Shelley Stoehr
When Hurting Yourself Feels Good: Self-Mutilation -- A Growing Teenage DisorderSelf-mutilation, also called self-injury, self-harm, self-abuse or cutting is a disturbing disorder that is reaching significan proportions worldwide. Author Shelley Stoehr researched and wrote CROSSES -- the first novel for young adults about this compelling issue -- in 1991. Fourteen years later, CROSSES is still a favorite among teenagers and their parents, opening lines of communication in a non-threatening way, and making young people feel less alone. Shelley is available to talk about CROSSES, and about self-injury in general, revealing such things as: * What types of self-mutilation "cutters" engage in. * What cases people to start the addiction of cutting themselves. * What symptoms or behaviors would cutters exhibit that parents or friends could recognize as potential problems. Among its other awards, CROSSES has been an ALA Best Book and a YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults. School Library Journal said of CROSSES: "Reminiscent of Go Ask Alice, the powerful portrayal of Nancy and Katie will be read again and again by today's teens." Publisher's Weekly reported that "this morbidly compelling chronicle of promising lives gone astray commands attention throughout," and the Voice Literary Supplement said that "[Nancy's] mind is a familiar world, unpleasant to dwell in and hard to leave." Comments from readers include: "I've never had a book have such a strong impact on my life before... I definitely plan on reading it again and again." (Ashley Smith, Phoenix, AZ) "[CROSSES] opens your eyes to many different harsh, and painful parts of a teens life." (S.B., Utah) "This story is a real life thing. Many people, including myself at one time in my life, can truly relate to this book." (a 30 year old self-mutilator of 14 years) There are more than 2 million people who injure themselves in secret. Availability: Connecticut, and nationwide by arrangement and via telephone. Available for last minute interviews. Contact: Shelley Stoehr, christiancarthy@sbcglobal.net |
Biography Shelley Stoehr is the author of five acclaimed novels for young adults: CROSSES , WEIRD ON THE OUTSIDE, WANNABE, TOMORROW WENDY, and the newly published for kindle, SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER. She has also published short stories in the anthologies, LOST AND FOUND, LOVE AND SEX and TRUTH AND DARE. Her first novel, CROSSES, was published while Shelley was a student at Connecticut College. CROSSES has been an ALA “Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Readers” , ALA “Best Book”, and a YALSA “Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 1999”. Stoehr has appeared as an expert on the Maury Povich show, and on Real Life With Mary Amoroso, as well as on numerous radio shows to talk about self-injuring, or “cutting” (the subject matter of CROSSES). She has spoken to the National Council of Teachers of English, and her speech, “Controversial Issues in the Lives of Contemporary Young Adults” has been reprinted in The ALAN Review, and on the Internet. Blogger Dave Kiersh writes, “Stoehr writes about young women in a way that few others do. She presents characters and gives a voice to girls that are seldom heard about in today's commodified popular culture”, and The Voice of Youth Advocates praises Stoehr’s work as writing which “graphically describes the cry for help of many adolescents and how far they have to fall before they are even noticed.” “Stoehr’s narrative flow is a strength, as is her ability to capture the rhythms, attitudes, and feelings of teens facing a violent, drug-filled world of big dreams with little chance of making it.” (School Library Journal) Shelley Stoehr now lives in CT with her husband Chris, daughter Raini, son Angel and dog Max. Stoehr’s books, SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER, WEIRD ON THE OUTSIDE, TOMORROW WENDY, and of course CROSSES are available at amazon.com. Shelley is available for readings, signings, and speaking engagements. CREDITS: NOVELS: * Somebody's Daughter (kindle by amazon) •Crosses (Bantam Doubleday Dell/Delacorte Press: 1991, Laurel Leaf: 1993, 1998, iUniverse: 2003) *an ALA Best Book for Young Adults *an ALA Quick Pick *an ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Readers •Tomorrow Wendy (BDD/Delacorte Press: 1998, iUniverse: 2003) *an ALA Quick Pick *an ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Readers *A New York Library Best Books for the Teenaged 1998 •Wannabe (BDD/Delacorte Press: 1997) •Weird on the Outside (BDD/Delacorte Press: 1995, Laurel Leaf: 1996, iUniverse: 2003) *an ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Readers •Saturn Returns (2003, not yet published) SHORT STORIES: •“Troll Bumps” (Love and Sex, edited by Michael Cart, Simon & Schuster: Spring, 2001) •“The Book” (Lost and Found, edited by M. Jerry and Helen S. Weiss, Tor Books: 2000) *"Somebody's Daughter (Truth and Dare, edited by Liz Miles, Running Press, May, 2011) |
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