One of the coolest gifts we can receive while writing our books is more in-depth knowledge about our topic—a deep dive into a subject where we get the opportunity to continue to learn—to discover.

This week on Bound + Determined, I’m chatting with Mike De Socio, author of the new book “Morally Straight: How the Fight for LGBTQ+ Inclusion Changed the Boy Scouts—and America.”

He’s an award-winning independent journalist whose articles on the climate crisis and the LGBTQ community have appeared in the Washington Post, Bloomberg, the Guardian, Fortune, Xtra, YES! Magazine, and more.

Morally Straight is a deeply-reported narrative that illuminates the battle for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Boy Scouts of America, a decades-long struggle led by teenagers, parents, activists, and everyday Americans. Weaving in his own experience as a scout and journalist, Mike tells a story that plays out over the course of twenty-five years, beginning in an era when gay rights were little more than a cultural sideshow; when same-sex marriage was not even on the radar; and when much of the country was recommitting to conservative social mores. It was during this treacherous time that accidental activists emerged, challenging one of America’s most iconic institutions in a struggle that would forever change the country’s view of gay people and the rights they held in society.

In this candid conversation, we discuss:

• Writing for change and activism
• Being IN your writing instead of an observer
• How research plays into your book
• How to weave your personal story as a thread within research and reporting
• Moving from short-form (blogs, articles, newsletters) to long-form writing
• The historical fight for inclusion and LGBTQ+ rights in the Boy Scouts of America

For anyone looking to shine a light on an underrepresented topic, change the narrative, or include interviews or other voices in your book—this interview is for you!