Hey there. It's been a minute since I've done any blogging about writing/craft since there has been a lot of excitement over my publication, so I decided I wanted to get back to why I had initially started blogging in the first place. A year and a half ago I threw myself into a rabbit hole - one that had a very lofty goal of using transgressive fiction to intentionally create social change. This is a massive task for something like a monograph, which I kind of want(ed) it to turn into. I started some initial leg work, like, tip of the iceburg stuff, that I wrote a beginning essay on, and presented on at a conference, but then research got set aside for life things and other writing endeavors. I was reminded of it when talking to a friend about narrative identity (future research for this topic) and decided I wanted to share with you the research I have already done. That being said, welcome to my research on creating social change - transgressive fiction's role in shaping past and future revolutions, baby!

Revolutions have, historically, been messy. They’ve come at the cost of economic efficiency, trauma, and precious lives, but still, many communities have taken their shots at revolution, hoping for a ‘better’ society. Chirot (2020) says revolutions are “Inspired by ideals that call for the building of a better society by deliberately and quickly changing, at a minimum, key political rules and institutions” (p. 5), and when a group of people agrees on these new ideals, that’s when a revolution may begin. Depending on who you ask, revolutions may be a violent overthrow of government or, maybe more simply, an instrument to combat oppression. Regardless, they require dedication and work in order to succeed. While not the first nor the last, The American Revolution is a world-famous example of this. Starting not even as a revolution, but just a desired reform of the American-British relationship, the tension rose between divided sides in America, turning the conflict into a civil war. Blanco Núñez explains how with American colonial protests turning into battles, outside countries eventually joined the fight against Britain, and it became as much a world war as it was America’s fight for independence (Blanco Núñez, 2018, p. xvii). In the end, the British negotiated a close to the war.
John Adams, a leader of the Revolutionary War, did not consider the armies and battles to be the revolution though. In a letter to Thomas Jefferson, Adams wrote:
 
"What do we mean by the Revolution? The war? That was no part of the Revolution. It was only an effect, and consequence of it. The revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected, from 1760 to 1775, in the course of fifteen years, before a drop of blood was drawn at Lexington. The records of thirteen legislatures, the pamphlets, newspapers, in all the colonies out to be consulted, during that period…" (Bergh et al., 1905, p. 347).
 
Adams believed writing to be what revolutionized America. It was the educating, the mobilizing, and the inspiring that stirred the people to build what Chirot (2020) called a better society; the bloodshed that resulted was just a consequence of that. Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum (2022) also notes how prose played part in the revolution. General Washington led troops across the Delaware River to attack Trenton in December of 1776 and before battling, the troops were read a passage from Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, The Crisis to inspire them. Writing, it seems, has long had the power to comfort and persuade people. In this paper, I examine characteristics of contemporary transgressive fiction, the process of how minds change, and literature that has made change, to argue how transgressive fiction can be used as a catalyst for future revolution.

Changing politics or institutions, something so ingrained in a culture, requires work and time because the social values that some want changed are typically built into systems over time; they are a part of culture, so to change any rules, laws, or codes of conduct, means changing the culture. Culture is defined as the behavior that a group of people learns socially, reflecting the traditions of that people that get passed on from generation to generation (Dirette, 2014; Hofstede, 1997; see also Nasir et al., 2006, as cited in How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures). As discussed in How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures, culture reflects the traditions of people that get passed on from generation to generation. It’s the rules that are understood and are expected to be followed by the group that people belong to. Challenging people to create new rules and systems, especially on a relatively short timeline, is difficult. This is oftentimes where revolting begins. The hope is that a revolution will work more quickly to spark the desired change. To revolt and to drastically change institutions or politics inherently involves transgression, which is the act of breaking a law or code of conduct, so while a revolution includes transgression, transgression does not automatically create a revolution.

