Author sells LGBTQ+ children’s book after store reopens
Paul Castle’s book “The Secret Ingredient” is sold out. (Amazon/@matthewandpaul/TikTok)
Paul Castle’s book is sold out The secret ingredient after a bookstore returned all 100 copies for violating “guidelines.”
A bookstore contacted the TikToker and author (known for his interactive couples content with husband Matthew) to order two boxes of his inclusive children’s book. The secret ingredient.
Castle’s 2023 book is a sequel to the author’s first book in The Pengrooms Series that champions queer and diverse families and follows two married penguins, Pringle and Finn.
“They deliver birthday cakes to their LGBTQ animal friends. Along the way, Pringle and Finn discover the ‘secret ingredients’ of a loving family,” the synopsis reads. “The story culminates in one final birthday party: the literal ‘birthday’ of their own adopted baby penguin!”
However, the bookstore soon returned the order, telling Castle – who is blind – that the person who placed the order was “not fully up to date on our policies.”
“We’ve sent the boxes back to you,” Castle can be heard saying in a text-to-speech audio file shared in a cutscene. “While I find your book very charming, it’s just not something we can carry in our store at this time.”
“We covered the shipping costs,” they added. “All the best.”
After fans called the bookstore’s heartless decision – which came during Pride Month – “heartbreaking,” their followers rallied to purchase the book from Castle.
After the video, Castle’s husband told his partner that he had “sold everything” The secret ingredient.
“This is not a joke,” Matthew reassures his partner. “Hundreds of people are behind you,” adding that eleven bookstores “have written and asked if they can carry it.”
Captioning the video, Matthew wrote: “Thank you for turning this really sad moment into something wonderful, magical and loving.
“We are both truly overwhelmed by the response. The returned books were purchased, and MANY more.
“In fact, our stock is temporarily sold out, but a new shipment is on the way (you can still place an order).
“Thank you for supporting his dreams and making him smile. We are both so grateful.”
You can buy Paul Castle’s book, The secret ingredient here and The Pengrooms Here.
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