I received this message/comment on my Facebook page from a reader named Jesse, and I just had to share it because it made me cry (in a good way). I'd also like to add in response to this message, and for anyone who agrees with what this reader said, that my books are slowly being added to the Overdrive system. For those of you who have no idea what that means, I provide this bit of data: Overdrive is the company that makes ebooks available to libraries all over the world so that readers can check them out and read them for free without pirating! Yay to no pirating! So, very soon you will be able to go into your library and request Elle Casey books from your librarian, and they'll be able to stock them as ebooks for you to borrow. Free to library patrons!
Here's the message from Jesse, referring to my War of the Fae series. Book 1, The Changelings , is FREE, at every retailer that allows free books (Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, & Google Play). If you haven't read it yet, head over to any of these sites to download your copy, or maybe share it with a young teen you know who might need a little escape and a heavy dose of girl empowerment. 🙂
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“I really enjoy reading Jayne's adventures! From the first books ending I was straight to book 2! I always like seeing how characters grow & she reminds me very much of myself at her age. I was also lucky enough to have a friend like Tony to help me escape from things and help hold me together just by being there. So I get her loyalty to the friends who are her family and so many other things. We even have the same favorite word (working on that with my little RockStar Baby Bee in the house and it's soo hard, can you ask Sam to whip me up a spell please?!) & lack of patience! Because the end of August seems like it's forever away! But I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next!
Thanks again for bringing such an awesome & inventive world to literature! Especially one with such an empowered leading female! Jayne Sparks doesn't play around and she will take care of your family planning if you mess with her or her loved ones! I'm so thrilled to see the influx in badass, booty kicking leading female characters in books, movies and in real life as well! I do volunteer work with young women who have been victims of abuse of all kinds, been addicts and several other situations. I always encourage them to read books with strong women characters because it's a great way to escape & also empowers them. I have given so many books away because they loved them so much. One of my girls told me that she would pay me for the book I'd let her borrow because she wanted to frame it as it helped her see that she was strong enough to break the cycle and she's never looked back! I've given this series to 3 of my younger girls & Jayne has helped them deal with their own turmoil from their various traumas. One girl has been rereading the series over and over again nonstop since she first read it. You really captured the feelings that come with abuse & showed that it doesn't have to define your life… it just makes you stronger for surviving the bad times and savor the good times all the more!
We need writers like you reaching out to young women across the world & letting them know that they can kick just as much ass as Jayne, be as smart Hermione, survive everything like Katniss & be brave like Tris! I may have a son, but I also have 2 nieces, and as a member of the human race, I want both my nieces, little cousins and every single little girl out there to grow up empowered, knowing that she can take on the world & the world better watch out for her!”
I agree, Jesse. We do need more literature that speaks to young girls and makes them feel powerful and strong. I'm thrilled to know that you and the girls you work with feel that way about my work.
I’d love to see a link to where/how to get the eBooks at the library when it’s available! I’ve never minded buying books for my girls, I consider it an investment in our future! But for them to have entire library’s at their fingertips would be great!
I’d also like to add that there are so many ways to get involved in your local communities to help victims of abuse. If reading this has spoken to something inside of your heart & soul, then please get involved, we need you! Be a mentor, volunteer at a safe house, donate books, clothes & any amount of money that you’re able to.! These things, even small things, make a huge difference in the lives of the far too many victim’s of abuse. Women, especially women with children, often leave on a moments whim when they have the strength to do so and before they can scare or over-think themselves into staying. Therefore they often leave with only their children, their children’s belongings and barely anything for themselves unless it has sentiment value & a suitcase with a few items. They often just have the clothes on their backs. Many safe houses will help get housing, clothing, furniture and other necessities with help from various other organizations. But it takes the efforts of many people to do so!
Thanks for sharing this with your readers & promoting awareness on an issue near and dear to my heart Ms.Casey! And again, thank you for helping young women see the true meaning of strength, perseverance and what we Finnish Folks call SISU. The determination to never give up nor be held back & living life to the fullest!
As soon as I know, you’ll know! I’ll post on the blog and on Facebook and Twitter too. It’s always my pleasure to shine a light on darkness in whatever form it takes. I hope someone out there who reads this takes a step towards making our world a better place to be in not just for girls but for all teens. 🙂 hugs!
THIS IS SUCH A TESTAMENT TO YOUR STORYTELLING! GLAD TO HEAR YOU’LL BE IN OVERDRIVE / LIBRARIES SOON.
@ JESSE, IF YOU LOG ONTO YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY’S WEBSITE WITH YOUR LIBRARY CARD, MOST OF THEM HAVE A LINK TO THEIR E-BOOKS SECTION WHERE YOU CAN THEN CLICK ON THE E-BOOK YOU WISH TO BORROW. YOU MAY HAVE TO DOWNLOAD OVERDRIVE’S SOFTWARE IF YOU WANT TO READ ON YOUR COMP OR LISTEN TO AUDIO VERSIONS, OR YOU CAN HAVE IT SENT TO YOUR KINDLE. (AT LEAST THAT’S HOW IT WORKS HERE IN MY COUNTY LIBRARY IN VIRGINIA).
IT’S SO CONVENIENT!
Thank you! And thank you also for that information!