Everyone bleeds. 100+ Sci-Fi/Fantasy Authors reach out to fans on suicide, depression, mental illness for #HoldOnToTheLight (New 95 links!)

We’re the authors whose books are on your shelf or in your pocket. You’ve seen us in the bookstores, on convention panels, on the bestseller lists. We help to build the genre you love to read, one book at a time. And right now, more than 100 of us are talking candidly about how mental illness, depression, anxiety, PTSD, suicide and other issues have affected us, our characters and our writing.

Why? Because by coming forward with our own stories, we want to encourage our readers and others in fandom and let them know that they are not alone.

We want to help lift the stigma that still shadows mental illness, but lessens a bit when someone in the public eye—actors, celebrities and even authors—own our struggles.

We want to start a long-overdue conversation, and see what happens.

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.

You can find the link to the first 95 posts and individual links to the posts below (helpfully done up as cut-and-paste-ready tweets for you to share!)

The Posts Thus Far (new posts are at the top—formatted to make it easy for you to cut/paste/tweet/share)

Mark Van Name: Please keep fighting. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalHealth post by @mvanname http://bit.ly/2ejTp20

Catherine Asaro: Light and shadow A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @catherine_asaro http://bit.ly/2fajP5h

R.S. Belcher: Scars & Shooting Stars A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @authorrsbelcher  http://bit.ly/2fabO0c

Charles E. Gannon: In the dark hours of the night A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @cegannon1 http://bit.ly/2felxRt @BaenBooks @LibertyConTN

Eric Asher: Anxiety hurts. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @ericrasher  http://bit.ly/2f9HX7Q

Nancy Northcott: Ignoring it doesn’t work. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @nancynorthcott http://bit.ly/2facLFZ

Jaym Gates: Driven by failure.  A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @jaymgates  http://bit.ly/2fBis2m

Tamsin Silver: Adapt and live A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @tamsinsilver http://bit.ly/2ewtT7h

Tamsin Silver: Stopping bullies cold A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @tamsinsilver http://bit.ly/2fa9OFd

Trevor Curtis: Mr. Self Destruct A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @trevorcurtis23 http://bit.ly/2frT3IT 

Jake Bible: Checkmate A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @jakebible http://bit.ly/2ejUXJm

Tamsin Silver: Time changes the game. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @tamsinslver  http://bit.ly/2eY919F

JF Lewis: Lapse of Humor. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @JF_Lewis http://bit.ly/2eY90CE

Jake Bible (podcast): Checkmate. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness podcast post by @jakebible http://bit.ly/2eRcTLX

Trisha J. Wooldridge: Fine until I wasn’t A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @novelfriend http://bit.ly/2f6MMBj

Matthew Saunders: Let the magic help A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @jamattsaunders http://bit.ly/2fBpzYl

CL Wilson: Less than perfect A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @clwilsonbooks http://bit.ly/2f9QNCC

Selah Janel: It’s OK to ask. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalHealth post by @selahjanel http://bit.ly/2ewJGD1

Theresa A. Glover: Even superheroes ask for help. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by Theresa A Glover @scorpio1678  http://bit.ly/2eYiv4F

Jay Requard Fighting for life A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by  @jayrequard http://bit.ly/2dUSSAY

Jon Sprunk Fighting darkness A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @JonSprunk http://bit.ly/2er8Pzh

Darin Kennedy Tunnels end. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @DarinKennedy http://bit.ly/2eBljF8

Kelly Swails You are loved A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @KellySwails  http://bit.ly/2eqqJUy

Brian Rathbone  Lean on me  A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @BrianRathbone http://bit.ly/2dvhS0m

Gabrielle Faust Creating heals A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by  @gabrielle_faust http://bit.ly/2dtzy1k

Addie J King The ones left behind A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @AddieJKing http://bit.ly/2eZfjJ7

Ken Schrader Not alone A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @KenSchrader4882  http://bit.ly/2dvi5kn

Alexandra Christian Can’t forget A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @LexxxChristian  http://bit.ly/2e7Hfs8

Alyssa Day Reach out A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @Alyssa_Day http://bit.ly/2ethYZ4

Cat Rambo: Healing starts w kindness A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by  @CatRambo http://bit.ly/2e6EiHC

Jonathan Oliver: Depression lies. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by Jonathan Oliver http://bit.ly/2dPz8zO @RebellionPub

Gaie Sebold: What’s normal? A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @GaieSebold   http://bit.ly/2dPyClg

Stuart Jaffe: The view from the other side. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @StuartJaffe http://bit.ly/2dUxQ8z

