Day 3 of AQLF

Here's a picture of the fabulous Dustin Brookshire and me the first night of AQLF. Today's the third day of the festival. Collin just took me out to lunch during his lunch break. It's raining today so I'm laying low this afternoon until tonight's events.

Atlanta-mania

Another day at AQLF in Atlanta ... I went to Emory University with Mark Doty and Franklin Abbot.  Gorgeous campus.  Mark did a great workshop that got me thinking about some aspects of my childhood in new ways.  He reminded me that memory is so mine-able there's no end to its riches.

Tonight was a fabulous reading at a great queer bookstore downtown, Outwrite Books, featuring Sister So Am I (one of the founding members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence; wow, what a moving blast of history), the YA writer Alex Sanchez, marvelous poet and all-around great guy Dan Vera, and Paul Lisicky, who read a piece about his mother's dementia that moved me deeply.

Afterward, I went with a group  of these guys to a great pub.  It was 8 gay guys and me, my kind of night.  I love being the token lesbian mascot.

I wore my "OBAMA:  This Time I Want a Smart President" tee-shirt today, and Mark wore his that said "Polar Bears for OBAMA."  

It's great to be here but I miss Annie.  Wish she were here.

Howdy from Atlanta

Collin picked me up at the aiport last night and promptly took me to a very cool 50-something-year-old diner for delicious greasy food. We stayed up late talking about high school sex and reading to each other some of our recent writing.

Now I'm at a computer in the common area of Collin's huge apartment complex. It's a lot like living in a huge hotel.

Today Collin had to go to work, so I walked all around Mid-town Atlanta. Went to the Carter Center and Presidential Library. It was phenomenal. So many exhibits, lots of videos, etc. It was inspiring to be in the midst of the life work of a President whose main interest was in promoting peace and human rights. What a striking and distressing contrast to what we have now.

I also walked around an area called Little Five Point, a neighborhood that has lots of funky stores, tye-dye, art, health food ... my kind of place. I had a great berry smoothie. It was warm with a bit of a breeze, probably low 80s.

Now I'm going to take a nap then shower and dress. Tonight's my speech. Afterward Collin and I will come back to his place and watch the debate, which he's recording. Should be fun to watch it with him since he's so funny. Maybe we'll riff on some jokes together that will appear on his blog.

Monday miscellany

When I teach undergrad classes, I try to remember what I was like as an undergrad. I was frustrated with life, a bit lost, and probably a pain-in-the-ass to some of my teachers–not too unlike Norma in For the May Queen.

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I can't believe I leave for Atlanta tomorrow! It'll be my first time there. And, yay, I get to hang out with Collin and meet so many people I've known only online all these year.

Atlanta Queer Lit Fest Ready to Make History

From AQLF (Atlanta, GA, 10/01/08)--

"The 2nd Annual Atlanta Queer Literary Festival will be held October 15-18, 2008. The event--one of only two queer-specific literary festivals in the nation, both of which are in the South--will feature readings, workshops, signings and theatre by gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning authors, poets, playwrights and related artists. Confirmed participants this year include Kate Bornstein, Mark Doty, Kate Evans, Daphne Gottlieb, Ed Madden, Dan Vera, Blair, and Alex Sanchez. The festival's main venues are Charis Books & More, OutWrite Books, The Atlanta-Fulton County Central Library, the Ponce de Leon Branch Library and EyeDrum.

Also new this year is the festival’s affiliation with the internationally renowned Larry Corse Prize for Playwriting, including a four-night run of the winning comedy, Skin Deep, written by Rich Orloff and directed by Larry Corse. Out of 150 submissions from eleven nations, Orloff won the $1,000 prize for a play about a straight Ohio couple that inherits a clothing-optional resort in Key West from their gay son. A visit by the couple to claim the place turns worlds upside down. The play will be staged at the First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta.

All events are open to the public, and all events are free with the exception of $10 tickets to the play, Skin Deep. Please find the complete schedule up on the festival website, and on the second page of this press release.

There is only one other festival in the U.S. dedicated specifically to advancing the work of queer writers--The Saints and Sinners Literary Festival in New Orleans. The festival organizers have learned a lot from that Deep South neighbor and are returning to their own festival preparations with bolder ambitions for this second year, including a broad range of invitations to nationally recognized and award-winning writers with a strong emphasis on the diversity of participants. Atlanta has an opportunity to be the flagship for queer literature in the U.S., and the festival board is proud to serve their community by ushering in a new era in the literary life of the city.

In addition to the venues listed above, festival sponsors include: Emory University, PD Publishing, The Paideia School, The Galloway School, and Southern Voice."

Check out the complete schedule here.

AQLF

The AQLF has announced its very exciting initial slate of authors to appear in October! This is truly a great group, and I am honored to be part of it. Click on the names for information about each writer:

Mark Doty
Kate Bornstein
Alex Sanchez
Daphne Gottlieb
Ed Madden
Kate Evans
Dan Vera

Keep an eye out on the AQLF blog and here for updates.