Point of all this attention on this one book . Any copies you think have sold . They did not know and i actually do not know the number it was like 300 copies. I said it is promised no where near 100 million americans. We need more people would you look at the Publishing Houses that there are tens of thousands working on behalf of literature what if we just had more . That were invited into that fold so we could do more it would make the difference because we have done what with the small number of passionate advocates but if we could build the network and that change our america happens. With as exclusivity at the Publishing House is. I think been exciting but on know if changes starts to say right more board to nurture them to be a safe harbor and back when there is a net like that more people are drawn to change the fabric of all of those. To that for me to suggest by have then on to work of diversity iso grateful you were here of the of west coast because there is the way in which often if the work is set to although west coast where is particular to the west coast is less well negative over quite a bit diamine a mission to work on the west coast so that diversity is important to me will not name that publication but there was a magazine from york out of los angeles and went to a party that they threw choice but to the audience as if they are all screenwriters working in the film industry. If i thought deep into my reality but nobody anywhere near that center part so everyday sense that i do this erotic saying where i right to the editor of this magazine with statistics like guess what . 40 percent of those goods come through the port of los angeles we have the largest Manufacturing Center in the united states. 20 Million People live in the greater metropolitan area with a highest poverty rate of any big city in america. There are people here from all over the world it is fascinating a noble place i lecture you as if i m so mad about it. But then i stayed in the draft file but there is something in my anchor about did not to be self righteous or moral but that could be symptomatic in terms of who American People are and where they live. Client very dedicated to live in los angeles but life is very hard for people in los angeles contrast did with the fantasy that the sun is not among them to think that los angeless shallow and glamorous. I think it is extraordinarily e. Eric and think about the future of the foundation that we are in new york. That is where i live. I was born there everybody is allowed to love poem but how do recognize how to uplift and acknowledge those areas around us the country to make sure those stories of the reality is told . Unthinking about the future of the foundation how do we augment that work to make sure that they had this ability or access calexico to libraries all the time. I was in sacramento before the holidays the of library set librarians said have all these resources. Why can the authors come here . Have a du encourage those to go to the Sacramento Library to that Wonderful Community to buy their books . There is a lot of new york writers and to think how huge this country is prettify raise money and tel indifference story that then no whole country you assume a bigger audience and a friend of mine was going to kansas city and some places in texas she said i just said yes all those people will buy all the books those uttered doing events will be so excite did you are showing up they will promote a the hell out of the event you will sell a lot of books they will be grateful that you showed up. People want to connect all over the country even where i grew up and never sought a single author. It is important to do the work. Like home base and everything else. It doesnt make good Financial Sense in an even for a publisher. Want to ask about the book desert first. That i was so excited when i saw this this is the 300,000 bucks though when to read it libraries and Public Housing this is an interesting project. We are talking lot of do be reached to those potential readers. I dont do that literacy work we dont teach kids how to read but how exciting books are so i got a phone call that encourages people to read when he mentioned there is a project in the works to think about book desert sand all those areas we will distribute those 233 Public Housing authorities and hopefully again to push the beginning of the project because of the election. Is it because they assume the would continue one with the same secretary. So we hope to bring an authors to the different communities to enhance that programming over the course over the next year then go back to the publishers to the best of their ability but it is interesting to combat those pernicious issues with lack of equity and poverty to be philanthropy, a government, nonprofit so it was in interesting model to me that hopefully to make the big unchanged but 300,000 bucks is not a joke Summer Library said we cannot handle as many books issue are trying to send us. That is great we can add any sites but there has not been book work done in Public Housing in that has to be like when we bring to thousand copies to make that work, live to for somebody to say why will lead this be for me . That gold medallion Means Nothing to be better make them feel that jack e. Rupp in brooklyn that was not different from mine. And it makes a connection to the way the young person encounters a book. I thinking owning a book. Twostage please dont send the worst we said we will not give those to students. It does make a difference i grew up thinking that books were valuable. When i got the treaty was to go to the of bookstore. But there was this in polite to say this is valuable when you get something nice this is what you get did you can sit and be alone and it is a good thing and to give that to children and families for whenever reason of location location, circumstances are economics it is not accessible. That could change the game and dont think it will move the needle alone but but that visibility around it the National Book award is about press and people putting the sticker on the of book a fight could do a gesture of 300,000 books. I cannot solve reading but i could do a big several bette sees it is valuable to put your money into these communities then it we can really do something. There is money and intelligence if i could do anything at