More Than 130 Authors Join Everytown for Gun Safety to Create the Everytown Authors Council, Rallying Readers to Support Ending Gun Violence

NEW YORK – Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention non-profit in the country, with more than three million supporters, today announced the launch of the Everytown Authors Council, a group of more than 130 authors dedicated to ending gun violence. The group is open to authors, illustrators and editors; agents; and others deeply connected to the literary community. The Council is designed to harness the power of the literary community to amplify the gun safety movement. The group will use its collective reach and cultural influence to support common-sense solutions proven to save lives from the gun violence that claims 93 American lives every day and injures hundreds more.

“One of the loveliest perks of being an author is knowing that you have an audience of readers who actually want to hear what you have to say, and who trust you to take them on a journey – no matter where it might be – to learn, inspire and feel deeply,” said Jodi Picoult, a founding member of the Everytown Authors Council. “It is because of this that authors are singularly suited to speak out on the need for common-sense gun laws, and to tell the stories of those who have been devastated by gun violence in this country. Our job as writers is to get people to engage and to start talking – and this is a conversation we as a nation badly need to have.”

The Council will take its first official action in late May, when its members are set to urge followers to pledge to #WearOrange on June 2 for National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Fans who pledge to #WearOrange will be entered into a drawing for an autographed book. The authors will announce the winners of the drawing on June 2. Everytown Authors Council member Jodi Picoult is judging a Teen Vogue Wear Orange essay contest on gun violence as part of her work with the Everytown Authors Council – the winner of which will be announced on June 2 as part of the Wear Orange campaign.

“Great writing has the power to move and inspire – and it’s inspiring, too, to hear such a celebrated group of storytellers lending their voices to the growing chorus for gun safety,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “The talent and reach of this Council will get even more Americans thinking, talking, and taking action, all toward our shared goal – saving lives from gun violence.”

A full list of the more than 130 members of the Everytown Authors Council is available here.