My short story, The Hurricanes of 2000 Come to Me as Lovers, just went live at Vortical Magazine, if you'd like to take a peek...

This is last, last, last minute notice, but if anyone is in the Riverside area tonight and would like to audition for the concert I am organizing (Poetic Justice: An Evening of Spoken Word and Music in Opposition to the Death Penalty), please join us at St. Andrew's Newman Center, 105 W Big Springs Rd, Riverside at 6:30pm. The concert will take place at White Park in Riverside on Saturday, July 24th, 7:30pm. It should be an amazing evening. We're looking for poets/spoken word artists/singers/musicians whose work addresses issues of social justice. If you have any questions or are interested in participating but can't make it to the audition, please email me at gaylebrandeis at hotmail dot com.

Hope to see some of you either next week in the Bay Area, or next Saturday at my reading at Antioch University in Culver City. I plan to read some new work that night--either from my memoir-in-progress, or my novel-in-progress (whichever I have the guts to share.)

I'm going to be a proud mama now and share some cool news. My 10 year old daughter Hannah's play, The Evilest Monk (a madcap epic), was awarded an Honorable Mention in the National Young Playwrights Competition sponsored by Stephen Sondheims Young Playwrights Inc. Her play was one of 25 Honorable Mentions selected from 300 entries. She's very excited. It's fun to have another writer in the family!

I am in love with the alphabet. My graduate seminar at Antioch was titled "Singing the Alphabet" and was all about the history of those 26 letters. We studied the evolution of different letters, wrote alphabet poems, discussed our favorite letters, and ate alphabet cookies. Great fun.

Over at Maud Newton (one of my favorite literary blogs) today is a link to an exhibit of artists' alphabet books (I am also in love with book art). What makes the link even more delicious is that the title of the exhibit is Abecedarium, which is very close to the title of the first poem (Abecedarian) in my chapbook Dictionary Poems.

It will be fun to read from Dictionary Poems at Book Passage on the 30th; I had such a great time on my book tour, but I'm a little tired of hearing myself talk about my novel (on the other hand, if you have any questions send them my way, and if you have a book group that wants to discuss my novel, I'm happy to join you in person or by phone!)

Bay Area people--I will be up in your beautiful neck of the woods in a couple of weeks.

Tuesday, June 29, I will be hosting a Fruitflesh event in the Ferry Building at Market and Embarcadero in SF from 11am-noon. It will take place outside the new Book Passage, within the heart of the farmers market. I've wanted to do a farmers market event since Fruitflesh first came out two years ago; it will be amazing to be surrounded by tons of fresh fruit. Thanks to Book Passage and HarperSanFrancisco for putting the event together so quickly!

Wednesday, June 30, 7pm, I will be reading from my chapbook, Dictionary Poems, at the original Corte Madera Book Passage. I will be one of many Pudding House poets reading that evening. It should be a fun night (I am very excited to meet Jennifer Bosveld, the powerhouse behind Pudding House!)

Hope to see some of you there!

I'm back from my tour--12 wild, inspiring, exhausting days. It was amazing to reconnect with Chicago, to spend time with my family, to see people from my past (my third grade science teacher! My best friend from elementary school!), to meet wonderful people along the way.

I can't believe how much I packed into my time away--I spoke at my high school (kind of ironic, since I rarely spoke when I was a student there!), taught a workshop at my dad's work, signed autographs next to Kathie Lee Gifford (!), saw Bill Clinton speak (wasn't it nice when we had a president who knew how to put a sentence together?!), laughed my ass off at a breakfast with Jon Stewart, snagged bunches of books, and bumped into just the right people at just the right time. Thanks to all of you whose paths I crossed!

I'm going to be a guest on Writers on Writing with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett tomorrow (June 10) at 5:30pm PST. You can listen online at KUCI. Be sure to tune in at 5, though--my fabulous friend Caroline Leavitt is going to be the first guest on the show. Her most recent books are Girls In Trouble and Coming Back to Me. She writes with so much heart, so much honesty. We just found out we're going to be on the show together (too bad we can't actually see each other--she lives in New Jersey, and we're both calling in.) My life has been full of fun coincidences lately. I'm eager to see what will happen next!

