[stylist] New Book, blindness on TV

[Applebutter Hill]

Jim,
I keep pushing it further into the bio. It's surprising how little people
actually read. For instance, in my Linked In and university campaigns, I'm
forever getting e-mails asking if the book is available in print. Near the
end of my letters, I mention that information about availability is below,
and I even use a heading to make it stand out, but so many people don't seem
to look or comprehend, not sure which.

If I removed all references to blindness from my bio, well I just don't
think I can do that. I suppose I could still mention being published in
Behind Our Eyes: a second look or the Braille Monitor, and let them wonder,
but I just  can't bring myself to do it. Being the first legally blind child
mainstreamed in our local public school is such a part of who I am and who I
am not that it just doesn't feel right. I have made an effort to reduce the
word count about it though.

I think my hubby would like me to drop it all. If they don't know I'm a
blind writer, then they have to assume a sighted writer wrote this stuff,
which might make it more palletable.
Donna

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Homme, James
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2014 11:57 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Book, blindness on TV

Hi,
I'm going to play devil's advocate. What if you took references to blindness
out of your bio, then hit them with that aspect of you at some later point?

Jim



-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Applebutter
Hill
Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2014 6:40 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Book, blindness on TV

Chris,
I hope so too, and the fact that the writer had a blind father is
encouraging. He also said he didn't want it to be a portrayal of blind
people in general, which I don't really know how to interpret - since when
are any TV characters that generalized?

I also hear you about the mainstream publishing industry. Blind is a dirty
word. I have spoken with other blind women who say they were actually told
that their blind female characters were "unrealistic." We're supposed to be
helpless and carry our burden of sightlessness with a quiet dignity.

I actually removed any mention of it from my book descriptions online. I'll
probably get some flack for that, but the truth is that "blind" doesn't sell
books, and if you are a blind writer, one of the biggest hurdles is getting
someone to review the book like they'd review any other. It takes a lot for
people to get past how amazing you are for being a blind writer.

My hubby has really been trying to get me to think about the reality that
the book isn't all about blindness. I do, of course, talk about it when I'm
targeting niche markets like education professors, blindness rehab
counsellors, schools for the blind, etc. But for the general public, I don't
think it works at this time.

Maybe someday soon, people will see blind as the new black and want to hear
our stories, but my experience is that you really have to back-door the
issue, and that's not an easy thing to do. I just hope people will find the
description interesting and not read too far down into my bio.
Donna

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chris Kuell
Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2014 8:47 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Book, blindness on TV

Donna,

I'm generally skeptical by nature, but I really hope they do a good job with
this show. It's exactly what we've been talking about here--an opportunity
to crush the stupid stereotypes and let the public see a guy who is
interesting, and just happens to be blind. If it does a good job, and if the
public enjoys it, it could open the door to more blind characters in the
arts. Personally, I feel certain that the reason books like yours and mine
aren't getting read by agents and traditional publishers is because we have
blind protagonists. An agent, or more likely, an agent's assistant reads my
query and thinks--a blind protagonist? Nobody is going to buy that. It's too
outside mainstream experience.

Hopefully, the times, they are a changing.

chris


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