THE EXPLORER'S CODE Virtual Events, or, What I'm Up To

This is a busy time for me.

Not only do I have a young baby now (who is getting so big and is always so adorable!) but I also released a book recently. That means launches and signings.

And, during this time of COVID, those events are virtual.

So, here's a list of everything that I'm doing during the next month or so.

1. SCBWI BookStop - Oct. 6-Nov. 30

The Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators has a yearly event online where authors of books that have come out recently can make pages to promote their books. It's called "BookStop" and it runs from October 6 through November 30.

It's a great way to browse new books for children before the holidays, especially if you're a teacher or librarian.

Anyway, I made a page. You can check out the page for The Explorer's Code here, and I highly recommend looking at the other pages as well. Like I said, it's a great way to browse new books.

2. Virtual Signing at The Book Garden - Oct. 28

Next week, October 28 at 7 pm Mountain time, I will be joining The Book Garden in Bountiful, UT, for a virtual signing for The Explorer's Code. 

 

This works in the following way: customers buy a copy of The Explorer's Code from The Book Garden's website and, when they do, they'll get a link to a Zoom meeting with me. I'll begin the meeting by talking about the book, but after that part, customers will get one-on-one time with me to talk, ask questions, and tell me how to inscribe their copy.

More information on the event can be found at The Book Garden's Facebook page.

3. Virtual Launch Event with The King's English Bookshop - Oct. 30

This next event is also coming up soon. It's next week, October 30 at 6 pm Mountain Time. This one is a virtual launch with The King's English Bookshop.

This event is free to attend, aka, book purchases are not required. However, they are encouraged! I will speak about the book and do a reading from it, followed by a Q&A. After the event, customers who purchased a copy of The Explorer's Code from The King's English will get an autographed copy sent to them.

You can find out more from The King's English's website, their Facebook page, and from Crowdcast.

4. Online Author Extravaganza at The King's English - Nov. 14

This is another event with the King's English, but I'm not alone in it! This event is an all-day virtual conference where many different writers will discuss topics on panels, and where there will be giveaways and other activities.

Find out more at the event page. The Extravaganza will have some amazing authors, and I'll also be there, on a panel from 10-11 am Mountain Time about getting inspiration during COVID.

5. Virtual Event with the Provo Library - Nov. 19

Right before Thanksgiving, I'm doing a virtual event with the Provo City Library. It will be November 19 at 7 pm Mountain Time, and held through Zoom.

Like many of these events, this one will feature me speaking about and reading from The Explorer's Code and a Q&A. Books will be available to purchase. I'll tell you more as we get closer, but you'll be able to find details about my event as well as other author events at the Provo Library AuthorLink page.

Like I said, I'm going to be busy, but with all good things! I'm glad I'm able to do these events, and the nice things about virtual events are that 1) I can easily do them with a little baby and 2) anyone can attend! So I hope to see you at at least one of these!

It's going to be fun!

Life as an Uaffiliated Voter

 I have been an unaffiliated voter since 2016.

 

Before that, I was listed Republican. I'd been raised Republican, and while I lean left on the importance of issues (we need to protect the helpless, make health/education affordable for all, etc) I tend to lean right on implementing these plans (we need to avoid overspending and local governments are better suited than the federal at addressing needs).

But 2016 came along and my party seemed to take leave of its senses. They elected a crude, rude, racist, misogynistic con man with no political experience and since my religion tells me to seek out that which is "virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy" (Article of Faith #13) and also that "when the wicked rule the people mourn" so "honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil" (Doctrine and Covenants 98:9-10).

Therefore, seeing the man the Republican Party chose, who harassed women and insulted the disabled, who flaunted bad behavior, I felt I could no longer be part of a party who would willing choose such a person as their leader. If I did, I would not be keeping the counsel given in the verses I just shared.

Now, four years later, having seen this individual commit tax fraud, lie repeatedly to the public, condone through his administration cruelty to immigrants and the children of immigrants, fumble a pandemic response in order to make himself look better, and refuse to commit to peacefully leaving office if defeated in the election (undermining our democracy), as well as more racism, misogyny, and cruel behavior, I cannot find it in myself to return to the Republican Party. Once again, I see little in its chosen leader that is "virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy" and I do not believe this leader is "honest," "wise," or "good." I see a selfish, crude, and corrupt man who will gaslight and "poison the well" to make people believe his easily-proven lies.

While he has done some good for religious freedom, I fully believe that should religious freedom become problematic to him, religion would find in him a new enemy.

I cannot vote for him, and I cannot list my name under an organization that falls in line behind him. I would feel like I was condoning behavior that the Lord himself told me to avoid, and to avoid in leaders I choose.

That said, I don't fully agree with the Democratic Party's platform, so I have not switched sides. I have not registered with them, either.

That means that like Everett McGill of O Brother Where Art Thou?, I remain unaffiliated.

 

There is a downside to being unaffiliated. I'm a swing voter so I get twice as many texts, emails, and pieces of actual paper mail trying to get me to vote for whatever candidate is being offered. It's pretty annoying to wake up at 6 in the morning to three texts and a voice mail telling me that America needs me to vote for X, Y, and Z. I also can only vote in the Democratic primary because the Republican primary is only open to registered Republicans (despite the fact that, as I said, I tend to be more conservative in how policy should be implemented and often prefer good, honest conservative candidates).

But there's an upside that's even better, and why I think I will remain unaffiliated or Independent.

A political party does not make up part of my identity.

I am not a label anymore. I cannot say, "I'm Republican," or "I'm a Democrat," because that's not true. I am an American, nothing more.

This has been very freeing. Because I'm unaffiliated, as I wade through pleas to vote for one candidate or the next, I'm free to choose whichever candidate I truly think is the best for the country. I don't have to consider what my party would choose, because I have none. And I would be no traitor to party if I crossed lines, because there are no lines to cross.

I think this is how democracy was supposed to be, before the two-party system, before parties vilified each other so much that voting with your party became a mark of morality. Why George Washington warned against a two-party system. When we have only a dichotomy to choose between, and one choice is part of our identity, what choice is there, really? It is more an illusion of choice than a real one.

By becoming unaffiliated, even in a two-party system, I have doubled my choices.

I am an unaffiliated voter.

And life is good.