The Secondary Mourner
What does that make us—the former in-laws and spouses? The family friends? We are mourners once removed, like second cousins no one’s ever met. Technically family, practically not.
●
●
●
The Millions Top 10
In Praise of the “Starter Book”
Now, after the sting of selling 200 copies in three years has passed a bit, looking back fondly on my little “starter book,” I’m able to say that even though I didn’t write something that changed lives, I learned lessons that were invaluable to building a career as a writer.
●
●
●
“Tales from Here and There”: On Uganda’s Literary Culture
Makumbi’s success offers evidence that the literary culture envisioned by the likes of Kagayi, Kakoma, and Mwesigire has begun to coalesce not only abroad but, as intended, in Uganda.
●
●
●
On Motherhood, Rumaan Alam, and Sheila Heti
I have never been able to shake having lunch with a Pulitzer Prize-winning author in Berkeley before leaving the Bay Area and asking her what she thought about having a child. “It is,” she said, “A ball and chain. You will be shackled for life.”
●
●
●
A Flash Fiction Roundtable: Short but Never Small
Prose poetry and vignettes are driven by imagery and emotion whereas flash fiction has an almost desperate need to tell a story before it’s too late.
●
●
●
SPONSORS
The Man in the White Suit: Remembering Tom Wolfe
I looked in his eyes and saw the haunted, hunted animal look I know I have in my eyes when the shit is hitting the fan. And I thought to myself, “God bless you, Tom. You’re a working stiff after all.”
●
●
●
Who Will Buy Your Book?
I am here to tell you: most people in your family will never buy your book. Most of your friends won’t either.
●
●
●