Tayari's Blog: September 2006
September 30, 2006
Help! I'm trapped...
inside a novel.
Have you ever felt like you were living in a plot by a particular author? I've once or twice felt like I was living in one of my own books. (Example: I was having a spontaneous crying jag on the streets of NYC and a homeless panhandler said, "Are you okay?" Doesn't that sound like something that would happen to Aria?) Well, this morning, I found myself living in a story that I could imagine in a Percival Everett novel. OR maybe an Edgar Allen Poe story. It must be an E. and P. thing. But here is what happened.
I woke up this morning and looked out on my back patio and found that someone had placed a large WATERMELON SLICE there.
I don't know how to read this.
Posted at 09:11 AM | ![[comments]](http://www.tayarijones.com/images/comments.gif){kind=small}
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September 29, 2006
Letter To A Young Writer
I rec'd this query via email.
Hi Ms. Jones, I'm wondering what advice you would offer to a young African-American writer of literary fiction, particularly one without prior publications, MFA credentials, or industry connections. I have a completed novel manuscript and have begun to send queries to agents, but I know how uncertain that process is for someone in my position. So I am eager for any suggestions that might help my process. Thank you very much for you time and consideration. I hope you are well.Best,
J
September 27, 2006
Is This For Girls???
Lakshmi Chaudhry wrestles with this issue:
why do men make up only 20 percent of fiction readers in the United States, Canada, and Britain? Biological differences could play a small role, she says, but the gap is probably best explained as a consequence of cultural factors.
The issue is an interesting one, particularly to those of us who write fiction. Very often my friends ask me if I meet "any interesting guys on (my) book tours." I have to laugh. Guys, as in MEN, at a book event? (There are lovely exceptions, of course.)
For a while I wondered if the absence of men at book events just meant they didn't like so much to come out to signings. Different strokes, or whatever. But when I started indentifying myself as a writer to random men seated next to me on airplanes, on the Greyhound, etc. I frequently was told, "I don't read fiction." Or "I don't like to read books by women." Or even, "Maybe I'll look for it. It's not for girls is it?" Just flat out like that.
I this it is strange how comfortable people are insulting women and thier cultural work. The very same person who would say, "I don't read books by women," won't exactly mean me any harm. He might turn around and ask me out for a cocktail. I have these experiences fairly frequently and they always leave me feeling a little shaken.
(more on this topic later. Thx Joya for bringing this to my attention.)
September 26, 2006
My Agent Has A Blog!
My terrific agency, Dystel and Goderich Literary Management, has started a blog. Every week, they will talk about an issue pertinent to publishing. Today, Jane Dystel herself is at the helm, blogging about the failure of imagination of publishers when it comes to publicity.
One of the biggest issues I see with the books I sell to publishers these days is that there is no planning beforehand for promotion, publicity and advertising. Most of the time, the book is acquired with absolutely no thought as to how the Publisher will sell it. Oh sure, there is a sales estimate sometimes supplied by the sales department and sure, the author and agent are grilled about the author’s credentials and platform, and sure there is an author questionnaire that the author fills out (and is often never read by anyone) but after that – nothing.
Ain't that the truth.
Posted at 10:16 AM | Comments (0)
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The Writing Life
September 24, 2006
Report From The Road: Mt. Berry, GA
Last week I had the pleasure of returning to Berry College. I had been there before as a participant in the Southern Women Writers Conference in 2003. I knew from that experience that the folks at Berry knew how to treat a writer right, but that didn't prepare me for the warm welcome I received last Thursday night.
The Berry College First Year Experience Committee chose my first novel, Leaving Atlanta, as the summer book-club pick. This meant that they bought copies of the novel for all the incoming students! And that wasn't even the best part.
Posted at 07:38 AM | Comments (1)
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September 21, 2006
Avenge Your Favorite Author!
