Summer Summer Summertime
Hello Friends,
School's out for my kids, so that means whatever the weather, summer is here. And it's going to be nearly 100 in NYC today, so the weather agrees. Still, yesterday, in 90+ heat, all four of us in our family marched from City Hall across the Brooklyn Bridge in support (horror? grief?) for the families who have been detained, separated, and treated as subhuman by our government. When I took my older kid to her first protest after the 2016 elections, she said "Now I know I'm not alone." It's with this goal that I continue to march, donate, agitate, vote. (And of course, write. Here is one of my favorite poems, by the poet Christina Olivares, on the problem with borders and the borderlessness of young minds.)
I was moved by the many people who walked with us---a woman who was visiting her brother from San Antonio who introduced herself, noting that she wanted to spend one of her few NYC days amongst the marchers rather than sightseeing---and those who didn't march but who sent us love: the cars that honked and raised their fists in solidarity as we walked across the bridge; the older man in my local dollar store who smiled and wished us well when I told him the poster board my 7 year old and I were buying was not for a school project but for protest. The internet is full of the day's best signs, funny and true and sad, but the one that I'll never forget is the woman who held one that read:
94 DAYS
I MISS MY HUSBAND
We can't forget that politics are lives, and that this woman represents thousands of other families who are missing those they love without answers to when they might see them again. Let's not let them think they are alone. So many organizations exist that help. Here in NYC our family is a supporter of Make The Road.
Nice Things About Back Talk
Reading Women recs the audiobook version, which, no I haven't listened to (would you believe that I'm kind of sick of my own book?) but if you want a CD, I have two copies of audio to give away. I mean, who doesn't want to road trip with short stories? True story: my husband and I once went on a road trip and decided we'd listen to Cormac McCarthy's The Road. We didn't make it through the audio, but we are still married. Anyway, if you want one of the audio CDs, reply to this email with your address.
UK press is fun, continued: The Daily Mail says BACK TALK "dives into the lives of New York girls and women with a quiet, melancholic exactitude." Melancholy for the win.
This lovely review knows domestic fiction is where it's at: "There are no manic pixie dream girls here, none of the feminine stereotypes often found in (male-dominant) literature: Lazarin’s women are quiet and they desire, they feel power, fury. That ‘and’ has been sorely lacking in the literature we publish and revere for far too long. Her women are real, they are preoccupied by love and loss and relationships, they are (shock! horror!) domestic. How marvelous."
Using My Words
In March I was in conversation with the sharp and thoughtful Jessie Chaffee about our books at my beloved local WordUp Bookstore. Literary Hub published an edited version of that conversation, which you should go read. And then immediately go buy Jessie's novel, Florence in Ecstasy. You can find it wherever books are sold but Word Up just opened an online shop, so that's great place to order from. Washington Heights to your door. Amazing! (You can get mine from there, too, and if you ever need one signed and sent, let them know and I'll make it happen.)
Reading, Thinking, Feeling
I just finished Alexander Chee's How to Write an Autobiographical Novel, which is a perfect essay collection I read cover to cover. It's about Chee's time in ACT UP, about growing roses, about what we inherit, about writing, about how we construct who we are and enact kindness to all the versions of ourselves. I loved it and think you will too.
Newish books on my summer reading list: Adrienne Celt's Invitation to A Bonfire, Tommy Orange's There There, as well as two story collections: Jamel Brinkley's A Lucky Man, Rita Bullwinkel's Belly Up, all out now. Out soon: R.O. Kwon's The Incendiaries, Vanessa Hua's A River of Stars, Laura van den Berg's The Third Hotel.
Books I've already read that are hot ticket summer items: Aja Gabel's The Ensemble, Rebecca Makkai's The Great Believers, Laura June's Now My Heart is Full, which I read months ago and am so excited you can read soon. This last one's a memoir about being a daughter and being a mother, about alcoholism's affect on families, about hope, about control, about gratitude. I have a galley of this to give away if you reply to this email and ask nicely and promise to be a big mouth about it.
Quick follow up on last letter's residencies chat. Got recs for Drop Forge and Tool and The Cabins, run by writer Courtney Maum. This kit by the artist Lenka Clayton for a DIY residency is wonderful. Also check out Clayton's projects which often center the experience of parenting and creating. Slightly different but awesome is this writing workshop for new mothers in Brooklyn. Pen Parentis was kind enough to repost my thoughts on their blog and is always a wonderful resource for writing parents.
Headed to Maine and the coast of New Hampshire this week. Much like last year, I'll be reading and making friendship bracelets. When you make things using both hands you can't read the news as much, which can be a good thing. The internet is full of tutorials for those of you who have forgotten how to do this, and my favorites are this French woman's. I am the quickest in the room to roll my eyes at the idea of French women doing everything better than Americans, but in this case I'm a believer. I used to read and write 10-page papers on French lit without a snag. Following these videos are the remnants of my fluency. I'm okay with that.
Where to Find Me
I'm excited to be teaching at Catapult again in the fall. If you know anyone who's got short stories they want to workshop, send them here (course description coming soon, but it's for those who have some experience with stories). I have a few returning students signed up and it will be a good crew.
Also at Lago's regularly through mid-July. I recommend Salty Sailor.
That's it for now.
Talk Soon,
Danielle