Tayari's Blog: January 2006
January 31, 2006
Remembering Coretta Scott King
Mrs. Coretta Scoot King died last night at the age of 1978. The following is a remembrance of her:
Mrs. King rose from rural poverty in Heiberger, Ala., to become an international symbol of the civil rights revolution of the 1960s and a tireless advocate for a long litany of social and political issues ranging from women's rights to the struggle against apartheid in South Africa that followed in its wake.She was studying music at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston in 1952 when she met a young graduate student in philosophy, who on their first date told her: "The four things that I look for in a wife are character, personality, intelligence and beauty. And you have them all." A year later she and Dr. King, then a young minister from a prominent Atlanta family, were married, beginning a remarkable partnership that ended with Dr. King's assassination in Memphis on April 4, 1968.
Read the rest of the article here. It will show you a side of Mrs. King that you didn't know.
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Category:
Current Events
January 30, 2006
Wendy Wasserstein, 1950-2006
Feminist playwright, Wendy Wasserstein has died of lymphoma. She battled breast cancer for many years. When I shared the news with playwright, Pearl Cleage she said:
as a playwright, i was particularly saddened by news of wendy wassenstein's death. her plays broke new ground for women playwrights by being fearless and funny about the truth of our lives. my personal memories of her are of a warm, lively, fully engaged woman who was also funny as hell. we immediately bonded as women writers and, i think, as human beings were were so glad to be female. may she rest in peace."
Amen.
Posted at 11:34 AM | Comments (1)
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D.C. Diaries: U-Street
Meet Jati Lindsay; he’s a photographer.
Yesterday he and I went on a walking tour of Washington, D.C. We started our stroll on the U-Street Corridor, which, seems to be the new, hip part of town. It’s got everything a person like me, just released from the cornfields, could possibly want. There’s Busboys and Poets, the venue for my book party on March 20. You can’t forget the Mocha Hut if you want strong coffees, mellow teas, and hot breakfast at any time of the day. Restaurants are everywhere, offering whatever kind of food you like, with a sophisticated twist. But when Jati took me walking, he didn’t spend much time pointing out the glossy new structures. For him, the story is in what used to be there.
Posted at 07:10 AM | Comments (2)
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D.C. Diaries
January 29, 2006
D.C. Diaries
I am adding a new feature to the blog called "D.C." Diaries. In the weeks that I have been here I have had so many remarkable experiences that I wanted to share them here. I'll post the first entry tomorrow. We'll try it out. See if it works.
Posted at 03:54 PM | Comments (0)
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D.C. Diaries
January 27, 2006
schaedenfreude
That's the German word for getting pleasure out of someone else's misfortune. I used it because saying foreign words makes me feel sophisticated and also, it keeps me from making another FREY headline. But I wanted to drop some humorous links about the whole debacle.
From The Oprah Smackdown, Live Blog Report
A Doggone Shame
DO NOT PISS OFF THE OPRAH
(via the champ)
Posted at 03:05 PM | Comments (0)
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So Oprah Gets Tough
Well, I have to admit that I tuned in to watch Miss Oprah give James Frey, author of A Million Little Pieces, a good thrashing. (video here, thanks ed) And I will also admit that I wasn't going to tune in until I heard the report from Chicago that she wasn't going to pardon the lying scoundrel. Because, really, it sort of upset me when she called into Larry King defending him. I am not an Oprah devotee, I don't subscribe to the magazine and you all already know that I don't have a TV. But sometimes I like the idea of her, especially her commitment to truth. So, that said, I was sort of bummed when she called into Larry King and said the truth doesn't matter.
January 23, 2006
Children's Book Awards Announced
Although it seems that the mainstream publishing awards are bound by the one-Negro-at-a-time rule when choosing honorees, the American Library Association has honored many African American writers and illustrators in today's Caldecott and Newberry Awards cermony.