Weston Ochse: Getting real about PTSD A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @westonochse  http://bit.ly/2eauTml

Gregory Wilson: What I wish I knew A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @GregoryAWilson http://bit.ly/2defRum

Aaron Rosenberg: Talking helps. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @Gryphonrose  http://wp.me/prT3C-6W

Amy Bauer: Driving through panic.  A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by Amy Bauer @AmaronB  http://bit.ly/2e16bo9

Tera Fulbright: The enemy within. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @TeraFulbright  http://bit.ly/2dPhZrw

Michael J. Allen:  Burn bright. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by Michael J Allen @theDscribbler  http://bit.ly/2e6UdVt

Robert Greenberger Don’t open the door. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by  http://bit.ly/2d6exba @BobGreenberger

S. H. Roddey Natural born victims. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by SH Roddey http://bit.ly/2d6hlF6 @draickinphoenix

Squealing Nerd Dark corners. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @Squealingnerd http://bit.ly/2dvFLc5

Delilah S. Dawson When light slips through your fingers #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on MentalWellness post by @delilahsdawson http://bit.ly/2dVoKpy

Juliet E. McKenna Getting it right. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by@JulietEMcKenna  http://bit.ly/2cV4lDO

James Maxey Grateful for my darkness. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by James Maxey http://bit.ly/2cWKm2Z @rebellionpub

Valerie Willis My struggle, my victory A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @Valerie_Willis http://bit.ly/2dBnNmJ

Mari Mancusi Odd girl out. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @MariMancusi http://bit.ly/2dVv83M

Phil Giunta Hagridden by a demon. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @philgiunta  http://bit.ly/2cWLDaa

Karen E. Taylor Truth by moonlight A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @KarenETaylor53  http://bit.ly/2dNHqau

Jeanne Adams One voice of hope. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @JeanneAdams http://tinyurl.com/zgr5s6n @romancebandits

Kathy Lyons Not over yet. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @KathyLyonsAuth  http://bit.ly/2dVuaVh

Danielle Ackley-McPhail  One rock at a time. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @DMcPhail  http://bit.ly/2dVs8B7

Tracy Chowdhury Unlocking bipolar. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by Tracy Chowdhury http://bit.ly/2dNQj42 @trimooneclipse

Myke Cole A soldier/author on what PTSD is. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @mykecole http://bit.ly/2dN9RbB

Dianna L. Gunn Depression, stigma & silence.  #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @diannalgunn http://bit.ly/2dA2C6c

John Hartness Doesn’t hurt to bleed. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by  @JohnHartness http://bit.ly/2edHUtN

Rowena Cory Daniells One step at a time #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by  http://bit.ly/2c49ZTW @Rebellionpub @rcdaniells

Laura Anne Gilman Gaslighting myself #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness. @LAGilman on #PTSD http://bit.ly/2ciIOlu

James MacDonald Ride the storm surge #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness. @JimMacAuth #PTSD http://bit.ly/2cFvUgN

Gail Z. Martin #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness @GailZMartin on #PTSD in epic fantasy http://bit.ly/2cqrXvq

Emily Leverett Helping a loved one cope #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness @Emily_Leverett  http://bit.ly/2cqrmtE

Jean Marie Ward Becoming the mean girl #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness @Jean_Marie_Ward http://bit.ly/2cqTqka

Chris Kennedy Fighting the urge to jump #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness @ChrisKennedy110 http://bit.ly/2cCL2jd

Josh Vogt Anxiety & asking for help #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness @JoshVogt http://bit.ly/2c6qMRo

Misty Massey The black dog of depression #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness @MistyMassey  http://bit.ly/2c6PqRU

Mindy Mymudes Suicide leaves scars. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness post by @Mudepoz http://bit.ly/2cIdvmd

Bishop M. O’Connell The bittersweet sustains. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness post by  @bishopmoconnell http://bit.ly/2cMaAKw

Laura S. Taylor Focus on the good, and fight for that. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness  post by @LS_Taylor http://bit.ly/2chroqC

Jennifer Brozek How do you tell someone what it feels like? #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SFF authors blog on #MentalWellness @JenniferBrozek http://bit.ly/2d3jl2e

Rick Gaultieri Identity and masks. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness post by @RickGaultieri http://bit.ly/2cBrfM2

Gail Z. Martin Fandom takes care of its own. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors blog on #MentalWellness post by @GailZMartin http://bit.ly/2crcdOs

