Tayari's Blog: February 2005
February 25, 2005
My Galleys Are Being Sold on Ebay
I was cruisng half.com today and what do I see... advanced copies of The Untelling. I can't help but wonder who these people are and why they are so hot to unload my precious second novel!
Posted at 09:04 PM | ![[comments]](http://www.tayarijones.com/images/comments.gif){kind=small}
Comments (4)
Category:
The Writing Life
February 24, 2005
SOUNDING THE ALARM
Writers of ficition, just in case you've forgotten: THIS THE YOUR LAST WEEKEND BEFORE THE NEA GRANT DEADLINE OF MARCH 1. It's an easy application and the prize is $20,000.
Applying for the NEA is like buying lotto tickets. You gotta pay to win.
Posted at 07:48 PM | Comments (1)
Category:
The Writing Life
February 20, 2005
Crackpots, by Sara Pritchard
I was lucky enough to meet Sara Pritchard at the Bread Loaf Writers Conference a couple of years ago. She was easy to pick out of the crowd with her sparkly cat-eye glasses and thrift-chic wardrobe.
February 17, 2005
Swan Song For Leaving Atlanta
Over the last two years, I have given over one hundred readings from Leaving Atlanta, my first novel. Today, I gave what will likely be the last reading from that novel as I will soon begin my reading tour for The Untelling. I will always be grateful to the students and faculty of Clayton State College and University for making my final reading of Leaving Atlanta one that will nourish me in the spirit-trying months ahead.
Posted at 09:02 PM | Comments (1)
Category:
The Writing Life
February 15, 2005
Open Letter to Audrey on Writers Colonies
Dear Audrey,
Before you leave for your residency at the Vermont Studio Center, take a moment to listen to this advice from someone who has been around the colony-block.
Posted at 03:23 PM | Comments (2)
Category:
The Writing Life
February 13, 2005
Where Do I Write?
Although writing is a sacred activity for me, my writing room is the second-grubbiest space in my home. Luckily, my muse is no diva.
Posted at 04:45 PM | Comments (1)
Category:
The Writing Life
February 12, 2005
The Writer Reviews
When the editor of the Book section of The Washington Post asks you to do a review, you say "yes." When he asks you just weeks before your own novel is published, you say "hell yes."
February 11, 2005
A Novel That I Love Is Out of Print
There is a novel I love called Dying Young. It's a gorgeous read. Brilliant on so many levels-- an alomst palpable sense of place, delicious writing, and an unflinching examination of class/gender/love/death. It's pretty obvious that I am a devoted fan-- not a reader, but a FAN-- of the author, Mari Liembach who surprised me last week with an email. I’m not too fabulous to admit that I was thrilled to pieces to hear from her. She told me, among other things, that Dying Young is out of print. I can’t believe it.
February 10, 2005
Photo Credit
Every author needs a really good publicity picture. As of November 1, I still didn’t have one and the copy deadline was just two weeks away. Whose fault was this? Well, there are a lot of possible answers to this question, but there is one thing upon which all parties can agree—I was not to blame.
Posted at 09:41 AM | Comments (3)
Category:
The Writing Life
February 09, 2005
Thoughts on the 2nd Novel
In April, I will publish The Untelling, my second novel. Most writers will agree that the second novel is always harder to write than the first one. This is true. In a way.
The glory of the first novel—for most people—is that it is a piece written without the input of publishers, agents, or any other market-driven forces. During the three years I spent working on Leaving Atlanta, I had an idea to write a triple-voiced coming of age narrative based on my experiences growing up in Atlanta during the child murders. The middle section of the novel is written entirely in the second person using a sort of elevated diction. Not exactly the expected fare in a story with an eleven year old protagonist. But the beauty of the first novel is that I didn’t know that publishers were often afraid to commit to something new and untested. I had no idea that my first agent would kick me to the curb for refusing the try and sell the novel as a YA project. Who knew that twenty-two publishers would be weirded out by the middle section- the one with the big words freaky POV? Not me.
February 08, 2005
Essence Magazine
It's true-- I will be featured in the April issue of Essence Magazine. And if what we have seen in previous issues of Essence is any indication, I'll be so beautiful even my own mother won't recognize me.
Black Expressions Book Club
More good news! The Untelling has been chosen as a Main Selection for the Black Expressions Book Club. This means that everyone who forgets to mail back her "no thanks" card, like it or not, gets a copy of The Untelling.