the foundation is by example also to make a the larger point of partners than the better off we will be. Getting people to care about bucks book. It looks like rachel is tearing up so talk about one of those books that was a gift. Day remember . What book did i get as a gift . The book that i remember the most isnt literature but they were novels that focused that my dad got me the first one as a Christmas Present when i was young and i just loved it. I dont know why this particular book so much but it was the first time of my felt a had to be taken to the bookstore to get another one it was the first time i was obsessive with the empty homer like bridge twotier bid yen and the phantom tollbooths. I know i just love listening to lease the talk. [laughter] she has so much emission and energy. But i am thinking about this book called the red pony. Anybody read that . So i guess i thought i thought you had to be the of hobo dare lacked but the red pony i remember to be very effective by it that i read it again this year with my son who is nine sidebyside we came to the part i am laughing but it is not funny , where the ranch and has made at a promised that he will safely deliver the of full and he has broken that but it is caught in the rainstorm so here is the next chance to have a pony and he has made the promise he will deliver the fall safely betted is breach city is forced into a choice to save the mother or smashed another school with a hammer to safely deliver the full. Soleil reading this to my son and i promised this experience for us. I love to this book. [laughter] when youre reading it together it was the most brutal situation. [laughter] i cannot even remember what he said but it definitely provoked a conversation about difficult choices. [laughter] we are going to hell to laugh about the pony. The course of black stallion in all the books that came after that. Was convinced i would move to an island and i am still trying to get their. I distinctly remember reading a collection of plays and autobiographies and that book that i still have it was so important to me because it was the first time my read a book by a black woman who was unapologetically smart. She did not hide. She is a genius. Ill give you a little anecdote where they have some of her papers. There was the yellow pad she wrote to columns. Things that i aboard and the that excite me but there is of way that your own work becomes very laborious. What i love to is that what she was actually writing about is brilliant that these children are indicated they have blown up though world theyre eating weeds. That was impractical for me to read a book like that and also to watch. She has a line in the book that if you measure somebody measure them right. If you have to take into account every hill and valley. If they are standing in front to view. The later in the book talking about how accords irish africanamericans how they are assholes and saints. But she goes through bill whole thing for every ethnicity and nationalities. The first time in my reading practice somebody would turn away from propaganda to wave the flag for a particular performance to say no nono. That is still in my psyche. Dont do that. Resist a propaganda but then the real novel that changed my life i knew i wanted to write it is tardy be in highschool. I stayed a polite to read in one sitting. I was at the club, i was 16 resister give me a drivers license to get into the club it was 21 i was dancing with a woman who said we use seat anymore said ucla on friday . I said who is he quicks she said i am taking you. So i went with this woman i ditched school to hear Tony Morrison she walks in the room but i will never forget it. Who is she . And then she read. I still advocate tar baby is one of her best novels. It is amazing what is happening . First writers never come to your neighborhood neither did books so can you imagine . Then she said is this a spoiler large . I will not save the ending said the ending is the ending. And believe issue a certain place. How could he do that . I want to write the kind of folks you want to throw against the wall and you finish. I have never forgot that a static. I dont want to leave you in that place. Of closure in the way many the you all bundled up and dont want to do that. That is one of the first times i saw we alternative to that subject verbal objects have it be have in america. I want to switch gears i follow you want twitter with pitchers said california but q. Are really political. You have been in beijing in the discourse of the womens march, and our new president is a lot of other stuff. So to be a very political magazine what is the connection between politics and the richer and currently engaging . America as much as they do with personal politics wanted to present a division between the National Book foundation and be so look this. But as a percent lisa lucas i dont know how to separate myself people paid attention but it feels if i didnt say anything and would not be authentic. But i am devastated by the place we are living in. So i speak my mind in a say in a place that was very political. So i was used to being pushy. But i do think the work we specifically do it is hugely important. First it just seems clear we dont know much about government or how it works and that makes me want to give people books because there is so much misinformation there is so much we dont know. To talk about the historied books and the stories and the president ial library that is super 59 italia recommended. And i think we have to learn more. So are be yourself with the book is very important sumy calving naval engagement is different than listening that if you spent time with it over many hours it takes you will have a lot more empathy person circumstances in life spirit but theyre not recognizable to me. So one of the failings i am partly committed by is there is those such thing of the black middleclass. I grew up in new jersey with a middleclass life. But the fact that they dont exist other than the cosby show that we cannot talk about anymore because he shamed himself but there are books that illustrate. So i hope everybody who is listening to donald trump talk about this ad lives of africanamericans of somebody had a childhood much like mind that there is a wide friday of experiments with negative experiences could experience in this country and