaced and in the wrong body. So what he got at school…he’d already been through worse in his own head,” I couldn’t help but be reminded how hard adolescence is.
Then there’s Susan Mac Nicol’s Strawberry Kisses. A gut-wrenching tale of how cruel this world can truly be when someone is bullied simply for having a beautiful birth mark; yet the beauty one person can bestow when they believe in you…allowing you to believe in yourself.
Alex Jane’s Don’t Say It…Gulp! God, this one had me reading with a lump in my throat the whole time. The societal pressure of being “manly”, of not being able to be your true self, and maybe missing out on something, someone, special for fear of what others may do to you. Alex Jane brings so much emotion to these boys’ story.
If you’re looking for a moving journey of how bullying can impact self-esteem…for years to come... the very worth with which we see ourselves, look no further than Metamorphosis from Viva Gold. This walk through the emotions of a victim shows us that those same tormentors shape who we are, as he thinks, “It dawned on me then that these people were the making of me. In some perverted rite of passage, they enabled me to achieve my ambitions and become the best at what I do.” He couldn’t be more right! But this short is more than that, it’s also a glimpse into what makes a bully and how they too can be in more pain than we can imagine and need forgiveness as well.
Another author who really touched me is Fiona Glass with The Visitor. Readers are taken on a journey of segregation, time travel style, with so much emotion you yearn for the equality. As the main character channels his anger and begins to fight for inclusion and sees that, “most [people] had simply been perpetuating a habit without thinking about if for themselves,” you realize how important it is for each of us to speak up and advocate. (For youth readers please not there is one line of sexual content in this piece.)
In closing these 15 talented writers bring together 16 tales within Being Me that should, in my humble opinion, be read by everyone - young and old, gay or straight. Stories that have the power to make each and every one of us think beyond ourselves and empathize with those around us. By opening our minds we open our hearts and have the power to change the world. Buy this book, share it with those you know…and perpetuate the change!
This benefit book to aid the Being Me Campaign has everything from gay romance to heterosexual, cowboys and aliens, poems about how we see ourselves in the reflection of a mirror, discovering ones bisexuality, how the power of social media can divide us or bring us together, messages about prejudice being manifested by opinions from others…and so much more! Even a few stories that have nothing to do with romantic relationships at all but will make you question society and belief.
Each and every tale has a beautiful message to convey and will touch anyone who has ever felt different in one form or another. And who among us hasn’t?
With scenes that fade to black this collection is perfect for young adults yet will easily appeal to any reader who enjoys when an author is able to touch your heart.
In fact, Louisa Mae’s Lost and Found is a powerful, heart-stopping story of forbidden love, first love, lost love, and second chances all rolled into one, that had me weeping into my pillow during the wee hours of the morning.
Melissa Costa uses Losing Sight, the narrative of a blind man finding his independence, to remind us that acceptance takes everyone and we are only blinded by our own self-imposed limitations.
The Wall, by Jack L. Pyke, is a beautiful piece with the emotion we’ve come to expect from this talented author. Being yourself is challenging enough but add to that a neurobiological disorder, bullying from your peers, and labeling from authorities and that sense of being is magnified. As the protagonist thinks to himself, “Liam was never more happy in his skin, both with his disability and being transgender. Nobody could ever make him feel as scared and confused as not knowing why he felt displaced and in the wrong body. So what he got at school…he’d already been through worse in his own head,” I couldn’t help but be reminded how hard adolescence is.
Then there’s Susan Mac Nicol’s Strawberry Kisses. A gut-wrenching tale of how cruel this world can truly be when someone is bullied simply for having a beautiful birth mark; yet the beauty one person can bestow when they believe in you…allowing you to believe in yourself.
Alex Jane’s Don’t Say It…Gulp! God, this one had me reading with a lump in my throat the whole time. The societal pressure of being “manly”, of not being able to be your true self, and maybe missing out on something, someone, special for fear of what others may do to you. Alex Jane brings so much emotion to these boys’ story.
