CIEL

My Phalenopsis

There is a connection between me and my phalenopsis, and it's not only that I love it when it blooms. It occurred to me, when it bloomed last week that our relationship parallels my relationship with my writing. All year - yes - all year, I water its green foliage. I talk to it and keep it in the window, with the sun shade down so it is spared the hard light of afternoon sun. This year it gave out three branches of blooms. The blooms are spidery, elegant, white and deep egglplant purple marked with brown spots. To look at them is one of those 'how can you not believe in a higher power?'moment. So, for your enjoyment, I will post a photo of them in all their glory.

creative process, Writers

Poet Laureate

What a rush to see Kay Ryan on the cover of the New York Times Arts Section last week. Kay Ryan is a home girl. Born and raised in California, a product of the ever wonderful UC system, a poet that is easy to read and love, and an out lesbian. Yeah! Congratulations, Kay. I met Kay recently at my friend Connie Post's Wine and Words series out in Livermore. Sometimes you do the long haul for poetry. On that cold, cloudy Sunday afternoon this past January, it was well worth it. Ryan was a fantastic reader, very funny, relaxed, droll and deep all at once. After the reading she was personable and very chill with everyone who wanted to have a few words with her. Ryan reports that she didn't want to be a poet, but poetry called her. I can relate. And best of all, she gives poetry a good name, creating a wonderful image, a quotable quote: "Poetry should leave you feeling freer and not more burdened...I like to think of all good poetry as providing more oxygen in the atmosphere. Poems just make it easier to breathe." Ahhhhhhhh....

Authors, creative process, poetry, San Francisco, Writers

So tired

The other night I was out with my good friend Mitch. We were at the opera to see "Ariodante." He was tired. "I've been getting up at 6:30 and just jamming." Mitch is in Operations with a bank that is migrating a data center from California to the Midwest. I empathized. "Me too," I said. "Up at 6:30 and jamming." "Yeah, but what do you DO?" he asked. This is Mitch, my good friend who has known me for several years. I'm so tired, but not of jamming. This question has been coming at me more and more lately - and I am so tired of being on the defensive. I'll say it here for the record. After this I'm telling people to read my blog! First, there's the new writing. That's the morning hours. Then there is the business of writing - the submitting, the networking, the research. Then there's being the President of WNBA with two major programs to launch this fall and ongoing development. And you see all those 'events' on my web site? There's tons of work involved with all of them. Oh yes, and there's the blog, and family, and oh, I forgot - exercise. Do people ask Michael Chabon - "Yeah but what do you DO all day?" Do people ask John Irving? Is this about a paycheck? Is it about being a woman and people just assume that you couldn't possibly be working all day, but rather are reading InStyle, or Yoga Journal and eating sustainable earth friendly bon-bons?

Authors, creative process, WNBA, Writers

Chihuly

San Francisco is having a Renaissance summer. As an art lover, I couldn't be more excited. There's Freada Kahlo at the Modern, Women Impressionists at the Palace of the Legion of Honor, and, a third blockbuster - Dale Chihuly at the DeYoung. De Young curators have accomplished something that, as a working artist, I must say, is admirable. Chihuly is a show that is accessible to non-art lovers, art snobs and the high art types. Some rooms are so playful that a five year old will be inspired, and some are just overwhelmingly awesome in what they accomplish. There is so much "WOW" factor in this show that every single person comes out smiling. But then there are the subtle, tender and, if you look closely, more complex rooms that show an artist who is willing to display not only his finished work, but his process. I was moved by the "Tabac" series - a subtle display of glass pieces in atypical sandy tones - inspired by a collection of Native American baskets from the Northwest. A few rooms later (after switching gears for 2 rooms of borderline simplistic, fancy-art-gallery-cum-gift-shop bowls) there is a wall of his 'paintings' - a panel of work that show his development and aesthetic in process. I was especially moved by this darkened room and by the text that helped me to get even closer to the artist's vision. The real crowd pleaser is the 'underwater' world - but I won't spoil it. For all the years I've been bemoaning the lack of fabulous art shows to match our fabulous museums, I now commend the DeYoung curators. Brave decision, and a great summer show.