Congratulations to Nikki Giovanni and illustrator Byran Collier for Rosa, which is a Caldecott Honor Book and to Jacqueline Woodson and illistrator Hudson Talbott for Show Way, which was designated as a Newberry Honor Book.
The Alex Awards honor adult books that have appeal for teenage readers. Brava to Kalisha Buckhanon for Upstate and Nancy Rawles for My Jim.
January 22, 2006
If any knows that NPR librarian...
tell her to call me.
I'm a big fan of NPR. We, the TV-less, live for NPR. So don't get me wrong when I say that Nancy Pearl, the librarian that they always have on there, drives me nuts. Is she aware that people who are not white write books? Here are her latest picks.
Posted at 05:22 PM | Comments (7)
Category:
The Writing Life
Mothers & Daughters
Deborah Tannen has an important new book,You're Wearing That? Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation, and it's about the ways that mothers and daughters communicate. If you have ever read my work, you know that mother-daughter friction is always on my mind. Read Ms. Tannen's essay "Oh Mom, Oh Honey," in the Washington Post. It's so good! Here's an excerpt:
Because a mother's opinion matters so much, she has enormous power. Her smallest comment -- or no comment at all, just a look -- can fill a daughter with hurt and consequently anger. But this I learned: Mothers, who have spent decades watching out for their children, often persist in commenting because they can't get their adult children to do what is (they believe) obviously right. Where the daughter sees power, the mother feels powerless. Daughters and mothers, I found, both overestimate the other's power -- and underestimate their own.
I am going to buy this book RIGHT AWAY. Because, as every woman knows: No one loves you more, or makes you feel worse than your very own mother. Let the healing begin.
January 21, 2006
ATTENTION ALL *CLEAGIACS*!
Yes, I've made a new word: Cleagiacs. These are the ultra-devoted fans of Pearl Cleage. (Some writers have readers; Pearl has FANS.) Anyway, all the people who have been writing me about the poem "We Speak Your Name", the poem which Oprah comissioned for her Legends ball- listen up. Miz Pearl will be performing this poem as part of her one-woman show at my alma mater, Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Opportunity for Women Writers
got this in email....
The deadline for the Salem College Center for Women Writers 2006 National Literary Competitions is approaching! Your entry MUST be postmarked by February 15, 2006.
The winner in each genre will receive $1000.00 plus round trip travel and lodging for a reading of his/her work at Salem College. The two honorable mentions named in each genre will receive $100.00.
Posted at 01:54 PM | Comments (0)
Category:
The Writing Life
January 20, 2006
Ten Questions
I did a little chit-chat on Nichelle Tramble's site. Check it out.
Posted at 09:46 AM | Comments (0)
Category:
The Writing Life
And the Winner is....
PAULETTE is the winner of Pearl Cleage's new novel, BABY BROTHER'S BLUES. Paulette, please email me with your address and I will get it in the mail, pronto! Also, I will forward all of your comments to Miz Pearl herself!
January 18, 2006
SUMMER WORK FOR WRITERS!
The Johns Hopkins Summer Prgrams for Talented Youth is looking for teachers for its creative writing programs. College students are eligible to work as "teaching assistants" and more seasoned applicants can work as instructors.
Posted at 03:55 PM | Comments (0)
Category:
The Writing Life
The Norton Anthology
Tomorrow, Thursday January 18, at 11am (EST), I will get to talk with M.H. Abrahms, the founding editor of The Norton Anthology of English Literature. The conversation will be on the NPR radio show, "On Point" which is broadcast from Boston's NPR station, WBUR. Click here to see if you can listen on your radio. But if you can't, tune in for the web broadcast (live) or the podcast (listen in later!).
Think about it.. haven't you ever wondered how certain authors and writers get to be "classic"? Well, this time tomorrow, we will know for sure. (And of course, I'll give my perspective.)
If you plan to tune in while I work, I promise to keep it clean. (smile)
This Blog Entry is Brought To You By...
