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The Crazy-Pants Importance of Diversity in Crime Fiction

Diversity NASA SpaceX

Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX Engineer & CEOJust watched the NASA Live: SpaceX In-Flight Abort Test, which is like so many things involving space, made me again feel like the kid who read all those sci-fi novels, who loved the Martian stories of Ray Bradbury, the moon stories of Robert Heinlein, the robot and tech tales of Tanith Lee.

Two other things struck me about watching today’s successful tests of the "Crew Dragon spacecraft’s ability to safely escape the Falcon 9 rocket in the event of an emergency during launch.” (Yes, quoting directly from NASA.)

The first was that of the two main voices heard during the test, one was Marie Lewis, a public affairs officer for NASA and a woman.

The second was learning that Lauren Lyon a mechanical and aerospace engineer and black woman is part of SpaceX.

The third was learning that the CEO of SpaceX is engineer Gwynne Shotwell.

Gwynne Shotwell, Lauren Lyon, Marie Lewis: Why They Are Important

Why are these three things so important to me? Because it’s fuckin’ lonely being the first, the only, the representative, or the sole voice, and to see women in this high tech world is a damned comfort to those who want to be there too. It tells the ten year old girl watching, the twenty year old woman studying science, it tells every person who's been a minority that they don’t always have to be the first, the only.

Diversity matters because it helps dreamers not only dream but to go ahead and do. You can say “I see that someone else did, so I know that I can.” Having the certainty that it’s possible gives strength when things are a struggle, helps keep one brave and moving forward. I know this for a fact because I was that girl and I dreamed of travel of writing of doing and with the aid of my family, who always believed I could, I did.

The Crazy-Pants Importance of Diversity in Crime Fiction

Clan Destine Press knows how important it is to put women, LGBT+ people, disabled people in their own stories. To share their joys and adventures, their mysteries and their passions.

CDP wants so much to know who you are and what you’ve dreamed and done so we can share that with others, whether they’re female, Asian, autistic—or all those things or something more. We want people to know that someone else has done what they dream of doing.

Tell us here in the comments who you are and what you’ve done, so it’s there for the dreamers who want to do. Please?

P.S. Have a look at some great reads that also feature diverse characters over at Love OZ YA!

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  • Maura Lee on

    Since I was eight I loved astronomy and my mom bought me tons of space posters and books and never discouraged me. I may not do it for a living (I build cool websites tho) but I still love it and am grateful to my mom for that!


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