Tayari's Blog: December 2006
December 31, 2006
HNY!
The plan was that I would stay home. I turned down fine invitations. Instead, I cleaned the whole house, top to bottom-- I want an orderly year in 2007. I imagined myself sitting in my home office, dutifully pecking away at my new novel as the new year struck.
This is not what happened.
Around 5 pm, I started feeling, well.. TRAPPED by my singular devotion to writing. It was NEW YEAR'S EVE for goodness sake. I called my favorite restaurant, The Peacock Cafe, and discovered that they had a fabulous NYE prix fix. Not only that: Kremena, the most terrific Bulgarian bartender was on duty. (A restaurant is only as good as its bartender. I know "Top Chef" fans would disagree, but it's true!) I stripped off the foot-pajamas, slipped into something a little more festive, and headed to the restuarant.
I'm back home now, full of good food and my favorite champagne. I'm still hoping to be writing when the new year comes rolling in. But this is a more fitting way to start 2007. Still writing, but also living life!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Let's make 2007 the best one yet.
xo, Tayari
Posted at 09:20 PM | ![[comments]](http://www.tayarijones.com/images/comments.gif){kind=small}
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Category:
KUUMBA!
Today is the sixth day of Kwanzaa, Kuumba. (My good friend, Jafari, created the beautiful Kwaanza display pictured here.)
Today, January 31, is the day to celebrate the creative arts and the creativity in each of us. The official website of Kwaanza explains the principle of Kuumba as:
To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
I really like this broadly drawn application of creativity. So often, we describe someone as "creative" only if she is a writer, painter, dancer, etc. But each of us is creative and we can put this gift to work every day. Sweet Honey in The Rock performs a lovely song called "Seven Principles". With their breath-taking harmonies, they interpret the seven principles of Kwaanza. For Kuumba they sing, "All that we touch is more beautiful!"
Let's spend this day touching everything and everyone that we can.
December 28, 2006
It's Like Netflix For Books!
Booklovers of the world, it's time for celebration. Check out Booksfree! It's a service just like Netfilx, only offering BOOKS-- in paperback and audio format. You pay a monthly fee-- it varies depending on how many books you want. (The most popular plan lets you have six books out at a time for $20 a month.) You tell them what books you want to read; they send them to you; you read it; send it back; they send you the next books on your list. And, the kicker is that they carry MY books! Sadly, there are no reviews yet. (hint, hint)
December 27, 2006
A Star is Born! (UPDATED)
You never know who you know. I went to see "Dreamgirls" with my good
friend, Phillip Alexander. I knew Phillip was a great singer and performer, but I had no idea that he had personal experience with "Dreamgirls." About ten years ago, he played CiCi in an off-off Broadway show! He let me use this cool picture from his scrapbook-- Effie and the Girls. You have to read his blog entry, if only to see the high-top fade cast photo! While you're over there, check out some of the songs on his new album. And if you are on myspace, add him as a friend.
I've got a copy of Phillip Alexander's debut CD, "LOVE YOU GOOD." Tell me your favorite "Dreamgirls" moment and why. The best story wins the CD!
Posted at 08:27 PM | Comments (0)
Category:
Travels & Rambles
And I Am Telling You: Go See "Dreamgirls"
On Christmas Day, I went to see "Dreamgirls." I am a big fan of the orginal play-- I even saw it once with Jennifer Holliday and once with an understudy wo truly put her foot in it. Further, as a black woman of a certain age, you know that I saw many a young girl belt out "And I am Telling You" and "I Am Changing" at highschool talent shows. In short, I am the ideal audience for this movie.
I did enjoy it. Let me start by saying that.
Posted at 10:28 AM | Comments (5)
Category:
Travels & Rambles
YOU'RE GONNA LOVE MEEEEEEEE!
For those of us not ashamed to show our age. Here's Jennifer Holliday, who played Effie in the Broadway production. Listen to her sing "And I Am Telling You," at the 1982 Tony Awards.
Posted at 10:12 AM | Comments (2)
Category:
Travels & Rambles
December 26, 2006
A Step By Step Guide to Red Velvet Cake
Last week, I called myself being helpful by posting the recipe for Red Velvet Cake. Ladylee, then had the nerve to suggest that I was half-stepping because I failed to include pictures. Always one to lead by example, she took me by the hand and showed me her gumbo post.
