Knowing you can and will survive a rough patch is sometimes the best way to triumph during a difficult time.  With that in mind, a new anthology, "The Letter Q: Queer Writers' Notes to Their Younger Selves," tries to provide the support young LGBT youth need as they traverse the difficult terrain of sexual identity.

The idea for the book came from Brooklyn teacher, Sarah Moon who came out as gay when she was 14-years-old.  She remembers longing for others like her and once she became a teacher it became clear that for LGBT youth today they share the same sentiment of wanting community and to know that they will survive their transition.  "I just wanted to know that someone else had come before me, and they felt the way that I felt. That they survived it," she said. 

The anthology features stories and illustrations from 64 writers and artists including young adult writers like David Levithan and Jacqueline Woodson. As the concept is a reflecting back to yesteryear, the writers give sage advice that is meant to reassure their younger selves. For example, Malinda Lo, a young adult fantasy novelist writes "the possibility of love terrifies you.... And maybe, right now, you're not ready for it yet." Of the anthology and the other contributions she says that "the overall theme that came out for me was that you will find love, which I found really moving and wonderful." 

Arthur Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic and the publisher of the book, will donate half of the royalties to the Trevor Project, a nonprofit group working to prevent suicide amongst LGBT youth.