Author Sita Brahmachari‘s latest book is Car Wash Wish, her second novella for Barrington Stoke, a UK publisher who specialise in making books accessible to struggling readers, with a special emphasis on dyslexia. It’s an inter-generational story … Continue reading ...
By: Maryann Yin,
on 11/27/2015
Bob Hercules, Rita Coburn Whack, and their team of filmmakers hope to raise $150,000 on Kickstarter for a documentary profiling the late Maya Angelou. For this project, the collaborators have interviewed several people who knew Dr. Angelou including President Bill Clinton, media mogul Oprah Winfrey, and her son Guy Johnson. We’ve embedded a video about the new project above.
Here’s more from the Kickstarter page: “Dr. Angelou has become a global symbol of peace, humility, and freedom–– but parts of her story are not well known. The Maya Angelou Documentary will reflect on how the events of history, culture, and the arts shaped Dr. Angelou’s life and how she, in turn, helped shape our own worldview through her autobiographical literature and activism. We hope to shed light on the untold aspects of her life and to educate audiences about her story.”
Welcome to our Kickstarter Publishing Project of the Week, a feature exploring how authors and publishers are using the fundraising site to raise money for book projects. If you want to start your own project, check out How To Use Kickstarter to Fund Your Publishing Project.
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By: Maryann Yin,
on 11/24/2015
Rapper Nicki Minaj (pictured, via) recently recited the verses of another: the famous poem “Still I Rise” by the late Maya Angelou. Follow this link to read the poem in its entirety.
The video embedded above features the hip hop artist’s performance at an A&E television special called Shining A Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America. Click here to watch a video with Angelou’s own reading of “Still I Rise.” (via BuzzFeed)
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By: Dianna Dilworth,
on 11/17/2015
You are halfway through the month and may feel your stamina beginning to lull. But keep going. Our tip today is: Keep Writing.
“What I try to do is write. I may write for two weeks ‘the cat sat on the mat, that is that, not a rat.’ And it might be just the most boring and awful stuff. But I try. When I am writing, I write,” renowned author Maya Angelou once said. “And then it’s as if the muse is convinced that I’m serious and says, ‘Okay. Okay. I’ll come now.'”
This is our 12th NaNoWriMo Tip of the Day. To help GalleyCat readers take on the challenge of writing a draft for a 50,000-word novel in 30 days, we will be offering advice throughout the entire month.
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By: Maryann Yin,
on 10/1/2015
By: Maryann Yin,
on 8/24/2015
By: Betsy Hubbard,
on 5/31/2015
By: Maryann Yin,
on 4/29/2015
The Blank on Blank organization has created an animated video starring Fahrenheit 451 author Ray Bradbury. The video embedded above features a long-lost interview between Bradbury and a student journalist that took place in 1972.
During this chat, Bradbury shared his thoughts on friendship, fear, and writing. In the past, the producers behind this YouTube channel have made pieces with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings memoirist Maya Angelou, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues author Tom Robbins, and Where the Wild Things Are creator Maurice Sendak.
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Trish Cooke is the award-winning author of such acclaimed and enduring picture books as Full, Full, Full of Love and So Much!, which was recently included in UK book list ‘The 50 Best Culturally Diverse Children’s Books‘. … Continue reading ...
By: Dianna Dilworth,
on 3/31/2015
Author Maya Angelou is getting a forever stamp from the USPS and you can go to the dedication ceremony on Tuesday, April 7.
The event, which will also be attended by Oprah Winfrey, Al Sharpton and poet Nikki Giovanni, will take place at the Warner Theatre in Washington DC at 11 a.m. You can RSVP to attend at this link or by calling866-268-3243 before 5 p.m. ET April 3. Each RSVP is limited to two (2) seats.
The stamp features a hyper-realistic painting of Angelou by the Atlanta-based artist Ross Rossin. The original painting is currently on display at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery through Nov. 1. The stamp also features a quote from the author: \"A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.\"
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By: Dianna Dilworth,
on 3/4/2015
USPS has released a preview of the upcoming Maya Angelou forever stamp.
