Author: J.D. Myall

J.D. Myall, an author and contributor to renowned publications such as Ms. magazine, Writer's Digest and HuffPost, draws inspiration from her upbringing as an 'army brat.' Raised in various corners of the globe, Myall's writing reflects her journey of embracing and celebrating the beauty of diversity. She is passionate about teaching creative writing and crafting feminist fantasies that explore race and class. When she's not writing, Myall indulges in her love for chocolate and all that sparkles. Find her at www.jdmyall.com.

Defending Diverse Voices: Four Best-Selling Authors Talk Banned Books

The issue of book banning has resurfaced with renewed vigor. We must resist attempts to suppress books written by Black authors and diverse voices. Ms. spoke with Tiffany D. Jackson, Kimberly L. Jones, Jason Mott and Nicola Yoon—national award-winning authors—about the impact of book banning on both authors and society.

“Banning books will not make racial complexities and the world’s complexities disappear; instead, it erodes compassion and understanding.”

“Books nurture empathy in kids who are reading about people who don’t look like them. They build understanding.”

How "Tiny Pretty Things" Writer Dhonielle Clayton Is Pushing for Diversity in Publishing

How “Tiny Pretty Things” Writer Dhonielle Clayton Is Bringing More Diversity to Publishing

Dhonielle Clayton is at the center of the push for increased racial diversity in children’s and YA fantasy books.

“As a child, a lot of the books I loved reading had no one who looked like me as a lead in those stories. I wanted to change that. As a librarian in Harlem, I was struck by how few books we had that reflected our students. I was a teacher and lover of books; I wanted kids of color to have the chance to go to magic schools and save the world.”

I Didn’t Know

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Ms. Blog will be publishing a series of posts detailing the impact of domestic violence, including personal essays and more, throughout the month. The moment I knew I had to escape. It was 3 am. I gripped the cool steering wheel with trembling fingers and white knuckles. “Mommy I’m hungry.” My […]