PW's Annual African-American Interest List

I'm kinda back. Will post more after I go on vacation in the middle of this week.

This is an annual list compiled be writer and editor Diane Patrick:

Publishers Weekly | African-American Interest: Adult and Children's Titles 2008

The following is a list of African-American interest adult books, fiction and nonfiction, publishing between September 2007 and March 2008.

[ I'm highlighting what caught my interest; read the lists at the above link ]

AMISTAD

Alek: From Sudanese Refugee to International Supermodel (Sept., $24.95) by Alek Wek chronicles her life from Sudan to young London model to New York supermodel.

Mr. and Mrs. Prince: How an Extraordinary Eighteenth-Century Family Moved Out of Slavery and Into Legend (Feb., $24.95) by Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina looks at the history of a pre-Civil War black family.

From Harvey River: A Memoir of My Mother and Her Island (Mar., $24.95) by Lorna Goodison chronicles the story of her family and their trials and tribulations in Jamaica.

Ida: A Sword Among Lions (Mar., $35) by Paula J. Giddings recounts the life of Ida B. Wells, a crusader embroiled in the struggle against lynching.

The Open Door Project Writing Competition

I saw this on a few blogs, probably first on Koreanish (the blog of writer Alexander Chee, one of the judges):

The Open Door Project:

A five-day publishing introduction intensive in New York City – including a series of lunches with literary agents, book editors, and other publishing figures, a public reading, and a private cocktail reception with New York’s writing community — will be awarded to the winner of the first Open Door Project fiction competition. The contest is open to gay men writing fiction with queer content who have not yet published a book of fiction. Accommodations and transportation will be provided to an out of town winner. Judges include Christopher Bram, Alexander Chee, Samuel R. Delany, Dennis Cooper, Robert Gluck, E. Lynn Harris, Scott Heim, Andrew Holleran, David Leavitt, Stephen McCauley, Dale Peck, and John Weir. Submit stories or stand-alone novel excerpts of up to 8,000 words by March 1, 2008. The winner will be announced June 08. There is no entry fee.

Submissions should be mailed to:

Don Weise, Open Door Project
c/o Oscar Wilde Bookshop
15 Christopher St
New York, NY 10014

Please do not contact the bookstore for information about the Open Door Project. Queries can be sent to dweised@aol.com. No queries confirming receipt or status of submissions please.

Check Maud For Diaz Updates

Maud Newton, that is. I'm sure she'll provide many links to reports and stories on Junot Diaz and his latest work of art. Here's my favorite quote from recent JD news:

"You motherfuckas are so funny," he said. "If I do anything, you'll applaud." -- Junot Diaz at his reading at the Union Square Barnes & Noble

I'm A Winner!!

Just registered at Powell's and posted a mini-review for Junot's latest and added it to the Daily Dose contest. Today I read this on the site:

Powell's Books - Daily Dose

Wednesday, September 5th
Today's Dose by Ronald from Brooklyn, New York
Congratulations, Ronald, for claiming your $20 gift certificate!

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
by Junot Diaz

Ronald's comments:
The decade-long wait for Junot's first novel was well worth it....[A] melange of literary styles: at turns a memoir...an urbane history of the Dominican Republic and a fantastical journey. Fans of his short fiction will be greatly rewarded, as will newbies. (read more)

Guess what I'm getting with my certificate?

If you're in NYC today (Thursday, October 6th), he'll be reading and discussing the book at the Union Square (17th & B'way) branch of Barnes & Noble.

Junot Diaz Is Red Hot

The book debuts tomorrow Thursday, so pick up your copy. I like how the Village Voice (kinda) stole the title I used for an earlier WAO post for this review:

The Ghetto Nerd
A decade after his breakout Drown, Junot Díaz returns with his first novel by James Hannaham

Ten years ago, Junot Díaz dropped Drown — a short story collection, remember, those things that don't sell? — and he's still famous. Son-of-a-bitch is like Sade or something, can go missing for half his career and then show up again with a hit. What was so remarkable about this guy that he could keep the literary world on tenterhooks for that long? Well, in addition to the ridiculous accolades Drown received, Díaz exploded out of the Dominican Republic, which is not known for its literary prowess — not the way Trinidad served up Derek Walcott and a bevy of Naipauls, nor even the way Martinique busted out with Frantz Fanon and Aimé Césaire. Sorry to all you devotees of Salomé Ureña, but it's Díaz in the lead, with Julia Alvarez running a distant second. The DR has baseball by the cojones, but literature? No way, José Reyes.

Return Of The Ghetto Nerd

I can't remember the last time I was this anxious for a book release. I am seriously considering a week of precious vacation time to guarantee time to read the damn thing. So yes, if you were wondering about the title of my last post: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz is my most anticipated book for 2007. By far!

Amazon has a nice blurb from one of my heroes (publishing or otherwise):

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is a book that speaks in tongues. This long-awaited novel by Junot Diaz is a masterpiece about our New World, its myths, curses, and bewitching women. Set in America's navel, New Jersey, and haunted by the vision of Trujillo's brutal reign over the Dominican Republic, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is radiant with the hard lives of those who leave and also those who stay behind-it is a rousing hymn about the struggle to defy bone-cracking history with ordinary, and extraordinary, love. -- Walter Mosley, author of Devil in a Blue Dress and Cinammon Kiss

There's a brief excerpt available at website of the 2006 edition of ¡Vamos! (a ten day biennial festival celebrating Latin and Lusophone cultures in Newcastle-Gateshead, UK).

My 2nd Most Anticipated Book Of 2007

The Water Cure: A Novel By Percival Everett

From the publisher:

I am guilty not because of my actions, to which I freely admit, but for my accession, admission, confession that I executed these actions with not only deliberation and premeditation but with zeal and paroxysm and purpose . . .

The true answer to your question is shorter than the lie. Did you? I did.

It comes out on August 21st, so read his other works beforehand. I mos def recommend Erasure (I'm sure Oprah won't. Har!!).