Breaking social order can be powerful though, and writers have tried to use writing to instigate changes to their societies. One way is by using transgression to call out harmful norms despite backlash from the social majority. Christina Foust (2010) said, “…as scholars and practitioners have figured it, transgression's threat to social order runs deeper than violating the rules and expectations that govern what is normal” (p. 6). Transgression threatens the community because those actions show that social order is fluid rather than fixed like people think. While a multitude of varying definitions grasp at characterizing transgressive fiction, I will refer to Coco D’Hont’s (2020) definition: transgressive fiction is “A historically evolving type of fiction that takes on a specific form and level of importance during specific historical periods, changing along with the extra-textual sociopolitical shifts it explores” (p. 2). She argues that transgressive fiction is not just text that is shocking or has socially unacceptable behavior, but that it develops social ideologies, and crosses between boundaries. Her view, however, claims that transgressive texts simply reflect society. D’Hont (2020) thinks transgressive fiction has the “potential to disrupt seemingly stable ideas, norms and conventions” (p. 5) but that it has “an unclear relationship to social activism” (p. 4). While it does defy society, she does not think, like John Adams does, that it affects society enough to create a revolution. Foust (2010), however, thinks that “transgression typically translates into "resistance" because its actions oppose dominant powers that occupy preferred positions in hierarchies" (p. 11), and this resistance can turn into a revolution. This means that if a transgressive text is strategic, it should be able to influence a culture.

Culture, however, is not easy to transform. Culture is the way that individuals learn to exist among others. These mutual understandings get expressed through actions, expectations, and beliefs, and similarities that develop among the people who surround each other is what builds community. With culture at the heart of society, it’s necessary to acknowledge the role that it has in resistance, revolution, and transgression. Culture is reflected in the time period in which someone lives; it’s reflected in what people learn and how they learn (How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures, 2018) and that develops a group identity. McRaney says that an outsider who wants to impose different cultural practices on a group threatens the group’s identity (2022). That’s why many people choose not to adopt new cultural practices because once someone demonstrates behaviors outside of the community’s norms, the person becomes an outsider. Most people do not want to be outsiders. It’s also why changing culture requires specific strategies to effectively work. In her book, Extreme States: The Evolution of American Transgressive Fiction 1960-2000, D'Hont (2020) argues that American transgressive fiction analyzes transgression in its societal context and reflects transgressive dynamics that occur in society, but the writing itself isn’t transformational. To prove her point, she examines five transgressive texts, Fight Club, American Psycho, Hogg, The Monkey Wrench Gang, and Beloved. Four are largely known as transgressive for their shock value and aesthetic characteristics, and one particularly holds significance during a specific historical period and explores extra-textual sociopolitical shifts. She admits the novels push the boundaries of what’s considered socially acceptable, and exaggerate the reconstruction of American ideologies, but since the writing isn’t transformational, they do not lead to concrete revolution.

Over the course of her discussion of these five texts, D'Hont (2020) explores a variety of craft choices that these stories employ. I will highlight three of them. One that she brings up frequently across the texts is the use of the body (1) (2). For example, in Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, men choose to physically fight each other to express dissatisfaction with their lives and masculinity. Bodily violation is common in transgressive literature, but it makes sense: our body is one of the only things that we will always own during our lifetime and the act of violating a body challenges that or takes it away. This act can symbolize multiple forms of loss that are relevant to a variety of American ideals, making it a strong example of transgression. Secondly, D’Hont (2020) also explores constructed hierarchies through the use of an “other.” In the novel Hogg by Samuel R. Delaney, for example, she describes the character Hogg who is portrayed as physically filthy and running a rape business. His character represents a sharp contrast to typically displayed American values. Thirdly, D’Hont’s (2020) book discusses how the novels explore societal complexities. This includes Edward Abbey’s The Monkey Wrench Gang’s philosophy on anarchism and social margins, and Toni Morrison’s Beloved’s redevelopment of the perception of race and gender, to name just a few. While these three craft choices demonstrate transgression’s role in shaping society, and call attention to situations by creating exaggerated, aesthetic systems where the authors reveal, destruct, interrogate, and reform “the ideological structures of their extra-textual content” (p. 16), D’Hont acknowledges that clear solutions are not typically given and so the stories do not end up impacting social change.

