"Our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared...." -- President Elect Obama during his Election '08 Acceptance Speech

I wrote this in response to the email I received from Senator Obama via the Obama for America site . I'm sure many of you received the same message. This is a great day!

Dear President Elect Obama:

Thank you for your thoughtful appreciation. You have made a positive difference in the lives of many with your campaign. I hope that the paradigm shift we've begun to see--in the way our nation's citizens view their role in their government and in the world, continues to grow in a positive an proactive direction.

Your election has touched the hearts and minds of my son (10 years old) and my daughter (9 years old). They watched the polling reports last night with the enthusiasm of an avid sports fan. A few months ago, when I mentioned to my son that he could one day run for President, he responded, "I don't know if I want that job." Which coming from him means, I don't think that job opening is available to me. ( I'm working on helping him see the glass as half full rather than half empty.) Last night, after ABC announced you would be our 44th President, he asked, "Do you have to be married to be president?" It's become a possible reality to him, rather than an impossible dream. My daughter beams with pride whenever we discuss your election. (She plans to be a singer and a cheerleader, so politics aren't on her to do list at the moment.) I thank you for your courage, fortitude and vision, and I wish you the best during your term as President of the United States of America. May there be many more promising firsts in our nation's future.

Sincerely,
Desiré Hendricks

Reaping the Harvest

A cornucopia of opportunities to reap a fruitful harvest fill November. Today in the U. S. , voters reap the harvest of their candiadates' hardwork and their own attentiveness to our unique election process. If you're still in pursuit of your great novel, why not reap the benefits of joining the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) community? (I'm behind already, but if at first you don't succeed.... This is my third attempt.) Now, that the temptations and outdoor activities of warm days have fully faded into this new season, why not catch up with your reading? Check out my November suggestions if you're not sure where to start. Fall beauty and bounty, it's my favorite season.

Follow election coverage here

Click on the badge to sign up and get one

of your own and maybe finish a novel!

Not sure what to read...get a few

bright ideas and join the conversation

at Collins Publishing's page on

Gather.com.

Summer Reading: A Patriotic Booklist to Add to Your Summer Reading

The current buzz around the "presumptive" presidential nominees, Senators John McCain (R) and Barack Obama (D), holds a major portion of my much divided attention these days. As usual, my reading is driven by the topic I'm most obsessed with at the moment (I tend to topically fixate); I find myself wanting to know more about my function as a citizen in this process and how we came to be at this crossroads.

I'm also reaching for books that offer more information about how I can green my life and shrink my carbon footprint. "Reduce, reuse, recycle," I chant to myself, but I'm a city dweller with an appreciation for the natural world. I want to integrate green practices into my current setting and lifestyle, and do it in a way that makes it most likely that I'll be able to stick to it. I'll recycle, buy in bulk and break it down, I've even started toting around a QT jug for refills, but I'm not trying to mess with composting.

Finally, the Daring Books volumes are great resources filled with fun facts, games, reading suggestions and projects; Get A Hobby also offers up some great ideas. They both provide parents with a wealth of ways to keep the kids (and themselves) busy and learning over the summer break.


Summer Reading Suggestions 2008

America's Hidden History--Kenneth C. Davis
Common Sense--Thomas Paine
Founding Brothers--Joseph J. Ellis
The World is Flat--Thomas L. Friedman
Gorgeously Green--Sophie Uliano
The Dangerous Book for Boys--Conn & Hal Iggulden
The Daring Book for Girls--Andrea Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz
Get A Hobby--Tina Barseghia

What are you reading this summer? Share your recommendations and old favorites in the comments section.

How High the Price of Success?

Literary writers in search of publication often find themselves stuck between paying the bills and honestly representing their artistic vision and their skill as writers. This proves especially true for writers of color. Preconceived notions, regarding what various ethnic and racial groups should be, cloud the issue as editors determine which books could or would sell successfully.