Okay. I can take a hint. I made a Red Velvet Cake for Christmas and here are the pics I took along the way. And, as a bonus, I was able to watch a friend make Paella! (Warning, there aren't too many pictures as I was getting on his nerves and he threw me out of the kitchen.)
Posted at 11:03 AM | Comments (2)
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December 24, 2006
The Best Christmas Story Ever
If this wonderful tale by John Henry Faulk doesn't warm your heart, I'd suggest you see a cardiologist. This link includes the transcript, but for the full experience, click on the audio. I love this story and I hope you will too!
December 22, 2006
Business Blog For Authors
I got an email today from Kay Lockener letting me know my one of my posts was going to be featured on the blog, Author MBA. I love acceptance letters of all kinds, so I wrote back an enthusiastic response. Then, I went over to the site to check things out and I was was really impressed. This is a wonderful clearing house of information for authors who want to know more about the business end of art. There is a daily post on the following schedule:
MON - Kay Lockner (career)
TUE - Linda Keller (bookselling)
WED - Jenn Stark (branding)
THU - "Take 5" (special feature)
FRI - "Best of the Biz" (market savvy)
I'd say this site is very boorkmark worthy. Here's the link again.
Posted at 07:00 AM | Comments (0)
Category:
The Writing Life
December 21, 2006
I've Been Elfed!
Hee hee. This is FUNNY.
Posted at 12:52 PM | Comments (2)
Category:
Travels & Rambles
Holidays Freaking You Out?
Here are some fun stress relievers/time killers:
Make-a-Flake: Indulge your inner child and make some "paper" snowflakes on line.
Have You Known Me Lately: A short story I wrote a few years back. I was 
asked to write a holiday story for an anthology. I wrote it. It was rejected. Not warm and/or fuzzy enough, I guess.
Fa la la la la: These are lyrics to popular holiday song. The overly anxious among us can brush up before heading the the holiday party. All the songs are here, from the really secular (The Grinch Song) to the sacred (O Holy Night)
Ornamental: Lovely photos of Christmas ornaments covertly snapped at Crate and Barrel.
Sippy-sip: Holiday Drink Recipes
Krismas Njema Na Heri Za Mwaka Mpya: Say Merry Christmas in 350 languages.
Posted at 08:17 AM | Comments (2)
Category:
Travels & Rambles
The B Side of Yesterday's Post
For some reason, the holidays bring out the worst in my personality. I don't mean that I get mean; I just get sort of weird. For example, last night, I was all nestled, snug in my bed when I had a thought about yesterday's blog entry. When I was going through my bedtime rituals, I was thinking how cool it is that writers are giving up the advance for a little TLC at smaller houses. Then, once I was lying down, I drifted into sleep and had something like a nightmare: What if a writer (say, ME) were to give up her advance, go to a small house, only to be ignored because some Big Shot (say, TERRY MACMILLAN)just switched over from Random House. I didn't wake up screaming, but it wasn't pretty. Anyway, I shook this off and tried to count sheep or something.
Sadly, the sheep wouldn't get into an orderly line to be counted, so I was frustrated in my half-waking state as I tried to organize the sheep. Then I thought of holiday presents I forgot to buy and I woke up again.
Once awake, my mind drifted back to that article from yesterday. Did anyone notice how many black authors were amond the "big names" who left thier big publishing houses? Chris Abani, Edwidge Danticat, Walter Mosely, Amiri Baraka. I hope I am not being too much of a grumpy (and sleep-deprived) smurf if I say that it is unusual to see that many black authors mentioned in an article that's not about being black. So this led me to wonder why black writers are disproportionately represented in this trend. I couldn't figure it out. I thought about it, mused over it, fretted over it, until I finally fell asleep.
Posted at 07:13 AM | Comments (3)
Category:
The Writing Life
December 19, 2006
Goose-Egg Advance
More and more authors are leaving big publishing houses, and the big advances that come along with it. Why? To go to smaller houses where they will get more attention. There is an interesting article in The Wall Street Journal about this trend.