I heard from my Spanish translator for the first time last week, and I have to share the list of questions he had about my book. It's very cool to see what translates directly and what doesn't. I had no idea the word "glitter" was so present in the book! The email has been making me smile for days. Here it is:

I've been entrusted by Alfaguara with the Spanish translation of
your Book of Dead Birds, and I'm close to ending it. There are some
queries which I hope you can devote a small amount of time to. It's
been a real pleasure to work on your novel, believe me. I wish you a
great success. Here goes the list. I thank you in advance.

page 1: 'midnight bullets'. Did they fly through the 'hood as a
regular (per year) basis? Or something happened on that particular
night?
page 4(top): 'pilly bedspread'.
pg 14(bottom): 'red bean buns'
pg 28(and more): egg-blowing. Can you explain to this dumb translator
the actual procedure?
pg 33(1st p): 'gooseneck lamp'
pg 59: Can you describe an 'airboat' please?
pg 64(top): 'a handful of glitter in the air.'
pg 66(2nd p): 'baggies', meaning condoms?
pg 67: What is a 'salt taffy'?
pg 74: Now here I'm lost: 'Tomato Adjuster'
pg 82(1st p): 'a nubby beige shade.'
pg 95: 'you dive my skin', suggesting penetration?
pg 109(mid): 'What's the damage?'
pg 114(bott): 'booty'
pg 117(2nd p): 'foil flavour packet' / Ramen: just a brand? thin,
short noodles?
pg 126: 'hostess stand' / baby-doll just any doll representing an
infant boy or girl? / what's 'tiki'?
pg 135: 'pacifier', what one gives babies to suck on? I'm afraid I
should've asked some rave's raver!
pg 136: 'glitter' --I hope it just means a long (and wide) shimmering
expand
pg 138: 'bird song.' Songs about birds? Songs emulating bird voices?
pg 142: 'glitter' Really lost, again
pg 154: What's the deal with 'Sam and Ella (or Janet) Eeeeevening'?
pg 211(top): 'princess sleeve' / rosebud underwear (somewhat pink?)
pg 218: Foley person
pg 236(2nd p): these broken... people

I had a fabulous visit with the Southern California Writers Association last week. Thanks to all who attended--you were wonderful! Have all of you started your blogs yet? :)

The paperback publicity machine is about to really start rolling. Hope to see some of you on my journeys. Here are the details of my upcoming events (click on the links for addresses):

This Friday, 3/21, I'll be participating in a Writing Moms reading at Every Picture Tells a Story in Santa Monica at 7:30pm.

Sunday, 3/23, I'll be at Skylight Books in LA (Los Feliz) at 5:30pm. This is one of my favorite bookstores (and it's on one of my favorite streets in LA.)

Monday, 3/24, I'm going to be a guest on Connie Martinson Talks Books, a tv show which is on a few cable stations around the country and is also broadcast online. It's broadcast at 3pm PST. I had my hair straightened for the first time in my life yesterday (I barely recognize myself!), and am trying to decide if I should go straight haired or let my hair go back to its normal Medusa self for the interview.

Wednesday, 3/26, I'll be reading at The Tattered Cover in Denver at 7:30pm. This will be a bittersweet event. I was supposed to do an event here last year, but my stepfather-in-law Jack died that day, and I flew home to be with my family. I can't believe he's been gone for almost a year. I've dedicated my novel-in-progress to him, and feel a real responsibility to do his memory proud.

Thursday, 3/27, I'll be reading at Women and Children First in Chicago at 7:30pm.

I can't wait to be back in my home town. I want to sit and stare at Lake Michigan for a long, long, time. For those of you who will be attending Book Expo America, I'll be autographing on Friday, 6/4 from 10:30-11 in the traditional autographing area. I am very much looking forward to BEA--tons of free books, tons of people who care about books. What could be better?

I just found out today that The Book of Dead Birds was chosen as a Notable Book by the Kirayama Prize, an international literary award dedicated to promoting literature of the Pacific Rim. What a cool surprise. It is quite mind-boggling to be on the same list as Jhumpa Lahiri, Mario Vargas Llosa and Kenzaburo Oe.

First of all, I want to thank Eula Palmer for her beautiful update of my website. Now you can see my gorgeous paperback covers on my home page!

The paperbacks will be out in a couple of weeks. If you would like to help me spread the word, please send me an email at bmcg at pe dot net, and I'll send you some postcards to distribute (they're in the process of being produced and should be available soon.) Also, sign up for my Notify list (you can find a link to it on my home page), and I'll keep you posted about my upcoming events.

Starting in July, I'll be teaching Novel Writing I: Writing the First Novel online through the UCLA Writers Program. Budding novelists, please join me--it should be a lot of fun!

Here is another lovely review of Fruitflesh, brought to me by Google Alert. Thank you, Story Circle!

