DC, Philadelpia, Nolose and Northampton

[susanstinson]

Of local interest:

Saturday is Free Comic Book Day at Modern Myths in Northampton. They're giving them away, and, since Neil Gaiman inspired me, I'm going to check it out. (Even though I associate comic books with a teenage boy vibe that makes me bashful in this odd middle-aged lady way. Still, venturing forth...)

Also, free: the new issue of The Women's Times, which is distributed throughout the Valley and the Berkshires, is out with a really nice review of Venus of Chalk by Julianna Waggoner, a standup comic. It's the longest so far, and it's a rave. First paragraph:

Meet Carline, fat lesbian feminist home economist. If this lineup of words baffles or intrigues you, read on! The narrator of Venus of Chalk, Carline is a seemingly incongruous but utterly believable mixture of personal quirks, passions, beliefs, and comforts. She is so unapologetically herself that she is fully alive in the pages of this book. She can be as prim as an elderly Victorian maid, as full of sensible, wholesome advice as Hints from Heloise, but she is also a potential emotional volcano, a sensualist whose joy in her abundant flesh and her sexuality is palpable and contagious.

*And,* my upcoming reading in Baltimore a week from today had just been cancelled. So, next week, it's:

Thur July 8
Washington DC
Lambda Rising Bookstore, 7 pm

http://www.lambdarising.com
1625 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 462-6969

Sun July 12
Philadelphia
Giovanni's Room
5:30, Sunday

http://www.giovannisroom.com
345 South 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (at 12th & Pine Sts in Center City)
Tel: 215/923-2960

And Friday through Sunday, I'm going to be at the Nolose conference, on a panel Sunday afternoon with Katheen LeBesco, whose books include Revolting Bodies? The Struggle to Redefine Fat Identity and The Drag King Anthology, as well as Diana Lee.

I'm really looking forward to seeing everybody at Nolose! And if you're going to the conference, consider planning a little extra time to see the reading in Philadelphia -- it's going to be completely different material than what I do at Nolose.

If you know anybody in DC or Philadelphia, tell 'em to come!

Comments

[crazycrone.livejournal.com]

Lovely review, that, congratualations! I'm gnashing to read this book.
...And DO give comics a chance. Some shops are still heavy on the teenboy superhero stuff, but there is so much excellent indie work around these days, that you're sure to find a lot you love.
Neil Gaiman for sure. (SANDMAN, especially-)Just about anything by Alan Moore, the Herandez Bros' LOVE AND ROCKETS...These are old reliables, there are hundreds of good, good grownup comics.Honest!

[susanstinson.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recommendations. Of course, I love Alison Bechdel's work no end, so I know that there's plenty for me out there. It's just finding it and that shyness of crossing into new territory.

Glad that you're gnashing to read the book -- sounds suitably fierce. I know it's available through Amazon.com.uk now, even though a friend was just in Silver Moon last week and saw Fat Girl Dances with Rocks, but not Venus of Chalk.

[wauwau.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on the wonderful & well-deserved reviews... and have a FANTASTIC time traveling. You'll love it.

[susanstinson.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Your trip to Pink Ink in NYC sounded BEYOND glamorous!

[fattest.livejournal.com]

Damn, I still have to get my copy of the book back from C.I. so I can read it!!!

Hey, that's cool that Kathleen LeBesco is going to be at NOLOSE, too! I want to meet her. Some of my stuff appeared in a book she did, "Bodies Out of Bounds."

See you SOON!!!!

[susanstinson.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that you have stuff in that book -- very cool! Katie went UMass for graduate school, so I've met her a couple of times and really liked her.

And, dearest fattest, in honor of the hours of entertainment and intriguing reading material and viewing material that you've provided me and countless others with across the years -- not to mention listening, which I can't wait to get a chance to do -- I would be thrilled and delighted to present you with another inscribed copy of Venus of Chalk at Nolose, if you want to let Christine keep the first one. It would be, really, kind of like giving one to Cher.

[ju1ie.livejournal.com]

I have meant to tell you, Susan, that we won't be able to make it to any of your readings. Which seriously sucks, from my perspective. The license thing and the no funding thing mean that I can't really roadtrip anywhere.

I'm glad you're getting the attention you're getting, though. Please keep us updated on how they all go. :)

[susanstinson.livejournal.com]

I figured that was true. I truly do love the thought of you and Francita coming to a reading -- but maybe next year in Europe, huh? You never know! You bet I'll keep you posted!