I have to admit that there is a lot of potential for drama here, but Amazon is letting readers respond to reviews. Yes, you can now put comments on people's comments. Here is my twisted prediction. I'll bet the author and the author's MOTHER are the most likely people to offer rebuttals...
as always, the best stuff comes from ed.
Posted at 06:06 AM | Comments (1)
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The Writing Life
September 20, 2006
Restoring My Faith in U.S. Mail
The post office googled me and tracked me down. How cool is that?
Hello Miss Jones,My name is Joshua Smith (I changed the name) from the US Postal Service in Jacksonville, FL. We have found a book that was a loose in the mail without a container. It is called “The Untelling” and it contains a card as well to be sent to a Virgil Suarez. If you could at your earliest convenience, we need the mailing address for the recipient so we can send the book on its way. I apologize for this inconvenience due to the handling of the US Postal Service.
Posted at 09:19 AM | Comments (0)
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Congratulations to Regina Carter!
The MacArthur foundation has announced this year's fellows list and I am delighted to see Regina Carter among them. She's a remarkable 
jazz violinist. The MacArthur website stresses her conservatory training but if you hear the lady play, you will see that she stresses her soul.
Check out this great NPR interview recorded when Regina Carter went to Italy to play in "The Cannon", Paganini's famous violin. It's a great story. The Italians were sort of freaked out that her jazz influences would somehow damage their nationally treasured violin. And then, Ms. Regina worked her magic. Even if you are not "into" string music, give Regina Carter a chance. Since she has won this wonderful half-a-million dollar prize, I am not urging you to buy her music because she needs the money. I am urging you to buy her music because you are in need of her gorgeous sounds-- whether you know it or not!
Let's hear it for the MacArthur Foundation. Job well done.
UPDATE: Putting my money where my mouth is, I will send an iTunes certificate for Regina Carter's album she recorded on Pagnini's violin to the first person to comment that she wants it!
Posted at 07:11 AM | Comments (2)
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Current Events
September 19, 2006
Remembering Jenny Moore
I have the honor this year of serving at the Jenny McKean Moore Writer in Residence at George Washington University. It's a lovely position-- I get to live on the campus and teach a reduced course load. The best part is that I teach a community workshop to DC writers who are not in school. All this was specified by Jenny McKean Moore, whose estate funds the position.
Through a series of coincidences, I found out that the poet, Honor Moore is the daughter of Jenny Moore. I asked Honor to write a short remembrance of her mother so the people in the community class could know whose generosity made this all possible. She was kind enough to contribute the piece below, a small but loving tribute to an amazing woman:
Posted at 07:34 AM | Comments (0)
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Guest Bloggers
September 18, 2006
Anybody Got A Tape Measure?
Maybe next time, there will be a phrenological explanation.
Many of you have been following my conversation with Sara Gran about the absence of African-American authors from the literary scene. Apparently, S.G. is shocked that some readers took umbrage at the idea that black people are less literate than white people and she provides us with some amateur statistical analysis. (Bless her heart.) Her basic point: that black folks are more than twice as likely to be illiterate, so it only follows that black folks don't publish as many books as white people, which may be why she hasn't really heard of that many black authors, although she insists that she reads lots of black authors. Did you follow that? (I am not making this up. Read her post.) And guess what, she is going to pick up Scott Poulson’s Bryant’s book, HUNG. Yes, that’s the one about the cultural fixation with black male genitalia. She says it “looks totally fascinating and important.” (I am not making this up either. Read her other post.)
Posted at 04:07 PM | Comments (6)
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September 15, 2006
You Said It, Not Me
Recently, Sara Gran wrote a NYT article about Brooklyn writers and the only African Americans she could think of were Colson Whitehead and Toure. And she wonders why she is unaware of Black literary authors-- living in Brooklyn or anywhere else-- who are not "super-Pulitzer-winning-brilliant." (By brilliant, I think she means famous.) She wonders if it is because she is "being an idiot", if it is because black people are less literate and book-writing, or if it is something else. (You can read her full post here.)
Oh Sara, where to begin?