I'm sorry I've been lax about posting about Santa Cruz and the Brandeis Women's Luncheon. Both were utterly beautiful, magical experiences. I'm not sure I can do justice to them by trying to wrap words around them. Needless to say, I am still glowing with appreciation.

I am now part of the Readerville Author Gallery! For those of you unfamiliar with Readerville, it is a fabulous forum for readers and writers. Lots of lively, intelligent conversation (beware, though--it's addictive!)

Another drive by posting...

You can get a sneak preview of what I'm doing with my thigh book--this little essay will be part of a very cool project entitled If Women Ruled the World. They are open to submissions until April 1st, if you'd like to contribute something about how the world would be different if women were at the helm.

Google Alert alerted me to this lovely review of Fruitflesh yesterday. I don't know who wrote it, but I'm very grateful.

And until I have time to write about my experience in Santa Cruz, I'll share some pictures instead (taken by the melodious Melody!) I'm the one in the crazy Celtic black and white pants.

More to come...

Just a brief update before I run out the door...

I will be on KPBS tonight at 6pm, not 6:30, as I mentioned before. Tune in if you can.

When I have time, I will tell you more about my amazing weekend in Santa Cruz (and my wonderful Brandeis Women's event in Palm Springs last week.) Thanks to all of you who were there--my heart is still brimming.

What a magical time I had at the National Association of Women Writers conference in Texas last weekend. I am so grateful to Sheri' McConnell for organizing the event (and the Association!) A day full of so much inspiration. Thanks to all of you who were there. It was great to see Jill Badonsky, who wrote the incredible book, Nine Modern Day Muses and a Bodyguard. We're going to try to teach some workshops together in the future--stay tuned!

I recently found out that The Book of Dead Birds was chosen for the March Book Club of the Air at KPBS, the San Diego NPR station. Very exciting! I'll be in the studio to discuss the book (with a special mystery guest!) It will be aired March 15th at 6:30pm. I think you can listen online if you're not in the San Diego area.

My review of Trader Joe's Unsulfured Three Flavor Guava (Sweet/Hot/Salty) is up at McSweeney's today.

I thought I should put my mailing list sign-up window closer to the top of this page again in case any one is looking for it. I had a fantastic time at the Southern California Writers Conference this morning; thanks to everyone who attended my "Embodying Your Characters" workshop.

It was quite an amazing day--I went directly from there to the Johnston reunion, where I taught a Fruitflesh workshop and caught up with wonderful old friends. Johnston made such a huge difference in my life; if you know any college-bound kids who would thrive in a very self-directed, creative program, check it out (it's the alternative program within the University of Redlands. I created my own degree program there--"Poetry and Movement: Arts of Expression, Meditation and Healing.")

If you'd like to stay caught-up about my events, sign up for my "Live Birds" list, and I'll keep you in the loop...

join my Notify List and get email when I update my site:

email:

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Because I've been having trouble breathing for the last couple of weeks (due to a seemingly never-ending bout of asthma and bronchitis), I thought now would be a good time to highlight Drawing Breath, my piece on the connection between breath and writing.

I am hoping to find some inspiration from this current state of breathlessness, but it is getting pretty old. I hope everyone is breathing freely (and I hope I'll be breathing freely enough to attend the events below!)

Hi everyone! I wanted to let you know about some events I have coming up.

This Thursday, February 12, The Corona Public Library will be hosting a discussion of The Book of Dead Birds at 7pm. I did an event with their writers' group last month; it's a beautiful library.

Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14, I will be at the Southern California Writers Conference in San Diego , teaching a workshop on "Embodying Our Characters." We'll really get under the skins of our characters, and should have a lot of fun.

I'll be teaching a similar workshop, and giving the keynote address, at the National Association of Women Writers Conference in Arlington, Texas on February 28

March 9, I will be speaking at the Author/Celebrity Luncheon sponsored by the Brandeis University National Women's Committee Desert Chapter at the Marriott Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Palm Springs. Even though I am not related to Brandeis University in any way, it tickles me to be doing one of their events. The Brandeis Used Book Sale was always a pilgrimage for me when I lived in Chicago; it was great fun to whip out my checkbook and wait for the response when someone saw "Brandeis" written there. For more information, contact Carol Fryer at
760.360.8166.

I will be also be teaching at the Early Spring in California Conference sponsored by the International Women's Writing Guild from March 12-14 in Santa Cruz. It should be a lovely retreat; Ellen Bass, whose poetry I deeply admire, will be teaching there, as well

The paperbacks for both Fruitflesh and The Book of Dead Birds are coming out May 1st. I'll be touring in Chicago, Denver and Southern CA, and will share my schedule when I know it myself.

