Tayari's Blog: June 2006
June 28, 2006
Warning: Posting Slow Down Ahead
As you all know, I am in the middle of a move and I am changing my work situation. Quitting a job feels like a break up. I am somewhere between Gloria Gaynor (Did you think I'd crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die!) and Luther Vandross (Don't you remember you told me you loved me, baby?) I cleaned out my office yesterday in 26 minutes flat. It felt like a jail break. But just like when you break up, you have to return all that person't belongings... I have to give this laptop back. (Sigh). I'll be off line a couple days, but I'll be getting a replacement before the next week is over. Pls be patient.
Posted at 10:45 AM | ![[comments]](http://www.tayarijones.com/images/comments.gif){kind=small}
Comments (2)
Category:
The Writing Life
The Bootleg Issue: Where I Stand
So yesterday, I posted Tyler Perry's concerns that way too many people are buying bootleg copies of the Madea DVDs. I can understand his point, but I think he's being a little myopic.
Of course, there is the Black angle, that we really MUST support our artists if we want them to be able to continue to make art. (Although, I must say that it seems to me that Mr. Perry is enjoying plenty of support.) I guess this applies to ALL artists, but as a marginalized people, we have an especially pressing need to have our stories told.
But there is a little more to this issue than that.
Posted at 10:36 AM | Comments (4)
Category:
The Writing Life
June 27, 2006
The Bootleg Issue: A Message from Tyler Perry
I recently got an email from the Tyler Perry Fan Club. (No, I am not in the club. It was forwarded to me.) Anyway, the message was announcing the release of three new Madea DVDs. At the end of the message, he includes a plea against folks watching Madea on bootleg DVDs. Here is the basic point of his message:
I have to admit that I had to stop reading the message board for the past week or so because of all of the people saying how much they have enjoyed watching "Madea Goes to Jail". While I can appreciate the people who are enjoying it, it is truly a slap in the face because they have been buying and watching bootleg videos. I know that because the legal videos don't come out until tomorrow. It's really hard for me to be excited about someone seeing these bootleg videos when bI know that they are supporting the very thieves that are not only stealing from me, but from you as well.How are they stealing from you? Well, I'll tell you. When they buy bootleg videos then Hollywood has no way of counting them, and if they are not counted then that means that the DVD was not a success. And what do they do when something is not a success? They don't allow anymore to be made.
I have some thoughts on this which I will post tomorrow. Meanwhile, what do YOU think about this? Do you watch bootlegs? Do you buy used books on amazon for a dime? (Speaking of selling perfectly good mechandise for pennies, my yard sale is over at last!)
Posted at 01:50 PM | Comments (5)
Category:
The Writing Life
June 26, 2006
Pulling up Stakes
Well, as you know, I am leaving Illinois for the big city. This is a good thing; yes, it is a good thing. Transition is hard, no suprises there. I had a yard sale yesterday. What a strange head-trip to put price tags on everything you own. What a stranger experience for someone to say "That's not worth two dollars! I'll give you a quarter for it." Just think, the things that I treasure have, in a single afternoon, become some crap that somebody picked up at a yard sale.
I think there is a metaphor in there somewhere, but I can't find it. I am really telling you this because the posting will be slow for the next couple days.
But here is something.. While clearing out a desk (which I sold), I found the first letter ever sent to me by my agent , saying that she would represent me. The cutest thing is that clipped it to was the receipt for $32 dollars for the postage to send the manuscript overnight. I remember thinking, "I am a professional now. I should save receipts!" The best thing about moving like this is going through my old stuff getting glimpses of the young lady I was when I was just getting myself together. Of course, there is the flip side: the memory-bombs! More on those later.
Posted at 07:29 AM | Comments (1)
Category:
The Writing Life
June 23, 2006
Oprah, I Have a Bone To Pick With You
Dear Oprah,
I read in the news last week that a few hip hops stars, like Ice Cube Ludacris and 50 Cent are angry with you because you don't seem to embrace hip hop on your show. Well, Oprah-- may I call you that? I've always wanted to hear myself say "Well, Oprah,"-- I have been thinking it over and it has occurred to me that you have never had ME on your show either! I know you think that Harpo is your company and it's is YOUR show, and YOUR magazine, your whole EMPIRE, your WORLD, even.. but I think I am going to have to agree with my fellow ATLien, Ludacris, that you sort of owe it to me to feature me and my art on your show. I mean, out and out here living and breathing, doing my art, writing my books and you have just failed to catapult me to fame and/or fortune. And what's up with that?
Now, before you go and take this the wrong way, just hear me out. I want to kiss and make up. Ice Cube has a really good idea. Why not have me on your show to discuss why you haven't ever had me on your show? We could read read my books, Leaving Atlanta and The Untelling, and have a discussion about the issues I have raised here. I think that is a reasonable compromise that works out for everyone.