My neighbors. I have just moved into my new DC apartment and my internet isn't hooked up, so I am mooching off my neighbors' wireless signal. And to make matters worse, I can't pick up a signal from my safety of my apartment. I have to sit in the stairwell! So, in light of the furtive nature of things, I am going to have to make the blogging quick. One thing, don't forget the Pearl Cleage contest. Deadline is tomorrow.
Two, LADYLEE, where are you?
Three, check this artist colony in Canada, I am going to apply.
Four, if you're in a DC book club, email me
more tomorrow. I gotta run. I think I hear someone coming.
Posted at 08:22 AM | Comments (1)
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January 15, 2006
Win My Copy of Pearl Cleage's New Book!
I have, here in my hands, an early copy of Pearl’s new book, Baby Brother’s Blues. I am going to give it away to one lucky winner who answers this question in the “comments” section: Which is your favorite character from a Pearl Cleage novel and why? This book is not yet available in stores!! The winner will be announced on Thursday! You have to play to win!
Baby Brother's Blues, by Pearl Cleage
I just finished Baby Brother’s Blues, Pearl Cleage’s new novel, which will be released at the end of next month. The copy I have is an early copy from the publisher—no images on the cover, not a hint of what to expect. The blurb on the back said that it was a continuation of the story of Regina and Blue, the lovers from Some Things I Never Thought I’d Do. However, this is not a sequel. While Pearl’s earlier novels can be loosely classified as "contemporary romances"—though I call them “Trojan Horse Romances”, owing to the political messages she slips in— Baby Brother’s Blues is more of a noir thriller. Maybe she has made a new genre, “Trojan Horse Thriller.”
January 13, 2006
last entry on frey, I promise
Okay, this is the last thing I will post about the James Frey debacle. But for some reason, I can't seem to stop thinking about it. Here is one thing that keeps eating at me: and this is the fact that he never did any real jail time. As all of you know, I am an African American woman and I have seem my community ravaged by a jail-happy criminal justice system. There are so many black folks, people of color, and poor people in jail for much less. How about Mr. Frey reflect on that for a little bit. I think that his race and class are as much a factor in making him "the man that he is today" (whatever that means) as did anything else.
Second, would it be okay if he had taken such licence if he we writing about someone else? If not, why the double standard?
Posted at 08:06 AM | Comments (5)
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January 12, 2006
"Go Home, Baby Girl": A Documentary
NORMA GEORGE, May 23rd, 1962 - October 2nd, 1992
I just came back from a screening of the documentary, "Go Home, Baby Girl" by Audrey Huntley. The title refers to the last thing that Norma George said to her sister, Claudette, before she disappeared and was later found murdered. Norma is one of several hundred Native American women who have been murdered or disappeared in Canada. When film maker, Audrey Huntley, went to Toronto, she passed out flyer asking people to talk to her about their missing loved ones. She didn't know if anyone would be willing to open up, but what she found was that the response was overwhelming. This documentary is only the first in a series which will be called "Traces of Missing Women."
Posted at 09:37 PM | Comments (0)
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January 11, 2006
James Frey in Flannery O'Connor Territory
Several years ago, in one of my many forays into graduate school, I took a class from the late Jim Kilgo. Like most writing teachers, he had a few favorite expressions. The one I remember best is: YOU'RE GETTING INTO FLANNERY O'CONNOR TERRITORY HERE!
Posted at 09:40 AM | Comments (0)
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New Comment Procedure Is in Place
Hi Folks. The new procedure for putting up comments is in place. You just have to take a second to register. I am so sorry about this, but I was just getting spammed to death. It was crazy.. about 200 spams a day.
So, I am here in my new place. Register and say hello.
Posted at 07:45 AM | Comments (1)
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January 09, 2006
Pls pardon the slow-down in posting
By the time you read this, I will be off to my temporary new life in Washington, DC. It's going to take me a minute to get set up, so I won't be posting as much as usual.
