It's time for arrest, dear rebels.

Let's calm our bodies, quiet our minds, and release our worries out into the world.

Take a deep breath in, and release.

Ah.

You can even close your eyes if you like.

Now imagine that all around you is deep purple light.

It's like a cocoon, close and warm, soft. Relax into this calm space as we tell you the

story of a remarkable rebel named Roxanne Gay. Roxanne is a powerful writer and storyteller.

She finds words and ideas everywhere.

And a spark of a smile, the shiver of a cool breeze, or the rush of emotions. She weaves together stories from careful observation,

threads of memory, and bits of fantasy.

In her writing, she creates characters that are out of this world.

Literally. I should know because creates characters that are out of this world.

Literally.

I should know because my name's Claire and I'm

one of Roxanne's characters.

Though my world is imagined, I stand for real ideas and convictions, like trusting your gut and finding light even in the darkest night.

Roxanne brought me and many other characters to life with her words.

Now, let's get in to her story.

Imagine a four-year-old Roxanne with two tiny pigtails in her hair, big brown eyes, and a pen in her hand. She is sitting at her

family's kitchen table in Omaha, Nebraska, drawing on a napkin. She plots out houses and roads,

a winding river, and some fluffy clouds.

...