AUDACIOUS BOOKCLUB HAPPENINGS
Our September selection is The Rich People Have Gone Away by Regina Porter. We will be in conversation with Regina on September 25th and registration is open. Please do join our bookclub discussions when the threads are posted. We have great conversations and all are welcome. There is no recording of our August conversation with Alex Espinoza because of a technical mishap.
THE NEWSLETTER WEEKS IN REVIEW
PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL NEWS
On Thursday, September 5th, I will be in conversation with Edwidge Danticat at the Center for Fiction in support of her new essay collection We’re Alone. Tickets are available for both in-person attendance or the livestream and a book is included.
On Saturday, September 7th at the Harlem Book Fair, I will be in conversation with fellow Haitian writer Ibi Zoboi at noon at the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, at noon. Registration is free but required. From 2:15 to 3:15, I will be in conversation with Gabrielle Bellot and Julia Turshen about my &Everand essay series and the work the three of us wrote for it. This event will take place at the Adam Clayton Powell Building Plaza Stage
In October, find me at the Circa Queer Histories festival in Los Angeles. I will be part of the closing plenary, “The Future of Queer History: LGBTQ+ Writers on the Election,” on Sunday, October 27, 2024, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre. I will be joining Eric Cervini, Justin Torres, Tre’vell Anderson and George M. Johnson in conversation.
Megan Pillow and I wrote a book called Do the Work. The Tenth Anniversary edition of Bad Feminist is available. The Portable Feminist Reader is coming out on February 18th, 2025. Pre-orders are now open and it is always a huge help when you pre-order.
In India, a woman doctor in training, Moumita Debnath, was brutally raped and murdered and in the weeks since, Indian women have been protesting for more safety, especially for doctors and other medical professionals, and more accountability for the men who commit these horrible crimes.
The Taliban is still on their bullshit, but worse.
The DNC has come and gone. It was a raucous convention. They finally released their platform. Michelle Obama wore an exquisite suit and gave a rhetorical masterclass. Tim Walz charmed. Kamala Harris made her case for the presidency. Beyoncé did not perform. And, inexplicably, inexcusably, no Palestinians were allowed to speak at a convention that made space for law enforcement, Republicans, every major Democrat politician, and many more. Here is the speech the Uncommitted Delegates wanted to give. Also, Fitz showed up.
Also inexplicable, 150 “industry leaders” tried to get Bisan Atef Owda’s, a young Palestinian woman, Emmy nomination rescinded. For doing journalism about her reality. The ways the plot has been lost at this point are… innumerable.
The Trump campaign made a fake T Swift endorsement. His rallies may be alienating some of his base. He continues to enrich himself from campaigning. J.D. Vance was cringe at a donut shop. Vance also tried to make fun of the former Miss Teen USA who once made a mistake and became an international punch line for months. The Trump campaign showed their asses at the Arlington National Cemetery and it was so egregious that the Army rebuked them. Also the special counsel has re-indicted Trump on narrower charges because he is not, in fact, a king.
The excellent pre-pub press for Oliver Radclyffe’s Frighten the Horses continues. Oprah! Kirkus! And here is an interview with Oliver. The book comes out on September 17th, but you can still pre-order and pre-orders help immensely.
J Wortham gets into Audre Lorde’s life and a recent biography of Lorde by Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Survival is a Promise.
In the US, hotel workers are striking this labor day weekend, for better pay and improved working conditions and as per usual, the bar is in hell.
The intersection of the true crime industry and the people involved with the true crimes. It’s so grim.
In better news, Pommel Horse Guy with Glasses is going to be on Dancing with the Stars. That’s not a show I really watch but I’m glad he will have more fun in the sun.
Fandom, at its worst, is really out of control and this was an interesting piece about Chappell Roan grappling with the intensity of her recent fame. Also, she made a request for fans to just chill out and respect boundaries. Here’s to hope they do as they should. Fan obsession and boundary transgressing behavior is not the cost of fame. It just isn’t and anyone who tries to normalize bad behavior as such is telling us a lot about themselves.
On analog privilege.
Blah blah blah publishing is still struggling to nurture diversity in all aspects of the industry. This is the same conversation we’ve been having for the past fifteen years and of course, much longer than that. Only the names change. One of the things that is most irksome is that we’re still having these 101 conversations. This article doesn’t say much at all about the books these editors acquired and how those books did.
This essay on food shopping in Rome, and what it means to really immerse yourself in a place, was quite lovely.
A profile of Broadway’s Cole Escola. A conversation with actor Mike Faist. A profile of the creator of blackcrossword.com. A conversation with sahn. A profile of director Greta Lee.
Sometimes, as an editor, you have to pass on a lovely essay and then it finds its way into the world somewhere else.
Many hands go into making creative work. I really enjoyed this feature in T Magazine about some of those hands and the people who wield them.
