Tayari's Blog: August 2005
August 30, 2005
Katrina Devastates The Gulf Coast
Everyone, I am posting again. Please make a donation. Think of families like this one in Biloxi:
"The house just split in half. We got up the roof and the water came and just opened up, divided," still visibly shaken Mr Jackson told America's ABC television."My wife, I can't find her body, she gone."
"I held her hand tight as I could and she told me 'you can't hold me'. She said, 'take care of the kids and the grandkids'," Mr Jackson said.
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August 29, 2005
Hurricane Katrina
I am sure you all have seen the photos of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. I was especially moved by the photos of people taking refuge in the Superdome. You know, there is a lot of mythology about folks in New Orleans refusing to evacuate during a hurricane. I have heard lots of stories about the so-called "hurricane parties." But look at the photos from the Superdome. The real reason people don't get themselves out of harm's way is that they don't have the money.
Posted at 09:18 PM | Comments (22)
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August 28, 2005
The Women of Brewster Place
You know, we all spend a lot of time reading new books, but sometimes it's good to revisit the classics. I assigned this book to my graduate class, "The Craft Of Fiction." I had forgotten how very good this book is.
August 27, 2005
August Wilson Is Gravely Ill
African-American playwright, August Wilson, has been diagnosed with liver cancer. It is said that he has only weeks to live. As many of you know, he has written ten plays, including "Fences", "The Piano Lesson," "Miss Evers Boys," and many others. Each play dramatizes a different decade in Black life. (1900-1990). The last of the plays, "Radio Golf," is playing at the Taper Theatre in LA. Let us all send thoughts, prayers, energy to Mr. Wilson. He is a national treasure.
Posted at 09:01 AM | Comments (1)
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August 26, 2005
Forgive Me For Speaking in Code
Whoops. There was something posted here earlier. You'll see it's gone now. I just found out that I am not suppossed to tell anyone about it until October 15th. So, if you did see it, pretend that you didn't. (wink)
Posted at 12:11 PM | Comments (1)
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August 24, 2005
No TV for me!
In my post a month ago about Confessions of a Video... I mentioned that I do not own a television. Some people responded as though I had said that I don't own a refrigerator...
Posted at 04:00 PM | Comments (8)
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The Writing Life
August 23, 2005
72-Hour Hold by Bebe Moore Campbell
While I was stranded on the runway at O'Hare I read Bebe Moore Campbell's new novel, 72-Hour Hold. My overall impression is that this is certainly a book worth reading.
August 22, 2005
Report From The Road: Chicagoland
This was a rough weekend. The Thrilla in Manilla was unexpectedly relocated to San Francisco and I spent most of the weekend in the ring! All was not lost. I almost got to meet George Kellyfrom Negrophile and I did get to spend some time in Hotel Monaco, my favorite SF spot! At 4 am, I headed to the airport because I had a 6 am flight. Why did I leave so early? Because I had to meet with the YOU GO GIRL bookclub in Chicago. I had such a good time.
August 18, 2005
Hitting the Road
Hi Folks, just a note to let you know that I am going to be off-blog for the rest of the week. My aunt, Ruth Garland Dewson is the producer of the play, "Crowns", in San Francisco! This is very exciting as she is the first black woman to produce a major play in that city. So, I am taking a weekend to visit with her and see the play. I don't know how much email access I'll have when I am way. And don't forget that Sunday, I'll be at AfriWare Books in Oak Park, IL!
Posted at 09:27 AM | Comments (1)
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August 15, 2005
JOY CASTRO
My good friend, Joy Castro, has written a terrific memoir called THE TRUTH BOOK about her experiences being raised as a Jehovah's witness. (And before you can ask, YES, she explains that door-to-door thing.) Here's a description that I've lifted from her site:
An unflinching and indelible personal account of a young girl who endured abuse and the disturbing effects of religious hypocrisy within one of the most enigmatic sects of Christian fundamentalism.Adopted at birth by a family of Jehovah's Witnesses, Joy Castro ran away at fourteen. Now a professor of literature, she has written a literary memoir that explores the fragile intersections of gender, identity, sexuality, religion, violence, ethnicity, and the body.
