How many times had I let myself connect with someone only to have it thrown back in my face? Jay Asher More Quotes by Jay Asher More Quotes From Jay Asher It's funny: when I go to a school and speak, and when they hear the back story about me, they want to go read the book. Jay Asher me funny book school The main character in the book is usually someone you're identifying with because the story is being told through this person's mind. Jay Asher you mind character book 'Fifty Shades' opened the door and made it easier to write about any issue that's controversial. It has helped other authors talk honestly. Jay Asher shades door talk controversial I don't know anything about bullying in Huntington Beach specifically, but I would assume it's very similar to other places. Jay Asher anything know bullying beach One of the things I found is that no matter where in the country - poor communities, rich communities - everybody deals with very similar issues of bullying. It's pretty widespread. Jay Asher rich bullying matter country There's this stress that is relieved when you realize somebody understands, and that's only going to happen if you feel the person who's writing the book or the people in the TV show aren't holding back. Jay Asher feel you stress people It seems like whenever a big newspaper or TV show talks about teen literature, they focus on dark books or vampire books. It's kind of this cliche. It seems like the only time adults pay attention is with that angle. Jay Asher teen focus dark time When me and my author friends who write about other difficult subject matter... when you hear from teens daily saying, 'Your book helped me or made me understand a friend better, what somebody else is going through,' you see the positive things. Jay Asher daily me you positive My friends and I did one of those 'Who's Hot and Who's Not' lists. Every school has those, and now they are online, which makes it even worse. It was one of those moments that I look back on a lot, and think that was horrible. Jay Asher look friends hot school Novels are a safe way to talk about things. Jay Asher talk things safe way It's important to make teens realize the influence they have over others. Jay Asher realize others influence important