The Audacious Round Up
For the weeks of January 31st and February 7th
Why Design Matters by Debbie Millman is available for pre-order. Yes, this link will be available in this newsletter until it goes on sale on on 2/22/22, four months after its original publishing date (damn supply chain). Speaking of, Debbie was on Kara Swisher’s Sway podcast. It’s well worth a listen.
The February selection for The Audacious Book Club is To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara. We will be in conversation with Hanya on Sunday, February 27th at 8 pm EST/5 pm PST. Register now. And there is a review of our March selection, How High We Go in the Dark.
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.
On The Roxane Gay Agenda, I have a truly delightful conversation with potter, entrepreneur and rising zaddy Seth Rogen. Then I speak with one of my favorite, new-to-me writers, S.A. Cosby, author of Razorblade Tears. This man is a treasure, I tell you. You can listen now on Luminary and next week wherever podcasts are available.
If you’re in the Santa Barbara area, come see me on February 25th. Meanwhile, here is an interview with me in the Santa Barbara Independent.
For The New York Times, I wrote about the difference between censorship and curation.
And this week in the Emerging Writer Series, Tense by Zoë Sprankle.
It has been ten years since Trayvon Martin was murdered.
There are often these little examples of how people don’t really understand what working toward diversity, equity and inclusion should look like. One such example is this
A profile of Sheryl Lee Ralph because we can never have too much Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Cardi B stays great. But she shouldn’t have to do this. Those people should be alive. And the city of NY should have stepped up.
Kathy Griffin is trying to make her way back to the D List she should have never been shoved off of.
The dream of writing and the reality of living.
Pianist Lara Downes has a beautiful new album out. It’s called Scott Joplin Reconsidered. I’ve been enjoying it all week and you can order or stream from February 4th on.
Throughout February, Masterclass is making their Black History, Black Freedom, Black Love course free to stream. There are some amazing, insightful instructors to learn from so check it out.
If you’re in the market for an abandoned missile silo…
The L Word has been renewed for a third season. Huzzah!
Awkwafina issued a statement about her use of AAVE/blaccent. That’s all I have to say about that.
Boston is moving toward free public transportation, starting with three bus lines.
You have until April 25th to apply for a Whiting Foundation nonfiction grant for writers with a book under contract who need financial support to finish the book.
Oscar nominations are out! Thrilled to see Aunjanue Ellis getting he due. It has been a long time coming. Disappointed that Zola didn’t get any love for screenplay or directing. That movie was excellent and very stylish. Hating ass haters.
Chloe Kim is kicking ass in Beijing.
Death Row used to be the label that paid Snoop Dogg and now, uhhh, he owns it! Plot twist!
Sometimes, New York is magical.
RIP to rocker Betty Davis. A singular talent who did it her way.
More print magazines are disappearing including one of my favs, Entertainment Weekly, which was the first magazine I ever subscribed to. I considered it then, and now, something of a Bible.
This perv predator anthropology professor at Harvard, well, just read the complaint. He is a terrible man, enabled by his wife, his colleagues and a whole constellation of academics who looked the other way for decades. Shameful. I mean, 38 whole ass professors signed an open letter in support of this guy. Now, of course, they’ve walked that back but the internet, like the north, remembers.
I guess bitcoin can be laundered? I don’t know. I just refuse to engage with anything crypto. I do not care. Leave my ass behind. It’s fine.
Love is grand.
Debbie and I aren’t the only ones yearning for more episodes of Columbo.
I loved the previous versions of Cheaper by the Dozen and good news, folks! Another remake is coming starring Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff. I will be watching on Day One. For Gabrielle Union, to be clear.
There is a new Sheila Heti novel, Pure Colour.
A visual essay about women in the news.
The rise and fall of Jerry Fallwell.
An interview full of wisdom and realness with Tressie McMillan Cottom.
The curious case of the disappearing podcast episodes.
From the archives, Jericho Brown pays homage to Marlon Riggs. And a beautiful ode to Waffle House.
Mmmm.
About the Wordle sale.
Meet Ms. Abbott, the wonderful teacher who inspired one of my favorite new shoes, Abbott Elementary.
What’s that? Law & Order is being revived? WHAT???
Aubrey Hirsch with a visual essay about why her children have her last name. Also from Aubrey, an infuriating essay on what it’s like to be a woman on the Internet.
More on that weird book thief mystery.
Superbowl advice if you’re coming to L.A.
A lovely piece on Sara Ramirez.
Another day, another racism.
When Michael Arcenaux lost his faith in America.
Weird political intrigue at CNN.
A black history month streaming guide.
An in-depth look at Margaret Wise Brown.
The incomparable Doreen St. Felix on Yellowjackets.
I missed most of the Hanya Yanagihara zoom because of toddler issues at home. I saw it was being recorded. Is there a link to view again somewhere? Many many thanks.
What's the link for the DEI story? (Second one in the link list!) I'm eager to read it!