The Audacious Roundup
For the week of September 5th
Keep up with the Joel Gay Creative Fellows, Jet Toomer, Jesus Rodriguez, and Elspeth Michaels.
The September selection for the Audacious Book Club is How to Read Now by Elaine Castillo. Our conversation with Elaine takes place on September 29th at 8 pm EST/5 pm PST. Register now! If you missed our conversation with Kirstin Chen, author of Counterfeit, you can tune in to the recording.
I am reading 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.
If you’re looking for a nice notebook, check out my new Draft Writing Journal from Baron Fig. It’s pretty swank if I do say so myself. (The first printing is sold out but more are on the way.)
I was interviewed about my dog Max, for The Companion Chronicles.
A profile of activist Alice Wong.
Here are the 2022 Kirkus Prize finalists. Congratulations to all!
Lea Michelle made her Broadway debut (I think?) in Funny Girl.
An interview with Grace Jones about working with Beyoncé.
Some middle school boys noticed one of their teachers was being a creep so they started tracking his behavior toward girls.
This essay about 9/11 is a year old, but well worth reading.
Brittney Griner still isn’t home. How is this possible?
Interesting, troubling piece on failures in public Hasidic schools that are depriving kids of basic education.
On student debt in fiction.
Condé Nast has a company-wide union at long last.
Polio is REALLY back.
Brandon Taylor on A.M. Homes new novel The Unfolding.
A country music feud has made its way into the news.
There was a shooting in a park in Uvalde, TX as the town tries to get back to something resembling normal.
A fall fiction preview.
RIP Bernard Shaw, a pioneer.
A look at Aretha Franklin’s FBI file.
Olivia Wilde is doing a lot of press for her new movie Don’t Worry Darling and she probably should say a wee bit less. That said, the low-stakes drama around the movie is some diverting celebrity gossip that I am enjoying. Did Harry spit on Chris Pine?
RIP Elizabeth II. It’s so morbid that the British had an elaborate plan in place for when their monarch passed. I suppose it was also necessary. But still. What it must be like to know there is a media plan for your death.
Another day, another fandom rife with racism.
The Booker Prize shortlist has been announced.
RIP Peter Straub, great writer, great human, beloved father, husband, friend.
Did you know there are multiple portraits for presidents? Well, new Obama portraits just dropped!
A conversation with Rosie O’Donnell.
A black woman won big at a casino, tried to deposit her winnings check, and was accused of forging the check. And THEN, the bank tellers wouldn’t give the woman her check back. Racism is so tedious.
An appreciation of Eve’s Bayou after 25 years.
Billionaire philanthropy can be incredibly dangerous.
Camonghne Felix on Serena Williams’s retirement.
How incarcerated people earn and spend their money. ABOLISH PRISONS.
Adult women are, increasingly, being diagnosed with ADHD.
When a group chat comes to an end.
A profile of football player Kylian Mbappé.
Jennifer Lawrence graces the cover of Vogue.
I was wondering if the Audacious Book Club books for October, November, and December have been decided. I only ask because I like to place my holds at the library in advance--no worries if they haven't been picked yet! I'm greatly enjoying How to Read Now.
Roxane, not only does your roundup illuminate my life in ways I never imagined, it also always brings a smile to my face. Thank you!