In this TED talk, Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie, speaks so eloquently about the kinds of stories I’d like to write and see more of:
24
Apr
2013
Seal Press Offers Publication
I’m thrilled and honored to announce that I’ve won the She Writes to Seal Press Publishing Contest. Seal Press will be offering me a publishing contract for Night of Vishnu: A Journey Through Marriage, Motherhood and Rebellion in Nepal. More details soon. If you’re interested in how the contest unfolded, follow these links: Seal Press [...]Read More
03
Apr
2013
Selected as Finalist in Seal Press Publishing Contest
I’m honored to be one of five finalists in the Seal Press Publishing Contract Contest. The contest was co-sponsored by She Writes, an online community of women writers and invited submissions of full book proposals for a chance to win a publishing contract with Seal Press. I submitted a proposal for Night of Vishnu: A [...]Read More
15
Feb
2013
One Book Becomes Two
For several years, I’ve obsessed over a project I’ve been calling Sacred Threads — a memoir on my complicated relationship with Nepal. I thought it would be one book. Unfortunately, it grew too long to be marketable, especially for a first time author. Fortunately, I now see how to break the narrative into two books….Read More
08
Sep
2012
What I’ve Been Doing Besides Writing
It’s amazing I’ve found time for any writing at all this summer. Here’s a sampling of some other distractions….Read More
18
Aug
2012
“Beyond Writing” Resurrected
Long ago (1994), I wrote and published an essay in Cultural Anthropology titled “Beyond Writing: Feminism and the Limitations of Ethnography.” That was in many ways my swan song to academia. As I licked my academic and other wounds and struggled to make ends meet, I was happy now and then to hear how my [...]Read More
22
Mar
2012
New Blog, Old Blog
I began blogging here in 2008. Several months later, I migrated over to a separate blog, which I named Yips and Howls. As I remember, I mostly did that so I could fool around with wordpress and web design…Read More
08
Feb
2012
Writing With Two Eyes
One of the weights I carry from my academic days is a fear that in telling my story of living and working in Nepal, I’ll be appropriating The Other. As weights go, it could be a lot worse; I’m not complaining. But I’m always delighted and relieved to find others grappling with the same question in creative ways….Read More
17
Jul
2011
Star Princess docked in Ketchikan
My somewhat snarky essay on misadventures on a cruise ship has been published in Connotation Press. To all you cruise lovers out there, I apologize in advance.
Check it out: The Shining World
19
Apr
2011
Truth and Lies: Where to Draw the Line?
I’m still sorting through my reactions to the controversy emerging around Three Cups of Tea (co-authored by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin). The book has inspired many and been a platform for raising millions of dollars for the Central Asia Institute ( I recommend reading Jon Krakauer’s full allegations (pdf) against the book and [...]Read More
14
Apr
2011
Honorably Mentioned
I began writing poetry several years ago and still think of myself as a literary fiction writer, not a poet. Not really. Poetry is something I dabble in and play with. Even after publishing a few poems, I still hesitate to call myself a poet. Yesterday, I learned that I received second honorable mention in [...]Read More
15
Mar
2011
Flapping with Crows
Yet another excerpt from Sacred Threads has been published, this one in the marvelous Raven Chronicles. This issue features writing and art on corvids. My essay isn’t about crows, ravens or jays (though I’m thinking I’d like to write about them some day); it’s in the Cultural Geography section – a recurring feature in every [...]Read More
19
Feb
2011
Athletic Writing
Writing Inspiration comes this week from Arundhati Roy as interviewed by Amitava Kumar for Guernica Magazine. I admire so much of what she says about writing, politics, the relation between the two…Read More
13
Feb
2011
Hibernating Bear
Yes, I know my posting has been sparse. This winter, I’ve been a hibernating bear, slowing down and gathering my forces for the next season. I’m still working on my memoir, Sacred Threads. I’ve finished a rough draft of the entire book and am now polishing, pruning, making sure all the parts fit together. It [...]Read More
05
Jan
2011
“Costume” Published
My essay, “Costume,” has been published in the Bio Issue of In Posse Review. TweetShareRead More
07
Dec
2010
Listed as Notable in Best American Essays 2010
My essay, “Ama,” published in Crab Orchard Review, has been chosen as a Notable for The Best American Essays 2010. Although, I did not get selected for the final book, I am proud to be among such authors as Barry Lopez, Susan Orlean, Paul Theroux, Naomi Klein and many others who also made the Notable [...]Read More
31
Oct
2010
Where I Write…
More like, “Where I Try to Write.” I’m about to head back to the city for the winter. As much as I’m looking forward to an indoor toilet and indoor shower, I’m also longing for a private writing space (…)Read More
19
Apr
2010
From Prose to Poetry and Back
‘m sad that I’m not participating in the poem-a-day madness of National Poetry Month. That’s what pulled me into a poetry last year. I hoped to discover new ways to bring music and imagery into my prose, never thinking I’d fall in love with writing and reading poetry itself (something I’d always avoided)….Read More