I am also going to have to change the procedure with comments. I am getting spammed to death so I am going to have to make it where you sign in before you can comment. I am so sorry about the hassle, but I get about 200 spam comments a day. It's driving me nuts. You only have to register once, and then comment away. This will be up in the next week or so. I hope you'll still post comments. I look forward to them every day.
And here is something to comment about: What do you make of the controvery over James Frey. Oprah picked his hard-luck, hard-core redemption memoir, A Million Little Pieces for her book club. Maybe you saw her teary-eyed discussion of it. Well, apparently, he made most of it up! My favorite of the truths revealed was that on the time that he claimed to be locked up doing major time, he was actually set free on a $700 bail. Why? Because he had CHICKEN POX and they didn't want him to infect other jail-birds. Now, THAT, had me cracking up. Click here to read the whole sordid story. Or click here for a shorter version. But really, what do you think about this?
Posted at 10:46 PM | Comments (3)
Category:
The Writing Life
Tomales Bay Worskhop
Check out the Tomales Bay Workshops. October 25-30. I'll be giving a five-day course on writing stories of growth and change. The way I am thinking about the course is that it will be focus mostly on stories on what really "happens" takes place in the character's consciousness. I wanted to call it "How I Got Over," but I decided that this could be interpreted in too many ways. So now it's called "Getting To The Other Side." Please check out the workshops, which will be held near San Francisco. The landscape is just so lovely.
Posted at 09:40 AM | Comments (0)
Category:
The Writing Life
January 08, 2006
pop a cork!
I was neurotically scanning my bank statement and I found a most exciting item: a direct deposit from my agent. What does this mean? It means that Leaving Atlanta has earned out its advance. How did I celebrate? I took my first royalty check and bought myself a dinner of fried shrimp & french fries and topped it off with a slice of pie & a half bottle of bubbly! Of course, that means I have about twenty-five cents left, but all in all, it was very a good day.
Posted at 09:35 PM | Comments (5)
Category:
The Writing Life
January 07, 2006
Want To Write A Novel this year?
Lauren Doughty is starting a column to help writers get going. It seems pretty neat. Here's a quote from it:
Throughout 2006, I will be writing a column in this newspaper called Write a Novel in a Year. Can you write a novel in a year? Well, yes, if you don't do much else and you work hard and are talented.
But in actual fact, if you follow the column, and do the exercises I set (yes, exercises) what you will end up with will not be a novel, it won't even be the first draft of a novel, it will be a body of work, the raw material, which you may one day be able to shape and work on until it becomes a book.
Seems worth checking out. (via Ed)
Posted at 02:27 PM | Comments (0)
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January 05, 2006
the bestsellers of 2005
Here are the 200 bestselling books of 2005. It's a trip how few of them I had actually heard of. I know you want to know this, so I'll tell you: the African American authors listed are Barak Obama, Ed P. Jones, and Zora Neale Hurston. That's it, unless I missed one. No Zane. No E. Lynn. No Terry Mac.
I know this means something significant, I just don't know what.
Posted at 06:54 PM | Comments (3)
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January 03, 2006
The Untelling in Paperback
The Untelling will be released in paperback this spring.
Posted at 12:21 PM | Comments (6)
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January 02, 2006
Airport Zen
As you can tell, I am a maker of resolutions. One of these is to use my time more wisely. At this moment I am stranded in the Chicago O'Hare airport. This is no surprize, but it is a pain in the @!&. I am trying to think of this impromptu three hour layover as a gift of three hours of time. Forget that I had other things planned for this time. Forget that American Airlines won't give me a lunch voucher because they have stranded me for less than four hours. This will be my days writing time. I've found a quiet corner with an electrical outlet. I am going to stop complaining and instead, give thanks, and WRITE
Posted at 10:29 AM | Comments (1)
Category:
The Writing Life