The stamp features a hyper-realistic painting of Angelou by the Atlanta-based artist Ross Rossin. The original painting is currently on display at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery through Nov. 1. The stamp also features a quote from the author: \"A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.\"
The stamp will be issued at a dedication ceremony on Tuesday April 7th. In the meantime, you can preorder the stamps here.
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By: Maryann Yin,
on 2/23/2015
The United States Postal Service will feature the face of Maya Angelou on a Forever Stamp.
Megan J. Brennan, the postmaster general, had this statement in the press release: “Maya Angelou inspired our nation through a life of advocacy and through her many contributions to the written and spoken word. Her wide-ranging achievements as a playwright, poet, memoirist, educator, and advocate for justice and equality enhanced our culture.”
At this point in time, no date has been announced for the first-day-of-issuance ceremony. Angelou passed away in May 2014.
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By: Samantha McGinnis,
on 2/3/2015
February is Black History Month and to celebrate we’re sharing five of our favorite books that honor the history and legacy of African Americans.
If you work with kids in need, you can find these and other great titles to celebrate Black History Month on the First Book Marketplace.
Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull
Before Wilma Rudolph was five years old, polio had paralyzed her left leg. Everyone said she would never walk again. But Wilma refused to believe it. Not only would she walk again, she vowed, she’d run. And she did run—all the way to the Olympics, where she became the first American woman to earn three gold medals in a single olympiad. This dramatic and inspiring true story is illustrated in bold watercolor and acrylic paintings by Caldecott Medal-winning artist David Diaz.
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport and Bryan Collier
This picture book biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. brings his life and the profound nature of his message to young children through his own words. Martin Luther King, Jr., was one of the most influential and gifted speakers of all time. Doreen Rappaport uses quotes from some of his most beloved speeches to tell the story of his life and his work in a simple, direct way. Bryan Collier’s stunning collage art combines remarkable watercolor paintings with vibrant patterns and textures.
Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Sitting tall in the saddle, with a wide-brimmed black hat and twin Colt pistols on his belt, Bass Reeves seemed bigger than life. Outlaws feared him. Law-abiding citizens respected him. As a peace officer, he was cunning and fearless. When a lawbreaker heard Bass Reeves had his warrant, he knew it was the end of the trail, because Bass always got his man, dead or alive. Born into slavery in 1838, Bass had a hard and violent life, but he also had a strong sense of right and wrong that others admired. When Judge Isaac Parker tried to bring law and order to the lawless Indian Territories, he chose Bass to be a deputy U.S. Marshall. Bass would quickly prove a smart choice. The story of Bass Reeves is the story of a remarkable African American and a remarkable hero of the Old West.
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight…for freedom. Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become the property of a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for invasion. She is reluctant at first, but when the unthinkable happens to Ruth, Isabel realizes her loyalty is available to the bidder who can provide her with freedom.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local “powhitetrash.” At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age–and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns about love for herself and the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (“I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare”) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.
The post 5 Books to Celebrate Black History Month appeared first on First Book Blog.
By: Maryann Yin,
on 12/29/2014
Back in November, Smooch Music released a CD called Caged Bird Songs. The songs contain lyrics that come from Maya Angelou’s poetry. A music video has been released for one of the tracks, “Harlem Hopscotch,” which is based on a poem published back in 1969.
According to The Huffington Post, the video (embedded above) “features appearances by actress and singer Nia Peeples (Fame, Pretty Little Liars), dancer/choreographer Derek Hough, actor Alfonso Ribeiro, actress/singer Zendaya, dancer/choreographer Ian Eastwood, Quest Crew, and dancers from both So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Best Dance Crew.” Billboard.com has posted the entire track listing for this project. Follow these links to watch the animated lyric videos for “Pickin Em Up” and “Still I Rise.”
