Backlash to Simon & Schuster imprint Threshold Editions's deal with controversial Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos continues to mount in the weeks after the announcement that Yiannopoulos reportedly received a $250,000 advance for his book, Dangerous, which will publish on March 14. While free speech organizations have condemned boycotts of the publisher promised by some bookstores and media outlets, and other bookstores will only order the book if it is specially requested, a new protest has popped up within S&S's own ranks, as more than 160 children's book authors and illustrators have signed a letter to S&S CEO and president Carolyn Reidy protesting the deal.

The letter, which was released Thursday morning, was initially organized by S&S children's book creators who are clients of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency, but has grown to encompass writers and illustrators across the industry. Signees include Newbery, Caldecott, and National Book Award honorees plus Arun Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, who, according to the release, texted his signature from India.

"This is not an issue of advocating or suppressing free speech, as Mr. Yiannopoulos has a broad internet broadcasting platform and the support of many extremist organizations and publications," the letter reads. "His voice is certainly being heard, and it is a voice of hate that stirs its followers to emotional, verbal, and physical violence directed at anyone who disagrees or speaks to the contrary."

It continues: "As Simon & Schuster authors and illustrators who are already published, with books in the release pipeline, with contracts in place, we do not have to quietly accept or assent to this “Gleichschaltung,” this getting in line with fascism and making it mainstream."

An S&S spokesperson said that the company received the letter and that the publisher "appreciate[s] and respect[s] the feelings and opinions of our authors."

Among the signatories are Cassandra Clare, Laurie Halse Anderson, Christian Robinson, Dan Santat, Marla Frazee, Ellen Hopkins, and Rachel Renée Russell.

“I believe these authors and illustrators were motivated by the belief that by banding together to make a public statement, they will provide courage to others who are faced with similar dilemmas,” agent Erin Murphy said in a statement. “Simon and Schuster is their publishing family. They could not remain silent.”

The full text of the letter is below.

To Carolyn Reidy and the Leadership of Simon & Schuster, and to All the Readers and Supporters of Books for Children:

We, as Simon & Schuster children’s and YA authors and illustrators, have deep respect for our publisher, our editors, and the Simon & Schuster Children's Division, which we believe strives to publish the strongest, most diverse list it can acquire, for the betterment of literature and children everywhere.

Sadly, we cannot extend this same respect to Simon & Schuster's Threshold imprint following their decision to lend the legitimacy of this publisher's venerable brand to hate-monger Milo Yiannopoulos. Threshold has placed Simon & Schuster's considerable reputation and weight behind one of the most prominent faces of the newly repackaged white supremacist/white nationalist movement and financially supported a man who routinely denigrates, verbally attacks, and directs dangerous internet doxxing and hate campaigns against women, minorities, LGBTQ individuals, Muslims, and anyone he chooses to target who supports equality and human decency. Irrespective of the content of this book, by extending a mainstream publication contract, Threshold has chosen to legitimize this reprehensible belief system, these behaviors, and white supremacy itself.

Additionally, they have associated all of Simon & Schuster with it, and therefore weakened the reach of the many other brilliant imprints that daily attempt to contribute to humanity instead of destroy it.

This is not an issue of advocating or suppressing free speech, as Mr. Yiannopoulos has a broad internet broadcasting platform and the support of many extremist organizations and publications. His voice is certainly being heard, and it is a voice of hate that stirs its followers to emotional, verbal, and physical violence directed at anyone who disagrees or speaks to the contrary. Insinuating that people who protest this terrible decision wish to suppress free speech is gaslighting.

As Simon & Schuster authors and illustrators who are already published, with books in the release pipeline, with contracts in place, we do not have to quietly accept or assent to this “Gleichschaltung,” this getting in line with fascism and making it mainstream. We reject the wisdom of this decision. This man, and this book, are not America. This man, and this book, are not the bulk of Simon & Schuster. This man, and this book, are not us, the authors and illustrators of Simon & Schuster. We believe that the children we write for deserve a better America.

