The Audacious Round Up
For the week of March 14th
The March selection for The Audacious Book Club is How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu. We will be in conversation with Sequoia on March 21st at 8 pm EST/5 pm PST. Registration is now open. If you missed it, you can watch our conversation with Hanya Yanagihara, as well.
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.
On The Roxane Gay Agenda this week, I speak with playwright Sanaz Toosi about her new show English and much more.
I have a new Work Friend column up, with a manager on parental leave sending too many emails.
For Syfy Wire, I was interviewed by Karama Horne.
For T Magazine, I baked a Milk & Cookies cake.
For Resy, I wrote about the restaurant where Debbie and I had our second date and now return to when we can.
How pencils are made.
Min Jin Lee writes powerfully on living with fear.
A glamorous inheritance.
Chase Strangio is fighting for trans rights.
Lea Thompson, one of my favorite actors, is directing now.
Trevor Noah on Kanye West’s behavior amidst his divorce from Kim Kardashian.
A profile of the costume designer for the wonderful movie, Zola.
A review of Susan Straight’s new novel, Mecca. And a review of Mike Meginnis’s Drowning Practice.
The trailer for Ms. Marvel is out and it looks amazing. One of the first Marvel shows I am looking forward to.
Michelle Yeoh stays flawless.
RIP Mike Mora.
On Solmaz Sharif and her new poetry.
Hilton Als on playwright Aleshea Harris.
L.A. based artist Lauren Halsey has a commission from the MET!
Another attack on an Asian woman. These attacks are so senseless, so brutal. It has to stop.
Kristen Arnett on growing up in Florida as a teen who couldn’t come out.
What happened to Mitrice Richardson? I mean really, WHAT HAPPENED?
Quinta Brunson’s Abbott Elementary has been renewed for a second season.
Dolly Parton told the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, “No thanks.”
Songwriter Diane Warren reflects on a career of writing incredible songs.
Axios has a …. side hustle?
Dispatches from young Ukrainians living in a war.
A conversation with Ally Sheedy. And a conversation with Marlee Matlin.
Catch up on Helen Rosner’s work.
Leave Naomi Osaka alone. Let her play tennis in peace.
This story is…. macabre.


They do need to leave Naomi Osaka alone. Celebrities do NOT work for us. They just happen to be in a line of work that provides us with entertainment. That’s all, folks. It annoys me as heck when they won’t let them be humans. They have feelings, a life, good days and bad.
Never thought I’d be so excited to see how pencils are made, but it was fascinating.
I am eagerly awaiting “The Banks”. Sounds awesome. I love the premise of social justice of getting “paid” back. They owe us so much.
We need many Chase Strangio to fight the right fight for many to exercise their RIGHTS.
“It can be draining to be confronting the people and systems that hate and want to eradicate you.”
Sadly. too many of us know what that feels like in this society.
I now know how pencils are made. Fascinating stuff!