I am intrigued by this idea. My first two novels were published by Warner Books, a very large NY publishing house. Warner has lots of money at its disposal, but it also has a LOT of books coming out in any given month. Publicity efforts are cranked up for the first few weeks after publication and after that, the author is pretty much on her own.
David Morell, a best selling author who left a big house (and a six-figure advance) for Vanguard, a must smaller (and poorer) establishment.
"Traditional publishing functions as an assembly line," says Mr. Morrell. "Often by the time a book is published the project has gone through various departments and the memory of why certain decisions were made weren't passed along, so nobody can understand what's going on." By contrast, Mr. Morrell says he is involved in every step of the marketing at Vanguard, which plans on publishing only one or two books a month for the near future.Vanguard says it is responding to the rapid-fire changes that have given the once-sleepy publishing world a distinctly casino-like atmosphere. Increasingly these days books have only a week or two to establish themselves as big hits; otherwise they're quickly washed to the back of the store.
I think this is a really exciting development in publishing. I just have one little question: What happens to those of us who really need the money and can't really afford to skip the advance?
via ed, and here's maud's take
Posted at 05:20 PM | Comments (1)
Category:
Semester's End
It's the end of the semester here at George Washington. The pic below is of my students at the farewell pizza party last week. (Here's the rest of the album) I've decided 
to let them type on the blog as they hand in their final portfolios. Think of it as a virtual guest book.
Justin: I flipped off my couch and broke my arm. I go into surgery tomorrow. But I turned in my final. Have a great holiday everyone.
Courtney: Unfortunately, I'm not in this picture!! I am so glad this semester is over! In two days I'll be a college graduate!!!! Is it as scary out there in the real world as it seems? Thanks for the great semester Professor Jones! Happy Holidays!
Posted at 02:56 PM | Comments (1)
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December 18, 2006
The Last Poetry Reading of The Year
Camille Dungy, author of What to Eat, What To Eat, and What to Leave for Poison, gave a reading on Saturday night at Karibu Books in Bowie 
Maryland. I know you are thinking: a poetry reading, on a Saturday night??? This close to the holidays???? I have blogged before about The Karibu Effect. They get folks into the store and those folks BUY BOOKS.
Camille was there at the invitation of Dwayne Betts, Karibu Books Poet in Residence and the most charming young man in the world.
Also there was poet, Brian Gilmore and his sweet little girls. Lots of Cave Canem in the house as well. And, course, Brother Yao, founder of Karibu was the first in line at the book signing table!
December 15, 2006
Red Velvet Cake!
Well, it's a tradition here on the blog to post the recipe for Red Velvet Cake to ring in the holiday season. Before I list the ingredients, let me relay to you a little anecdote.
I heard a fairly well known transplanted southern writer speak about her anxiety about preparing a red velvet cake for her South Carolinian husband. This was back in their courting days. She says she had never heard of red-velvet cake and queried his mama who reluctantly sent the recipe to her Midwestern daughter-in-law-to-be. The short version is that the woman could not bear to feed her beloved anything that called for so much artificial coloring. Instead she just put in a couple-three drops and now their family has "pink velvet cake" instead. Hurrah for the "New South."
The recipe attached is my mama's recipe and it calls for 1 1/3 ounces of food color. That's about a bottle and a half. To make the cake taste right (let alone LOOK right), you're going to have to use the coloring. If you remove that much liquid from your cake it's going to be dry. And it's going to look stupid. If you're afraid of red food color, make another cake. Email me and I'll send you a recipe for pound cake or something.
Posted at 08:39 AM | Comments (1)
Category:
Travels & Rambles
December 14, 2006
Input Needed... RIGHT NOW
In about an hour, I am going to be on WPFW, Pacifica Radio in DC. (89.3 FM) Josephine Reed, the host of "On The Margin" has asked me about books that I recommend this season. They don't have to be holiday books, but more like books you'd recommend to folks as they make their holiday gift lists. I have ideas, but what are yours? Comment quick: I go on at 10:10!
Posted at 08:16 AM | Comments (3)
Category:
December 13, 2006
A Writer That's New (to me, at least)
I've just stumbled upon the work of Cora Daniels. Don't ask me how; it's really random. Anyway, I went to her website and found this really touching article about her parents' relationship. Cora Daniel's parents never formally married, thought they were together til-death-did-they-part. This essay explores the boundaries between convention, the law, and (of course) true love. Check it out. I was really moved by it.