Posted at 04:22 PM | Comments (7)
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Just Call Me Paul Revere
The Heavies Are Coming! The Heavies are Coming!
BNH are coming back to DC on October 20. 930 Club. Midnight show. Oh baby.
I. Am. So. PSYCHED.
Posted at 07:22 AM | Comments (1)
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Current Events
Where's Your Manuscript?
Over in Edland, I saw a post about J.K. Rowling being stopped by airport security. Why? Because she wouldn't put her manuscript for the last Harry Potter novel in her checked luggage. I don't blame her. I know that much her reluctance was due to the fact that her manuscript is really really valuable-- by this I mean valuable in terms of money. (My manuscript is really valuable to me in terms of sanity.) Anyway, this article got me to thinking about what writers do with thier works in progress. Me, I tend to have mine on my person all the time.
Posted at 06:53 AM | Comments (6)
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The Writing Life
September 14, 2006
One Black Person At A Time?
Martha Southgate goes off over at Elegant Variation:
I’m just sayin’—it’d be nice if there was some way for a few more (black) folks to get onto the cultural radar screen and have a chance for readers to discover them. Maybe more of us should have ill-advised hook ups with each other and booze it up and start nasty literary feuds and create the kind of gossip that white folks have been doing for years.
My take on this tomorrow....
Posted at 10:06 AM | Comments (1)
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The Writing Life
Don't Worry About It
I received a message recently from a young writer who is afraid to send her novel to an agent for fear that someone will "steal" her work. My advice to her: Don't worry about it. It's not going to happen. While I am sure that her manuscript is so brilliant that whomever reads it will say, "I WISH I WAS THE ONE WHO WROTE THIS!" the person will not steal it, especially an agent.
Posted at 07:57 AM | Comments (2)
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The Writing Life
September 13, 2006
show tunes
Am I the last one the know that Ashford and Simpson are making a musical from E. Lynn Harris's novel, Invisible Life? I really can't imagine it.
Posted at 06:50 AM | Comments (3)
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September 11, 2006
September 10, 2006
The Most Important Play You'll Ever See
Last night I experienced something important. In The Continuum is being performed at the Woolly Mammoth theatre here in Washington, DC until September 25.. You must see this play. I know that I recommend many things on this site, but there is no recommendation more heart-felt than the one I am offering here. I went to see the play with Maxine Clair, and after it was finished, we looked at each other and said, What can we do to get more people to see this play?
Posted at 09:08 PM | Comments (8)
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D.C. Diaries
Can They DO That???
it yet. (Review to come.) But the post of this post are the book covers you see here. The first is the cover of Claire Messud's novel, The Last Life. The second is Lee Smith's The Last Girls. I had no idea that your bookcover could be hijacked like that! (As if writers don't already have enough to be paranoid, territorial and competitive about.)
Posted at 02:45 PM | Comments (5)
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a born writer?
Lauren Cerand interviews Hazel Rowley:
No, one is not born a writer. We can't write when we are born. We can't read. One of the wonderful things about being a writer is that unlike most professions, you often get better at it as you get older. Writers need maturity, experience, powers of observation, a kind of detachment. -- Hazel Rowley
Posted at 02:15 PM | Comments (2)
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Thanks A Million, COZBI
When I was in NYC a couple of weeks ago I ducked into an adorable 
Brooklyn boutique called COZBI. The small shop is filled with beautiful clothes for women, handmade dolls, and baby clothes so cute you just want to run out an reproduce! Presiding over the whole operation is Cozbi Cabrera-- designer, entrepreneur, quilter, doll-maker, and illustrator of children's books! (If this sounds familiar, maybe you saw her or her work featured on Oprah!) If you are ever in Brooklyn, stop by her store. She will alter and sew-to-fit-- so ladies don't feel you are too tall, too short, to voluptuous, etc. to wear beautiful clothes. Let Cozbi measure you and hook you up!
