Zetta Elliott's Blog, page 95

lifting as they climb

Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich has started an exciting new project for emerging writers—Patchwork Collective Virtual Mentors!  Here's a description of the initiative:

"The Patchwork Collective for Writers of Color is accepting applications for its Virtual Mentoring Program! Participants will be invited to join an online group and receive personalized advice from mentors on manuscripts and technique (no more than one critique of 10 pages of a long-form work, or 1 PB over the 8 week period), industry- and craft-related information (books, conferences, helpful organizations, Web sites, etc.), and more.  Mentors will not be offering referrals to any agents or editors. If you are a writer of color in the "intermediate" stage of your pursuit of a career in children's literature, this is an opportunity for one-on-one online communication with a published children's book author (PB-YA)."

Want to learn more?  Swing by The Happy Nappy Bookseller and read a great interview with Gbemi.  I'll be on a panel to answer questions about self-publishing, and can't wait to see more aspiring authors breaking into the industry!

Don't forget—it's February and that means it's time for the Brown Bookshelf's 28 Days Later.  Stop by every day this month to meet emerging and established authors in the field of African American children's literature.

holding on to history

That *was* the title of the article I submitted to School Library Journal; it's now called "A Storied Past," but I'm still happy with how it turned out.  It's hard having your words edited when you're used to blogging!  But I'm grateful for the opportunity to write about my commitment to the past and the future.  These book covers were also cut (from the online version, anyway).  I can still remember seeing them in my small public library as a child in Toronto—I remember that poor librarian who tried to get me to read The House of Dies Drear and I refused because of that awful cover…Anyway, this has been a very long day and we're expecting SNOW in the morning.  When does spring arrive?

Stranger in the Family

I'm happy to announce the release of the Kindle edition of my book, Stranger in the Family.  It is now available in the Kindle store for $3.99—a Black History Month special!

Stranger in the Family is a mixed-media memoir that examines the shifting terrain upon which we negotiate race, kinship, and identity. When my father died of cancer in the spring of 2004, I accepted an offer to teach in the tiny east African country of Djibouti. While abroad, I reflected upon the complicated concept of diaspora, and the alienation I sometimes felt as a foreigner brought to mind a hurtful remark my father once directed at me: "You're a stranger in this family." When my teaching assignment in Djibouti ended prematurely, I returned to Toronto and wrote a collection of essays to more closely examine my "outsider" role within my family and my native land. Stranger in the Family uses essays, photography, short stories, and poetry to trace my evolution as a black feminist, a writer, a daughter, and a Canadian.

Here's some of what George Elliott Clarke had to say in his review for The Chronicle Herald (2/8/09):

"…as an African-Canadian African-American, [Elliott] may consider race and racism, as well as cultural differences, from both sides of the 49th parallel, and she is ably suited for doing so…she writes lucid, beautiful, thoughtful, and compelling prose…Elliott does not demonize one locale at the expense of another; rather, she is fastidiously balanced…she insists that her readers view Canada from a black woman's perspective and America from a Canadian perspective. The result is a book that forces one to rethink all the clichés about each nation. But Stranger in the Family isn't mere sociology or self-help therapy either. It is writing that draws comparison to both Bell Hooks and Margaret Atwood, James Baldwin and Mordecai Richler, uniting African-American and Canadian influences."

The Kindle edition of Stranger in the Family is available at Amazon.com and Amazon.uk.  If you don't own a Kindle, you can download your free Kindle app here (for PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, and Android).

The paperback can be ordered from my e-store, in bookstores, at Amazon.com, or at Amazon.ca.  Please feel free to circulate this message and share with colleagues who teach Black Studies, Gender Studies, and/or multicultural literature.

snow! now silence

Love this video of two fathers reading Ezra Jack Keats' The Snowy Day with their daughters!  You can submit a short film, too, at the EJK foundation website.

Snowy days are perfect for staying indoors—curling up with a good book or finishing up a new chapter on my novel-in-progress (nearing 23K!).  On Wednesday, I woke to snow falling steadily here in Brooklyn but instead of doing either of those things, I hastily packed my suitcase and rushed to the airport; my plane sat on the tarmac for two hours but finally managed to depart for Boston.  Job interviews are anxiety-producing under any circumstances, but try having one during a blizzard!  Today will be a day of silence.  I met so many kind and interesting people during my three-day trip, including several talkative taxi drivers…it's always interesting how things change once strangers realize I am (or have been) a professor.  Today I've got my writer hat on; tomorrow I have to focus on finalizing my syllabus and gearing up for the first day of the spring semester.  Here's hoping I haven't lost my touch in the classroom…

Thanks to the ladies at Love YA Lit for sharing this interesting list of "must reads" for teen feminists.  Virginia Hamilton seems to be missing—is there anyone else you would add?