While it’s true that the books D’Hont (2020) discussed did not create revolutions, there are books that are recognized as having prompted change. Three of these books include: Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle. These books can all be considered transgressive because of their time-period importance and their defiance of extra-textual norms which shocked and upset people by exposing them to a part of American society that many were unaware of. These books did more, though. Silent Spring wrote about the hazard of pesticides entering the food chain and damaging the environment, which resulted in increased public awareness of nature’s vulnerability, the beginnings of environmentalism, and identifying which pesticides were dangerous (“The Story of Silent Spring”, 2015). Uncle Tom’s Cabin portrayed the evils of slavery and arguably impacted the Civil War by changing popular opinion. Its relatable story transformed slavery from an abstract concept to a real horror and moved society to enact antislavery laws (McNamara, 2020). The Jungle’s story of dreadful working conditions in the meat packaging industry reached President Roosevelt and resulted in the Meat Inspection Act of 1906, regulations on food and drugs, and the formation of the Food and Drug Administration (“Upton Sinclair's The Jungle”, n.d.). These books were able to transgress and transform, showing that it’s possible to use transgressive fiction as a way to revolutionize.
 
Considering stories that have not revolutionized America despite diving deep into complex, transgressive plots, and ones that have, and how fiction can create future revolutions, it’s necessary to consider social attitudes, norm perceptions, and how minds change. All that considered, the following ways are my initial thoughts on how writers can employ the techniques of transgressive fiction alongside the science behind how minds change to use the genre as a vehicle for social change.

Unlike the five books D’Hont explores, these three books identified a specific problem. D'Hont’s (2020) analysis said that in her discussed books, “The characters aim their actions at a faceless government but their inability to clearly define the shape of the “system” complicates their ability to overthrow it” (p. 74). McRaney (2022) describes how even if a society agrees on a moral (such as “mass shootings are a problem”), they may not agree on the interpretation of its facts, like what has caused the problem. These disagreements start to divide the society, even on a topic agreed upon, and then people struggle to update their beliefs, even when offered new information (p. 83). By Silent Spring, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and The Jungle aiming actions and criticisms at a clear system, whether it was companies creating pesticides or producing harmful meat, it was clear who society needed to take down. Critiquing social complexities is an important part of transgressive fiction. Using this characteristic of the genre to create change just requires writers to make some adjustments in order to be very clear so that readers' understandings of the topic, and their anger to propel change align. By making the conflict and opposition clear, it’s easy for readers to understand who to fight.

Additionally, effective craft choices in the three books that changed society include relatable characters, which aligns with culture and how it impacts our choices. As mentioned previously, communities are rooted in culture. To stay in our community, we must maintain its cultural beliefs and values or we risk being pushed out. Amidst our efforts to remain in our community and avoid being pushed out, many people adopt the group’s beliefs. The culture that then develops in the group becomes what’s known as group identity (Dovidio et al., 2009; McRaney, 2022; Tankard & Paluck, 2016). In David McRaney’s (2022) book, How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion, McRaney compiles evidence for why minds make decisions based on group identity, why people keep the ideas that they do, and what changes their minds despite group identity. He spends time discussing the process of deep canvasing to explore a method that has worked in getting people to change their minds on typically controversial topics. In deep canvasing, a volunteer speaks to people at their homes with the goal of shifting their minds (for example, having conversations with people on gay marriage beliefs before an election where this is on the ballet). Laura Gardiner, the national mentoring coordinator for the LAB, explained that the first step in this process is having the volunteer build rapport with the homeowner. Then, the volunteer describes his or her own relation to the topic at hand. Finally, the majority of the mind-changing conversation should be based in the homeowner’s own story. The volunteer reflects feelings and asks probing questions that prompt the other individual to reflect. Reflection is incredibly important because providing facts isn’t what changes minds; rather, the person has, oftentimes, never thought about the causes of his or her beliefs before and then realizes what caused the original belief and reconsiders it. By facilitating a conversation that puts the listener in the driver’s seat of a controversial topic and forces them to consider what has caused this belief, the volunteers are able to show that other beliefs do exist. Similarly in storytelling, when writers offering readers a relatable character, writers speak to their readers’ sense of community and identity. For example, in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a narrative that engaged general readers in something they could relate to. She made her characters seem real, even drawing on factual incidents. By creating characters that readers feel are real mimics a sense of community. Writers then must provide readers opportunities to reconsider their own beliefs and the other possible beliefs that exist. When a reader reflects, writers are able to facilitate change. When Silent Spring wrote about the hazard of pesticides entering the food chain and damaging the environment, readers were exposed to a truth that existed in their own lives. Additionally, when Uncle Tom’s Cabin portrayed the evils of slavery, readers were confronted with another reality that they lived in.

