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Return to Jesus Land: Exposing the Institutionalized Cruelty of the “Troubled Teen Industry”

I’m sitting cross-legged on top of a picnic table at Biloxi’s Riverside Park, facing Bay Area writer Julia Scheeres. Behind us the muddy bro

Deirdre Sugiuchi goes on set for the adaptation of Julia Scheeres’ groundbreaking “exvangelical” memoir, Jesus Land, and looks at the horrors of the troubled teen industry.

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My husband asked me if I’d ever written this publicly about my dad before. I don’t think so, I told him. Lots about my Christian nationalist childhood in this piece.

“I nodded, remembering my

own childhood, unable to watch

the same television shows as other kids, or read the same books, or even wear pants.”

thanks to Jonny Diamond and everyone @literaryhub

#tti #troubledteenindustry #jesusland #unreformed #juliascheeres #deirdresugiuchi #christiannationalism #literaryhub

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[thoughtfulfangirling]

The wind sighed through the trees, and the fallen leaves rattled up the deserted walks and around the hubcaps of parked cars. It was a faint and sorrowful sound, and the boy thought that he might be the only one in Boulder awake enough to hear it. The only human being, at least. There was no way of knowing what else might be out in the night, slinking hungrily through the shadows, watching and scenting the breeze.

—The Shining by Stephen King

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Bestsellers to Blockbusters: Stephen King Reflects on the Adaptations of His Work

In 2025, four of my novels and two short stories were adapted either for films or as streaming TV shows. I find this befuddling, perplexing,

“I see film and books as apples and oranges. Both are fruits, but the taste is remarkably different.”

 Stephen King looks back on the numerous adaptations of his work. 

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Stephen King was my first favorite writer. He still is. I loved LIFE OF CHUCK so much!

[lithub]

A federal judge just dismissed an Ohio teacher’s fight against book bans.

In (more) bad civil rights news, an Ohio third grade teacher lost a battle with the state last week when a district court dismissed her book

In a blow to civil liberties, a federal judge has ruled in favor of the state of Ohio (and school book bans) in a case that saw a teacher suspended for keeping YA books with LGBTQ+ characters in her classroom library.

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😳

[lithub]

Return to Jesus Land: Exposing the Institutionalized Cruelty of the “Troubled Teen Industry”

I’m sitting cross-legged on top of a picnic table at Biloxi’s Riverside Park, facing Bay Area writer Julia Scheeres. Behind us the muddy bro

Deirdre Sugiuchi goes on set for the adaptation of Julia Scheeres’ groundbreaking “exvangelical” memoir, Jesus Land, and looks at the horrors of the troubled teen industry.

[djsugi1]

My husband asked me if I’d ever written this publicly about my dad before. I don’t think so, I told him. Lots about my Christian nationalist childhood in this piece.

“I nodded, remembering my

own childhood, unable to watch

the same television shows as other kids, or read the same books, or even wear pants.”

thanks to Jonny Diamond and everyone @literaryhub

#tti #troubledteenindustry #jesusland #unreformed #juliascheeres #deirdresugiuchi #christiannationalism #literaryhub

[lithub]

Return to Jesus Land: Exposing the Institutionalized Cruelty of the “Troubled Teen Industry”

I’m sitting cross-legged on top of a picnic table at Biloxi’s Riverside Park, facing Bay Area writer Julia Scheeres. Behind us the muddy bro

Deirdre Sugiuchi goes on set for the adaptation of Julia Scheeres’ groundbreaking “exvangelical” memoir, Jesus Land, and looks at the horrors of the troubled teen industry.

[djsugi1]

Last Friday’s revue was a great way to celebrate the release of Sharon Harrigan’s memoir Playing with Dynamite. She was joined by local poet extraordinaire Rosalie Moffett and Athens music stalwart Andy Gonzales. Thanks to Deirdre Sugiuchi for emceeing, Avid Bookshop for hosting, and everyone who attended!

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  Scenes from New Town Revue Last Friday's revue was a great way to celebrate the release of Sharon Harrigan's memoir Playing with Dynamite…

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Sharon Harrigan, Rosalie Moffett, and Andy Gonzales to perform October 6

Sharon Harrigan, Rosalie Moffett, and Andy Gonzales to perform October 6

The next New Town Revue will be held Friday, October 6 at Avid Bookshop on Prince. Show starts at 6:30. Looking forward to seeing you! Sharon Harrigan’s work has appeared in the New York Times (Modern Love), Virginia Quarterly Review, Narrative, and elsewhere. She received the Joyce Horton Johnson Award from Key West Literary Seminar and the Kinder Award from Pleiades, as well as fellowships from…

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ENGL 1101: Personal Essays from UGA students

ENGL 1101: Personal Essays from UGA students

Saturday, April 8 will be a special New Town Revue, featuring a selection of personal essays written by UGA English 1101 students. These essays are raw, moving, and powerful, so get ready to rethink your ideas of an English paper and meet some great young writers! Sujith Vadlamudi describes a friend who changed his life; Anna Knittel, on when love turns violent; Ryan Mahon gets kicked out of…

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Writers Resist: Silence

Athens is joining cities across the nation for Writers Resist day, co-sponsored by PEN-America, to focus attention on the ideals of a free, just, and democratic society for all on Sunday, January 15, Martin Luther King’s birthday.  More about national events can be found at writersresist.org. Here is Athens, we will host three events: An all-ages writing workshop at the 493 Prince Ave. location…

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New Town Revue this Friday honors Jeremy Ayers New Town Revue has moved to the Fire Hall (next to Avid Bookshop) for this special evening honoring the work of our dear friend Jeremy Ayers who passed away on October 24th.

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I wrote this review of Jeff Jackson’s Novi Sad for the Fanzine. Loved!

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Coming November 18! New Town Revue has moved to the Fire Hall (next to Avid Bookshop). Thanks to Beth Hall Thrasher for the beautiful flyer.

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New Town Revue coming November 18

New Town Revue coming November 18

We are gearing up for November 18’s New Town Revue, featuring an eclectic mix of multi-talented performers. It will be held in Avid Bookshop from 6:30-7:30. Longtime Athenian Jeremy Ayers will give the first public performance of his new literary work. Ayers is an experimental writer-poet, photographer, activist, and musician. He’s been an integral part of the Athens art and music scene since its…

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New Town with Rob Spillman, Garrard Conley, and Erin Lovett

New Town with Rob Spillman, Garrard Conley, and Erin Lovett

Next week’s New Town features some literary rock stars- Rob Spillman, editor of Tin House and author of the amazing memoir All Tomorrow’s Parties, about a young man discovering his place in the world and in the arts, is reading with Garrard Conley.  Conley, who grew up in a fundamentalist Southern community, wrote a devastating memoir called Boy Erased, about his time in a gay conversion therapy…

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