newsletter within a newsletter

If you want me to read to you instead of reading with your eyes, that’s an option:

Heather Gilbert, a writer who runs the Answers in the Pages Substack, interviewed me a few weeks ago. We shared a drink—well we didn’t share AH drink, we each had our own drinks—and I talked a lot. Heather was a great interviewer and did an excellent job with what I’m sure was a gobbledygook of a recording.

Here’s one of my favorite parts of the interview:

READ IT.

Check out ERASURE by Percival Everett.

You probably know Percival Everett from one of his very notable works like ERASURE, I AM NOT SIDNEY POITIER, THE TREES, or last year’s JAMES, which won both the Pulitzer and the National Book Award. (And JAMES is phenomenal, READ IT.)

Like lots of white people, I’d never read anything by Everett until JAMES but I’d seen the film American Fiction, thought it was great, and vaguely knew it was based on a book. That book is ERASURE. I had the privilege of seeing Everett in conversation with Columbus art critic and poet and activist Scott Woods a few weeks ago thanks to Bexley Public Library. Do you know how profound it is to sit in a theater with a friend and 900 other people and hear one of the greatest writers of our time talk about art and writing and democracy?

Everett was a rascal, Woods did a great job, and I put ERASURE on hold in Libby while he was speaking.

Take Action!

I’m running a 5k…Hopefully lol

jk i’m definitely going to do it and “training” is going really well

Community Refugee and Immigration Services right here in Columbus is hosting their 12th annual 5k. It’s their biggest community event and fundraiser. I’m hoping to raise $500 for my run. It’s on Saturday October 4. Please wish me knees of iron, ankles of steel, and hips of rubber!

Thanks for being here! 🙂