Bullying – Jenny Grace's Poetry and Creative Writing Techniques

Enough! Can the Media be Kind to Meghan Markle?

Okay. Over the weekend, I binge watched You Tube about the goings on in the Royal Family. I certainly extend my heart-felt condolences to the Royals at this time. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was an incredibly kind lady. It appears that she extended kindness to everyone, including Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex.

It goes without saying that I do not know Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, and I probably never will. But, if I did, I most certainly would not speak to her or about her in the vitriolic, hate-filled, and vicious way that media and you tubers do.

I honestly believe that a kind and gracious lady as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was, would highly disapprove of the vitriolic manner in which Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, is being treated.

In honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s memory, I would like to challenge the world media (especially the British media) to extend to Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, the same kindness and generosity of spirit with which the nation’s beloved Queen Elizabeth II had extended to Meghan Markle.

I have to say that some comments about Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, are just plain mean-spirited for the sake of being cruel.

It is as if the media is using its voice as a bully pulpit and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, is their target for abuse.

Of course, she is not perfect; but, then again who is?

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, is an American woman whom Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s grandson Harry chose to marry. He chose; he loves her. That’s their business.

And, whatever the world might speculate about Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, the truth is that she is God’s child and she deserves to be respected if for no other reason than that. She needs no other reason. She is God’s child and she shouldn’t be treated with derision and vitriol.

So, in honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s memory, can the world just agree to be kind to Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex? In fact, why can’t we all just be kind to each other?

This life doesn’t last forever; we lose the people we love, so, let’s be kind.

Be kind. Be kind. And, be kind. Go ahead, try it!

If you’re not sure how to be kind, just watch old news stories about Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and Lady Diana. I think people can learn from them.

Bully Another Day: My Novel

Hi Everyone,

Just a reminder that back in 2020 I self-published my novel.

It is available on Kindle, as well as in paperback. Please take a look at it and let me know what you think. In this great big world, there are so many writers and so many books. So many books address different issues. I believe that what makes my book unique is that I tell the story from the perspective of the alleged “villain.” Johanna is the main character and from some perspectives she might be considered the “villain.” The question I pose is at what point in our society does apathy lead to tragedy. Shouldn’t those people in authority, (teachers, pastors, and parents) have stepped in when Johanna was being bullied? Wasn’t she a victim before she turned into a “villain?” Or was she ever really a “villain”? My story begs the question, as well, how much exactly does our environment and genetic makeup play a role in how we react to our interpretation or misinterpretation of the world around us?

In this book, I examine the impact of bullying on the main character who already suffered from mental illness. I also address the unique social strata in which those who grow up on the “wrong side of the tracks” are treated differently because of having grown up in a mobile home park. That societal discrimination against the poor in contrast to the more wealthy is also addressed in this novel.

I feel very strongly about my novel’s importance in its analysis of social and economic factors which impact those with mental health issues. Do the kids who grow up in a mobile home park (or in any poor part of town) get treated vastly different than those from the wealthier parts of town when they present with mental health issues?

I think we all know the unfortunate truth. Poor people are indeed treated differently. Those with mental health issues are at the mercy of an apathetic world.

How does this apathy pan out in the end?

Who is to blame?

Who is to blame when society fails to step in and care for those among us who are mentally ill?

Please read my novel and let me know what you think.

Thank you so much for your support.

Blessings.

My Novel: Bully another Day

It is hard to believe that it has been almost twenty years ago since a dear family member had been bullied in middle school. The school principal’s solution was to tell this family member to just toughen up, to not be so sensitive. Apparently, the bully had some sort of behavioral problem and therefore was allowed to roam to the terror of the general school public. I guess the bully had more rights than my family member. Thankfully, this family member was able to be home-schooled and is now a successful professional and is almost 32 years old. Thankfully, this family member had the support of family. This family member most certainly did not have the support of the public school system. It had failed miserably then; over twenty years later I see that the public school system continues to fail.

Just last week, there was a school shooting at the high school I graduated from over forty years ago. Granted, back then there were fist fights and disagreements, but never was any firearms involved. I remember our principal was a former United States Marine and ran our high school like we were his troops. We feared him; we respected him; and, we loved him dearly because we knew we were safe under his watch. He was fair. He was compassionate. Above all, he demanded order. He informed us that actions have consequences. He drilled it into us that we alone were responsible for our screw-ups. Nobody else was to blame. That was empowering. We learned that we were in charge of our own actions and those actions had consequences. Period. No excuses. No and, if or buts.

I graduated and went on to college as did the majority of my classmates. Over the years, I have seen former classmates and I have heard them voice the same opinion of our principal. We felt safe. We felt listened to. My high school was in a neighborhood that would be classified today as “inner city.” It was comprised of hard-working, decent people who raised families to respect teachers, to respect police, and to respect oneself. I will be forever proud that I grew up in that neighborhood. It was what would be called today “multicultural.” We just called it home, sweet home.

Returning to my earlier reference to my bullied family member, I began to wonder exactly what the repercussions of bullying has on those who are mentally ill. What if the victim of the bullying is mentally ill? What further damage does that do? What would the consequences be on that bullied person?

This is when I began writing “Bully another Day.” It is a work of fiction. The main character Johanna is mentally disturbed, she gets bullied by three girls in high school, and years later she still holds on to the events. Needless to say, the book explores these ramifications. It includes vengeance, murder, and in the end redemption. It is more of a psychological thriller than a murder mystery, although it is a blending of the two.

Currently, it is only available in hardback. I am arguing with myself about whether to put it on Kindle. I like an actual book. I guess not everyone else does, though.

It is available on Amazon Books. Just search Jenny W. Andrews, Bully another Day.

And please be kind, if you choose to leave a book review.

I wrote this from my heart. It really isn’t about money or fame. I felt that I had this heaviness on my heart, especially when I read about school bullies, and I think back at how things could have turned out differently for my beloved family member had nobody intervened.

It is also heavy on my heart when I think about how things might have gone differently for those involved in school shootings if someone had only stepped forward and intervened.

Finally, if you know someone is being bullied, please say something. It never gets any better, in fact, silence only emboldens a bully. Retaliation, unfortunately, can be the consequence of bullying. These are some things to think about. God have mercy on our children in the public school system. It is indeed a failure. Only God can save it.

Thank you so much for reading.

My Novel: Bully another Day

Hopefully, I have uploaded the cover of my novel correctly. I am uncertain how to create to link it to Amazon Books on my blog. It is not yet on Kindle. Maybe eventually I will put it there. For right now, it is available in just paperback.

Just to give you an idea of the purpose of my novel, it is a work of fiction in which I wanted to explore the impact of bullying on those who already have mental health issues, and/or a genetic predisposition to mental health issues.

I also wanted to explore society’s prejudices against those who do not fit into society’s expectations of how he/she is suppose to be.

The plot is more of a psychological thriller in which the main character is accused of being a serial killer because of her connection to the victims’ daughters who all bullied her at one time or the other.

I don’t want to give away too much of the plot details here. I would very much like to get feedback from others, so if you can buy it and leave a review on Amazon I would be very thankful.

As a writer, my hope is that readers will consider the far-reaching ramifications of bullying.

This novel is very special to me. It took me two decades to put into words my ideas. That sounds like a very, very long time, I know.

At the end of the day, it is my hope that readers consider the absolute necessity of speaking up, doing the right thing, and most importantly being kind to those who live on the outer fringes of what is considered “normal.”

Thank you for reading (and buying my book). I know I will probably need to put it on Kindle. I know that but I like an actual book I can put in my hand. I hope you do too.

Blessings to all.