On October 8, Boulder LLLer Kim Reid won the Colorado Book Award in Nonfiction for her memoir, NO PLACE SAFE. Hooray for Kim!
On Sept 25, Denver LLLer Carleen Brice won the African American Literary Awards Show prize for Break-out Novel of the Year for her debut, ORANGE MINT AND HONEY. (Her 2nd novel, CHILDREN OF THE WATERS, will be released in July; read the prologue.) Hooray for Carleen!
Charlottesville Literary Ladies will remember Kim & Carleen from this year's LLL Summit at VaBook.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Janis Jaquith Is Fired Up!
Charlottesville LLL Social Secretary Janis Jaquith writes:
What have Republicans done for you?
You know in your heart that homosexuality is unnatural, an abomination. You are foursquare against abortion and there's no doubt in your mind that Muslims are a foreign threat -- and it goes without saying that the United States is a Christian nation.
These are your most cherished values. What could be more natural than to vote for people who share your values? Someone you feel comfortable with. Someone like you.
This is a basic human instinct. We gravitate toward our own kind.
People who look like you, sound like you and think like you have been in charge of this country for nearly eight years now. As Dr. Phil would say, "How's that workin' out for you?"
Do you have more money in the bank than you did in 2000? Is your job more secure? Is your medical care any easier to handle?
If you answered "no" to any of those questions, you may want to rethink the way you choose your leaders. Ask yourself what your congressman and your president have done to make your life better.
Do you feel safer than you did in 2000? I sure don't. And I have not seen a shred of evidence that Virgil Goode or Bob Goodlatte or George Bush have done a single thing -- made a law or put a policy in place -- to improve my life one iota.
Instead, I feel like my pocket has been picked. I feel like my own patriotism was used against me when they tricked me into supporting a war against Iraq -- a country that had, it turns out, not a thing to do with the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. And now, my tax dollars are stuffing the pockets of war profiteers like Halliburton and Blackwater. (And don't forget the high-rollers on Wall Street who are resting in a cushy safety net -- on our dime.)
Meanwhile, Virginia manufacturers have closed up shop and fled to other countries, leaving tons of Virginians high and dry. Why are there no effective trade policies or tax incentives in place to bring jobs back to Virginia? We've been without leadership for so long, we've forgotten what it looks like.
The fact that Goode and Goodlatte and Bush share their heartfelt values must be cold comfort for the legions of hard-working Virginians who are now either without a job or are under-employed. And the loss of Virginian lives in the ill-conceived Iraq war is too painful to think about.
Ask yourself: Are you better off now than you were before the Republicans took the wheel?
This Nov. 4, I'll pick my leaders by finding out which ones will make my life better. The candidates who advocate for ordinary, middle-class people, the ones who will keep us out of wars, help me get decent medical care for a fair price and allow my bank account to fill up again.
Will they be the candidates who also share my bedrock values? To tell you the truth, I really don't care.
Jaquith is a columnist for Charlottesville's newsweekly, The Hook. She has also been a frequent radio commentator for WVTF and for PRI's "Marketplace," and has appeared on NPR's "Day to Day."
Rather than preach to the choir, I wrote this piece hoping to reach the voters in the "reddest" areas of Virginia. The commentary appears in today's edition of The Roanoke Times.
What have Republicans done for you?
You know in your heart that homosexuality is unnatural, an abomination. You are foursquare against abortion and there's no doubt in your mind that Muslims are a foreign threat -- and it goes without saying that the United States is a Christian nation.
These are your most cherished values. What could be more natural than to vote for people who share your values? Someone you feel comfortable with. Someone like you.
This is a basic human instinct. We gravitate toward our own kind.
People who look like you, sound like you and think like you have been in charge of this country for nearly eight years now. As Dr. Phil would say, "How's that workin' out for you?"
Do you have more money in the bank than you did in 2000? Is your job more secure? Is your medical care any easier to handle?
If you answered "no" to any of those questions, you may want to rethink the way you choose your leaders. Ask yourself what your congressman and your president have done to make your life better.
Do you feel safer than you did in 2000? I sure don't. And I have not seen a shred of evidence that Virgil Goode or Bob Goodlatte or George Bush have done a single thing -- made a law or put a policy in place -- to improve my life one iota.
Instead, I feel like my pocket has been picked. I feel like my own patriotism was used against me when they tricked me into supporting a war against Iraq -- a country that had, it turns out, not a thing to do with the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. And now, my tax dollars are stuffing the pockets of war profiteers like Halliburton and Blackwater. (And don't forget the high-rollers on Wall Street who are resting in a cushy safety net -- on our dime.)
Meanwhile, Virginia manufacturers have closed up shop and fled to other countries, leaving tons of Virginians high and dry. Why are there no effective trade policies or tax incentives in place to bring jobs back to Virginia? We've been without leadership for so long, we've forgotten what it looks like.
The fact that Goode and Goodlatte and Bush share their heartfelt values must be cold comfort for the legions of hard-working Virginians who are now either without a job or are under-employed. And the loss of Virginian lives in the ill-conceived Iraq war is too painful to think about.
Ask yourself: Are you better off now than you were before the Republicans took the wheel?
This Nov. 4, I'll pick my leaders by finding out which ones will make my life better. The candidates who advocate for ordinary, middle-class people, the ones who will keep us out of wars, help me get decent medical care for a fair price and allow my bank account to fill up again.
Will they be the candidates who also share my bedrock values? To tell you the truth, I really don't care.
Jaquith is a columnist for Charlottesville's newsweekly, The Hook. She has also been a frequent radio commentator for WVTF and for PRI's "Marketplace," and has appeared on NPR's "Day to Day."
Monday, September 8, 2008
Free Wine and Cheese!
Okay, now that I've got your attention, keep reading below for details regarding LLLer Dahlia Lithwick's gig at the TJ Center this Friday. (They ask you to reserve so they can have sufficient wine and cheese on hand. You know I'll be there!)
If you've never been to an event at the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, you're missing out. The Center, along with the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, is housed in a lovely old mansion. The open house is traditionally held in the spacious back yard with a view that unfurls all the way to the Blue Ridge. You'll find smart people (who are passionate about the Constitution), stimulating talk, art like you may never have seen, plus those tasty refreshments!
Dahlia Lithwick, Award-winning Legal Correspondent, to Speak at TJ Center
Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor at Slate.com, contributing writer to Newsweek, and legal commentator for NPR’s Day to Day, will be speaking at the annual Open House / Reception of The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression and The Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection. In 2001, Lithwick received the Online News Association’s award for online commentary and last year was recognized by a Legal Affairs magazine poll as one of the top 20 legal thinkers in America.
The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. To reserve your place, please contact the Thomas Jefferson Center at 434-295-4784.
Friday, September 12, 2008
5:00-7:00 PM
400 Worrell Drive (Pantops)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Report from Denver
Colorado Literary Ladies deep in conversation on August 1.
After a lull in July, when there was a cozy affair for four, the Colorado LLL returned with a roar on August 1. Fourteen (14!) Literary Ladies showed up to chow down at The Empress Dim Sum Sea Food Restaurant in Denver. Newcomers included writer/memoir coach Kathryn Black (at rear, in white) and literary agent Beth Jusino of Alive Communications (4th from right, facing camera).
A good--cheap! ($11.60 each, including 20% tip)--time was had by all. By popular demand, next month we're meeting at Bombay Clay Oven, which is conveniently located halfway between Your Humble Correspondent's Gracious Home and favorite dog-walking park.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Karen Carter Communications
Denver LLLer Karen Carter (aka Sustenance Scout) is offering "Client-Focused Copy Editing" at her new site, Karen Carter Communications. She's looking for referrals to individuals or organizations in need of editing assistance.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Short Story Contest
Entry deadline for the Sean O'Faolain Short Story Prize is July 31. Full competition rules here.
Highlights:
Highlights:
- The competition is open to original unpublished short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or less. The story can be on any subject, in any style by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world.
- The winners will be announced at the International Frank O’Connor Festival of the Short Story in Cork in September. The winners will be invited to read their prize winning stories at the festival.
- First Prize: €1,500 (approx US$2300) and publication in the literary biannual Southword.
- Second Prize: €500 (approx US$790) and publication in Southword.
- Four other shortlisted entries will be selected for publication in Southword and receive a fee of €100 euros (approx US$158).
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Belated Report from Denver
June 6: Our biggest group ever. We're wearing leis courtesy of Andrea Cohen (center rear, holding her book, A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, below Bella in blue), who gave them out in celebration of her birthday.
Doreen Orion (the short one) and Carleen Brice posing for good fortune (at least that's what we hope the Chinese shield means). Next day was the official pub date of Doreen's memoir, QUEEN OF THE ROAD, which was picked for the Borders and Celestial Seasonings book clubs and featured at Target. Carleen's wearing Hollywood shades because her first novel, ORANGE MINT AND HONEY, was optioned for a Lifetime TV movie. The audio book went on sale at the end of June.
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