teen talk

A librarian once told me that Wish didn't sound like YA language, and I took that as a compliment.  Then I thought about it and wondered whether my reaction was appropriate—what's wrong with sounding like a teenager?  The truth is, I probably didn't sound like a teenager even when I was one, and I don't use much slang in my writing now…but that doesn't mean I don't respect the myriad ways teens have of expressing themselves.  While reading Jazz in Love by Neesha Meminger, I found myself faltering whenever the teen characters slipped into "teen talk."  But once I let go and let myself focus on what they were saying (more than how they were saying it), it all started coming back to me…those terrible teen years, the angst, the panic, the highs and lows, and battles with parents—I'd never want to be 16 again!  Jazz actually reminded me of my friend Fariena; she was tall, thin, beautiful—and Muslim, with strict Guyanese parents who had their hands full with three vivacious daughters. I think, as a group, my friends and I did more pining than playing when it came to boys, so it was great to see a girl like Jazz taking a chance on love—and keeping her grades up at the same time!  Neesha has created a genuine teenage girl who's unsure and ambivalent about her feelings, her obligations, and her rights as a young woman.  Like Neesha, I'm thrilled that Jazz in Love has been reviewed on the Kirkus Reviews blog, especially after reading this article about self-published authors having to pay for a listing in Publisher's Weekly (with the outside chance of a review).  If you're a blogger and would like to review Jazz in Love, be the first to leave a comment and I'll send a copy your way!

don't be normal…

…be paranormal!  Join Ari, Doret, and Edi for their first ever African American Read-In event—the people have spoken, and the winner is Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves.  I can guarantee that you have NEVER read anything like this tale of a mentally unstable biracial teen who finds herself living in a Texas town full of portals to another (far creepier) world.  Stop by Crazy Quilts for a list of links to interviews and reviews, then go get your copy and be ready for the read-in!  Thanks to everyone who voted and remember—it's not too late to invite others to join us for the February discussion.

Nora

This is one of the most beautiful films I've seen recently—about the life of Zimbabwean dancer Nora Chipaumire:

"Nora" is based on true stories of the dancer Nora Chipaumire, who was born in Zimbabwe in 1965. In the film, Nora returns to the landscape of her childhood and takes a journey through some vivid memories of her youth. Using performance and dance, she brings her history to life in a swiftly-moving poem of sound and image. The result is a film about family dramas, difficult love affairs and militant politics, which moves back and forth between the comic and the tragic, the joyful and the mournful. It is a film about a girl who is constantly embattled – struggling against all kinds of intimidation and violence – but who slowly gathers strength, pride and independence. Shot entirely on location in Southern Africa, "Nora" includes a multitude of local performers and dancers of all ages, from young schoolchildren to ancient grandmothers, and much of the music is specially composed by a legend of Zimbabwean music – Thomas Mapfumo.

And here's a video I found on You Tube about the making of the film:

3K

I should be exhausted, but I'm not.  I've written more than three thousand words today, and I'm not done yet!  All week I've been trying to write, and every night I would fall asleep on the couch, wake at 4am, and unsuccessfully try to fall back to sleep in my bed.  On Wednesday I woke with a stabbing pain in my left shoulder but I didn't want to get back up to take some painkillers.  So I pressed my eyes shut and tried to sleep but, of course, the pain kept me awake.  And as I lay there I basically wrote my novel—in my head.  I saw the scenes unfold, one after the other, and I've spent the whole day trying to write it all down.  The TV's been on, too…I watched Power Paths, a brilliant documentary about several Native American tribes in the southwest and the Plains who mobilized to bring green energy to their reservations and the region.  When I needed a TV break I played Oro, the latest album by ChocQuibTown, over and over and over even though I have no idea what they're saying since they rap/sing in Spanish.  Then the TV came back on and I saw an infomercial for a compilation of music from the '70s, which sent me in search of this song:

It's a wonder I got *any* writing done, as easily distracted as I am.  But it isn't writing, really.  It's more like transcribing.  I've seen the scenes, so all I have to do is write it down…

I'll do it, by George!

I've tried—I really have tried to decolonize my imagination.  But try as I might, I just can't seem to keep the British out of my head!  It doesn't help, of course, that I watch Britcoms on PBS and Masterpiece Theatre every Sunday night, and Mystery, and Doc Martin, and BBC news is on the television right now…I write with the TV on (bad, I know) and the other day I gasped when I re-read some of my novel and found that my characters sounded BRITISH.  As much as I fuss about having to read The Phoenix and the Carpet when I was 8, I now find that MY magical talking bird sounds a lot like Nesbit's snooty bird.  Sigh…then this afternoon I went to see The King's Speech and it felt like indulging in a guilty pleasure.  All I needed was a cup of tea and a butter tart and my betrayal would have been complete! (Rosa did provide a raspberry jam thumbprint cookie, which is close enough)  Some days I wonder if I even have a choice about the things that I love; sure, I was conditioned from birth to admire all things British, but I'm no longer a child.  Is there a way to appreciate those things without ambivalence?  I guess that's the postcolonial quandary.  Anyway, the writing's going really well (nearing 18K), I accepted an exciting teaching opportunity for this spring, and I have an out-of-state interview next week.  It's snowing again, but I'm ready to write: just filled up on leftover Indian food and there's a pint of ice cream waiting in the wings…

a family affair

What luck!  In my mailbox today I found a copy of Arnold Adoff's latest book, Roots and Blues—then in my inbox, I found his son (with author Virginia Hamilton), Jaime Adoff, had sent me these answers for today's author interview!  If you don't know Jaime's work already, here's an excerpt from his bio:

Jaime's latest young adult novel The Death of Jayson Porter received the 2010 BuckeyeTeen Book Award. It received *starred reviews from *Booklist*, *Library Media Connection*, and *VOYA* magazine,(5Q). It was also selected for the '09 "Choose to read Ohio program," a project of the State Library of Ohio to promote reading across Ohio. As well as an Ohioana Book Award finalist in the Juvenile category.

