To her, and my publisher’s, credit, no one ever suggested I remove it. But it hadn’t been in my proposed outline, and it had surprised a few of my beta readers. I felt 100% right about the choice to include this twist in the book–it was something I’d always known about this character, and I felt that I’d written the pivotal scene well. I took a deep breath before pressing send. I remember the day I turned the first draft in to my editor. (I won’t say which character or gender here, since it’s kind of a spoiler.) Near the end of my new middle-grade book, STARS SO SWEET, a 12-year-old character admits to having a crush on a kid of the same gender. You guys know I’m not much of a Middle Grade reader, but there are a few authors for whom I happily make exceptions…like Tara Dairman and her series about a tween foodie named Gladys, the third book of which, Stars So Sweet, releases July 19th! One of the things I desperately look for in MG, to the shock of no one, is the presence of LGBTQ content, so I’m particularly excited to be hosting this guest post for the Stars So Sweet blog tour…and I’ll let Tara take it away from here! Resources for Writing Marginalized Perspectives.New and Upcoming YAs by Authors of Color.

LGBTQIAP+ Books By and About People who Identify as LGBTQIAP+.#OwnVoices in Disability and Neurodiversity.Bonus LizCon Scene from Out on Good Behavior!.Perpetual WIPs: Traditionally Published Authors.

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