The three change-making stories also incorporated positive contact, which is a way to expose people to their adversaries. Positive contact is another mind-change technique described by both McRaney (2022) and Dovidio et al. (2009). When people have positive contact with a group they oppose, the contact can help people learn and understand the group more. This breaks down initial misconceptions, and the new and positive interactions reshape people’s prior experiences and understandings. The positive experience can change people’s minds about the opposing group. Positive contact can be achieved in storytelling through serial writing. The three texts successful at creating change were published in short installments in magazines before full publication in book format. Shorter meant easier to read, and if it hooked readers’ attention, it spread their attention out over time. McRaney (2022) acknowledges that building rapport can sometimes take multiple times. Tankard and Paluck (2016) also explain how individuals’ attitudes tend to develop over a long time and may be tied to personal experience and beliefs and thus can take longer time to change. By publishing writing serially, the readers get multiple points of contact with the characters who, if done right, should give readers realistic insight into a world that will upset their values and cause them to make change.

It seems, then, that transgressive fiction should be a great avenue for social change, as its characteristics align well with ways that social change occurs.  In order to accomplish it though, it is very important for writers to be very intentional about the ways they craft their stories. One of the craft choices that is common to transgressive fiction that D’Hont points out is the violation of the body. This characteristic offers writers many ways to develop imagery, conflict, and plot, which can be used in the way they identify a specific problem for readers. D’Hont also acknowledges the way that transgressive fiction frequently uses the “other” character. This character-type, paired with identifying social complexities, can also be a part of writers addressing specific social problems, and also a way in which they create relatable characters. The “other” character can also get folded into the writer’s use of positive contact.

There is so much more research to be done in order to develop a very specific plan that could use transgressive fiction for social change; however, after my initial research, considering aesthetic characteristics of contemporary transgressive fiction, literary techniques that have seemingly accomplished social change before, and what causes minds to change, I am proposing some craft and structure that can help writers write transgressive fiction with the purpose of not just re-imagining social norms, but also acting as a key point in social activism. This includes: identifying and giving a name to the offender, using characters in a way that both builds rapport and a sense of community, causing the reader to reflect on his or her own thinking, and publishing the text as a series. Transgressive writers can use violating the body, the “other” in the social injustice situation, and the resulting social complexities to drive stories that use methods that change minds and culture. These are just some of the techniques that mirror past efforts in change, and if thoughtfully and effectively used, can most likely support future change. In Mack’s (2011) book How Literature Changes the Way We Think, he says, “The moment when art has come to have a ‘life of its own’ it clearly ceases to be mainly representational. It does no longer mirror the world but contributes to the plurality of the world by its unique form and power of animation” (p. 167). By incorporating elements that re-imagine social rules, create a new, real world for the reader, and force them to reflect on their own thinking, transgressive fiction can become its own life and support people in redesigning the one we exist in.
 
(Other possible techniques based on my reseach that may impact change but not yet discussed include:) 

• Consider and research intended audience
• Incorporate performance (in characters, form, etc.)
• (but) Make message clear
• Align writing with current movements
• Define important words
• Consider techniques to help reader reflect (2nd person POV, build your own adventure, etc.)
• Be careful with developing characters (and pay attention to intended audience when doing so)
• Speak to reader’s values/prior experiences

References
 
The American Crisis. (n.d.). United States: Library of Alexandria.

Bergh, A. E., Johnston, R. H., Jefferson, T. (1905). The writings of Thomas Jefferson. United
States: Issued under the auspices of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association of the
United States.

Blanco Núñez, J. M. (2018). The American Revolution: A World War. United
Kingdom: Smithsonian.

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. “American Revolution History & Time of the Revolutionary War.” Boston Tea Party Ships, Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, 19 Aug. 2022, https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/american-revolution.

“Upton Sinclair's The Jungle: Muckraking the Meat-Packing Industry” Constitutional Rights Foundation, Constitutional Rights Foundation, https://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-24-1-b-upton-sinclairs-the-jungle-muckraking-the-meat-packing-industry.html.

