By Gail Z. Martin
More than 100 authors are now part of the #HoldOnToTheLight conversation! Our authors span the globe, from the US to the UK to Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Even more exciting is that as the campaign picks up traction and visibility, more authors want to join, meaning a growing, vibrant dialog about mental wellness and coping with mental illness.
#HoldOnToTheLight is a blog campaign encompassing blog posts by fantasy and science fiction authors around the world in an effort to raise awareness around treatment for depression, suicide prevention, domestic violence intervention, PTSD initiatives, bullying prevention and other mental health-related issues. We believe fandom should be supportive, welcoming and inclusive, in the long tradition of fandom taking care of its own. We encourage readers and fans to seek the help they or their loved ones need without shame or embarrassment.
We’ve also been talking with conventions to encourage them to add, expand or promote their panel programming about mental wellness issues. ConCarolinas, GenCon, Capricon and ContraFlow have let us know that panels are in the works for 2017, and both Capclave and Atomacon are looking at options!
How can you help spread the message and broaden the conversation?
- Read the blog posts by our participating authors and share on your own blogs and social media
- The links below to the newest author blog posts double as tweets you can cut and paste. Easy!
- Visit the authors’ blogs and like, comment
- Tweet or email about the campaign and tag bloggers, podcasters and genre media
- Ask your favorite genre convention to add panels on mental wellness
- Volunteer with or donate to one of the campaign charities listed at the bottom of this post
- Join the #HoldOnToTheLight Facebook group and/or like our Facebook page
Latest blog posts
One step at a time #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by RowenaCoryDaniells http://bit.ly/2c49ZTW @Rebellionpub
Gaslighting myself #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness. @LAGilman on #PTSD http://bit.ly/2ciIOlu
Ride the storm surge #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness. @JimMacAuth #PTSD http://bit.ly/2cFvUgN
#HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness @GailZMartin on #PTSD in epic fantasy http://bit.ly/2cqrXvq
Helping a loved one cope #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness @Emily_Leverett http://bit.ly/2cqrmtE
Becoming the mean girl #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness @Jean_Marie_Ward http://bit.ly/2cqTqka
Fighting the urge to jump #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness @ChrisKennedy110 http://bit.ly/2cCL2jd
Anxiety & asking for help #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness @JoshVogt http://bit.ly/2c6qMRo
The black dog of depression #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness @MistyMassey http://bit.ly/2c6PqRU
Suicide leaves scars. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness post by @Mudepoz http://bit.ly/2cIdvmd
The bittersweet sustains. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness post by @bishopmoconnell http://bit.ly/2cMaAKw
Focus on the good, and fight for that. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @LS_Taylor http://bit.ly/2chroqC
How do you tell someone what it feels like? #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SFF authors blog on #MentalWellness @JenniferBrozek http://bit.ly/2d3jl2e
Identity and masks. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness post by @RickGaultieri http://bit.ly/2cBrfM2
Fandom takes care of its own. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness post by @GailZMartin http://bit.ly/2crcdOs
I wrote my way out until I couldn’t. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @nataniabarron http://bit.ly/2cCnNCi
You are not alone #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @almaalexander http://bit.ly/2cPeEKe
The courage to ask for help #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @jreizes http://bit.ly/2cuoHVA
We’re in this together. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness 17 new posts http://bit.ly/2cfixHH
Tell your heart to beat again. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @JenniferStGiles http://bit.ly/2cYFCiL
Art can heal you. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @LeannaRenee http://bit.ly/2cWIQQG
What’s stopping you? #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @authorSaschaI http://bit.ly/2cOvTqc
Pretending doesn’t make it go away. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @KradeC http://bit.ly/2cOCG4C
One day I changed. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @clayandsusan http://bit.ly/2d8gKp2
Not Today. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @calandrausher http://bit.ly/2coB30k
What’s normal? #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @bryanthomass http://bit.ly/2coB3xt
On the Dark Road. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @authorLinda http://bit.ly/2cHeoKV
Among the authors participating so far are: Robin Hobb, Jody Lynn Nye, Cat Rambo, Seanan McGuire, Laura Anne Gilman, Chuck Gannon, Kameron Hurley, Catherine Asaro, Gaie Siebold, Karen Miller, Rowena Cory Daniels, David B. Coe, Marc Tassin, Jonathan Oliver, Jeanne Adams, Nancy Northcott, Aaron Rosenberg, Jennifer St. Giles, Mark Van Name, Juliet McKenna, Jennifer Brozek, Darynda Jones, Christopher Golden, Clay and Susan Griffith, Gregory Wilson, Josh Vogt, Darin Kennedy, Jon Sprunk, James Maxey, Karen E. Taylor, Justin Gustainis, Misty Massey, John G. Hartness, Gail Z. Martin, Jean Marie Ward, Jaym Gates, Laura Taylor, Weston Ochse, Ron Garner, Kathy Lyons, Mari Mancusi, Leanna Renee Hieber, Davey Beauchamp, Cheryl Wilson, Rod Belcher, Travis Heermann, Cara Santa Maria, Michael J. Allen, Trisha Wooldridge, Alyssa Day, J. F. Lewis, Joshua Palmatier, Keith DeCandido Mindy Mimudes, Emily Leverett, Nicole Givens Kurtz, Tera Fulbright, Tamsin Silver, Stuart Jaffe, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Eric Asher, Rick Gualtieri, Chris Kennedy, Ken Schrader, Samantha Dunaway Bryant, Valerie Willis, Alexandra Christian, Jake Bible, Matthew Saunders, Jay Requard, Vonnie Winslow Crist, Kelly Harmon, Sascha Illyvich, Kelly Swails, Bishop O’Connell, Sherwood Smith, Peter Prellwitz, Tracy Chowdhury, Trevor Curtis, Leo Champion, Alma Alexander, Natania Barron, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Addie J. King, Joelle Reizes, Gabrielle Faust, Selah Janel, Whitney Evans, Tom Leveen Deborah J. Ross, Tally Johnson, Calandra Usher, Jada Diaz, Harry Markov, Brian Rathbone, Robert Greenberger, Linda Robertson, Leona Wisoker, Dianna L. Gunn, Emmie Mears, Lyndsey Harper and more.
Please consider donating to or volunteering for organizations dedicated to treatment and prevention such as: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Hope for the Warriors (PTSD), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Canadian Mental Health Association, MIND (UK), SANE (UK), BeyondBlue (Australia), To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
To find out more about #HoldOnToTheLight, find a list of participating authors and blog posts, or reach a media contact, go to http://www.HoldOnToTheLight.com, and on the HoldOnToTheLight Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/276745236033627/ and on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/WeHoldOnToTheLight (note the ‘we’)
Media: Contact Gail Z. Martin via www.AscendantKingdoms.com. Recaps will also be posted on http://www.MagicalWords.net and http://www.DisquietingVisions.com
#HoldOnToTheLight 