Tayari's Blog: May 2006
May 31, 2006
The Great Betrayal
This is a little complicated so pay attention: Millenia Black, an African American author, has written a novel called The Great Betrayal. All of the characters are white. According to her blog, her publisher won't publish it until she makes all the characters Black. Tireless blogger, Ed (the) Champion, has looked further into the story. (Be sure to check out the comments.)
And now, my take on things:
My big question is how in the world you can take a story and change the race of the characters?? This is not a search-and-replace sort of revision. You can't just go through and replace the word "blond" with "nappy." It would seem that with race being such a significant factor in American life, the author would have to rewrite the whole book.
UPDATE: The book is NOW being published by NAL with Caucasian characters. But keep checking Ed's site for more info.
Posted at 11:26 AM | ![[comments]](http://www.tayarijones.com/images/comments.gif){kind=small}
Comments (2)
Category:
The Writing Life
Niagara has Fallen
Yesterday, I left the colony to take a day trip to Niagara falls. It's only an hour away and some friends had a car. So I, along with Australian playwright, Vivienne Walshe figured this was a good time to check out one of the seven wonders of the world. We thought we'd be inspired, and we were, but not in the way we thought.
Posted at 08:48 AM | Comments (2)
Category:
May 29, 2006
JOY! JOY! JOY!
Joy Castro sent me this ultra-thoughtful, terrifically cool, CARE PACKAGE.
Posted at 05:29 PM | Comments (2)
Category:
The Writing Life
Dinner Theatre, Anyone?
Last night, we were all treated to a dinner performance by the Shadowlands Theatre Group! The event was a six course meal to dramatize the highlights in the life of Ambrose Ichor-- a fictional chef. There was great food, terrific costumes, bubbly wine, beach-front dining.
Each course was served at a different location:
Click here for the photos!
Posted at 06:02 AM | Comments (0)
Category:
The Writing Life
May 26, 2006
afternoon reading
I was cruising around the blogosphere and found these interesting links:
Posted at 02:36 PM | Comments (0)
Category:
May 25, 2006
Thank You, Uncle Clarence!
Clarence A. Haynes, Associate Editor, at Harlem Moon/Doubleday sent me a care package! Clarence, I don't know if you read this blog, but you rock. You are the coolest brother in publishing. I know there aren't but, like two of you, but you are the hands down favorite.
Posted at 05:22 PM | Comments (2)
Category:
The Writing Life
May 24, 2006
Joy Castro, author of THE TRUTH BOOK
I get a lot of email from people who feel they have a life story worth telling, so I thought it would be cool to devote some blog space to someone who has written a memoir. I asked Joy Castro a few questions about the process of writing and publishing, The Truth Book, her memoir about growing up in and escaping an abusive childhood among Jehovah's Witnesses. This description doesn't do justice to this beautiful and moving book.
Posted at 05:32 PM | Comments (3)
Category:
Bookshelf
, Guest Bloggers
Katherine Dunham, RIP
an excerpt from the NYT obit.
How could anyone be stopped by the color of her skin after her invincibly lush sensuality and witty intelligence had seduced audiences on Broadway, in Hollywood films and in immensely popular dance shows that toured the world? And how could anyone cram black American dance into one or two conveniently narrow categories — or for that matter ignore the good strong roots that would one day grow green stems and leaves — with the vision of her company's lavishly theatrical African and Caribbean dance revues in mind?
Posted at 09:13 AM | Comments (0)
Category:
Current Events
May 23, 2006
The weather improves, and so does my mood
Thank you so much for all of your concern. The weather has improved. I need to call Bed Bath and Beyond and cancel the electric blanket I ordered... But now, there is insect situation to worry about. Apparently, they too, were looking forward to warmer weather.
Posted at 01:40 PM | Comments (1)
Category:
GUEST BLOGGER: ANDRIA COLE
Meet guest blogger, Andria Cole, the founder and organizer of the Flanked Women Writers Conference. I've blogged about Flanked before-- how could I resist. When I found out that Andria was using her Artist Grant money to put on a conference I was tres tres impressed. Most people use grant money to pay for travel to a retreat or to pay some bills, etc. Not Andria. She has a vision.
The Flanked Conference is taking place in DC. It features classes and seminars and readings by women writers and for women writers. And remember, if you write, you're a writer. As Toni Morrison once said, writing is what makes you a writer. Publihsng makes you an author and that's out of your control, but if you want to be a writer, what you must do is write and you can do that for the rest of your life.
I encourage you to read Andria's article below and sign up for FLANKED. The conference dates are August 4-6.
Posted at 08:37 AM | Comments (0)
Category:
Flanked by Andria Cole
My name is Andria Cole and I am a fiction writer depending on literature to save my life. I used to feel guilty about the wishes I send along with the stories I submit every month: “Please God, let them publish this, and then please let Oprah happen to see it and read it and love it and bring me on her show and make me a millionaire.” But I stopped feeling sorry when I read a quote of James Baldwin’s (I can’t recall it exactly) where he said essentially the same thing: that he needed writing to save him.
Posted at 08:30 AM | Comments (3)
Category:
Guest Bloggers
May 22, 2006
You're WHERE, Doing WHAT?
I've gotten some email from folks wondering exactly where I am, what I am doing, and why. So, folks, I present FAQs about artists colonies, this one in particular.
