Robert Lipsyte
WELCOMEWelcome Springtime!
So, what's up? Sam Lipsyte's new book of short stories, "The Fun Part," is getting rave reviews. Janet Maslin in the New York Times called him a "literary rock star." (And I remember when he fronted a noise punk band.) The sturdy, jovial Daniel Nachumi is crawling like crazy. Daniel was born May 24 to my daughter, Susannah, and her husband, Ben Nachumi. Daniel joins Alfred (8 1/2 years old) and Sylvia (5) on my all-grandkids team. Enough about them. My first middle grade novel, The Twinning Project, which came out in October, has a Facebook page. Please go "Like" it! My double life - YA/Middle Grade novelist and sportswriter - continues. You can read my piece on Lance Armstrong in the Jock Culture section. My memoir, "An Accidental Sportswriter," published last year by Ecco/HarperCollins, is out in paperback and Kindle. I'll be writing more about sports for some of my favorite places, including the New York Times, USA Today, Tomdispatch.com, Salon, Slate, and most recently The New Republic. My 2013 speaking schedule is just beginning to take shape. Some of last year's highlights included the Aspen Institute Ideas Festival, the New York Film Critics Awards Ceremony (I sat with Brad and Angelina, no one had much of interest to say), the Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, History teachers conference, and the National Conference of Teachers of English in Las Vegas, Nev. Some highlights coming up include: April 27 - Authors Unlimited, St. Joseph's College, Patchogue, L.I. May 24 - The North American Society for Sport History at St. Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia June 13 - Upper West Side Manhattan Barnes & Noble, interviewing Daniel James Brown, author of "The Boys in the Boat." August 10 - East Hampton Library - Authors Night Nov. 25 - ALAN workshop at NCTE - Boston While you're buying "The Twinning Project," and "An Accidental Sportswriter," pick up another great read, "Along the Roaring River: My Wild Ride from Mao to the Met" by Hao Jiang Tian with Lois B. Morris (my wife), and don't forget Sam's latest novel, "The Ask," published by FSG, a New York Times best-seller and one of its best books of 2010. Since I'm living a double life I should try to separate it out a bit. So... I'll be using THE LIPSITE page for articles you might enjoy and whatever is currently on my mind about my novel writing life. In the JOCK CULTURE section you'll find pieces about my take on sports. Right now, there's a terrific piece about me by Bryan Curtis, the ace Grantland writer. And don't forget Milo, who arrived from a shelter almost three years ago. He's about 8 years old, a beautiful tri-color (black, white, brown) Cocker Spaniel mixture from Last Chance Animal Rescue. He was named for the protagonist of Sam's book, "The Ask." He's sweet and funny and doesn't eat grandchildren. He might write his own book someday. At a wedding on his ranch in Southern California in March, met Bruce Brown, grand-father of the gorgeous bride, Gabrielle Brown Partie (she married Lois' godson, Jordan Partie). In 1966, Bruce made "The Endless Summer," a documentary that changed the East Coast's idea about surfing. Just re-screened the film, and its stands up, beautifully-shot and edited, funny, and smart. No wonder it helped turn a cult sport mainstream. Check it out. The year looks busy but there's always time to answer your e-mails. So don't forget to drop me a line. If I don't answer immediately, I'm probably writing. |
|