If you’re looking for a moving journey of how bullying can impact self-esteem…for years to come... the very worth with which we see ourselves, look no further than Metamorphosis from Viva Gold. This walk through the emotions of a victim shows us that those same tormentors shape who we are, as he thinks, “It dawned on me then that these people were the making of me. In some perverted rite of passage, they enabled me to achieve my ambitions and become the best at what I do.” He couldn’t be more right! But this short is more than that, it’s also a glimpse into what makes a bully and how they too can be in more pain than we can imagine and need forgiveness as well.
Another author who really touched me is Fiona Glass with The Visitor. Readers are taken on a journey of segregation, time travel style, with so much emotion you yearn for the equality. As the main character channels his anger and begins to fight for inclusion and sees that, “most [people] had simply been perpetuating a habit without thinking about if for themselves,” you realize how important it is for each of us to speak up and advocate. (For youth readers please not there is one line of sexual content in this piece.)
In closing these 15 talented writers bring together 16 tales within Being Me that should, in my humble opinion, be read by everyone - young and old, gay or straight. Stories that have the power to make each and every one of us think beyond ourselves and empathize with those around us. By opening our minds we open our hearts and have the power to change the world. Buy this book, share it with those you know…and perpetuate the change!
November 2, 2017
First off let me say that the Being Me campaign is something I strongly support. There are two things I have always taught my kids. One, we are all the same regardless of our gift wrap, and secondly, be yourself regardless of what others think.
I thought Maggie Chatterton’s poem This Is Me was a great choice to start off this anthology. We all are uniquely beautiful.
Explain to me how Louisa Mae can invoke so many tears from such a short story. Then have you hopeful at the end. Beautifully written with the perfect ending to match.
Melissa Costa got me seriously hooked with Losing Sight. Having never read her I don’t know if the characters are from books of hers but I’m seriously going to be checking them out. I want to know more about Jesse and Dale. I want Caleb and Ally’s story. I think the best part of it was how Caleb is the one to learn the most valuable lesson.
The Wall by Jack L. Pyke brought tears to my eyes. The way he described not only what Liam felt but what he had gone through and continued to deal with was expertly done. It happens so often in the case of bullying that the victim has no privacy but those at fault Get little more than a head shake and a talking to. But it’s never worded like that. I have gone through it with two of my children. The older one the counselor even expressed worry that he might be a danger to other kids because of his anger towards them. The bullies that made him angry never got punished though because of course they weren’t a threat. Yet the then and still now has signs posted everywhere that bullying won’t be tolerated. Warped thinking in twisted systems.
Jo Tannah got me good with this one. A lesson we all could learn. Opposition comes in many forms throughout our lives. How we handle it is what makes a difference.
Lynn Michaels did a beautiful job in showing a boy coming to grips with his sexuality. I love the way Chester’s Mom handled it. Luckily we know Tate’s story or this would have left us wondering.
I have always loved people’s unique beautiful birth marks and have never understood why anyone would be hateful about them. I’m so glad that Susan Mac Nicol wrote Strawberry Kisses. Such a lovely heartwarming story.
While I really enjoyed Lane Swift’s Privacy Settings, the most powerful part was the ending. Both characters had to make brave steps and it showed the most in the last few comments.
The first thing I did after finishing Louis J Harris’s The Twelve Steps was go mark it in my tbr. I was drawn to Keegan and am now thoroughly invested in him getting his HEA.
I love cowboy stories and Don’t Say It by Alex Jane fits here perfectly. Caden being himself in an unwelcoming environment shows strength. It’s hard especially when you’ve felt the harsh backlash like he did. And yet, he has courage still.
Dilo Keith had my looking for more in Goodreads and online with Naming Names. I love the story and the writer’s style. So hint hint Dilo. Tell me how I can get more please.
The Last Confession was not at all what I expected. Duncan Swallow did a great job in getting me to think the whole way through.
