By Sharyn Vane
Special to the American-Statesman
Gregory Curtis and his wife, Tracy, loved Paris as they loved each other – fiercely, fully, flaws and all.
Tracy’s diagnosis of late-stage pancreatic cancer in 2010 and her death months later gutted Curtis. He found himself back in Paris as he healed, navigating both his new life as a widower and their favorite city.
Curtis chronicles that emotional journey in his affecting, heartfelt new memoir “Paris Without Her” (Knopf, $26.95). The former Texas Monthly editor launches the book Tuesday at BookPeople with fellow Austin writer Stephen Harrigan.
It was Harrigan, in fact, who gave Curtis his title.
By Sharyn Vane
Special to the American-Statesman
Pen feels most at home when she’s baking or cooking for her community. Xander’s trying to find his own version of home, far from where he was born.
How the two discover where they truly belong is at the heart of Austin author Laekan Zea Kemp’s debut young-adult novel, “Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet” (Little, Brown, $18.99).
The pair’s budding romance is part of a powerfully layered coming-of-age story that also delves into identity, friendship and expectations. Kemp launches the book Tuesday virtually at BookPeople.
“I think a necessary part of all coming-of-age stories is finding that autonomy in yourself,” Kemp said in a phone interview. “It’s a very universal experience, and one that can be compounded by cultural expectations.”
Some Central Texas school districts choose to keep mask policies
Some Central Texas school districts choose to keep mask policies
School districts in Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties are choosing to keep their mask policies in place even after the statewide mandate is lifted.
Tuesday s announcement from Gov. Abbott left Austin ISD parents like Sharyn Vane worried that her children’s district would opt out of mask-wearing at school. It felt like we were really getting close to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with case counts being down, and now to just all of a sudden throw open the doors to no masks required and 100% business occupancy, it just feels too much too soon, said Vane.
Parents, lawmakers voice concerns about in-person STAAR testing
By Carissa Lehmkuhl
Parents, lawmakers voice concerns about in-person STAAR testing
The TEA did announce one change to this year’s tests - school districts won’t be rated based on results.
AUSTIN, Texas - Despite canceling STAAR testing last year due to the pandemic, the Texas Education Agency announced that it is moving forward with in-person testing this spring.
Lawmakers and parents are voicing concerns in response. I’ve talked with so many parents who say, ‘I’ve been staying home all year to keep my kids safe, why am I going to take them down now to take a test that doesn’t really matter and isn’t even going to accurately capture what they can do, said Sharyn Vane, a parent of two high school students in the Austin ISD. It’s a lot of fuss and bother for not a lot of payoff.
By Sharyn Vane
Special to the American-Statesman
McCracken is the author of seven books, including the critically acclaimed 2019 novel “Bowlaway” and the forthcoming short-story collection “The Souvenir Museum.” She is one of eight writers in this year’s 60-member class, which also includes fellowships in visual and performing arts, media, film, craft and architecture and design.
It is the largest class in the history of the Chicago-based United States Artists, which has granted more than $33 million to 700-plus artists over 15 years.
“One of the things that’s really gratifying, when you look at who they’ve chosen, it’s people at different stages of their careers,” McCracken said in a phone interview. “It’s not an award for ‘most promising’ and it’s not an award for ‘lifetime achievement.’”