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 $50 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—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