Are tech bros finally going to be held accountable for what their platforms enable? We shall see! The founder of Telegram was arrested in France. He has at least 100 biological children which is to say he is a walking SVU episode. What is it with these tech freaks wanting to populate the earth with their genetics, particularly when they aren’t terribly bright?
Speaking of… the pharma tech bro has to return the one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang album.
X is blocked in Brazil, where they have their third largest user base, because they refuse to do anything about misinformation on their platform.
Andrew Tate is in trouble with the Romanian police, yet again.
I was in Australia for a week, just this past week, and while I was there, they passed a “right to disconnect” law so that people can have more work/life separation. I’m all for it. As I often tell people, there are no writing emergencies. There are very, very few actual professional emergencies of any kind. Some people just create urgency and have the power to do so.
An epistolary essay from Vanessa Martir. I do love the epistolary.
A look inside the private security industry.
Inexplicably, NaNoWriMo has decided to accept an AI company as a sponsor for an endeavor that is supposed to celebrate creativity. But what’s worse, is that they’re suggesting that if you criticize this bad decision, you’re being classist and ableist. Here is a thoughtful piece by Ted Chiang about why AI cannot make art.
In Aurora, Colo., a former cop who raped his daughters, is currently free while his wife is in jail because she objects to the court ordered re-unification therapy with two of his sons. Like… what? How is this justice in any way? So much for protecting and serving.
In Israel, protests and a labor strike as Israelis try to pressure Netanyahu into agreeing to a ceasefire and agreement to bring the remaining hostages home. Six more hostages were found dead in Gaza, precipitating these protests.
PRETTY WOMAN WAS ABOUT THE WOMAN.
RIP Fatman Scoop. RIP to Mariah Carey’s mother and estranged sister who died on the same day. RIP Phil Donahue, one of the best to ever do it and truly, the father of daytime television, at least for my generation.
What is affirmation culture doing to our friendships?
Lake Lanier strikes again and again and again. Steer clear, is all I am saying.
In Houston (and many other cities), recycling isn’t actually being recycled.
A One Tree Hill series, set twenty years after the end of the original series, is coming! When I tell you I am vibrating with excitement, I am VIBRATING with excitement.
All that skin care stuff young girls are doing may not be so great for them. I read this with great interest because my nieces have super elaborate skin care routines but their skin is perfect.
Anti-DEI laws are shuttering much-needed inclusivity organizations and initiatives. Meanwhile, Clark Atlanta University is seeing a record number of applications. I bet these two things are related.
The GOP continue to try and restrict who gets to become an American. Assholes.
You can order COVID-19 tests through the mail again.
E-Shakti used to be a great place to buy extended size clothing but, it seems, things have gone down hill, drastically.
Those two astronauts stuck in space are going to be there until, like, February. SMH.
Here on earth, matching dinosaur footprints were found 3,700 miles apart. How? HOW???
The owner of Langer’s Deli in LA wants the city to do something about MacArthur Park or he might close his business. The mayor met with him after hearing about his concerns which… interesting who gets audiences with the mayor and why.
Academia is gonna academe.
J.Lo is divorcing Ben Affleck and her PR team is putting in that work. Ben is “hanging out” with Kick Kennedy which is quite a name. Like Batman, he has a darkness in him.
Is Oasis reuniting? Perhaps!
Apple is hiring a local news editor in Los Angeles.
In Rancho Palos Verdes, land movement is endangering several homes. Gas and electricity to the homes have been cut off just in case they like… fall into the ocean.
Whales are still pissed off and attacking yachts. So many yachts sinking.
Nicole Kidman gets freaky but thespian-like in her new film, Babygirl. And Winona Ryder wishes her younger co-stars watched films or had like a Criterion Collection membership.
As happens every few years, journalists are learning there is indeed life outside of expensive, major cities.
Jason Jacoby Lee writes about the menace of unleashed dogs for autistic people.
Thanks to dangerous deregulation, Boar's Head is dealing with a listeria outbreak that has killed at least 8 people.
In the latest reminder that the job will never love you, a woman was found dead in her cubicle four days after she died.
I hate manipulative, leading headlines like this. The legislation is for ALL Californians regardless of their documentation status.
More details about Matthew Perry’s death are coming out and several people have been arrested for their complicity. Such a shame.
Details on where the gays are living. And how the wave of anti-trans bigotry and legislation affects us all.
Erica Girardi’s husband embezzled more than $15 million…. and then had the audacity to go on TV! What?
In true crime news, who murdered Pier Paolo Pasolini?
A new world’s oldest person just dropped.
Pierce Brosnan, still perfect. AND FOXY AF.
An appreciation of soil. And a beautiful appreciation of Toni Morrison through her food.
I love your newsletter every time. Every. Time.
Sameeee. I look forward to the roundups!