Morning.

I can’t say it’s a good one. While I myself am straight, I have many friends who love someone of the same sex. To me, it doesn’t matter. You love who you love. As long as it’s between two consenting adults, my personal thoughts don’t matter.

Then, the tragedy in Orlando happened. This is hate, pure and simple. Hate and fear. And it’s happening far too often in the country I love.

As writers, we possess the power to mold opinions with our words. We can influence someone with a single sentence, or a lone paragraph. We can’t choose who reads our books or what character they identify with. But we do have this power.

For myself, I’d rather use it to promote love and acceptance over hatred. I take this responsibility with complete understanding. While my writing leans to the Wiccan faith, I steer clear of being critical of any faith. I’ve had characters who decided they were gay. Fine.

I want to be accepted for who I am. Not who you think I should be. I am me. Not who someone else dictates.

I am an author. I am a mother. I am a wife. I am a publishing executive. I am a medieval re-creator. I am ‘owned’ by a cat. I am Wiccan. I am afraid of spiders.

But I am NOT filled with hate for anyone who doesn’t agree with me. I am not opposed to someone who is Christian, Jewish, or Muslim. I have no say in someone who is gay or bisexual.

Because I do not run the world. I do not bend it to my will. I live my life according to the tenets of my faith. I can get up in the morning and look myself in the mirror without hating any part of what stares back at me.

As an author, I choose to be an Ambassador of Love and Acceptance.

BB