Happy Ganesh interviewed bestselling young adult author Nancy Garden on TMW Radio!

"Be true to yourself and your own dreams. Remember that you're supposed to be who you really are. Whether you're straight or GLBT, or a dreamer or a doer, an artist or a scientist, a person who works with others or who works alone, all of those things are ok, if they are you, if they are honestly who you are." -- Bestselling Author Nancy Garden, in tonight's interview

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I am delighted to report that the Nancy Garden interview aired tonight on April Claxton's The Movement Within Radio Show!

It was the fulfillment of a dream to talk to Nancy Garden, who is the author of over 35 books for children and teens, including the groundbreaking and controversial 1982 novel Annie on My Mind. She's a woman who has learned to stand up to injustice, and is a passionate defender of free speech. Whether she's writing for children or teens, her books explore universal themes, from love and self-acceptance to courage and tolerance. Above all, she writes about what it means to be yourself and accept yourself unconditionally. I was honored to interview one of my personal heroes tonight.

Garden's books have won several awards from the American Library Association, and have enjoyed critical and worldwide acclaim. In the 90s, Annie on My Mind was the subject of a censorship suit and won with help from the American Library Association, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Garden and I spoke about issues of personal bravery, tolerance, and courage. We also discussed bullying in schools and ways to stop it - and ways to provide support.

If you are reading this and know someone who is bullied in school FOR ANY REASON, please know that that child is are not alone. Please help that child to know that they are beautiful and perfect just the way they are.

If you know of a young adult who needs support for GLBTQ issues, please go to The Trevor Project, or Lisa Smith's wonderful brainchild Outminds.net.

To learn more about general bullying support groups, check out OvercomeBullying.org.

All my love and light to you out there. Thank you for being who you are and showing up for your life.  There are so many lights within us and together, we can light up the world.

Love, love, love. And more love.