Eruptions...

Yes friends, I survived Eyjafjallajokull's ash, and lived to tell. 

A quick update:

I stayed one step ahead of the volcano teaching in Europe last month, abandoning shuttered airports and heading for the train. I snaked my way from Holland to Linkoping, Sweden  through Denmark (fabulous organic hotel in Copenhagen), Germany (gorgeous but vaguely unnerving train station), and Stockholm (Swedes win hands down in the luxe and efficient train department).

The writing seminars at the campuses of the University of Utrecht and University of Linkoping were inspiring, and my time in Amsterdam was busy--I taught three workshops, met with two publishers, did one talk show, met with two very impressive organizations , and spent a lovely afternoon with a dear friend at Hotel New York, a terminal-turned-amazing-space where thousands of European refugees boarded ships for New York two centuries ago. 

I also learned to bike the city like a pro. And spent a few sessions in this sensory deprivation tank. Amazing.

Somehow in the midst of it all, I keynoted at UPENN Women's Week and the 25th Women of Color Empowerment Conference at UC Berkeley, headlined the Gala for Gaia at The Windrush School , and wrote a dozen articles, including one on Erykah Badu's Window Seat video. I also judged at the hilarious and quite innovative confab called Literary Death Match in SF, and wrote about Helen Lacks, the black woman whose cells are the basis for most of modern medicine. 

And...had fun doing some great interviews. One for Blog Talk Radio with Joy Keys that was particularly snappy and worked well in conjunction with the new blog on the Huffington Post about new family configurations, and a show on mothers with renowned psychologist Karyl McBride, author of Will I Ever Be Good Enough: Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers. 

On top of a few dozen other things I can no longer remember, a few days ago I contributed my take on the anniversary of the Pill on CNN. 

Phew. I'd love your feedback on any and all. 

Enough about me...

The workshop in California at Stinson Beach was remarkable. This was the view from our living room, and our small group settled in with a bag of delights from the Mill Valley Whole Foods and got serious about our writing. It was extraordinary and...I fell hard for the students, one who had flown in from Vienna with a backpack!, and for the house itself. (I'm going to be sad to leave the Banyan Tree, too, for some writing time after THE UPCOMING FINAL MAUI WORKSHOP of the year!)

I'm also proud of the determination, grit, and fierce commitment of my manuscript consult writers to telling their stories. One just sold her book on being an ex-pat in Europe, and each of them astounds in their own way.  Working with each of them is a delight--whether they are writing about escapades in Tahiti, growing up on the other side of New Haven, gleaning war stories through learning French recipes in the South of France...I continue to be amazed by their generosity of spirit and willingness to hear (and incorporate) my pretty intense critiques!

Some of these writers are writing their books on their iPads (I want one desperately, hint, hint!). It's not a stretch to say they inspire me, as does the work of several of my colleagues with whom I've grown close of late--including the wonderful writer Richard Goodman, author of the minor classic, French Dirt, and Rachel Harper, author of Brass Ankle Blues. And of course my student and assistant, Lily Diamond, whose work has grown tremendously over the last months (and who promises to take me out on a boat next week to SNUBA!). 

The wisdom and magic of Joana Johnston, mistress of scents, has provided many a stabilizing moment. And Dominique Meida , a conceptual artist and curator, who introduced me to all things Amsterdam and created the most beautiful spaces for me to work ever. I hope to develop many projects with this beautiful soul. Special thanks to David Fenton, David Wekker (the volcano!) and Sterling Ross for their beautiful photographs.

And all praises to the inimitable Gloria Wekker! Genius. Majestic. Tough as nails.  

Letter of the Month

Dear Rebecca,

I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your work, your honesty, your general loveliness!

I first discovered Black White and Jewish when I was an M.A. student in English, seriously thinking through issues of identity and race in literature. I was also, incidentally, thinking through my own identity as a Jewish Latina, and so much of what you wrote resonated with me. Indeed, so much of what you had to say about your own family life, and about being a child of divorce made me feel affirmed. After reading your book I was able to feel comfortable articulating just how significant my parents' divorce had been for me.

Recently, I bought Baby Love. I read it at a time when I was thinking about balancing a PhD program with having a child, and I felt desperately torn and conflicted and uncomfortable with my primal mom urges! Thank you, thank you, thank you for articulating my own anxieties, fears, and longings.

Anyway, I feel like your books are great examples of synchronicity in my life, and they always seem to find me at just the right moment. Thank you for always seeming to be several steps ahead of me, lighting the way with your words!

R

THANK YOU! XXX