Chirot, D. (2020). Revolution as Tragedy. In You Say You Want a Revolution?: Radical
Idealism and Its Tragic Consequences (pp. 1–11). Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvp7d46f.4

D'Hont, C. (2020). Extreme States: The Evolution of American Transgressive Fiction 1960-
2000. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis Group.

Dovidio, J.F., et al. (2009) “Commonality and the Complexity of ‘We’: Social Attitudes and Social Change.” Personality and Social Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868308326751.

Foust, C. R. (2010). Transgression as a mode of resistance rethinking social movement in an era of corporate globalization. Lexington Books.

How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures. (2018). United States: National
Academies Press.

Mack, M. (2011). How Literature Changes the Way We Think. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing.

McNamara, R. (2020). “Uncle Tom's Cabin Made Slavery a Personal Issue for Millions.” https://www.thoughtco.com/uncle-toms-cabin-help-start-civil-war-1773717.

McRaney, D. (2022). How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and
Persuasion. United States: Penguin Publishing Group.

“The Story of Silent Spring” NRDC, NRDC, 13 Aug. 2015, https://www.nrdc.org/stories/story-silent-spring.

Tankard, M.E., and Paluck, E.L. (2016). “Norm Perception as a Vehicle for Social Change.” Social Issues and Policy Review. https://doi.org/10.1111/sipr.12022.

The Phase 4 Podcast is a podcast hosted by JP as an intersection of What We Focus on Expands, and Your Story is your Superpower. This podcast explores coaches and creatives and insightful things they have to share. Among other things, he talks with guests about personal growth, evolution, expansion, transformation, and more. On his show, he explores where guests have came from, where they currently are, and where they are going. All that being said, I had a great time talking with JP about my new book, Raising Women, and about my writing process, and how I got to where I am with it.

As summarized by JP, "In this captivating episode of the Phase 4 Podcast, we welcome award-winning writer and educator Shannon Waite to the podcast. Shannon is the author of Raising Women, an interactive and innovative transgressive fiction novel that invites readers to determine how the story unfolds, immersing them in the wild and often turbulent journey of growing up as a girl. Her stories breach societal norms, the characters who dare to defy them, and the wounds that shape our shared humanity. With two bachelor’s degrees in English and Creative Writing and an MA in Teaching and Curriculum, Shannon brings a unique perspective to storytelling and education. We discuss how her work challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths and explore their own narratives. Shannon also shares insights into her teaching journey, inspiring the next generation of creative thinkers and writers. Whether you’re passionate about contemporary and transgressive literature, curious about the power of interactive storytelling, or simply looking for inspiration to challenge norms, this episode is one you won’t want to miss."

If you're curious to know more about interactive novels and the behind the scenes of me writing one, then you should definitely check out this episode, Breaking Norms and Raising Women with Author Shannon Waite on The Phase 4 Podcast!
 (or check it out anyway. I enjoy talking about the nerdy things I love).

Stories and Stanza is a weekly podcast hosted by Abhra Pal, diving into authors' experiences and inspiration for the things they write. I was grateful for the invitation to talk with Abhra myself about my new book, Raising Women, which is an interactive novel. During our conversation, I got to talk more about my process for writing this book and the things I really enjoyed about it.

Abhra summarizes this episode as "unlocking the secrets to captivate an audience with interactive fiction. Learn from this author interview on how to create engaging and immersive stories. Join us on Stories and Stanza for an in-depth discussion with Shannon Waite, the author of the interactive fiction novel 'Raising Women.' Based in Detroit, Michigan, Shannon draws inspiration from the Choose Your Own Adventure series to create a narrative targeting millennial women. The story follows a teenage girl and her friend Roman, exploring themes of reality, identity, and womanhood. We delve into Shannon's creative process, from planning and outlining to crafting multiple plot paths and endings. Featuring insights into the challenges of independent publishing, the importance of understanding one's audience, and a review by fellow author Rebecca Jones Howe, this episode offers a comprehensive look at literary innovation and the resilience required to bring a story to life. Don't miss an intriguing excerpt from the novel and exclusive information on upcoming projects and how to order the book."