I'm not a fan of street lit;I think that most of it is trash. Then again, critics said the same of Shakespear and Alexandre Dumas in their day. I don't believe in literacy at any cost, and I'm pretty flexible; I'm more concerned with content than genre or format, sci-fi, graphic novel, fantasy, novella, romance....all acceptable as long as a solid plot and well developed characters are present, and the rules of English grammar are mostly observed (gotta leave room for creative license).

I believe that there is room for vernacular narratives and campy writing, but street lit makes me cringe. It lacks context. Where one may pickup a Zebra paperback and acknowledge that they are about to indulge in some over the top escapist reading--street lit too often receives a stamp of authenticity, that proves problematic when the genre reinforces negative stereotypes of African Americans and women. If we are what we eat--meaning consume--what are the consumers of street lit doing for their mental health?



Colorlines.com
May/June 2008


The Rise of Street Literature

By Almah LaVon Rice


Gia-Bao Tran

IN PERCIVAL EVERETT’S NOVEL Erasure, Thelonious Ellison is a college professor who writes novels that are more praised than read. His work’s engagement with French post-structuralists and ancient Greek literature impresses and baffles reviewers, who wonder what those subjects have to do with the African-American experience. Frustrated by his latest novel’s seventh rejection and angered by the success of the street-lit hit We’s Lives in Da Ghetto, Ellison dashes off a novella parodying the “true, gritty real stories of [B]lack life” that he has been advised to write. This satiric tale, which is included in Erasure in its entirety, is peopled with stock characters like the perennially scowling thug and the vapid baby mama. It is sent to Random House as a protest, but to Ellison’s amazement and chagrin he is offered a $600,000 advance for his “magnificently raw and honest” account. Compromised, disgusted and rich, Ellison creates a reclusive, ex-con writer persona that the literary world celebrates as a “real! live! scary! Black male!” writer in their midst. Read more>>>>

Poetry, Poesie, Verse & Line....

If Only It Could Be National Poetry Month All of the Time!




If you're looking for a one stop internet resource to help you celebrate National Poetry Month, the Academy of American Poets have you covered. Poems, biographies of well loved verse technicians, poetry writing instruction, essays on the craft and other articles are just some of the poetic offerings available at Poets.org.

More NPM fun:

Farrar, Straus and Giroux's National Poetry Month blog:

• Of course, we had to bring you a new ringtone, recorded just for you by one of FSG's most illustrious poets;
• More audio of some of greatest poets, including a long-time FSGer who somehow managed to escape recording for us last year, even though he had a new book out;
• A whole week devoted exclusively to poetry in translation;
• All-new downloadable posters (guaranteed to brighten up even the saddest cubicle), guest bloggers, and giveaways.

April Poem-A-Day Challenge with Robert Lee Brewer

• Prompts
• Poems
• Fun

(You can view my daily poetry posts in honor of National Poetry Month at Chocolate and Other Poems. Wish me luck and fortitude, better yet, post a poem of your own in the comments section.)

Help Save RIF!: Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) Funding Cut From Government Budget

My mother read to me from an early age. She grew up in a household of teachers; she understood the importance of introducing literacy early and reinforcing it often. She deserves most, but not all of the credit for my love of a good book. The Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) program sealed the deal.

When I was in kindergarten RIF visited my school and scattered books on, under and around a large table positioned center stage in our auditorium. I selected my book then as I do now, with great patience and consideration. I was one of the last to leave. A RIF sticker saying, "This book belongs to Desiré," was centered in the front cover of the book completing the exchange. It was the first time that I chose the story; that day, my reading life became my own, and I became a writer in the making.

Stories like mine are being jeopardized by recent budget cuts. Given the successful 42 year history of the program and the consistent lament regarding the state of literacy in the U. S., a state of decline, how can this budget cut have been supported? If you believe in RIF's Mission, write your Congress person and let them know that you want funding returned to this successful and necessary program.

Celebrate Women's History Month 2008: Women's Art: Women's Vision

Creative Energy Moving and Shaping History

From quilt's to photograpy, women's art provides beauty and function to the environments, in which we live. This year's Women's History Month theme acknowledges the creative and aesthetic contributions of women to our world. Visit the National Women's History Project website to learn why they chose this year's theme and whom, they've chosen to honor.