Jessica Chastain is a Real Life Hero

I watched Jessica Chastain today speaking truth to power.

Yeah, I’m a bit late to the party – it’s been a busy past couple weeks. Me seeing it late is not the important thing here 🙂 The important thing is her message. In case, like me, you’ve been living under a rock, here’s the relevant bit:

Say that, @jes_chastain. https://t.co/H7QHnEE5JA

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) May 29, 2017

“The one thing that I really took away from this experience is how the world views women … when we include more female storytellers, we will have more of the women that I recognize in my day to day life. Ones that are more proactive, have their own agency … their own point of view.”

This is important to me, because when we’re not equal it’s just not fair. I was raised with fairness as a basic human right (thanks, Mum). I get the irony that here I am, a white straight dude full of white straight privilege saying, “Sing it, sister.” It’s not enough; I need to do something if I want to have the world that Chastain hints could be possible. Women in our stories that are powerful, equal, important, and don’t just act as a hat stand for the male protagonist(s). That are role models for our children, so tomorrow’s leadership is more diverse.

My latest attempt at doing something about this is Night’s End, the conclusion of my Night’s Champion trilogy. I wanted this book to be a fun thriller with werewolves fighting the Riders of the Apocalypse, full of action scenes and great dialogue. I *also* wanted this book to continue the thread of women having their own agency and their own point of view.

(For you guys out there: yeah, there’s also male characters in this book. Don’t worry! I haven’t forgotten about you).

I’d like for you to check it out and let me know how I did. It’s … difficult to write the other, and I’m trying to get better at it all the time. I really hope that it’s the kind of book you feel like you can give to your kids – both boys and girls – and say, “This is how we work together to save the world.” Because I’m sure you feel it too: our world sure needs saving.

https://www.books2read.com/NightsEnd