If you're curious to know more about interactive novels and the behind the scenes of me writing one, then you should definitely check out this episode, 3 Interactive Fiction Secrets to Captivate Your Audience! (or check it out anyway. I enjoy talking about the nerdy things I love).

Are you in a book club?
Does your book club read dark and gritty things (addiction, coming of age, queer, etc.)?
Do you like talking about social norms, breaking them, and all the things that go with that?

Then Raising Women is the book for you!

Raising Women is an interactive novel in which readers have twenty-four possible pathways with four unique endings to explore the wild that is growing up girl. Readers get to choose the decisions that are made and face the consequences that follow. Depending on what you choose, you may taste blood, get branded with a searing screw driver, or date a married man – all while each choice challenges what it means to be a woman, real, or both.

By merging literary fiction and interactive fiction, Raising Women is a one of its kind. Get all the messy girl/unhinged women, coming of age, contemporary lit fic, transgressive fiction, and interactive fiction vibes in one book that allows you to read it over and over in new ways. Readers say: "Capturing the magic and madness of girlhood within each little novella, Raising Women has a story for everyone," "The novel is an unapologetic deep dive into the complexities of girlhood and womanhood, all while giving you the power to shape the story’s outcome. The narrative does a fantastic job of capturing the confusion, rebellion, and desire for belonging that defines coming of age, especially as a young woman," and "I’m now heavily doubting all the times I’ve shunned the use of second-person narrative because this was incredible!"

If this sounds interesting to your book club,
How do you feel about books with with no book club prep work (like, the questions and supporting materials are already done for you)?
Then download the Raising Women Book Club Kit.
This kit includes:

• A book synopsis
• An author letter and bio
• 16 discussion questions to provoke interpretations of Raising Women
• 10 character analysis questions each for Roman, Evan, and you
• Links to more downloadable Raising Women fun

And if you're planning on reading Raising Women with your club, reach out to me! I'm happy to answer questions you might have, or join in. If you live in the metro Detroit/south eastern Michigan area, we can plan an in-person date, or if you are located outside that space, I'm happy to coordinate something virtual. I'm honored you're considering this book as an adventure for your group to read, and don't doubt that there are many things to talk about (some of which are highlighted for you in the provided book club kit).

Download the Raising Women book club kit here (and check out the Raising Women site for other free downloads).

Happy reading!

We're getting to the end of the Raising Women giveaways!

Over two-hundred years old, paper dolls have been a cheap toy for a long time. Both nostalgic and "practical," I want to offer you a chance to bring back some memories and download this paper doll and fashion set for free! This paper doll set provides additional interactive elements to the Raising Women experience (you'll find many items from the book included in the set). Have fun dressing her up, placing her around your house (think of a cooler Elf on the Shelf), OR she makes the perfect bookmark!

Whatever your reason is, download the Raising Women paper doll today!
(Based on Raising Women by Shannon Waite, art by Alexandra-Jane -@ghostpainters_real).

If you go to a fancy enough restaurant, you might find recommended food and beverage pairings. This is because the right pairing can elevate a meal. It can make eating the meal a truly memorable experience.

I don't know anything about drinks, so maybe a specific drink could enhance a book, but I do know a lot about music. I'm thinking about how a specific song paired with a book, like a beverage with a meal, could place the story in the right atmosphere and enhance it, make the experience that much more memorable.

I'm here to tell you my pairing for my book Raising Women.

If you want a more enhanced, accurate experience reading Raising Women, listen to Artemas's "i like the way you kiss me." And watch the music video.

At the end of September I blogged about my weird process for making mixes (not drinks - also, not the same as a playlist). In that blog post, I talked about what makes mixes and playlists different, and also the extensive process I go through to make them. Anyway, all that's to say is that I've also got a mix full of VIBES for RAISING WOMEN! Whether you've read any of the stories in Raising Women or not, it's a solid mix (although if you've read the book, you'll "get it").

