AUDACIOUS BOOKCLUB HAPPENINGS
Our June selection is Bite by Bite by Aimee Nezhukumatathil. We will be in conversation with Aimee on June 25th at 8 pm EST/ 5 pm PST and registration is open. If you missed our conversation with Rachel Khong, it is now available.
THE NEWSLETTER WEEK IN REVIEW
PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL NEWS
At Roxane Gay Books, we’re hiring a new fellow for the next year! Applications are accepted until June 24th.
June 7-9, I will be participating in The Loft’s 50th anniversary weekend, with intensive classes, a conversation with me and three Roxane Gay Books authors, and agent/editor consultations and pitches. Minneapolis is quite lovely in June.
On June 13th, Debbie and I will share the stage with Meg Wolitzer, Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainright Roche, Evie Shockley and Negin Farsad for Everything but Dancing. Get your tickets now!
August 24-25, I will be in Sydney, Australia, speaking at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas. I’ll also be going to Melbourne later that week!
My essay series, Roxane Gay Presents, with Everand has launched. First up: Julia Turshen with Built For This: The Quiet Strength of Powerlifting and in this video, you will learn about the queer powerlifting club she started. The second essay in this series is: You Are a Teen Mom: Instructions by Randa Jarrar. You can learn more about Randa in this video. The third essay in this series is My Year of Psychedelics: Lessons on Better Living by Gabrielle Bellot. The fourth essay in this series is Good Girls: Notes on Dog Rescue by Elaine Castillo. You can learn more about Elaine in this video. The final essay, by me, is called Stand Your Ground, and it will be out soon!
Megan Pillow and I wrote a little book about power called Do The Work: A Guide About Power and Creating Change. It will be out in June of this year. Pre-order, now!
The biggest news is that Donald Trump is a convicted felon. It was a unanimous jury decision on all 34 counts. For once, justice prevails. And now, we will see how voters respond in November. Meanwhile, his followers are not happy and want to harm the jurors. And if he goes to prison, so does the secret service.
The useless pier the U.S. built to bring aid into Gaza is already broken much like American foreign policy.
A profile of 12-year-old Juliana St. Vil, a Haitian girl trying to survive the current political climate.
The Supreme Court is still just fine with gerrymandering and disenfranchising Black voters.
A competitive eater is retiring because his body is broken. He can’t enjoy food. I hope that changes.
In Michigan, a town where fudge reigns supreme.
A profile of Anne Hathaway.
The documentary Old Lesbians (not to be confused with the forthcoming documentary Old Dykes) has a Substack.
I enjoyed this profile of Colleen Hoover. I certainly have some… strong opinions about her work (that I’ve read), but I could really relate to her writer’s block.
Puddin’ Hands DeSantis has banned rainbow colors on bridges in Florida. Clearly, he just sits around thinking of the stupidest laws he can enact. Must be nice to have that kind of time.
An update on the cast of Pose and what they’re doing these days.
As an aside, why are men rappers so obsessed with Megan Thee Stallion? Is it because she stood up for herself when she was assaulted? Are they jealous? Are they flirting with cruelty? It’s bizarre. See also: Tina Turner.
The Florida deputy who killed Roger Fortson has been fired. Hopefully there are more consequences.
J. Lo has canceled her summer tour to “spend time with her family,” but really, ticket sales were dismal.
THIS IS NOT A DRILL! Meshell Ndegeocello is releasing a tribute album to James Baldwin. Also, Audra McDonald will be starring in Gypsy. What an embarrassment of riches.
RIP Marian Robinson, mother of Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. The Obamas and Robinsons shared a moving statement about Mrs. Robinson’s passing.
Vulture is hiring an editorial producer. The Washington Post is hiring a narrative accountability editor.
Did you know Viggo Mortenson scores his movies? I had no idea!
Shiloh Jolie has petitioned to drop Pitt from their legal name. SMH. Brad was a bad dad. None of his kids claim him.
Racism in real estate remains a real problem. Imagine not wanting to sell your home to a Black person. WTF is wrong with people?
An essay about Anatomy of a Fall.
Another billionaire is planning to take a submersible to visit the Titanic. You literally cannot make this stuff up. What a death cult.
Rolling Stone did a six-month investigation into Diddy. Voletta Wallace wants to slap the shit out of Diddy.
In Hollywood, the entertainment industry and the people who make it run, are struggling and there isn’t a lot of optimism on the horizon.
And the box office is changing anyway. Massive opening weekends probably shouldn’t be the goal anymore.
Tiny artist, massive success.
The pope, the head of a whole church, was homophobic and then apologized for using a slur.
The Son of Sam was denied parole again.
Why are so many tourists taking ammunition to Turks and Caicos?
A piece about debut novelists and the struggle to get their books noticed. I don’t think this is a new struggle but lately it does seem more pronounced.
For some reason Vox and The Atlantic have signed a deal with OpenAI.
And it looks like the narrative around Sam Altman’s ouster from the board was not… accurate.
Global warming continues to tell us that it’s gonna stay a problem. Incredible temperatures in Delhi.
Statistics from Negro League baseball will now be included in the MLB’s statistics. It’s about damn time.
Jodi Kantor goes deep on the Alitos, their insurrectionist flag, and a neighborhood dispute gone wild. And Alito won’t recuse himself from any cases involving Jan. 6. Must be nice to never have to deal with consequences.
American workers are… lonely. Honestly, I think American people in general are lonely. It’s a lonely world.
The 19th received a massive new grant from Melinda French Gates.
The University of the Arts in Philly has abruptly closed, no notice to students, faculty, alums. Terrible, all around.
Behind the scenes of In a Violent Nature, a cursed movie if ever there was one.
Oakland has enacted protections for poly families. Love to see it.
Vivian Gornick writes about The Village Voice in an essay with the best title.
The link associated with the Gornik piece is linking to the Gaza pier piece for me - anyone else?
Sorry that I will miss your visit to Minneapolis this coming weekend.💕