Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy

I'm so pleased with all of the positive feedback and support that I've been getting for Don't Ask, Don't Tell: A Month in Reformation Hall. This project started out as nothing, a simple few hundred words typed in a word document, closed and forgotten. That is, until September, 16 of this year. I found the words and a story emerged. At that time I thought it was going to be a short story, or maybe a novelette tops. But now it is turning into a fully fledged YA novel, and I couldn't be happier. This one is going along rather quickly. Already at 20,000 words with no signs of slowing down. If you've missed the synopsis flying around, here it is:


Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is an anti-gay policy sweeping the Bible Belt portion of the nation. Freshman journalism student Rachael Ainsley goes undercover as a high school senior named Cassie Rae for a tell-all exposé, hoping to drastically alter the Gay Rights Movement. She instantly befriends the gayest boy in school. Imagine his surprise when he finds out who she is…

Cover

 “I’m Zane. These are the consequences.”

He handed her a small booklet.

ANTI-Distraction PRO-Education

Handbook

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy

1. No student may openly discuss their sexual orientation if it lies outside of the traditional man-woman pairing.
2. No student may take another student of the same sex to a dance or school function as anything more than friends. 
3. No same sex student may show any public displays of affection [PDA].
4. No male student may wear female clothing.
5. No male student may wear make-up.
6. All books addressing or promoting homosexuality are hereby banned. 
7. If any student makes their unfavorable sexual orientation known they will thereby forfeit their gym class, which will be replaced by Reformation Hall.
8. Students forfeit inclusion in sports and extra-curricular activities if they let their unfavorable sexual orientation known.
9. If a student is “cured” he or she may return to gym and other all extra-curricular activities.


Consequences


First Warning: Removal from gym.
Second Warning: Removal from sports and other extra-curricular activities. 
Third Warning: In School Suspension ISS
Fourth Warning: Suspension
Fifth Warning: Expulsion

If all students follow this handbook, we will have a happy and uneventful year. By continuing to attend classes, you have agreed to the terms and agreements within.

She closed the pamphlet in horror. How could this be legal? If they substituted gay for black, suddenly it would be something to cause outrage with students. It was still an outrage, at least to her. And after a month of undercover attendance, she would expose this ludicrous plan to the world. The ACLU and other organization would have a field day. She was so lost in her thoughts she forgot all about Zane, who was staring at her waiting for her opinion.

Read this and then vote on which piece you are most looking forward to.

This post is to go along with the poll I put up on the left side of my blog. I want to know which piece people are the most interested in reading. So, here is a short synopsis of each, in the order they appear on the poll.

Aluria: The Prophecy: [A YA fantasy series] Skye is a sixteen year old who runs away after experiencing some family problems. After a bizarre boat-ride she finds herself in a place unlike she has ever seen before. Little did she know, the place she ended up was experiencing problems far worse than her own. She meets Lance, a member of a peace-loving race, the Alurians who have been forced underground by the evil Lord Furgison. Lance tells her she is the one from their prophecies, the only one who can save them and help them return to life as it was before. Lord Furgison's plans are aided by seven types of monsters: Pride, Lust, Anger, Envy, Sloth, Greed, and Gluttony. In this land, the seven deadly sins aren't ideas, they're real and will do everything in their power to keep Lord Furgison in Power. Skye is joined by Lance and four others to embark on the journey of a life time, putting everything at risk to save this wonderful race of people.

The Hunted: [An erotic Halloween tale.] Hadrian is an experienced hunter of all things supernatural. He loves killing vampires the most. On Halloween night he follows a gaudily dressed vampire to her home to engage in a night of passion. Little does he know, Oleander wasn't kidding. She really was a vampire. Once a mortal enters a vampire's home, they cannot leave unless the vampire allows them to. Once he figures out that she's a vampire he doesn't know what to do. Three thoughts race through his mind. Leave her. Kill her. Or fuck her again. How will Hadrian the Hunter respond to becoming the Hunted?

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: A Month in Reformation Hall: [A Young Adult/Teen Novella or Novel depending on how long it gets.] Rachael goes undercover at Mooreville High to write a tell-all piece for her journalism portfolio. School's across the bible belt, USA, have instituted a new policy. Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It is no longer allowed to "come out" at a public school, and LGBT students will receive varying degrees of consequences if they do. Rachael goes undercover as Cassie Ray and instantly befriend a stereo-typically gay boy named Zane Miller. This will recount their time in Reformation Hall(where gay students get sent as their first warning). Brian is a bully who makes Zane's life hell, and Coach Tyler[A seemingly closet butch lesbian] overly enforces the DADT policy.

Sequel to Sunny With a Chance of Homicide: [Adult Psychological Thriller-novel] This one picks up right where Sunny With a Chance of Homicide left off. It focuses on the consequences of Randall's actions and centers around what a Mother is willing to do to save her own name. This will either be the final, or next to final novel in this set.