Natania Barron I wrote my way out until I couldn’t. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @nataniabarron http://bit.ly/2cCnNCi

Alma Alexander You are not alone #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @almaalexander http://bit.ly/2cPeEKe

Joelle Reizes The courage to ask for help #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @jreizes http://bit.ly/2cuoHVA

Jennifer St. Giles:  Tell your heart to beat again. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @JenniferStGiles http://bit.ly/2cYFCiL

Leanna Renee Hieber:  Art can heal you. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by  @LeannaRenee http://bit.ly/2cWIQQG

Sascha Illyvich: What’s stopping you? #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post  by @authorSaschaI  http://bit.ly/2cOvTqc

Keith R.A. DeCandido:   Pretending doesn’t make it go away.  #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post  by  @KradeC http://bit.ly/2cOCG4C

Susan Griffith: One day I changed. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post  by @clayandsusan  http://bit.ly/2d8gKp2

Calandra Usher:   Not Today. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post  by @calandrausherhttp: http://bit.ly/2coB30k

Bryan Thomas Schmidt:     What’s normal?  #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by   @bryanthomass http://bit.ly/2coB3xt

Linda Robertson:  The Dark Road. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by  @authorLinda http://bit.ly/2cHeoKV

Kelly A. Harmon:   Demons and darkness #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by  @KellyAHarmon http://bit.ly/2d5HGUK

Samantha Dunaway Bryant:  Create and destroy. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by  @mirymom http://bit.ly/2d9NERU

Jada Diaz:   Authors unite #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @ConCarolinas @IamJadaDiaz http://bit.ly/2cqDmep

David B. Coe:   A reason to live. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @DavidBCoe http://bit.ly/2ctbhrS

Clay Griffith:  Broken minds and broken hearts #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @clayandsusan http://bit.ly/2dgjpx3

Sherwood Smith:  Don’t tell me to smile. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @sherwood_smith  http://bit.ly/2dk0Gkk

Tally Johnson:  Ink to remember why #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @TallyJohnson535 http://bit.ly/2cBqZMu

Darynda Jones:  The vulnerable side. #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by Darynda Jones @Darynda http://bit.ly/2dkGlWE

Jody Lynn Nye:  My Lady of Inconvenient Memory #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @JodyLynnNye http://bit.ly/2dkgfXf

Emmie Mears:  The hole under your feet.  #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @EmmieMears http://bit.ly/2driSIK

Tom Leveen:  I hate me. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @TomLeveen http://bit.ly/2d6PEPy

Vonnie Winslow Crist:  Bullies don’t deserve the power. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by @VonnieWCrist  http://bit.ly/2cBuov6

Wendy S. Delmater:  The ship ‘Cruelty’. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by  Wendy S. Delmater @safewrite http://bit.ly/2drHEnC

Tom Wells:  The Helms Deep Metaphor. A #HoldOnToTheLight 100+ SF/F authors on #MentalWellness post by Tom Wells @kauyin http://bit.ly/2dD60hF

#HoldOnToTheLight was inspired by #AKF #AlwaysKeepFighting, a campaign from the Supernatural TV show fandom (http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/index.php?title=Always_Keep_Fighting)  I’m especially thrilled to see the #SPNFamily Crisis Support Network creating a fandom-based peer counseling training opportunity. Details here: http://www.randomacts.org/programs/crisis-support-network/ (Yeah, I’m a huge fan of the show.) As Bobby Singer said, “Family don’t end with blood.” In other words, your true family is the one you gather around yourself.

Insert video http://bit.ly/2ef8Sho

#AlwaysKeepFighting #AKF showed the reach media stars have when they talk about issues, and I wondered what would happen if genre authors opened a similar conversation. I recruited my usual partners in crime—John Hartness, Misty Massey, Jaym Gates, Jean Marie Ward, Emily Leverett and my husband, Larry N. Martin—as the steering committee, and we started asking our colleagues and author friends to join us.

The result? More than 100 science fiction, fantasy, horror, paranormal romance and speculative fiction authors are part of #HoldOnToTheLight—and the outreach grows every day.

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, Mindy Mymudes, J. F. Lewis, Joshua Palmatier, Keith DeCandido, 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, Tom Wells, Wendy S. Delmater, S.H. Roddey, Jeri Smith-Ready, Delilah Dawson, Phil Giunta, Myke Cole, Diana L. Gunn, Amy Bauer, Theresa A. Glover and more.

How can you help spread the message and broaden the conversation?

• Read and share the blog posts by our participating authors
• 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 page.

About the campaign:

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 join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WeHoldOnToTheLight