Posted at 10:29 AM | Comments (2)
Category:
The Writing Life
Canadian Summer
As you can see, I am sort of out of my element here in Canada. It's freezing. (BTW: I went by the clothing-optional beach. It was deserted. And it looked sort of like you would expect a beach to look if it were off the coast of Detroit. Imagine gray sand and smokestacks in the distance. It didn't exactly make a person want to start stripping..
Posted at 09:55 AM | Comments (2)
Category:
The Writing Life
May 19, 2006
Clothing Optional, Writing MANDATORY
Well, I've arrived at the Gibraltar Point Artist Residency. When I got off the ferry lugging three suitcases and a shoulder bag, I saw this sign.
Posted at 03:52 PM | Comments (2)
Category:
The Writing Life
May 17, 2006
All Black Folks Look Alike?
You all know that I normally keep my blogging literary. However, I am crazy busy these days getting ready to go to Toronto for a month-long writing residency. (The packing list said to be prepared to "walk along the beach by day, and frolic by the bonfire in the evenings." It has been a long semester and I am more than ready to get my frolic on.
But, my dear blog community, I have a silly little game to keep you occupied while I am sort of out of the loop for the next day or so. I went to this site and uploaded my photo. The idea is that they are suppossed to figure out what celebrity you look like. The results were freaky.. and not in a good way.. um... with no further ado:
Posted at 03:50 PM | Comments (4)
Category:
May 14, 2006
Pop A Cork-- Rutgers, Here I Come
It's official. In 2007, I will join the faculty at Rutgers University, Newark Campus. Yes, this means that I will get to live in New York, and it also means that I will be able to be a part of a really exciting M.F.A program. Rutgers-Newark is not only the most diverse college campus in the country, but it will be home to a truly urban M.F.A. program.
May 11, 2006
Nikki Turner Presents...
Random House has just announced an new publishing imprint to be run by "urban lit" author Nikki Turner. Turner's new book, Riding Dirty on I-95, will be published this month and she has a new book coming out on rapper, 50 Cent's publishing imprint (G-Unit Books) as well.
May 10, 2006
Me, Myself, & My Other Self
I just got this via email.. am I the last one to know that Bernice McFadden (author of Sugar and five other novels) is also Geneva Holiday author of such spicy beach reads as "Fever." Question: what's up with whole pseudonym situation? Isn't the whole point that it's suppossed to conceal your identity? Well, here is a link inviting you to hear Bernice McFannden/Geneva Holiday read at Hue Man in Harlem. Be forewarned the invite says this is grown people's business and leave the kids at home.
But anyway, if I were to write something a little bit steamier than my usual fare, I'd need a good alter ego. Any idea of a name. I am pretty tolerant, but I would prefer not to use the words Chocolate, Carmel, or any other food-related racialized descriptors. The person with the best suggestion wins a prize!
**UPDATE: I did a googlefight between Bernice McFadden and Geneva Hollliday.
May 08, 2006
Do You Take Reading For Granted?
Last week, I traveled to Bridgeport, Connecticut to visit the Mercy Learning Center. Those of you who know me personally, can testify that as of last week I was beat down, worn thin and all traveled out. I called my publicist and begged, “Please clear my summer.” But the visit to Mercy Learning Center has been planned for months and, as you may know literacy is an issue that is close to my heart. So, I stepped over the two suitcases I hadn’t unpacked from my last junkets, and stuffed my clothes into the grubby bag that I normally use to carry my books to work. I got up at 6am, walked to Union Station, hopped on a train, embarking on the most heart-warming, soul-stirring, and activism-inspiring trip of the year.
Pearl on Politics, Writing and More
So sorry that the site was down on Saturday. I don't know what happened, but the good news is that it is fixed now. Nichelle Tramble has a terrific Q&A series going on at her blog. Today's featured writer is our beloved Pearl Cleage. Here's a quote:
I think the challenge for a politically active novelist is always to find a story that allows you to communicate your ideas without beating readers over the head with your position on the issues of the day.
Now truck on over there and see what else Miz Pearl has to say!
May 02, 2006
The Voice of Zora
My buddy, Eric Beaumont, sent me this link to a recording of Zora Neale Hurston's voice. (Be warned that you have to go about halfway down the page to get to the audio.) Eric doesn't have sound on his computer so he asks that those of you that listen, comment to let him know what Zora sounded like.
I.D.E.A. Public Charter School
I've just returned from a visit to Mrs. Janice Jones's class at the I.D.E.A. Public Charter School in N.E. Washington, D.C. Mrs. Jones is the kind of teacher that makes students love school. You can tell that she can be stern if she needs to be, but that need doesn't come up so often. If you've read Leaving Atlanta, you would say that she is a teacher from the Mrs. Greir School.
Posted at 10:03 AM | Comments (2)
Category:
D.C. Diaries
What I'm Listening To..
I made a little playlist over at The Happy Booker. Check it out. And go to the comments.. Some folks are really testy...
Posted at 06:21 AM | Comments (1)
Category:
The Writing Life
May 01, 2006
Carolina On My Mind
The stars were out over Durham, North Carolina this weekend. The NC Festival of the Book was under new management, and let me tell you, the new guy, Aaron Greenwald, really put his foot in it! The line-up was stellar, the accommodations lush, the audience intelligent and warm, the vibe southern in a good way, and the food southern in the best way.