they think we get in our own bubbles. Or the article billed to it to. Even if it was 20 years ago . You do your friends and family because of spending huge to read in time with that story. So they allow you to spend that is what i always tell people if you are i am read more women if you are from the countrys reid more city blocks. Read Something Different from reallife. We cannot be everything or be every wouldbe with the magical opportunity for a few. But i think the foundation cannot be political because of readers. But what we can do it is information the People Living in rural communities. But that is done by a law professor talking about sex was not a part of the it was snuffy intention of the document going through and it and hundreds of years is of the 1m i less of us but that is helpful so through the award as one put it dont get that return. [laughter] so when you read turd the politics sparge. Dont understand what you mean by politics in that context. By trying to change the world for a gauge a particular agenda blacks. I guess that it doesnt matter what i do. In is not conscious. I just dont. We have been completely indoctrinated by her historical context. Rushing yards an explorers guide to the worlds hidden wonders and Olivier Hainaut ways is for me. And not saying consciously but we but something happened here 10 minutes ago and i was thinking because they were good at six but a brilliant the will of remember thinking alike guided to million with a self hit asian novel and to tell him rub the indifference. But the students didnt know what in gods name i was talking about. Then you have to redo civics. Comes up for a meet in the quiet ways. But they should add things you should read people are bullish debt with cities. I have two problems in my book and my family would own slaves. Is in variation but a purposely put those feet kidding because there want us to stop saying not to be. To say yes me. But if i could say my black family owned slaves somewhat was an interesting way to have conversations with freezers readers like this sale also through interviews. So the way my work can be political but i am a poet in a postcolonial body and i would really love to read about flowers from political and also ran into but then the raptures of life. It is the privilege to consider yourself not political and to forget. I am not a writer but all of a sudden she is the first that this and political or not but i didnt nationalist. So this is an the women are boxed in and so are people of color. And what each in which ways does your work engage the public quick spirit when rabin asked to move the mail my politics there is a way to do not separate the two spheres. The world love us and of politics been so many things to say. I feel like one of the weird inheritance and people came but that shares in the form of common decency. Also of the judeochristian falafel to and i interested but with bobby but there has been moments but when the fabric precious but i dont believe that they feel this same way in offended a broom but how can i be a good person . To hopefully consider the war opened of my characters reality of class a and history and i dont do that as a burden but it just seems natural to me it people are built as is the conditions och sole medium that does fizzled that they were political . So those are big stories of history. So if i wanted to write a book about the 70s i was right about that something that was bigger than a few peoples lives. But i dont separate the two. That these are political novels is that there is a place for a the novelist to bring some of that knowledge of how you describe the Creative Work into the public sphere. Period but then to get them to speak again in unison to say we need to come about as a group as they resist actually personally i ms ambivalent. Is this plane for other people but for me as a dole speak thats a horse and i seldom agree upon with politics per dry heat. Of that component with that old fascist and activism or purge. Ebs some point i could write the oped to say that capitalism had less to implode to use my platform for good. But specifically what the she have to offer other people to use that platform to Say Something . I am hesitant. I am nowhere for it writers are banding together and is seems belittled a goal of what we wanted. I thinking then there is the reason to have a direct political conversation. It would be great if we could with the assaults of the First Amendment. I think the breakdown hurts us because i totally want to support journalist right now in support the First Amendment to be very aware that if i lived in another country i would be in a lot of trouble if not in jail. Siam will lazy and advocate for the First Amendment and it is time to release of four journalists. Because i just cannot believe the of way that they did not so to now be. I dont like the atmosphere. Is way too late for re taste i am glad it is happening but i still think that we tell our students all the time youre in a privileged position to be a student. I feel that about journalist you are complete leave protected but the First Amendment they cannot touch you so in terms of writers and what is happening right now until the end date nba comes down to do volunteer work and believe in volunteerism very strongly so i can help been any way please call on me. Now we will take questions from the audience. There is a microphone. We would love to hear from you. Dont be shy. We need the first person. What are your views of amazon in my opinion destroyed the bookstore but through the keyhole may well have induced more people to read what are your thoughts quick. [laughter] and been a person who does not sell blokes i do not make money from the direct sale i m neutral how people access if you read it or purchases or barnes noble or have taken it from all library digest want you to read a book that is my professional stance. But i do think amazon puts enormous pressure on the publishers separates the enormous chair pressure from the sales of their books so over the past 50 years did is bleak those who can make money from just their vocation. So whenever the economy book buying plays in that, it is a shame that others cannot make a living makes it very hard. And dont know if the amazon scandal has changed the way people read so more people are reading with paper and digital bookstores for the second year in row after a plum met has had increased returns with a 12 billion industry. Rising 2. 