susanstinson

The reading touched me in ways that are hard to describe.

It was so great to be coming down the sidewalk to the store, limping more than usual because I’d just sat on a bench and changed into my flimsy little slippers, and see bearsir coming up the sidewalk, looking resplendent, tie and all. bearsir had a bag of mysterious eggs for beatgoddess and ze had been recently discussed at the store, we heard from Mark of Pride&Joy. We don’t know why. I bought a copy of Pinned Down By Pronouns, in which I know that bearsir has at least one beautiful, moving poem.

beatgoddess was there, of course – having drummed up maybe half the crowd, full of intensely engaged presence, nodded when I spoke about the importance of reflecting fat people as full sexual beings, made an announcement about the Flaunt It fat organizing that’s going on in the Valley right now, was one of the faces I liked looking at during the reading, is going to bring me some zines, bought all my books, two of Venus of Chalk,and a copy of The Boy Who Cried Fabulous by Lesléa Newman. Wow.

other ljers I know were there papabearyg and somechicksings -- lovely, lovely faces to see. Dang, I’m wanting to try to list everyone who came – about thirty people, Mark said – can’t do it, but the fabulous Kelly Link and Gavin Grant of Small Beer Press and great books and all told me to wear comfortable shoes to the BEA in Chicago – they are so cool and nice. Janet Aalfs, Northampton’s Poet Laureate, head sensei at Valley Women’s Martial Arts, and my old friend was there, and so was CJ, who helped us do a body painting banner for the Speak-Out Against Fat Hatred years back. The amazing P, the bus driver who donated some of his good qualities to the character of Tucker in the book – Tucker contains strong elements of other folks, too, and some difficult characteristics that don’t come from anybody I know, but were important to the character and the story. My downstairs neighbors. And all.

My beloved looked around and said, “Hey, pretty young crowd.” I said, “Yeah, it’s because of lj.” (I might have said, “because of beatgoddess.”) Sally Bellerose, fabulous novelist and champion critiquer who is going to get her own post sometime soon because I’ve been SO itching to sing praises of her and her work, said “LJ? As opposed to LBJ?”

It was that kind of mix – the sixties were there, too.

Reading itself is so emotional for me. It’s vulnerable and a deep, deep pleasure; a contact in tender places, polished by language to surfaces that are okay to touch. I chose intense work – the prologue and the first chapter – and I could feel folks responding, moved, maybe a little scared at some points; surely, truly there. I love books so much I could burst. I love getting to offer this one. Oh, I wish you could have seen the gorgeous array of faces – some of you did, some of you were among them, along with the beautiful flowers that my parents thought to send from Texas, with that simple and huge gift of a card:

Congratulations on Venus of Chalk. Love, Mom and Dad.

So, a good start. Got to hustle to get ready for going to New Orleans tomorrrow, but wanted to say how it went. And hey, don’t miss the Fat Girl Flea in NYC this weekend! bounce_n_jiggle says they’ve gotten great coverage in Timout New York!!!! (E., who was there last night and very sweetly introduced herself, is bringing clothes from Northampton! )