Sincerely,
Tayari Jones
Posted at 06:39 AM | Comments (4)
Category:
Current Events
June 19, 2006
Meet Lauren Cerand, My Publicist
I've blogged quite a bit about my experiences with book publicity, but I thought it would be cool to host a Q&A with Lauren Cerand, my publicist. When I hooked up with her in January of 2005, I wasn't exactly sure what a blog was! She's a terrific woman and a fantastic publicist. When I was having a meltdown recently in Canada, I sobbed into my pillow: I WANT MY PUBLICIST! Why, because a good publicist makes your career makes sense to you-- and because a really good publicist helps you help yourself. Lauren rocks. I am honored to introduce her to you.
Posted at 08:30 PM | Comments (3)
Category:
The Writing Life
BTW, I'm back from Canada
Well, I think that will be my last residency for a while. I got a lot of work done, but the solitude started driving me crazy after a while. The highlights: I had to call the police on a FLASHER, I think I figured out the structure for The Bigamist's Daughters, I saw Niagara Falls, and I got to meet ten artists from six countries. Not bad for thirty days, but I was ready to come back to Dee Cee.
Posted at 06:47 AM | Comments (1)
Category:
The Writing Life
Happy Day, Daddy
Last year, this time, I blogged about my dad sewing me into a dress after the zipper broke ten minutes before I was set to go to a chi chi cocktail party. This year, I didn't get to see my dad on Father's Day, so in his honor I will just post one of my favorite memories.
I'll start by saying that I am not sure if it is quite right to say I am a "Daddy's Girl." That phrase always brings to mind those too-cute t-shirts, etc. that say "My Heart Belongs to Daddy." It doesn't quite sum up the relationship that I have with my father. But, I suppose it is just a sort of short-hand and I shouldn't get so wound up about language. Anyway, my daddy and I like each other, as people. I can honestly say that I would still want to know him, even if he wasn't my father. Okay, on with the story:
Posted at 05:46 AM | Comments (1)
Category:
June 18, 2006
Monique Truong Remembers Her Father
My friend, Monique Truong, author of The Book of Salt, has written a lovely remembrance of her father in today's NYT. (The title of the essay, imposed by the editors, is a little off-putting. Such headline-grabbing silliness seems to try and make a political cliche of a daughter's moving-- and complicated-- elegy for her father.) Here's an excerpt:
He could speak Vietnamese, but he could not write it. Not a business letter. Not a love letter.
My father was instead fluent in French and English, the languages that raised him. Along with his flat nose and his hot temper, I as an adult would share with him the frustration of having to reach for Vietnamese words, like an itch at the middle of our backs.
June 17, 2006
Q&A With Shalema K. McGee
Fresh out of college, Shalema K. McGhee moved to New York to try to make a career in trade book publishing. If you read Black Issues Book Review, you’ve read plenty of articles about the young black stars of publishing. But I thought we would spend a little time with Shalema and hear from someone still in the trenches, someone who is still trying to make her way.
Posted at 07:29 AM | Comments (3)
Category:
Guest Bloggers
, Writing
June 14, 2006
A Tale of Two Brothers
I was listening to NPR the other day and I heard a report that I can only describe as haunting. I was moved by what I heard, that I wrote into NPR and they posted my comment on thier website and designated the story a "Driveway Moment." The story is the story of Troy and Tovan, two black boys, who were roommates in a Washington, DC group home. About ten years ago, they were interviewed and shared all their childhood dreams. Ten years later, things are different. Listen to this story. It will change you.
Posted at 07:01 PM | Comments (4)
Category:
Current Events
June 12, 2006
I See dead people METAPHORS
Always listen to your own voice. Write what you want to write, the story that you need to tell. Don't try and recreate what worked for someone else, what made someone else a best seller or the critic's darling. When you copy, imitate, or in any other way fake the funk... well.. let's just say that the result is something really, really cynical and really really sad. (And did I forget to say boring?)
Posted at 02:19 PM | Comments (3)
Category:
The Writing Life
Ladies, Submissions Are Needed
Calling all women writers who have works that specifically illuminate an aspect of Black men and their bodies. KADUMA is a coffee table photographic art book, shot by Tony Smith,
of Black men artfully painted and adorned by Joseph Hampton. KADUMA wants poetry, essays, and flash fiction to be included however, the writing in it will come from women.
The submissions will be juried by Toni Asante Lightfoot and Arthur Ade Amaker.
June 09, 2006
Update on the Atlanta Child Murders Case
As many of you know, my first novel, LEAVING ATLANTA, is about growing up in Atlanta during the Atlanta Child Murders. From 1979-1981 at least thirty African American children were murdered in my hometown. Well, there is a bit of recent activity in the case.
The CNN article has a sort of neutral title: "Conviction Disputed in Atlanta Child Murders Case." The AJC breaks it down a little bit more: "Attorney: Info Witheld in Wayne Williams Case."
From the AJC:
An attorney for convicted murderer Wayne Williams said Friday that a child molester now serving time in a Georgia prison may be connected to as many as 20 of the 22 killings his client was blamed for when he was convicted in 1982.