creative process, San Francisco

The Brave Tomashefskys

Michael Tilson Thomas has done a mitzvah. In creating his Yiddish Theater piece, "The Thomashefskys" Thomas claims a critical role in preserving Jewish art and culture. From the moment a reproduction of a Yiddish newspaper was projected upon the Symphony stage, tears came to my eyes. We just don't see ourselves reflected like this very often, and I was deeply moved. The Symphony piece, a combination of fantastic and authentic music, theater, opera, and vaudeville is an homage to Thomas' very visionary and brave grandmother. The love and admiration he held for her vibrated in each scene. Despite the interesting and complicated history and the ups and downs of the Tomashefsky's fortune, there was no shortage of humor - could it be truly Jewish otherwise? Not only does Thomas sing, ham it up and dance (!) he tells us his grandmother's last sage words: "You'll live a long life, Michaela, and I won't be there to guide you. So one last piece of wisdom: Never sign a release!" Fabulous. I hope this piece will be preserved for the culture in a permanent way. Lastly, a personal angle: My mother spent some time in the Catskills back in the day, with Mr. Tomashefsky - Michael's bon vivant grandfather!

creative process, jewish issues, San Francisco, sf symphony

All Things Literary

We're just winding down to the tail end of our WNBA annual three day meeting. It's been a hectic and productive time, with colorful splashes of only-in-San-Francisco fun. The meeting, taking place at the Chancellor Hotel is on the Powell Street cable car line and right up from Union Square with all the usual suspects: street musicians, European tourists, suburban shoppers and panhandlers. Yesterday at lunch, Kevin Smokler spoke to us about the future of books and reading as he envisions them for the next generation. At night we were entertained across the street at the Sir Francis Drake by SF's own Beth Lisick, who, it seems is still catching up to herself and the fact of her easy successes. Beth spoke to the more than 80 people assembled to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the SF chapter. In the crowd were Paula Hendricks, president of BAIPA and a Litquake board member; Michael Larsen and Elizabeth Pomada, literary agents and founders of the SF Writers Conference and the estimable Effie Lee Morris, a living legend according to the American Library Association. Local authors included Lucille Lang Day, Christopher Gortner, Martha Alderson, and our honorary guest from the nascent Seattle chapter, Henriette Klauser. A fun time was had by all, and hey, where else could our national board hear about leaking sewage pipes in a loft/warehouse in the Mission? Thanks Beth! Oh, yes, and tomorrow Laurie Beckleman passes me the President's gavel - except that SF has decided to trade the gavel in for a Tibetan bowl/gong.

Authors, creative process, Fiction, Literary Agents, Litquake, poetry, San Francisco, san francisco writers conference, United Nations, WNBA, Writers

The Gang's All Here

It's both a sobering and inspiring trip down here at my first Book Expo America. Running into all my pals and sitting in on the wonderful panels renews my passion for my craft and reaffirms my connections. Jill Tardiff, Imm. Past President of WNBA and I have been pal-ing around. I've run into Kevin Smokler during his panel on Authorpreneurship, the Larsen-Pomadas, Mary Harris, our newest WNBA colleague, and owner of Parkplace books, and Kelly Sullivan Walden and Ruth Light of the LA WNBA chapter. The Beatrice.com founder, Ron Hogan, was on two panels on Thursday and had a lot to say about blogging and connecting on-line with writers. Still, this face to face is just the best. To listen to writers I so admire talk about their process and their projects gets my creative juices flowing. Neal Gaiman, a writer of some note with whom I was not familiar, talked about working on a young adult novel on and off for over 10 years before his agent gave the go ahead to publish. Now it will be an animated movie called "Coraline." Judy Blume also gave an inspiring talk about her writing journey. But the winner at the children's author breakfast for me was Sherman Alexie who spoke about books being his only refuge from the mean kids who bullied him because he was poor, lived in HUD housing and was a Native American kid with no resources or support. "I starting writing because I had been isolated and alone," Alexie said. "Reading and writing were my way out." These are the kinds of stories that shout: "Keep writing. Even if you only touch a handful of lives and never reach Judy Blume's sales of 80 million." (Um, few authors do...) Sobering notes to follow...hint Amazon strikes hard...