And here's some good news: Ms. Cozbi Cabrera has agreed to do a Q&A here on the blog. I can't wait to hear account of how she decided to leave her day job to follow her passions! Read her bio. I dare you not to be inspired!
Posted at 11:19 AM | Comments (0)
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September 09, 2006
Too Old for MySpace?
I was fooling around with myspace. Don't ask me why, but I feel like I don't have enough myspace friends. Please add me! Anyway, while I 
(for kicks, click on the cartoon-Tayari and then make your cartoon and post the code in the comments section.)
Posted at 10:20 PM | Comments (1)
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September 05, 2006
Word-Freak's Delight
Check out this NPR commentary about ideas that we just can't express in English. It was informative, funny, and really really well written. The last line is golden.
Posted at 10:05 PM | Comments (0)
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September 03, 2006
Do You Dream?
I've been having this on-going debate with my mom about whether everyone has a dream. Since I have, for my whole compelte entire life, been wholy dedicated to the idea of being a writer, I can't really imagine people who don't have some dream or some passion. My mom insists that she never really had a dream. She is a wonderful professor and she says that this is now her passion, but it wasn't a passion that pushed her for her whole life. I was incredulous, saying that of course she had a dream when she was younger. You know, maybe she has repressed it or something. She sort of laughed at me and said that, no, she has never really had that experience. So now, I am thinking that my assessment of human nature has come from watching too many after-school specials in my youth.
What do you think? Do you think that everyone has a dream, or that some of us are dreamers and some of us aren't?
Posted at 07:17 PM | Comments (9)
Category:
The Writing Life
Report From The Road: Atlanta
Yesterday, I participated in the AJC Decatur Book Festival. It was a good time. Our beloved Pearl Cleage gave us a sneek peak of her new novel, speaking to a packed house. (They wouldn't even let me in, even though I tried to pass myself off as her personal assistant!) Tina Ansa was in the house as was my favorite poet, Natasha Trethewey.
I participated in two events. The first was about writers who blog. Laurel Snyder, of the blog JewishyIrishy was the veteran blogger on board. She's been blogging since before blogging software. We are talking HTML here. Also on the panel was Amy Guth. She told a great story: after complaining on her blog about so-called ergonomic pens, a pen company gave her an endorsement deal: they'll keep her in free pens as long as she uses their pens to sign books!
The second of my events was a reading with Lisa Teasley. I was so pleased to look out and see readers that I recognized, including members of Circle of Friends II and also lots of writer-friends. Lisa Teasley will be guest blogging next week, so keep an eye out.
P.S. Ladylee took photos, but she doesn't have them posted yet...
September 01, 2006
Jelani Cobb on Rio
I have been in touch with Jelani Cobb about a Q&A for this site regarding this trip to Rio, which he wrote about in Essence. His revealations about African-American men and the sex trade in Brazil have caused quite a bit a controversy. He has received so much feedback, postitive and negative, that he has prepared a sort of FAQ about his trip. The questions range from "Why did you write this aticle in the first place" to "What can women do". Interesting stuff.
Posted at 07:11 AM | Comments (1)
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Guest Bloggers
Revenge is Best When It is Complicated
Check this out:
A.N. Wilson, one of London'd mose visible literary figures, thought he had hit pay dirt when he discovered a sexy letter from John Beteman to Honor Tracy. Wilson printed the letter in full as part of his new biography of Betjeman. But.... Welll...
But as it turns out, the first letters of each sentence, except the first, spell out an insulting sentence that starts with Mr. Wilson's name and ends with a vulgarity (NYT)
The letters spell out "A.N. Wilson is a shit."
I had a little chuckle at this. No one knows who sent the forged letter to Wilson in the first place. If I were on the investigatory team, I would go immediately to the person who said, "Hey! I think this letter is a hoax! And if you look really closely it seems to be a coded INSULT!" I mean, who other than the guilty party would even look at it that closely?
thx CTD.
Posted at 07:03 AM | Comments (1)
Category:
Current Events