The Audacious Round Up
For the weeks of April 11th and April 18th
I am raising money for Hope for Haiti, a wonderful non-profit I work with. My dad is the vice-president of the board and helps them build schools and hospitals and other kinds of infrastructure in Haiti. I could not be prouder of how he chooses to spend his time and energy. If you would like to contribute to our annual fundraising drive, the Hike for Haiti Challenge, you can do so online.
Keep up with the Joel Gay Creative Fellows, Jet Toomer, Jesus Rodriguez, and Elspeth Michaels.
The April selection for The Audacious Book Club is Ancestor Trouble by Maud Newton. We will be in conversation with Maud on April 27th at 8 pm EST/5 pm PST. Registration is open.
Tressie, Debbie Millman and I are hosting a writing workshop retreat in July 2022. You can also register for this if you want to spend a weekend with us. We hope to see you there! It will be fun and more.
Roxane Gay Books is closed to unagented submissions until 6/15/2022. I’ve found, I think, my first few books! I am open to agented submissions so please send me great books! I am also open, again, for submissions to The Audacity’s Emerging Writer Series. Read the guidelines and submit your best writing. Submissions will be open until I have 24 essays.
Don’t Forget: Why Design Matters by Debbie Millman.
The first Roxane Gay Books have been announced—And Then He Sang a Lullaby by Ani Kayode Somtochukwu, Lush Lives by J.V. Lyon, and Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter.
On The Roxane Gay Agenda this week, I speak with director Numa Perrier about her debut film Jezebel, her creative endeavors, and world domination.
In other podcast news, The Roxane Gay Agenda was nominated for a Webby in the Diversity & Inclusion category. Public voting is now open. If you enjoy the show, please consider voting for it! You can also vote for Debbie Millman in two categories—Best Host and Best Live Recording.
In the emerging writer series, “A Small Disturbance,” by Jessica Pavia.
If you read French you can enjoy an interview with me in Le Devoir
Donald Glover interviewed by… Donald Glover!
These lesbians met at Coachella and then were able to find one another with the help of the Overheard in LA Instagram account. Missed Connections are alive and well.
As if we did not already know, GOP leaders are hypocrites.
And in racism news, a black couple had to prove they own the store they… own to a cop who decided they couldn’t possibly be the owners.
Intermittent fasting is nonsense. Don’t @ me. It’s okay if you like nonsense.
Good news: books are selling!
The Kenyon Review is hiring a managing editor.
We now know who is running the Libs of TikTok account.
After fourteen years, The Lingerie Addict is coming to an end. The blog will be missed but I am excited to see what she does next.
A teaser for Thor: Love and Thunder! I cannot wait until July. I enjoy the Thor movies and also his arms.
Another movie I am looking forward to is Mr. Malcolm’s List.
An innovative way of filing one’s taxes.
The HOE LOLOLOLOL.
Every time I watch Paula Patton making fried chicken and seasoning the grease, I am inconsolable. Just straight up sobbing.
An interview with Danyel Smith.
The Barnes and Noble transformation story is quite something.
A wonderful, fascinating profile of the exquisite Viola Davis. And also she did a By the Book. Imagine my surprise when I read it and see that she loves Hunger.
Everything, Everywhere is exceeding expectations and it is wonderful to see.
Jonathan Lethem on Columbo.
A short story from Fernando A. Flores, called “Nothing Takes the Place of You.”
A special issue of the New York Times Book Review focused on poetry in celebration of National Poetry Month.
Congratulations to Brandon Taylor, winner of the 2022 Story Prize.
In Vanity Fair, Tressie McMillan Cottom profiles the black women transforming country music. Also, her first essay as a New York Times columnist, on shame.
An interview with Mads Mikkelsen.
The New York Public Library is lending banned books, for free, to anyone whether you are a member of the library or not.
On seeing people of color in period drama finery.
Would you believe that Jerry Sandusky was NOT the first predator at Penn State? Of course you would! It’s appalling how so much of our culture is set up to enable this bullshit.
Ms. Viola Davis is my shero!! Her journey from abject poverty to stardom was not easy, but everything in life worth fighting for never is. Her story is uplifting, insightful and courageous. She is such a role model for every little Black girl who had been told she was not pretty just because her skin is dark. When we see Miss Davis on the big screen, we dark skin black women see ourselves and that is the most wonderful thing.
HOPE is what Haiti has been living with for decades. We need more people like Mr. Gay to turn hope into reality.
Heyyy. In this newsletter and the prior one, the link to Jet's substack went to the main substack page. Not sure if anyone else is having this issue...