Yes! If you're in the greater PDX area, I would be happy to visit your middle/high school/college in-person. If you're located elsewhere, I'm available for virtual visits to schools, libraries, book clubs, etc. There is a $150 fee for in-person visits to help offset travel expense, and a $30 fee for virtual to help offset taking time away from work. Please reach out using my contact form or email SlangWrites_Comms@Outlook.com!

I know a lot of people get curious when it comes to disabled folks—and though I am personally very open about my experiences and disabilities—but I want to warn against asking this question, as it may make people uncomfortable. (And nobody truly owes anyone an explanation about their identity.) But to answer the question:

I am Deaf-Hard of Hearing, physically disabled, have chronic pain disorders, left hemiplegia, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

During COVID-19, I started voraciously reading. And the more I read, the more I fell in love with the art of storytelling—but, my true “lightbulb” moment was when I read This Is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kacen Callender and stumbled across unexpected, and wonderfully written, Deaf rep. That book became a safe haven for me—somewhere I felt understood and accepted—and triggered the desire to write my own stories; stories that could (hopefully) help others feel the same way!

This is my favourite question EVER. I am a never-ending supply of author and book recommendations, but to name a few:

Books:

- Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

- Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino

- Ruby Lost and Found by Christina Li

- They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody

- The Red Palace by June Hur

Authors:

- Kacen Callender

- Mason Deaver

- Sujin Witherspoon

- Victoria Wlosok