1. How would you describe your contribution to the field of children's literature?

Well that's a story that's still being told. I gauge my contribution by how children and teens have been affected by my work. Having talked to literally thousands of kids over the course of the last almost ten years, I feel that I am helping. Helping to at least get a dialogue going on some of the life changing and life threatening issues facing young people today, issues such as bullying, suicide, abuse. The emails I receive from young people tell me that I have made a positive contribution thus far. Reviews and awards? Those are a chasing after the wind. It's the kids that count, and that's something I can never forget.

2. You come from a prominent literary family; how does your parents' legacy impact your own writing for young readers?

It has impacted me, generally speaking, in a very positive way. I think I hold myself to extremely high standards—some might say impossibly high—due to the bar that was set by my parents. I never feel as though I am in competition, but I do feel a sense of responsibility to carry on the family tradition of creating great books that can stand the test of time. It is a legacy, a legacy that I have embraced. It is a living legacy from which I am constantly drawing from. Sometimes I might write something and it instantly reminds me of my mother or my father. A turn of a phrase, a line here or there. It always makes me smile when that happens. I am blessed to come from such a family and thankful that they were both such loving and supportive parents. I only wish my mother would have lived to see me write professionally. She would have gotten such a kick out of it all!

3. Can you tell us about your current project(s)?  How do you develop such original ideas for your books?

Currently I have multiple projects going. Multiple projects out there in the publishing world looking for homes; multiple projects on my desk waiting to be completed. I have ideas that I've gotten years ago that are still cooking, still trying to make their way to the printed page. Some ideas come over time; some can come in an instant. All take months and years to truly come to fruition, and yes, as you know, many never see the light of day. I have two novels that I am working on that are a bit of a departure for me, incorporating some spiritual and magic realism elements that I haven't used in my prior works. I still maintain the "realism," which I feel is of utmost importance in the work that I do. Real kids—present day teens from diverse backgrounds—going through universal challenges, their voices ringing true to who they are and the lives they lead. I am quite excited about these projects.

4. As a second-generation children's book author, how optimistic are you about the future of publishing?  Do you have any advice for the next generation of writers?

That's a loaded question. Like all fields, publishing is going through some changes now, some growing pains, trying to find its footing in an ever-changing landscape (how was that for politically correct). From my experience, generally speaking, big corporations are slow to act, to react, and to change. They're slow to want to change, but in this instance I think the choices have already been made. The brave new world of publishing is coming at us like a fast approaching train; they've either got to climb aboard or get out of the way. And as we know, since the bottom line is making money, publishers are already figuring out how to get onboard.

As for the second part of the question: I think a good story is a good story, a good poem is a good poem, a good novel, poetic or otherwise, is a good novel. Regardless of the format, digital, app, paper, carrier pigeon, those are constants that will always be. Now, there are times when those characteristics are not paramount in the decision-making processes of these companies, and some may say we're in those times right now. Be that as it may, the focus for the next generation of writers should be substance, not delivery method.

5. There is a lot of concern for black boys–their literacy skills, the availability of books featuring black male protagonists.  As a biracial/black male writer (and the father of a daughter), how do you feel about the issue of "boys and books"?

I've done quite of few literacy talks and events, many focusing on the issue of boys and books, and specifically African American males and literacy. I think matching the right book with the right kid is one of the keys. Exposing these kids to a wide variety of literature, exposing them to worlds sometimes similar and sometimes different from their own. Having them be able to see themselves in the books that they read is crucial in hooking them, and keeping them hooked on reading. With budget cuts hitting everyone hard, especially those populations that can least afford them, we as educators, writers, and publishers have to work that much harder to make sure we write, publish, and promote these books so that they are getting into the hands of these young people.

There are never enough books featuring black male protagonists. And that is not for a lack of trying. There are even fewer with biracial protagonists, or Chinese American protagonists or Latinos, etc . . . There are many fine writers of color, many more than most people would think or know about. This lack of knowing goes side by side with the minuscule amount of books being published with diverse protagonists as compared to their white counterparts. It is still a largely white run business, from bottom to top, floor to ceiling. Children's and YA publishing, in my opinion, is still decades behind the rest of the country, and sadly, it's the children and teens of this country who must suffer. Inroads have been made but not nearly enough. It's a struggle, and as my father's tag line states at the end of each of his emails: "The struggle continues . . ."