December 11, 2006
FREE WRITING WORKSHOP IN DC!
Applications are now open for the spring writing workshop. (The fall session was such a sucess!)
If you're in the DC area, I urge you to apply. The official announcement is below:
Posted at 01:59 PM | Comments (1)
Category:
December 07, 2006
What's Up This Summer?
Artist Colonies:
These are retreats. You just go and do your thing. No classes or responsibilities. For most of these, you don't have to pay for your stay, though you are responsible for your travel. The deadlines for summer residencies are coming up, so I've listed them.
Yaddo, January 1
MacDowell, January 15
Virginia Center For The Creative Arts, January 15
Ragdale, January 15
Hall Farm, February 1
Vermont Studio Center, February 15
Blue Mountain Center, February 1
Summer Workshops:
These are one- to two-week workshops. You take classes, attend lectures, and readings. These can be a little bit costly, but there is financial aid available.
Hurston/Wright Writers Week
VONA Summer Workshops
Breadloaf Writers Conference*
Sewannee Writers Conference
Wesleyan Writers Conference
Writers At Work
Squaw Valley Community of Writers
*A little note on financial aid at Breadloaf. The financial aid is very competitive. One of the plum awards is as a waiter. I have known a few writers-- particularly writers of color-- who have refused waiter awards because they felt it would be demeaning. I know it goes against everything you know from the world, but if you get a waiter award, TAKE IT. It's a very high-profile post.
Posted at 08:50 PM | Comments (5)
Category:
The Writing Life
December 06, 2006
Some thoughts on Publicity
I'm guest blogging over at DGLM. Tip on over there, sil vous plait.
Posted at 08:08 PM | Comments (0)
Category:
Writer's Blockparty
Last night was the final meeting of the 2006 Jenny McKean Moore Free 
Community Writers Workshop here at George Washington University.
Last summer, I solicited applications for the Washington, DC community. I was looking for writers who wanted to take a class. I was looking for folks who wanted to make community, who wanted to make better art. I received about 150 applications, but I whittled it down to 20. Twenty showed up for the first class and by the party we were still 16 strong.
These writers have earned my respect and the respect of everyone in the English Department here at GWU. They came to class after
long days at work. Some took subways, others parked illegally. They had to arrange for childcare for ten weeks in a row. The found time, not only for their own writing, but to give thoughtful and helpful criticism to their classmates.
We are a diverse group: Despite the 50 year age span, despite the fact that we are different races, sexes, religion, and social classes we sat down and got to work. We have made each other better and richer.
In short, they knocked my socks off. If you see me walking barefoot, you'll know why.
Last night, we got together to break bread together, drink wine together, and play stupid party games together. It was a fine and fitting send-off. I think Jenny McKean Moore , the amazing woman to whom all this is dedicated, would be pleased.
Posted at 06:31 AM | Comments (1)
Category:
D.C. Diaries
December 03, 2006
Newsweek Remembers Bebe... sort of
There is something resembling an obituary to Bebe Moore Campbell in the newest Newsweek. The Newsweek piece, called Will Sleaze Dominate Black Publishing, laments that writers like Campbell are less popular than authors of non-fiction tell-alls such as Karrine Stephans.
I have to say that I have had enough of this particular narrative.
I am not disputing that racy, celebrity laden books like Confessions of a Video Vixen outsell literary novels. Instead, I am getting sick of the way that commercial writers are set up as the antagonists of literary novelists. I don't think that I'm going too far in left field to wonder why this seems to be a discussion waged far more often when it comes to African American literature.
The Newsweek article follows LaTisha James ,who enters a Waldenbooks store looking for the latest in "groupie lit." Latisha had never heard of Bebe Moore Campbell. Despite the implications of the narrative, I am not sure if I am ready to see this as the beginning of the end of African American literature. Afterall, LaTisha James is only fourteen years old.
Newsweek probably considers itself to be honoring Bebe Moore Campbell with this "where have all the flowers gone" article, but I would say that it diminishes the achievements of Bebe Moore Campbell's wonderful career.
