Feminism is NOT a bad word!

As I get ready to participate in the inaugural San Jose Book Festival on September 12, 2026 - I am reflecting on what words I use to describe my books whenever someone inquires about them. Fiction is the number one adjective, usually followed by a coming-of-age story. However, a feminist point-of-view story is also accurate. Unfortunately, I have often found myself steering away from that descriptor in the same way that a lot of women creatives steer away from "chick-lit" and "chick flicks" for the simple and innane reason that it might "scare" away male audiences. Well, after recently graduating from the Hoffman Process (a life-changing, self-empowering weeklong retreat of self discovery) this past July, I vow to never again allow anyone or anything to make me feel that I have to make myself small in order to be accepted or liked. Because good story-telling is good story-telling. Period.

Recently, a friend shared a funny and extremely insightful social media post that beautifully captured how stealthily indoctrinated and, dare I say - brainwashed, through seemingly "innocent" fairytales we have all become. For CENTURIES!

Don't get me wrong - I too grew up loving these stories, but as I always say - Words matter! And once you know - you can't un-know.

"Those stories are just another method that has been used throughout history to keep women silent. . . All of these ideas perpepuate the notion that women cannot be trusted, and they cannot trust themselves. . . We were taught to believe that questioning a structure or authority is very bad and completely frowned upon. . . Women are taught to be grateful for what is 'good enough' and to believe that if they do want more, it is dangerous. . . But it is not dangerous to women, themselves, or to the common good. No! It is dangerous to the status quo and male-dominated institutions. If women were to fully own and unleash their power, civilizations would be transformed. The world as we know it would disintegrate if societies were motivated by, what have traditionally been considered women's values. Children would be fed, clothed, and educated, corrupt governments would collapse, and wars would end."

~ HIGH WATER by Patty Flores Reinhart