Tayari's Blog: Most Recent Entries
July 03, 2009
It's My Anniversary
On this day in 2000, my agent called me and said that Warner Books wanted to publish my first novel, Leaving Atlanta. This was six months after she sent it out and about a year after I had completed work on the manuscript. It would be two more years before the novel was actually in stores.
I remember that I was so excited, but I didn't have anyone to celebrate with. This is when I was living in Arizona and basically had one friend-- she was busy that night. About three months earlier, I'd bought myself a bottle of champagne and two pretty glasses that I was going to break out whenever there was news. I was by myself but I washed one of the flutes and filled it to the rim with bubbly. The bottle was expensive, so I didn't it to go to waste, so I drank most of it.
Needless to say, this was not an evening that ended well, but it was still the best day of my life.
I guess it's only right that I am spending today punching in edits for the last chapter of my third novel. It's not pretty. It's noon and I am still in my pajamas, my hair is all over my head, and I am about to eat a crazy lunch of assorted leftovers. It's not a glamorous life, but I'm still doing it. That in itself is worth a champagne toast.
Posted at 10:48 AM | ![[comments]](../images/comments.gif){kind=small}
Comments (2)
Category:
The Writing Life
June 30, 2009
It's PayBack Time
I was going to include this in the links, but I think I should post it by itself. Today is the end of the fiscal year. Please go to the website of your undergraduate institution and make a donation. The schools are able to receive more funds based on the PERCENTAGE of alumni who give back. So even if you give just $10, you are considered active and that ups the numbers.
My Spelman Sisters, and other HCBU grads, it's time to step up and you have to do it TODAY. Here is the link to the Spelman site. Just do it. It won't take but a minute. Think about what you got from Spelman, Morehouse, Southern, FAMU, Hampton, Howard, etc. Was it worth five minutes and a little bit of money?
Just give.
Posted at 09:27 AM | Comments (0)
Category:
Community Service
Glenda The Good Links
June 29, 2009
Twit Hits and Table Flips
On Twitter yesterday, I noticed that novelist Alice Hoffman was not in such a great mood. The Boston Globe 
had given her new book a bad review. Hoffman called the reviewer a "moron" and even posted the reviewer's email address and phone numbers. I think we can call that putting out a Twit-Hit. (Gawker has the full story.)
Almost everybody in the twitterverse disapproved of Hoffman's reaction. About a month ago, Hoffman also complained on twitter about the treatment she received from Washington Post Book Review. Ron Charles, editor of that review, responded to her via twitter. (I must say he was very professional on that occaision, although he did loosen up a bit yesterday.)
I will admit that I thought Hoffman was coloring outside the lines a bit, but there was a part of me that was weirdly envious. It was exactly how I felt watching the Real Housewives of New Jersey. Remember on the finale when Teresa flipped that table? Haven't we all wanted to flip a table, but were too scared, too bourgie, too careful to do it?
When my first book came out, I got a sort of stupid review in The Washington Post. My poor little feelings were so hurt! Not only did the reviewer downplay the historical significance of The Atlanta Child Murders, but he also said that my writing was pretentious. There were also little factual mistakes. (For example, he identified Kenny as Octavia's stepfather, when he is actually an uncle.) It really made me want to flip a table. I am just really grateful that Twitter wasn't invented back in 2002. Twitter makes it way too easy to show the world your private petulant self.
But the question about the medium of twitter doesn't really address whether or not you should respond to reviewers.
I am not convinced that it helps you out at all, unless the reviewer did something that was ideologically problematic. Let's say the reviewer did something racially offensive. I think you can respond to that because it seems to be a matter of ideas, rather an issue of wounded feelings or personal taste. Also, I think responding to a bad review only brings attention to it. So Sensible Tayari is going to conclude that no, you shouldn't tweet in response to a negative review.
But Crazy Tayari says, flip that table, girl.
Posted at 08:30 AM | Comments (1)
Category:
The Writing Life
June 25, 2009
RIP, MJ
A more articulate response later. Here is me, Tyehimba & Nichelle remembering Michael Jackson the best way we know how.
Posted at 07:55 PM | Comments (2)
Category:
Current Events