Bebe Moore Campbell started publishing at age 41. In a mere fifteen years, she wrote several best-selling books. (By this I mean New York Times bestselling.) Her session at the National Black Book Club Conference was standing room only. Just a few days later, in the same city, she packed the Barnes and Noble bookstore. My point here is that Bebe Moore Campbell was not a writer who languished in obscurity because all the black folks were too busy reading "sleaze". At the news of her passing, tributes sprang up all over the blogosphere. Bebe Moore Campbell didn't just have readers, she had fans.
As a literary novelist myself, I often find myself annoyed by interviewers who try and force me to say something unkind about black writers who do not write the type of literature that I do. The interviewer may something like, "So what do you think about all the new street literature that is nothing but sex and violence?" or "What do you think about the way that African American lit has gone downhill?" (I should also add that there is another question in this family: "How do you feel about chick-lit?") I decided a long time ago that I would never seek to define myself or my writing by denigrating other writers that share my demographic(s).
I wish Newsweek had found a way to memorialize Bebe Moore Campbell, without setting up an unproductive dichotomy between "serious" and "sleaze". This benefits no one and fails to do justice to Bebe's memory. After all, how can we forget that one of the themes of her work is finding common ground?
thx, carleen for the Newsweek link.
Posted at 10:03 PM | Comments (2)
Category:
The Writing Life
Tayari's Holiday Gift List
To follow in the tradition started last year, here is my list of holiday gift suggestions for the writer in your life... even if that writer is you!
Lunch, Dinner, Movie or something with a writer: The Center For New Words is auctioning off all sorts of writerly celebrity junkets. You can bid on a chance to hang out with Jill Nelson in Martha's Vineyard, Dorothy Allison will record the message on your home voice mail, Katha Pollit will critique your manuscript... You get the idea. It's for a good cause and the writer in your world will get a kick out of it. Bidding ends tomorrow!
Fountain pen: The joy of a fountain pen is that you have to refill it every now and then. I feel such an accomplishment when I realize that I have used a whole pen's worth of ink. Levenger makes great pens at different price ranges and they also carry a variety package of ink in six colors.
Flash drive: You don't want to lose your files. We've talked 
about this before. Back up your work. Back it up!
Adult Foot-Pajamas: I don't know about you, but I work best when I am comfortable. Also, when my inner-child is happy, my outer-adult is good to go. Currently, I am making-do with the flannel pjs, but I have asked Santa for the cashmere. (size M, please, Mr. Claus)
N'espresso Machine: This is a high ticket item, but it has really increased my productivity. Espresso in 30 seconds, no clean-up, no drama. I discovered this life-enhancer when I was at an artist's colony in Switzerland. And while you're at it, get the cute little cups to match!
Grants and Awards Database Subscription: PEN used to put out an actual BOOK that lists 
every single grant or award available to American writers. (Every grant listed is worth $500 or more) I bought the book version when I was first starting out. Now it's available as an on-line searchable database. There are so many awards out there, but if you are not on the "inside" how do you find out about them? By subscribing to this service!
Stamps: If the writer in your life is going to be applying for awards, residencies, publication, etc.. she is going to need some postage. And while you're at it, a gift card from Kinko's is helpful too. This sort of gift lets the writer in your life know that you believe in her and it also lights a 
fire under to her to get her to put herself out there.
Lovely Handkerchiefs and/or Tissues: In regards to the item above-- rejection happens. And it is not fun. If you send out a bunch of applications at the same time, you'll likely get a bunch of no-slips all at once too. Buy the writer in your life some tissue. Let her cry on your shoulder, then give her another book of stamps.
Posted at 04:02 PM | Comments (1)
Category:
The Writing Life
Champagne Hangover
Champagne hangover? As Lauren would say, "That's a high class problem." 
Thank so much for all the birthday well-wishes. (Ladylee went all out!) I took some time off from the blog to just ramble around Washington, DC and enjoy myself on my big day. I don't have much of a story to report; it was a lovely low-key good time: shrimp and grits at Georgia Browns, Key lime pie, a bottle of bubbly, wonderful company, etc. And, of course, I started the day by putting down a few words on my new manuscript.
Posted at 03:11 PM | Comments (1)
Category:
Travels & Rambles