Posts Tagged ‘It Gets Better’

Northwest Press Helps It Get Better

// November 1st, 2011 // // Rainy Day Recess, The Power Within

Today, I’m proud to let you know we made our first contribution to the It Gets Better Project from proceeds from the sale of David Kelly’s book, Rainy Day Recess. A portion of the sale of each book goes to help the organization which was started by Dan Savage in October of 2010 in response to a rash of teen suicides.

Funds collected by the It Gets Better Project benefit The Trevor Project, a 24-hour suicide prevention hotline, and GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Educator’s Network, which works with educators, policy makers, community leaders and students on the urgent need to address anti-LGBT behavior and bias in schools.

In addition to our contribution to It Gets Better, today we sent out over 300 more free copies of our anti-bullying comic book, The Power Within to more than 20 schools, youth groups, and community centers around the country (and around the world!) These organizations work directly with kids, and contacted us to ask for copies of The Power Within to use as a teaching and outreach tool. We’re glad that the book is getting into the hands of kids who need its message the most.

We’re a little startup publisher in a niche market, but we’re digging deep to keep giving back to the community we love. We urge you to do the same and make a donation if you can.

Tell us how you’re pitching in in the comments section!

The Gay Comics List loves The Power Within!

// September 19th, 2011 // // The Power Within

One of the biggest challenges in doing “advocacy” storytelling is striking a nice balance between getting your message across and telling a good story. If you fail, you end up with something much less entertaining than preachy. The most rewarding feedback we’ve gotten since releasing our anti-bullying book The Power Within is that we’ve succeeded in telling an engaging, honest story that resonates with readers, and isn’t just a “me too” message book. François Peneaud, who reviews everything, it seems like, on his site The Gay Comics List, has seen his fair share of preachy comics, and I’m glad to say that The Power Within wasn’t one of them.

As much as one can enjoy seeing queer characters in both mainstream and indie fantasy fiction, the problems of the real world should always take precedence. Sometimes in a ham-fisted way, and sometimes in a moving, heartfelt way that shows the sincerity and skills of the creators involved. Fortunately, it is the latter that happens with Zan Christensen and Mark Brill’s The Power Within, a comic about LGBT teen bullying.

Later, he says:

The Power Within goes well beyond what’s expected of a project done with the best intentions. It’s a moving depiction of what’s unfortunately the real life of some teenagers in our society, and the creators involved can only hope it will contribute, in its own ways, to the improvement of that situation.

Check out François’ site for the whole Power Within review, and take a look at his numerous other reviews of great LGBT comics. It’s truly a treasure trove.

Down to the Wire on “The Power Within”

// May 13th, 2011 // // Misc, The Power Within

Hey folks! We’re about two-thirds of the way through our fundraising period for The Power Within, and we need your help to get the rest of the way there!

Mark has been hard at work coloring the book, and has shared three new pages with me, which you can see at “The Power Within” Kickstarter page. I thought the art was good before, but Mark always brings a lushness to his color work that blows me away.

I’ll be spread the word about the book this weekend at OutlantaCon/Gaylaxicon 2011 in Atlanta (hope to see you there!) and will try to post some video from the show.