Of course, none of this could have come to light if Police Chief Louis Graham hadn't reopened the cases last year. My thoughts here and here.
(thx, jurgen)
Posted at 06:50 PM | Comments (1)
Category:
Current Events
June 08, 2006
A Girl Like Me, by Kiri Davis
Go right now to the Media that Matters Film Festival and watch "A Girl Like Me," a short film by a Kiri Davis. (It's about 10 minutes to watch). There are lot of terrific short films on this site by teenaged film makers, but make sure you check out "A Girl Like Me." I don't want to tell you too much about it because I hope that we can all talk about it here. I just want you to watch it with no expectations. But here is a short description: a young sister filmaker does a documentary with other teens about the way they see themselves, in terms of skin color and blackness. Then, she recreates the famous Kenneth Clark tests when the little kids are asked which doll the prefer, the black one or the white one... watch it and let's all meet back here to talk about it.
June 07, 2006
Some Thoughts on Self Publishing
Today’s guest column is written by Tinesha Davis, the author of All Black Girls Ain't Got Rhythm and Other Urban Hymns. I asked her to write to tell us about her decision to self-publish her collection of poetry. If you’ve ever been to a writer’s conference, you know that all you have to do is say those magic words “self-publishing” and spark a heated debate on the topic. Some people sneer at self-published authors way the way kids make fun of other kids who wear homemade clothes instead of the latest off-the rack fashions. There are other people who look at traditionally published books as off-the-rack from Macy’s and think of self-published books more like the funky clothes you can get at a little store that sells Carol’s Daughter skin products, incense, and dresses sewn and designed my the shopkeeper herself. As for me, I am in-between camps.
As an African-American author, I know that the publishing business hasn’t been terribly hospitable to our work. I know that there are often some real obstacles between seeing your work published with the deal of a New York house that may not have to do with the quality of your writing. I also have to say that I love the boot-strappiness of it. The find-a-way, make-a-way, dollar-out-of-fiftenn-cents school of thinking. I’m also not comfortable dismissing a book I haven’t read because of the way that it was published. And there’s one more factor that we’ve been discussing here all week: just because a book has been traditionally published, doesn’t mean it’s any good. (Can I get an Amen?)
But on the other side: what a difference an editor makes. Reading a stack of self-published work can be wading through the slush pile of unsolicited manuscripts at a publishing house. You just never know what you are going to get. There is no seal of approval, letting you know that the manuscript has been vetted by someone (anyone!). I’ve read a lot of self-published books. When I go to book fairs, etc. I’ll usually purchase a couple of self-published titles. They are usually inexpensive and, like I said, I admire the hustle of the authors. Some of them are good, many are just okay, and some are downright atrocious.
So, all this said, I decided to ask Tinesha why she decided to self-publish her book. Her answers. in the essay below, may surprise you.
Posted at 09:46 AM | Comments (0)
Category:
The Writing Life
Why I Self-Publish by Tinesha Davis
Who likes poetry? No one. Nor do they like romance or mystery but especially not poetry. This is the unofficial message that I’ve heard for years. This is the message that I let become my truth.
I’ve participated in many conversations that went a little something like this:
Me: I’m a writer.
Them: Oh really, what do you write?
Me: Poetry.
Them: [Silence. Then,] Oh, that’s nice.
Or
I don’t really read poetry –its boring… don’t understand it… just don’t care for it.
Or
Poetry. Well, what black woman doesn’t write poetry?
With comments like these shaping my opinion of public opinion writing poetry has not only been my greatest honor but my greatest shame. I even stopped calling myself a writer in public just so I wouldn’t have to answer the dreaded “what do you write” question. No one likes poetry. And if no one likes poetry, who was going to publish it?
Posted at 09:42 AM | Comments (6)
Category:
Guest Bloggers
June 04, 2006
Candy Licker
I haven't read Candy Licker by the mysterious "NOIRE", but I do see the ads everytime I get on the D.C. Metro. It's selling like wildfire, apparently. And Brandon Keorner thinks he knows who the real author is.
Tangental Thoughts:
June 02, 2006
I said I wasn't going to blog about this
As everyone knows by now, a couple of weeks ago the NYT made a list of the "best" (whatever THAT means) American novels over the last 25 years. Everybody and thier mother blogged about this. I said I wasn't going to. I hate lists like this. They make me ansty. Really, as soon as I saw that the list existed, I had to shake myself a gimlet. So I said I wasn't going to blog about it. And I'm not going to do a full entry. I'll do an entryette, an entryling.. Just a teensy observation. The are two books by Blacks folks on the list: Edward P. Jones's The Known World and Toni Morrison's Beloved. And I am just going to say just this one thing. And that's it. (There is no hateration implied by the observation that follows. I love Toni Morrison. When she won the Nobel, I pulled over on the curb and cried until I choked. Really.) But here's what I have noticed: Is it me, or does a Black writer need to write about slavery to get "on the map?" Just a question. That's it.
Posted at 09:07 AM | Comments (10)
Category:
The Writing Life