Here is a letter from Richard Paul Evans that is well worth your time to read, think about, and maybe even act upon...
A Candid Letter to My Readers.
Dear Reader,
I'd like to speak candidly with you. Many of my readers have told me that the Michael Vey series isn't their "thing". I've even had readers ask why I would "waste" my time with a youth series. Indeed. I actually get paid much less to write this series than my adult novels. So why should you, or I, care about my Michael Vey series? Please give me just a moment of your precious time to tell you why, on a deeper level, this series matters.
Michael Vey is one of the best-selling Young Adult series in the world right now, one of the few series to hit #1 on the New York Times without a movie and multi-million dollar promotional budget behind it. Yet many of America's publishers didn't think Michael Vey would even sell one percent of what it already has and rejected it. Why? The answers to this question should concern you.
First, Michael Vey didn't look like the darkness the publishing world has been feeding our children–youth who hate or disregard their parents and disdain society, as if our youth needed more dysfunctional life scripts. Michael Vey is a "good" kid. What does that mean? Well, to begin with, he is loyal, kind and he loves his parents. He is humble. In today's world of swagger, he's an oddity. Second, The Michael Vey series is hopeful. It is not dystopian, it is not occult. It is scary sometimes and exciting, but Michael Vey believes in the best of humanity, that we can be good and that some things are worth fighting for, even if we don't personally profit from the results. In short, he's a hero. Third, Michael Vey appeals to youth with disabilities. (If you didn't know, Michael Vey has Tourette's syndrome.) Last week we had nearly 3,000 youth attend our Michael Vey launch party. One volunteer estimated that a fourth of those youth had disabilities. I personally spoke to six youth with autism. All of them expressed their gratitude for Michael Vey. Why? Because they see someone like them who is defined not by his "disabilities" but by his choices. By his heart. One woman told me that it was Michael Vey who got her child to go out in public again.
One more peculiar thing. I have personally come under attack for having a male hero. Imagine that. Think about it, the most recent major series have all been female protagonists: Hunger Games, Divergent, Twilight. Female heroes are important. It's important that our girls have strong role models and, as a father of four daughters, I understand this. Michael Vey has some very strong female heroes, especially Taylor, who Michael often goes to for counsel. But I also have a son and I know that we can't "overcorrect" and neglect our boys. Our boys, our grandsons, still need a hero and role model, even a literary one. Our boys are dropping out of school, and life, at an alarming rate. Many have stopped reading and the stereotype of the "reluctant male reader" has become a frightening and ubiquitous trend. We need to reach our boys. The most frequent comment we receive is this: "You got my boy to read again."
When the movie of my book, THE CHRISTMAS BOX, was about to be released, I was contacted by the publicity department of an international church seeking to help promote my book. When I asked why they would help, the man replied, "If a book this big fails in Hollywood, Hollywood will use it as a clear example to stop making inspirational movies and proof that only trash sells. I'm pleased to say that The Christmas Box went on to be the most watched television movie of the year in America with viewers in the tens of millions, prompting the production of many more inspirational films.
So even if you don't think Michael Vey is for you, the cause may be. I invite you to join the cause, because this is one where we can make a difference shaping culture. Introduce Michael Vey to your children, your grandchildren, to a neighbor. Purchase a copy or two and donate it to your school or church. Many schools have library waiting lists for Michael Vey numbering in the hundreds. (Trust me, if you're 300 on the waiting list, you're not going to get to read it.)
Michael Vey will be a seven book series. The Fourth book in the series, Hunt for Jade Dragon, comes out this Tuesday. The first book in the series is Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25. Here's a complete list of the books.
Michael Vey 1: The Prisoner of Cell 25
Michael Vey 2: Rise of the Elgen
Michael Vey 3: Battle of the Ampere
and, the new book, Michael Vey 4: Hunt for Jade Dragon (Jade Dragon is the name of an autistic Chinese girl)
Thank you and God Bless,
Richard
