Zetta Elliott's Blog, page 113
June 15, 2010
Franklin Park
Last night I gave a reading at Franklin Park, a new lounge in Crown Heights that hosts a monthly reading series. The wonderful organizer, Penina Roth, met me at the door and checked in throughout the night to make sure I was ok…you see, I don't drink and I can count on one hand the number of times I've been in a bar. So doing a reading at a bar (which the Brooklyn Paper dubbed "booze and books") made me a little anxious. Fortunately, my good friend Stefanie was there to prop me up, and...
June 13, 2010
we shall rise…
The phoenix is a symbol of endurance and continuity—things may look bleak for our public libraries, but I'm confident we can turn things around. Just look at the folks who turned out for the 24-hour read in—all these kids learning to spin wool and knit! there were quilters and musicians and writers, of course. I wanted to show up around 3am, but couldn't find a companion and didn't want to walk up Flatbush on my own in the middle of the night. If all goes well with the job interviews...
good to know
Many thanks to Sarah over at Archimedes Forgets for sharing this link with me—if you've ever wondered just how publishing works, try Moonrat's Guide to Getting into Publishing. Unfortunately, it all begins with an unpaid internship or low-paying retail job, and as someone mentioned in the Shelf Talker comments, THAT has got to change because too many qualified applicants simply can't afford to work for free and/or next to nothing…still, this is a great introduction to the field—check it...
June 12, 2010
summer reading
One of the main reasons Conversations Book Club is widely respected across the world is because it looks for books that satisfy all reading appetites and makes them available to the literary community, whether they are traditionally published books or those independently released. This year's summer reading list is a perfect mixture of both non-fiction and fiction titles that are sure to keep you entertained and enlightened this summer...
June 11, 2010
one perfect hour
I just lost my entire post—grrrrr. This mac is acting nutty, so I'll keep this short: had to share this beautiful drawing sent to me by my niece, Maya. How did she know that I read "Millie Eckstine the Singing Swine" during my poetry workshop this morning? I love that Maya gave her earrings…
There's a lot going on this weekend. The poetry workshops I lead are sponsored by the Brooklyn Public Library. Those of us who value libraries and librarians will be out in force on Saturday for a
June 10, 2010
The Elephant in the Room
No matter how hard you try to ignore it, it just won't go away! It's time to do something about the appalling inequity in US (and Canadian) publishing. Elizabeth Bluemle has posted a fantastic essay over at her Publishers Weekly blog, Shelf Talker. It's filled with important insights, links, and illustrations by artists of color who know all too well just how exclusive and tight-lipped the publishing industry can be. I particularly like this one by Jerry Craft—I've BEEN to a book fair...
June 9, 2010
black rage
This is going to be a LONG day…I've got a career day presentation in Long Island City this morning, then a tour of historic Greenwood Cemetery with a friend from Canada, then there's a tribute to June Jordan up in Harlem, and the day ends with a celebration of the Crown Heights Oral History Project. But the best way to start this day is by reading a really insightful review of Wish over at Book Gazing…many thanks to Jodie for considering how expressions of justifiable rage by my black...
June 8, 2010
roller coaster
Looking for a job is like getting on a roller coaster. You stand in that snaking line forever, chatting with others who are also inching toward the same goal: a ride/job that will thrill and satisfy—a job that's worth the wait. Sometimes you see folks up ahead and you want to wish them well, but you KNOW that job is meant for YOU. And all you can do is wait your turn, and try to be happy for those who are already enjoying the ride. I've got one interview coming up, and I missed the...
June 5, 2010
purge
The thing about being an HSP is that you fill up pretty quickly. Some folks think we're shy and withdrawn, but really, we're just trying to make sure we have enough room inside our minds. Take today, for instance: I woke before dawn, went to the garden, soaked up all the sights and sounds and scents there, ran my errands, met kind people, and now I'm back at home. It's only noon, but I need time to recover—to drain the cup a little—before I venture back out. And most days, that would be i...
June 4, 2010
the WisCon women!
Ok, now that I understand just what WisCon is, I realize just what I missed by not attending this year's gathering. Fortunately, Neesha Meminger posted *gorgeous* photos of the WisCon women on her blog, and so did Shveta Thakrar. Also, Mary Anne Moharanj posted her guest of honor speech on her blog—make sure you read the whole thing! This excerpt really jumped out at me, because the issue of motherhood and "natural" maternal instincts came up during my interview with Rita Williams-Garcia:
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