Tayari's Blog: April 2005
April 29, 2005
Report (not) From The Road: Urbana, IL
Last night was my reading and launch party here in Urbana, IL. "Popular" wisdom is that artists never get love at home. Well, whoever came up with that theory wasn't at the event last night. What a great night, what a great crowd, what a great town.
April 28, 2005
Report from (not the) Road: Champaign, IL
Sweet Celeste Quinn interviewed me this afternoon for afternoon magazine for FM580 WILL here in Champaign-Urbana.
Yesterday, after reading my blog entry on larngytis, she called me on the phone. After I croaked, "Hello", she said, "Are you going to be up to an interview tomorrow?"
I assured her I was, but she didn't sound so optimistic. "You sound pretty bad."
MORE ON MY THROAT
When I started this blog, I swore up and down that this would not be a space used to work out my various obsession and fixations. But this larngytis thing is really getting me down. I was up all night, and am still up this morning. Finally, after a middle-of-the-night cyber chat with Cydney Rax, I decided to get proactive.
LATE-NIGHT JITTERS
It's 1:40am. I've turned my phone off so that I will be able to rest my voice. I boiled up a horrible concoction, politely known as "grapefruit tea." So far, I've downed two pots of it. I've been to the doctor. (Lord, I hate going to the doctor.) I've taken my medicine right on time. I WILL BE READING TOMORROW. I WILL, I WILL!
April 27, 2005
Yet Another Milestone?
Frat Files is a service that provides "sample" research papers for college students. The idea isn't that the students would print off the papers and turn them in as their own. No, never! For that would be cheating.
Well, I am ... surprised, weirdly pleased, a somewhat disturbed.. to find that there is a Frat File for Leaving Atlanta. I'm dying to read the essay, but I can't bring myself to pay the $17.95 for a 30-day trial membership.
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Category:
The Writing Life
April 26, 2005
Laryngitis: If It Ain't One Thang...
I've lost my voice. I don't mean in the sort of philosphical sense. I mean in the literal sense. I can't talk. What a thing to happen smack in the middle of book tour.
April 24, 2005
Report From The Road: NYC (Uptown)
The setting: Chocolat a funky uptown martini bar, on the corner of 111th St. and Fifth Avenue. Yes, that's Harlem. What a great event.
April 23, 2005
Report From The Road: NYC (downtown)
Last night I read with Maude Newton the blogista and novelist at Bluestockings book on the lower east side. It was a really cool event.
April 20, 2005
MORE POETRY! MORE! MORE!
Linda Beirds came to Champaign-Urbana today to share her lovely poetry, First Hand. It's a book of verse about science. Contrary to popular opinion, poetry and science are not mutually exclusive. Beirds gives us the poetry in science and of course, the science of poetry.
April 17, 2005
It's Review Season: The Washington Post
This is just in from The Washington Post. Kind of exciting.
Report From The Road: Baltimore, MD
Yesterday, I found myself at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in downtown Baltimore as part of the CityLit Festival. It was an eccelectic event. Three venues for presentations all happening at the same time. It was an energetic event. Not what you expect from a public library... and for the most part, this was a good thing.
April 16, 2005
Report From The Road: Hyattsville, MD
Yesterday, I read a Karibu Books in P.G. Mall. When I arrived at six in the evening, the store was bustling. People of all ages browsed the shelves, picking up books, deciding what to buy. I have to tell you that it did my heart good to see an black indepedent book store popping on a Friday evening. I know they NEA says reading is on the decline, but if what I saw last night is any indication, it's making a comeback in PG County.
April 15, 2005
Report From The Road: College Park, MD
It was a Poet's Ball last night at The University of Maryland.
Major Jackson, author of Leaving Saturn and I read as part of the Here and Now Reading Series. Dinner was with more poets than you can shake a stick at, including Stanley Plumly and Michael Collier (aka The Silver Fox.)
April 14, 2005
WIN A COPY OF THE UNTELLING!
What will they think of next? My publisher, Warner Books, is giving away five free copies of The Untelling. All you have to do is answer a little trivia question.
April 12, 2005
CHOCOLAT LITERARY SERIES
I know that the usual procedure is that I blog AFTER events, but when my publicist sent me this cool invite for the Chocolat Reading Series, I just had to post it. If you will be in NYC on Saturday April 23, I hope you will try and make it. Don't forget to RSVP!
And speaking of NYC, I'll be reading on Friday April 22, at Blue Stockings
April 10, 2005
Report From The Road: Oxford, MS
I'm just back from the Oxford Conference on the Book. Not the most diverse writers event I've ever attended. (What's the deal with these self-identified "southern" events??) But at the end of the conference, I can say that I am glad that I went. It's always great to visit Square Books, the coolest indie bookstore in the region. Jamie, Lynn, and Katie make it obvious that for some people, bookselling is not just a job-- for them, it's a calling.
April 09, 2005
Report From The Road: Birmingham, AL
This entry should be subtitled, "In Praise of Brian Ingram." He was my host in Birmingham as I visited the city to participate in the Red Mountain Reading Series. I arrived smack in the middle of a tornado watch, but there was Brian, waiting at the gate.
April 06, 2005
Report From The Road: Cincinatti Airport
Well, here I am, at Laptop Lane at the Cincinatti Aiport, using a computer for like a dollar a minute. Why? Afterall, I was just home about two hours ago. Well, being on the road makes me lonely as I-don't-know what. Lonliness is pretty bad in general but airport lonliness is the worst.
Tomorrow, I'll be in Birmingham, reading at Jefferson State at 11pm. At 8:30 or so, I'll be making an appearance on Good Day Alabama. If you're in the area, tune in. If you have Tivo, tape it. I've never seen myself on TV. (A friend took a snapshot of a television on which I was appearing, but it's not quite the same.)
Anyway, I checked my blog comments and there was a note from Mrs. Patricia Ramon, the only teacher in my high school who noticed that I was sharing the planet with her. The message, "I am so proud of you."
Thanks for the love, Mrs. Ramon. Today and way back in 1986 when I needed it even more than I do now.
April 01, 2005
Billboard?
When you have a book coming out, everyone who loves you has an opinion on the best way to market it. Even people who don't love you have thoughts on the matter. Many a stranger, having somehow gotten wind of what I am up to has advised: What you need to do is call Oprah.
Anyway, my dad, not one to be to be left out or outdone, has a bright idea of his own: We'll get you a billboard!