PEN America Launches Safety Program for Harassed Authors

New initiative aims to provide training and resources to writers facing abuse and threats

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:51pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a writer's desk with a laptop, pen, and notebook, composed entirely of soft pools of warm color and light, conceptually representing the need to protect authors' freedom of expression.The new PEN America safety program aims to shield authors from the growing threat of harassment and censorship, allowing them to focus on their creative work.Columbus Today

PEN America, a free expression organization, has announced the launch of the U.S. Safety Program to support authors facing a growing trend of harassment and censorship. The program will provide safety training and other resources for writers amid a wave of threats and abuse, both online and at in-person events.

Why it matters

The literary community has seen a rise in harassment and censorship targeting authors, illustrators, and translators, forcing some to choose between their safety and their voice. This new initiative by PEN America aims to empower writers and protect their ability to freely express themselves.

The details

The U.S. Safety Program will be funded by contributions from major publishers like Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, and Penguin Random House. It will build on PEN's existing digital safety workshops and provide a range of professional resources to help writers deal with threats to their safety. Authors like Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Egan, and Lee Child will be auctioning off character names to raise money for the program.

  • PEN America announced the launch of the U.S. Safety Program on April 10, 2026.

The players

PEN America

A century-old free expression organization that is launching the U.S. Safety Program to support authors facing harassment and threats.

Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf

The co-chief executive officer of PEN America, who stated that writers should not have to choose between their safety and their voice.

Viktorya Vilk

The director of PEN's digital safety efforts, who has noticed a rise in harassment against journalists and the spread of such abuse to writers and educators.

Ashley Hope Pérez

An author whose young adult novel 'Out of Darkness' became a target for censors, leading her to take down her office email and telephone due to hate mail and ugly phone calls.

David Shelley

The CEO of Hachette Book Group, who stated that there have probably never been as many threats to authors' safety as there are currently in the U.S.

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What they’re saying

“We have heard from countless authors, illustrators, and translators who are under siege, fending off a steady stream of abuse and threats, online and at book events.”

— Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, Co-chief Executive Officer, PEN America

“I got hate mail and all kinds of ugly phone calls.”

— Ashley Hope Pérez, Author

“There have probably never been as many threats to authors' safety as there are currently in the U.S.”

— David Shelley, CEO, Hachette Book Group

What’s next

PEN America will be building on other programs from recent years, including digital safety workshops held for Hachette authors in 2023. The organization will also be auctioning off character names from authors like Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Egan, and Lee Child to raise funds for the U.S. Safety Program.

The takeaway

This new initiative by PEN America highlights the growing challenges faced by the literary community, as authors increasingly find themselves targets of harassment, abuse, and censorship. By providing safety training and resources, the U.S. Safety Program aims to empower writers and protect their ability to freely express themselves, ensuring that they do not have to choose between their safety and their voice.