Songs Include:
1. Caffeine - Jack Kays
2. It's Called: Freefall - Rainbow Kitten Surprise
3. i like the way you kiss me - Artemas
4. ...Ready For It? - Taylor Swift
5. dirty little secret - Artemas
6. Broadripple is Burning - Margot and the Nuclear So & So's
7. # Grownupz - Fein
8. Girls Like Girls - Hayley Kiyoko
9. Lunch - Billie Eilish
10. It Gets Better - fun.
11. If You're Gonna Lie - FLETCHER
12. Detroit - Badflower
13. Where Is My Mind? - Pixies
14. Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl - Broken Social Scene


Go check it out. It's available both on Spotify *and* Youtube to listen to!
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE

And if you haven't read Raising Women yet, check it out here.

❤️ For those of you in the Detroit area, I'll be selling and signing at another public library event in November! I recently posted my attendance with the Brighton District Library on November 17th, but now I'll be participating in the Troy Public Library author event on November 16th as well. 🎉

1. In case Troy is closer to you than Brighton, I'd love to see you at the Troy Public Library's author fair on Saturday, November 16th! I will be joining a group of other authors that day to sell books and sign your things (want me to sign your book? Definitely. Want me to sign your journal? Sure. I asked Chuck Palahniuk to do that for me once.) 🖋

2. In addition to my book, I'll have some lipstick, stickers, Raising Women cootie catchers, and other fun things too. You can buy those separately, or get one free with the purchase of a book (although the cootie catchers will be free)! 💄

3. 🔥 I announced this with my last signing announcement, but if you're excited about the interactive novel Raising Women, then get excited for its expansion pack. This summer I'll be releasing an "expansion pack" for Raising Women - it will be a collection of short stories that focus on each of the women as individuals, including both prequels and sequels! I am telling you this because I'll have free copies of chapbooks with a few stories from that collection that you can take. 📖

(Also, a reminder: the holidays are coming up. Come get some books for you and/or your family and friends and support local authors!) Let's gooooo. I'd love to chat with you!

The library will also be giving everyone a passport. If you get enough stamps from authors, you'll get to enter it into a raffle! If you're interested, you do need to let the library know you're coming by registering here. Please come! I'd love to see you there.

🎉 TODAY IS THE DAY! The wait is finally over - Raising Women by Shannon Waite is available in ebook and paperback from most book retailers NOW. Enjoy destroying your life 😉

I am so incredibly grateful that I have been able to write and share this story. I've put so much of myself into this one, and I genuinely love it. I appreciate everyone who has already read it and hyped it up. ❤️ The book went live today, and having so many people waiting for the book and just overall excited has melted my heart.

Already, too, Raising Women has jumped to a #1 New Release. While it falls into many categories, having it rise to the top quickly in one of them is exciting.

This book is undeniably candid in how it mirrors the hoops girls jump through to bargain their place in society, illuminating the desperate craving they have for belonging in a culture that is quick to cast them as pawns on a chessboard.

If you've had your eye on this book, this is your time to get it!
You can order it from most major book retailers above, or you can still purchase a signed copy (with stickers and a Polaroid) here.

I'm extremely excited to share my short story "Small Animals" that has been published over on Expat Press.

This story started as a much smaller, kind of experimental piece, but turned into what you see now. While I do think it still has a place in its original form, I fell in love with what it turned into, and luckily Expat Press did too. Told as a tetraptych, one woman examines people’s self-perception through the names of small animals others give us, and that we sometimes give ourselves, allowing the story to deep dive into some complex themes.

As always, I'm grateful to share everything that it is with you.

🎉RAISING WOMEN releases in 5 days!🎉

Go to www.RaisingWomen.weebly.com to play MASH today! Read excerpts from the book, learn more about the characters, and enter for a chance to win a Raising Women sticker! There will be a new game each day (think Never Have I Ever, two truths and a lie, etc.) for four days - play each day for another chance to win.

On Thursday, all submissions will be entered into a drawing for a signed copy of Raising Women. Let's go play! ❤️📖

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Girls are taxes.
Women are city limits.

You are on the precipice of womanhood and have become obsessed with an ex-convict, Roman. She introduces you to the dangerous and honest side of life that no one else has been able to. As she unapologetically places you in scandalous situations, you begin making self-destructive decisions. Depending on which decisions you choose, you may taste Roman’s blood, get branded with a searing screwdriver, or date a married man– all while each choice challenges what it means to be a woman, real, or both.

In this interactive novel, readers have twenty-four possible pathways with four unique endings to explore the wild that is growing up girl.