I hope to see some of you as I make my rounds!

I am cover mama of the month over at The Philosophical Mother. Click on the "current issue" link (it's a pdf file, so you'll need Adobe Acrobat to read it.) The photo of my family was taken about a year and a half ago, during the trip I talk about in my essay. It's amazing how much my kids have changed since then, especially Arin. Now he's taller than me, a lanky, long-haired, teenager. How does that happen so fast?!

Happy new year! I hope everyone is having a great start to 2004. The energy of the new year--new chances, new beginnings--has inspired me to start a new project (to juggle with the other ones I have in the air already.)

I have decided to embark upon researching and writing a cultural and personal history of the thigh. I have been delving into how thighs have been portrayed in myth, art, literature, advertising, etc., and am finding some fascinating stuff (I had no idea so many mythical/religious figures, including Dionysus and Buddha, were thigh-born!) So many of us (myself included, despite all my body awareness work) have complicated relationships with our thighs, and I thought that such a study could help us make peace with our most problematic body part.

I have put together a survey to catalog people's relationships with their thighs; if you'd like to participate, please email me at thighbook at hotmail dot com and I'll send you the survey. I want to incorporate as many voices as possible (male and female; my focus will be women's thighs, but I want to include guy thighs, too.) Thanks so much!

Thanks to the brilliant advice of Kevin Smokler (thanks, Kevin!), I have created a mailing list, "Live Birds". Now I can send everyone updates about my readings and publications and other juicy stuff on occasion. Let's see if this works...

join my Notify List and get email when I update my site:

email:

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It does work! Yay! Send me your emails and I'll keep you up to date (and I promise not to bombard you or share your email with anyone--these messages will just be sporadic bits of info.)

Jenny Dressell at Mostlyfiction.com listed my novel as one of the best of the year (and we don't even know each other!) You'll probably never read this, but thank you Jenny Dressell! And three of my friends made other reviewers' top picks on the same site--Brian Malloy's book, The Year of Ice, was chosen by Kam Aures, Anne Ursu's book, The Disapparition of James, was chosen by Judi Clark, and Amanda Eyre Ward's book, Sleep Toward Heaven, was chosen by Cindy Lynn Speer (all are wonderful books, definitely among my top picks for the year.)

I read so many amazing novels this year, but the one that thrilled me the most, I think, has to be The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Inventive, beautiful, and a real love letter to my sweet home Chicago. It has been haunting me ever since I finished it, sobbing. So has another MacAdam/Cage book, St. Ursula's Girls Against the Atomic Bomb by Valerie Hurley (which I had the honor and pleasure of blurbing). MacAdam/Cage, which also published Sleep Toward Heaven, is publishing some of the most incredible new fiction around.

I just happened upon a real surprise at Amazon--my paperback cover for Fruitflesh! I had no idea it was going to be so different from the hardcover. I have to get over my shock before I'll know how I really feel about it--I had no idea a new cover was even in the works, so it was a very unexpected thing to find it online--but I think I like it. I think I like it a lot. I like the lowercase font for the subtitle. I like the notebook feel of the background. I like the watermelon (although the knife is a bit troublesome.) I like the freshness and lightness of it, such a contrast to the deep dark mysteriousness of the hardcover. Both are luscious in their own ways.

I'm looking forward to holding the paperbacks for both books in my hands. They come out May 1, 2004. May Day. A day to celebrate new life. I hope my books--which have been so lovingly, but so quietly, received--will find new life in their new form. Thanks to those who have read my books and have been so generous in your response. I am very grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving! There is so much to be thankful for.

CaliforniaAuthors.com just posted my essay about having author photos taken (which, I should add, was a very trippy experience for me.)

I've decided to take the NaNoWriMo challenge again this year--50,000 words in 30 days. I'm about 4/5 there, but the rest of the month is not going to allow for much writing time, so I'm not sure whether I'm going to make it to the finish line. I'll let you know what happens.

Hi, it's me again, ten days later! I crossed the finish line at 10:45 am today, November 26th. I haven't finished the story yet, but I reached 50,000 words. Phew! I hope I won't lose this momentum now--I probably have about 20,000 words to go to finish this most extremely rough first draft. I got a nifty "Winner" icon, but I can't figure out how to post it here. Imagine a lovely little square with some pages that say "The End" on them. But this isn't the end. Not by a long shot. Revisions are on the horizon...

I think I forgot to link this before--I was a guest at my friend Wendy's luscious site, Earthly Delights a while back. Her writing always makes my mouth water.