In an effort to help create inclusivity for LGBTQ athletes in all sports, Jolly Fish Press (JFP) has partnered with You Can Play in an unprecedented sale event starting from June 21 through June 30, 2016; in this event, Mia Siegert’s highly-acclaimed debut, Jerkbait, will be placed on sale at a 30% discount. For every copy of the book sold via this event, JFP will contribute $1 to You Can Play’s much-needed cause.
“As an organization co-founded by hockey players and hockey fans, we at You Can Play could not be prouder to partner with Jerkbait. We are grateful for the visibility that the book has given to the topic of LGBT inclusion in sports,” says You Can Play co-founder Glenn Witman.
“Partnering with You Can Play via Mia Siegert’s momentous debut in a joint effort to push for equality,” says JFP publisher Christopher Loke, “is an honor for everyone here at JFP. If there’s any work of fiction this year that brings our attention to the challenges and struggles LGBTQ athletes face in the world of sports, Jerkbait is that book. This event does not only provides every youth, parent, and educator the chance to read Jerkbait, it also give us the opportunity to give back to the LGBTQ community as a company.”
From June 21 through June 30, JFP and You Can Play invite readers to visit the event site online at www.jollyfishpress.com/titles/jerkbait.html where readers will be prompted to participate in the sale event. A special promo code will then be delivered to their email inboxes so they may finalize their purchase of the book with the 30% sale price. Readers who purchase Jerkbait via the event will also be receiving a special thank you note and autographed bookplate from the author.
Since its release in May, Jerkbait has been receiving endorsements and stellar reviews from former NFL player Chris Kluwe, former NHL player Patrick O’Sullivan, and Publishers Review to name a few. Barnes & Noble has listed it as one of the twelve most-anticipated indie books of 2016, while Goodreads has named the book as one of the six best books in May.
“Growing up as a gay hockey player,” Witman adds, “I know firsthand how homophobic a locker room can be and how difficult this is for a young person to experience. We need more people to step up and talk about homophobia in sports, which is exactly why books like Jerkbait are so important. Athletes rely on the support of their friends, family, and their teammates, no matter if they are gay or straight. Our hope is that together, LGBT athletes and allies alike, we can make sports venues and locker rooms safe for all athletes rather than places of fear, slurs, and bullying.”
For more information, contact Shelley Jones at publicity@jollyfishpress.com.