We the undersigned pledge to continue to advocate tolerance, acceptance, love, diversity, and equality, and respectfully ask you to take an irrefutable stand against hate.

Sincerely,

Adam Rex

Adrienne Maria Vrettos

Alexandra Diaz

Alexis O’Neill

Alice Faye Duncan

Amber J. Keyser

Amber Smith

Amy Martin

Amy Reed

Amy Schimler-Safford

Ann Whitford Paul

Anne Bustard

Anne Marie Pace

Angela DiTerlizzi

Ariel Bernstein

Arthur Salm

Arun Gandhi

Ashley Wolff

Bagram Ibatoulline

Barbara Bottner

Becky Wallace

Ben Clanton

Beth Kephart

Bethany Hegedus

Betty G. Birney

Bonnie Adamson

Brenda Maier

Brendan Kiely

Brooke Boynton Hughes

Carlyn Beccia

Cassandra Clare

CG Watson

Chelsea Pitcher

Chris Barton

Christian Robinson

Christopher Denise

Colin Jack

Corey Rosen Schwartz

Courtney Pippin-Mathur

Curtis Manley

Cynthia Levinson

Dan Krall

Dan Richards

Dan Santat

Dana Walrath

Dashka Slater

Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Deborah Freedman

Deborah Hopkinson

Debra Frasier

Denise Fleming

Dhonielle Clayton

Diana Sudyka

Doreen Cronin

Elana K. Arnold

Elizabeth Rose Stanton

Elizabeth Schoonmaker

Ellen Hopkins

Ellen Oh

Ellen Wittlinger

Elsie Chapman

Eric Fan

Eric Wight

Erica Silverman

Evan Turk

Geraldine McCaughrean

Greg Foley

Gretchen McLellan

Heidi Stemple

Holly Black

Imogen Howson

Isaiah Campbell

IW Gregorio

J. Anderson Coats

Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman

James Dashner

Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Jane Yolen

Jason Reynolds

Jim Averbeck

Jim Murphy

Joanne Rocklin

Joe Berger

Joyce Wan

Judith Rossell

Judy Sierra

Karen Romano Young

Kari Anne Holt

Kate Berube

Kathi Appelt

Katy Grant

Kelly DiPucchio

Kevin Sylvester

Kristin L. Gray

Laura Lascarso

Laurel Neme

Lauren Stringer

Laurie Ann Thompson

Laurie Halse Anderson

Lee Gjertsen Malone

Linda Davick

Lisa Congdon

Lisa Mantchev

Lisa Maxwell

Lisa McMann

Lisa Schroeder

Liz Garton Scanlon

Loren Long

Lori Degman

Louise Hawes

Luke Reynolds

Maggie Thrash

Margaret Peterson Haddix

Margery Cuyler

Maria Gianferrari

Marion Dane Bauer

Marla Frazee

Mary Casanova

Mary Lyn Ray

Mary Peterson

Max Brallier

Meg Fleming

Meg Wiviott

Megan Atwood

Melanie Crowder

Nancy Raines Day

Nicole Castroman

Nina Laden

Phil Bildner

Phoebe Wahl

R.J. Anderson

Rachel Renée Russell

Raquel Jaramillo

Rebecca Behrens

Rhonda (Helms) Stapleton

Rob Sanders

Robert Imfeld

Robin Stevens

Sarah Albee

Sarah Aronson

Sarah L. Thomson

Sarah Lariviere

Scott Campbell

Sonya Sones

Stacy DeKeyser

Stephanie Graegin

Steven Henry

Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

Sue Lowell Gallion

Susan Goldman Rubin

Susan Hood

Susan R. Vaught

Tammi Sauer

Tara Lazar

Terry Fan

Terry Pierce

Tim Floreen

Todd Hasak-Lowy

Tom Lichtenheld

Tony DiTerlizzi

Uma Krishnaswami

Vanessa Brantley Newton

The article has been edited for clarity.