Please visit her new web site. And then email her and tell her how lovely it is and how we can't wait for her to start blogging. She's new to this published author thing. All encouragement is welcome. And don't forget to tell her I sent you!
August 14, 2005
Coming to Chicagoland!
The You Go Girl Book Club of Chicago have invited me to do a reading/signing/discussion! The women of YGG are hosting, but everyone is welcome to attend. Here's the info:
Sunday, August 21. 3:00 pm - Oak Park, IL
Afri-Ware Bookstore
948 Lake Street
708-524-8398
Reading, Discussion, Signing
I hope to see you there.
August 13, 2005
Oppportunity For Writers
Hi Folks. I just thought I would give a heads up for the Illinois Artists Grants. The deadline is in about two weeks. Also, for folks in other states, please know that pretty much all U.S. states give yearly grants to artists. There is generally no fee to apply, you just send in a sample and fill out the application. The grants range from $3000-10,000. I found a page that links to all the state arts commisions. You can go to the appropriate site and nose around. But hurry. The deadlines are all soon.
Posted at 11:53 AM | Comments (0)
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The Writing Life
August 12, 2005
Just a Random Thing
I was feeling down on myself about not being productive enough... anyway, I had a little mishap with my computer. (I accidentally popped off one of the keycovers.) Anyway, as I was trying to reattatch it.. this took ALL day, but it was the letter A. I needed to have that key fixed.. Anyway, as I was trying to reattach it, I realized that I have WORN the letters off almost all the keycovers on my keyboard. And this made me feel good about myself. (smile)
Posted at 09:25 PM | Comments (1)
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The Writing Life
When Your Book Becomes a Needy Relative
Every has them, needy relatives who ALWAYS need some help. Maybe their rent is due, or they need you to so-sign on something, or maybe they just need you to babysit. You get the idea. And for these relatives, whom you love dearly, there is ALWAYS something that you can do to help them. A book can be like that.
Posted at 02:33 PM | Comments (1)
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The Writing Life
August 09, 2005
So You Want To Write Full-Time?
That's what I used to think. And it's what I did from 2001-2004. It was a heady time. When people said "What do you do?" I would lower my eyelashes and coo, "I'm a novelist." They'd then ask, "What's your day job?" Then I got to say, "No day job."
But between me and you, the full-time writer thing isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Posted at 09:05 PM | Comments (8)
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The Writing Life
August 08, 2005
A New Bit of Info on the Child Murders Case
That AJC reported recently that there are tapes which may link white supremacists groups to the Atlanta Child Murders. I actually remember these tapes being played on the news about fifteen years ago. It's a trip to see how reading the names brings back memories. The missing child mentioned in this article is Lubie Geter. Just reading the name makes me remember. While in Atlanta this weekend I met two women who wanted to talk to me aboout growing up in ATL during this terrible time. Everytime I talk to people whose childhoods overlapped with my own I write their stories down in the book I carry with me in my heart.
NBBCC: Who Was There?
I have never seen such a broad cross-section of the African American literary scene. It was really interesting. Black folks who write everything from "urban lit" to romances to mysteries to memoir.. everyone was there.
National Black Book Club Conference
Home at last! This weekend was great, but the National Black Book Club Conference was so intense and hometown visits always have a little bit of extra drama. I am beat down tired and rejuvinated at the same time.
The National Book Club Conference offers authors and readers a rare opportunity to really connect. It was such a unique experience.. I'll try to let you know how it was. Let me warn you.. it will probably take more than one post.
August 04, 2005
Report From The Road: NBBCC
Hi everyone, I am writing from Atlanta, my natural habitat. I'm here for the National Black Book Club Conference. The hotel is ultra-fabulous. I was just here last month when Nikki G was doing her thing with the HistoryMakers. But something is a little bit different this go 'round.
August 02, 2005
The Business End...
I was listening to NPR today-- that's nothing new. Those of us who don't own televisions spend a LOT of time listening to public radio. Anyway, there as a movie critic on complaining that people talk more about the business of the movies rather than the movies themselves. And I thought, Holy Smoke. That's true for books too!
Posted at 10:52 AM | Comments (1)
Category:
The Writing Life