Mapskin gave me so many warm feels. I loved how Will and Hannah saw the beauty in each other in what they themselves saw as a flaw. Proof that we are in fact our worst critic.
There is so much to love in Laughter With Kafka. I loved the assumptions BioAgriChem made with Frank and he let them dig their hole by doing so. Then you have the case itself. Right there shows what’s wrong in today’s society. I’d love more of this.
Viva Gold you slay me. They way you not only showed both sides but also go the reader to feel the pain, fear, hope, forgiveness and respect for each is truly a work of art. Metamorphosis is the perfect title.
Fiona Glass had me crying with The Visitor. Angry, sad, and happy tears. I don’t normally prefer time traveling stories but this one was excellently done.
I thought Maggie Chatterton’s poem This Is Me was a great choice to start off this anthology. We all are uniquely beautiful.
Explain to me how Louisa Mae can invoke so many tears from such a short story. Then have you hopeful at the end. Beautifully written with the perfect ending to match.
Melissa Costa got me seriously hooked with Losing Sight. Having never read her I don’t know if the characters are from books of hers but I’m seriously going to be checking them out. I want to know more about Jesse and Dale. I want Caleb and Ally’s story. I think the best part of it was how Caleb is the one to learn the most valuable lesson.
The Wall by Jack L. Pyke brought tears to my eyes. The way he described not only what Liam felt but what he had gone through and continued to deal with was expertly done. It happens so often in the case of bullying that the victim has no privacy but those at fault Get little more than a head shake and a talking to. But it’s never worded like that. I have gone through it with two of my children. The older one the counselor even expressed worry that he might be a danger to other kids because of his anger towards them. The bullies that made him angry never got punished though because of course they weren’t a threat. Yet the then and still now has signs posted everywhere that bullying won’t be tolerated. Warped thinking in twisted systems.
Jo Tannah got me good with this one. A lesson we all could learn. Opposition comes in many forms throughout our lives. How we handle it is what makes a difference.
Lynn Michaels did a beautiful job in showing a boy coming to grips with his sexuality. I love the way Chester’s Mom handled it. Luckily we know Tate’s story or this would have left us wondering.
I have always loved people’s unique beautiful birth marks and have never understood why anyone would be hateful about them. I’m so glad that Susan Mac Nicol wrote Strawberry Kisses. Such a lovely heartwarming story.
While I really enjoyed Lane Swift’s Privacy Settings, the most powerful part was the ending. Both characters had to make brave steps and it showed the most in the last few comments.
The first thing I did after finishing Louis J Harris’s The Twelve Steps was go mark it in my tbr. I was drawn to Keegan and am now thoroughly invested in him getting his HEA.
I love cowboy stories and Don’t Say It by Alex Jane fits here perfectly. Caden being himself in an unwelcoming environment shows strength. It’s hard especially when you’ve felt the harsh backlash like he did. And yet, he has courage still.
Dilo Keith had my looking for more in Goodreads and online with Naming Names. I love the story and the writer’s style. So hint hint Dilo. Tell me how I can get more please.
The Last Confession was not at all what I expected. Duncan Swallow did a great job in getting me to think the whole way through.
Mapskin gave me so many warm feels. I loved how Will and Hannah saw the beauty in each other in what they themselves saw as a flaw. Proof that we are in fact our worst critic.
There is so much to love in Laughter With Kafka. I loved the assumptions BioAgriChem made with Frank and he let them dig their hole by doing so. Then you have the case itself. Right there shows what’s wrong in today’s society. I’d love more of this.
Viva Gold you slay me. They way you not only showed both sides but also go the reader to feel the pain, fear, hope, forgiveness and respect for each is truly a work of art. Metamorphosis is the perfect title.
Fiona Glass had me crying with The Visitor. Angry, sad, and happy tears. I don’t normally prefer time traveling stories but this one was excellently done.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews