People I need to thank

It's half an hour to go before the Scold's Bridle on the TV and as I'm tired after sitting at a baseball game for three hours, I'm just going to list some of the people I've met here in San Francisco who've been charming and helpful and have given me an insight into the Queer Lit scene here. Queer meaning LGBTQ. I don't know if there's a Q ( Questioning) movment here or whether its more of a catch all for anyone who hates definitions, who knows? There's a question.

So Big thanks to: Carol Seajay from Books to Watch Out For, a subscription newsletter for all that's new in LGBTQ publishing. She started the venture because the number of queer/feminist/womens bookstores in the US is dwindling, so the newsletter provides a source of unbiased information.

Jocelyn Sandeberg who runs the literature strand at New Langton Arts for ideas on different ways to present literature.

Lisa Moore (Degrees of Nakedness) and Karen X Tulchinsky (The Five Books of Moses Lapinsky) for their friendly and intelligent comments about their books.

The woman in Dog Eared Books on Valencia who lent me the shop's phone.

Phyllis Christopher and Helen Collard for taking me out and bringing me back to Oakland in the car.

Dorian, Steve and Ron for Brunch.

Linus Hirschkron for being such a big fluff bucket and stoic patient ( as long as he doesn't lick his leg)
and last but not least
Amy Hirschkron ( Linus' Mom ) for looking after me, plying me with PG tips and all the things she knows us English people appreciate
xxx

Posted by Mary on 30 May 2005 at 03:52 AM GMT [Link]

Saints and Sinners in the USA

Gentle readers...
I am writing the inaugural episode of my gay lit research trip story. Yes, your intrepid proudWORDS Coordinator finds herself in California, on the trail of the lonesome queer writer, putting in countless hours of selfless work, in the name of researching the state of the LGB ( and TIQ) literary festival in the States. My missive must be partly retrospective in that I began my study in New Orleans, at the Saints and Sinners LGBT writing festival on May 13-15th and now it's a whole week after the festival has ended. Already I'm putting my shoulder to the wheel in the gay mecca of San Francisco, sniffing out contacts, drinking orange juice and generally hanging around book stores like some literary junkie.

Soooo... Saints and Sinners.. who did I meet, what was I doing, how different was the festival from our own beloved proudWORDS?
First- the festival was very much aimed at writers, serious and otherwise. Most people I talked to were hacking away at a novel and many had published at least one. This meant that we were keen as the mustard adorning the famous New Orleans weeny to turn up to a badly lit club at 10 am on a Saturday morning to hear an academic discussion on 'The Lesbian Romantic Hero and the Plot she thrives in' I can't imagine the same happening in Newcastle but then, we currently appeal to a different audience.
I went to two workshops that were very well attended- maybe 30 or so people. The first on Breathing Life into your characters, the second on 'The Murk in the Middle of the novel' They were facilitated by John Morgan Wilson and Jim Grimsley respectively. They were more like lectures than the workshops I'm used to but contained useful tips neverthe less. Friday Night I went for dinner with Val McDermid, her partner Kelly who runs Bywater books and a whole lot of other interesting writers; Patricia Nell Warren and Joan Opyr were the ones I talked to. I had some good converstions and amazing cajun food.
Something to say about New Orleans- if you get the chance go there, go, it's divine. The French Quarter also doubles as the gay quarter, it's hot and decadent and has a fascinasting history. Tennesse Williams hailed from there, as did Southern Comfort and Louis Armstrong. Ann Rice writes her vampire books here and Poppy Z. Brite is a local writer who also spoke at the festival.The drains stink of vomit but it's tinged with jasmine, and the Live Oaks are hung with trailing Spanish Moss that make the place look both creepy and decadent at the same time.

On Saturday and Sunday I went to a number of panels or discussions and readings. Most of them were thought provoking, enjoyable and again they were very well attended . Around half the particpants come from out of town. Private sponsorship fuelled a reception with free vodka and food on Friday and a closing reception on Sunday with chocolate cake. The gay bars were involved as well. So it was a great intro for me, to find out who's hot in the LGB lit world, who we might invite over.

Outside the sky is Hockney Blue. Hope you get to read this before too long.
Maryx

Posted by Mary on 23 May 2005 at 02:58 AM GMT [Link]