5 this past year and they rose the year before. Amazon is its own thing i dont hate it and went to their bookstore and it was lovely but i do believe in barnes noble and people who care and so i say the bookstores are not dead people are reading we have physical books and our homes so to have so much bad news will be for the amazon kendall was the thing. He would say that all did time. I u. S. Italys the books as a kid. I got that delightful experience to show my dad the article to say you are so wrong. So to try to sing the praises of what is happening like Publishers Weekly and trade publications so what i have tried to do it is take a lot of what i know if i was talking to a reporter and you do a great job better lot of other publications to a poured job to talk about books and the appropriate way. So i try to make the case. So i think amazon presents a challenge but i do think that idea if we ride is and cultivate had bigger audience of tax incentives to open a bookstore to bring down tax is on books with opaque taxes on clothing in new jersey at all. Does that change the way we shop or incurred to somebody to open a bookstore that they never would have thought because they were encouraged to buy homes for 1 because they were abandoned . That might change the game. Amazon is not the end of the story. I know the answer but i am realizing part of winning that National Book award but it wasnt easy experience to be on to work with the election ramping up or i would see economic depression talk about book does search was everything desert. I can say yes. So that was amazing about the Publishing Industry and the country but now that is slowing down but is not my job to think about amazon. I will do the worst rioting ever if i think about the business. Right now to say that paper exist in the cases to forget the zero world or i will never find that place that once wanted i will never find it again. How do you get back inside . I just want to offer that i was sad day reading last night and guy came up to me after words nous said about craft . Yes. I appreciate your question because as a writer and a vat would be helpful if i thought about the answer. This does not go to ec. In this is the conversation and uneven the conversation but i have a lot of former lives a used to be a theologian so history is much broader than a lot of people i tend to get very weird. This is not the healthiest way but having said that paper and ink have been around a long time. So what is true about human beings i dont know why neurologist on the narrow scientist the last time day clock that painting by minnesota a hippie that they will figure it out. Faq so much that has been great to hear you talk pet my question is how can i get there . Die cut her off i feel bad. She can answer the easy questions. Looking at that pattern of spikes but uh thing that is here because women used to spend six hours so those who theorize they do a knowledge it does not change the day life and then to be living on line. The idea is a thing negative washing machine change lives immediately but maybe it will change somebodys life somewhere but i doubt it. For each time and with those extra 06 hours you should setup on the stage some day to read and write. I felt like my publisher sent me there i thought i was rendition to a prison. They will not tell you the purpose and got into the elevator i am sorry this is awkward but can you turn around . They did not even see what for. But it was a strange experience. Igo acquistion. [laughter] how do you get there . The. Vat was going to Say Something else. Know you should have been did say great question. You cannot make a living off of poetry and love that about poetry. I love that because i hope that i never think this will sell. So that cliff notes version but read and read and read and it is to easy to submit to the journals on line to get your projections back faster as it tried to get as many rejections as possible i have friends but you will never get any given city have to be used to rejection so then you just get rejected the reading is the best you can learn everything. One eyed said i read a tar baby in highschool what ship meat in terms of being a writer with your ages of was paying attention to the language. Talk about black middleclass girls but i paid attention to how she was telling the story. Just read of the punctuation or just the ;. Nothing else. That meticulous attention editing is a fun life. There is a good money there but for the most of us i do it because i love it is an issue it strike the match. Seriously. [laughter] so listening to you guys through your professional career but if you talk about prison abolition one of the best things you can do it is a whole person also discipline. Slow to right to the czech border paid the bill on time. And to do with the half to do over and over again. But pie suspect i suspect doing things that you do not feel right. But to make those choices. I have turned down jobs that would make every bit of sense on paper but those that did not make sense to me based on what i felt is good for my happiness and development only do things i care about to only do something well to have that discipline so if you are a right turn or a coke for the arts administrator those are the ways to deal with your life. My goal was never to be sitting in this chair. But just to write about your goal is to write a good novel. And then on the other side of the rubicon. But then on vacation i would meet that published author this seems they existed in a different world. Also to communicate to be on the side of the rubicon. And from that status we dont know what it is better to have that confidence to do what we wanted to do by virtue of the fact they were not mean. So eventually i came upon the subject i saw as worthy of a novel and that was the person to write it. A couple of people were encouragingly. Approve with the had written one novel i felt that thises something that i can do because i want to quit but that is the shape for structure of the book. The problem is neophyte cannot finish it. But then to finish a book so that is my narrative. And that does not apply to thinkpad and add an opinion is an achievement maybe not
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