Literary Agents, poetry, san francisco writers conference, BEA, WNBA, Writers

Catch the Wave

A mere three weeks ago I wrote a post about how dejected, frustrated and generally demoralized I was with my writing life. I'd enjoyed some great accomplishments in the winter and early spring but by April, everything seemed to have just stalled out. Then things changed. Fast. Just a week ago I dragged myself to an open mike at Gallery Cafe, planning to leave after the featured reader, Stephen Kopel. But at Kit Kennedy's insistence I stayed and read "Music Dream 14." Afterward, Stephen asked me if he could interview me on his radio show. That was the beginning of the shift. The radio show, a half hour interview and reading was really fun and Stephen was effusive. That afternoon I showed my new manuscript to a very astute reader and friend of mine who went nuts for the work. "I'm going to help you get this out," she said. "I need all the help I can get," I replied. I couldn't think of a better offer. After that it got better. I received an invitation to be on the Editorial Board of Poetica and to be the sole judge for their 2008 Chapbook contest next winter. But here's the crowning glory: Last night, again, in a a tired state, I headed out for San Rafael where my friend Jane Green was the featured reader. I sat next to Becky Foust. When I handed Becky my card she said "You sound so familiar." But everyone says that to me, so I didn't get excited. Midway through the evening Becky said, 'don't leave before I talk to you. I just had an epiphany." We left together and she said: "Two years ago when I was thinking about writing, I went to Book Passage. I bought two books: yours and Sharon Olds. I read your book cover to cover and loved it. I started writing. You're my muse!" I just about fainted. Becky started writing, winning awards and her first book, "Dark Card" is due out any day. Some people say, that when the road to success gets rocky, 'just keep showing up.' Apparently, sometimes, that 'just showing up' does work.

Authors, creative process, mills college, poetry, San Francisco, WNBA, Writers

Make A Fool of Yourself

Jeff Greenwald is an unusual writer. Besides having a talent for telling a story with a great punchline, Jeff is generous and personable- a rare combination in a field fraught with introverts and egotistical personalities. For "Strange Travel Suggestions" Jeff's solo show at the Marsh, Greenwald takes his premise from the "Tarot" and in particular the card, "The Fool." When we take a trip, Greenwald purports, we become the fool. We go someplace where we don't know the language or even how to get around, surround ourselves with people we don't know, get lost and, hopefully, have adventures. Jeff involves the audience as he asks members to spin his giant 'wheel of fortune.' Where it lands decides which traveller tale will be told. Each spot on the wheel has at least four stories in its category so that each show ends up having different and new content. Clever! Last night we went to the DumDum Airport in Calcutta, Bangkok and Burning Man. I first met Jeff when I read at Litquake a few years back. Learning from his blog that he is a JuBu, I couldn't resist reaching out to him. I recommend his show - for laughs, for fun, for enlightenment, or at least a glimpse into your own traveler's soul. It's been extended at the Marsh through June.

creative process, jewish issues, Litquake, San Francisco, Writers

A Beautiful Moment in Between Sadnesses

Walking down the hill to West Portal this afternoon, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around and encouraged the nice looking gent to pass me by. We started chatting, and it turned out that Sengay lives in the house a few doors down with the Tibetan flag and rows of tattered prayer flags. We talked about the wave of crime that has hit our neighborhood in the past months, including a drive by shooting. The talk led to morality and respect for life. "We Tibetans don't eat fish because taking one life to feed one person is not balanced. "That's why we eat yak. One life feeds many." And, of course we spoke about China. All this in the midst of China's devastating earthquake, Myanmar and one of my favorite artists' passing - Robert Rauschenberg. The good thing about Raushenberg however is that he is one artist that didn't have to die to be appreciated. Some of my best moments visiting New York in these past years have been the two major Rauschenberg shows - one at the Whitney and the huge retrospective at the Metropolitan just a couple of years ago.

climate change, global warming, poetry, San Francisco, Untitled, Writers