Hello to all my readers!
Last week, I turned 35. It’s been an interesting year, to say the least, but a lot of good things are happening. I’m still tutoring college students in writing at two Chicago schools. I’m still abstaining from sweets. But lots of new things are happening, too.
I have been off caffeine for seven months. I’ve read more books in the last year than I ever have in such a short period of time. I’ve performed at three new storytelling venues in the last year, all spectacular. I got my first peer reviewed journal article published, as well as a couple of long-in-the-making articles at PopMatters. And for the second time, I chaired an Illinois high school communications contest, coordinating judges, getting in touch with different high schools, dealing with tech issues, and loving every second of it.
At the same time, lots of horrible things are happening in the world, not the least of which is the continual collapse of the biosphere. I sometimes wonder what good my positivity can do in a world where, put simply, everything is fucked.
That said, I am moving forward and looking ahead to the next year: more reading, more working, and more writing are all on the metaphorical horizon. I hope to write more music, sing at more places, and make more contacts to enhance my network.
The biggest news, though, in the last month is that I finished my first solid book proposal ever–I’ve written a couple others, but this one was far more developed, polished, and ready to submit weeks ahead of the deadline, which is also progress for me. I have no idea if it will be accepted, of course, in terms of the competition, but it was for the 33 1/3 book series, specifically their GENRE imprint, on ‘90s country music. I would be overjoyed to get a book deal with that series.
In other news, I’m writing a song for an extraordinary teacher I had who passed away, I’m working on another potential book proposal (related to my journal article on James Baldwin and music), I’m working on an upcoming essay on “Queer (Be)longing,” and I have recently landed two pieces at the queer country publication Rainbow Rodeo (posted last month).
I’m also slated to interview Aaron Cohen, author of the 33 1/3 series on Aretha Franklin’s Amazing Grace, at the CHIRP Radio Music Film Festival in Chicago in September, where they are showing the documentary of that album’s recording. And around that time, I will have a book review out about the upcoming anthology of media work on the great singer-songwriter John Prine, Prine on Prine. In October, I’ll be presenting my research on James Baldwin and music at the Midwest Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association and potentially judging work in one of their paper competitions.
In addition, I am continuing as the Illinois Woman’s Press Association’s High School Contest Chair for another two years, so that will be a lot of fun and diligent commitment. AND I’m planning to submit in over ten categories in the IWPA’s Professional Contest for 2024 . . . I am excited to see how my work performs and to get the judges’ feedback.
Lastly, I am applying to more full time positions, and I’m excited to see what comes next. With or without the collapse of the biosphere, I’m grateful to be 35 and thriving.
happy bday!