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By: Maryann Yin,
on 12/19/2014
The Blank on Blank organization has created an animated video starring Even Cowgirls Get the Blues author Tom Robbins. The video embedded above features outtakes from a previously unheard interview conducted with Tod Mesirow that took place in 1994. In the past, the producers behind this YouTube channel made pieces about I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings memoirist Maya Angelou, Where the Wild Things Are creator Maurice Sendak, and Infinite Jest novelist David Foster Wallace.
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By: Maryann Yin,
on 11/4/2014
The Blank on Blank organization has created an animated video starring I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings memoirist Maya Angelou. The video embedded above features an unheard interview that took place in 1970 between the late author and Pulitzer Prize-winning nonfiction writer Louis “Studs” Terkel. In the past, the producers behind this YouTube channel made pieces about Where the Wild Things Are author Maurice Sendak and Infinite Jest novelist David Foster Wallace.
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By: Maryann Yin,
on 9/5/2014
Maya Angelou’s writings have inspired a new hip-hop CD called “Caged Bird Sings.” The title comes from Angelou’s 1969 autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
Angelou took an active role in the creation of this project and was able to complete it prior to her passing. Her words serve as the lyrics for the thirteen songs on this album. In an interview with The Associated Press, Angelou’s grandson Colin A. Johnson revealed that the famed poet was a fan of hip-hop music.
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By: Maryann Yin,
on 7/14/2014
Have you ever wondered how much time Les Miserables author Victor Hugo spent sleeping? Or how many hours 1Q84 author Haruki Murakami devotes to writing?
Podio has created an infographic called, “The Daily Routines of Famous Creative People.” The image (embedded below) shows the day-to-day schedules of 26 famous creative professionals including Lolita author Vladimir Nabokov, Slaughterhouse-Five author Kurt Vonnegut, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings author Maya Angelou.
Here’s more from The Huffington Post: “Whether we’re working on our latest novels, paintings or compositions and stuck in ruts, or we’re novices to the creative workspace entirely, we can all benefit from seeing how Charles Dickens, Pablo Picasso, and Mozart spent their days — even if it is just for fun.”
Want to develop a better work routine? Discover how some of the world’s greatest minds organized their days.
Click image to see the interactive version (via Podio).
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By: Dianna Dilworth,
on 6/9/2014
Over the weekend, friends and family gathered at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. to honor the author and poet Maya Angelou, who passed away in May. Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama were among the featured speakers at the event. We've embedded the video for you to watch.
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By: Beth Kephart ,
on 6/5/2014
I was honored to be asked by the Chicago Tribune (Printers Row) to reflect on Maya Angelou and her dazzling career. I re-read and read newly. I watched more than two dozen interviews. And over and again, as I worked on the piece, I watched the great life force that was Maya Angelou read her best poem, "And Still I Rise." I encourage you to listen, too. It will change your day. Put some jazz into your shoes.
My piece begins like this:
She bought her clothes for their colors in secondhand shops — "beautiful reds and oranges, and greens and pinks, and teals and turquoise" — and wore them in happy mismatch. She danced feathers and a few sequins to Alvin Ailey's leopard print G-string — shaking everything she had. She spoke French, Spanish, Arabic, Italian, Fanti and easily (mesmerizingly) recited John Donne, William Shakespeare, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Edgar Allan Poe, Langston Hughes, even Publius Terentius Afer, an African slave born nearly 200 years before Christ.
This piece first ran in Printers Row Journal, delivered to Printers Row members with the Sunday Chicago Tribune and by digital edition via email. Click here to learn about joining Printers Row.
She worked the Melrose Record Shop selling John Lee Hooker and Charlie Parker; sang her heart out at the Purple Onion; toured Europe as the premier dancer in "Porgy and Bess"; lived in a houseboat commune with "an icthyologist, a musician, a wife, and an inventor"; and once described her life, to a rapt Merv Griffin, as one in which she'd been "obliged to be clever, to dance quickly, to edge-walk."
She brought poetic intimacy to the political; compassion to the margins; fervor to the campaigns of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Barack Obama; and smothered chicken, smoked pork chops and spoon bread to tables wrapped by friends.
By: Dianna Dilworth,
on 6/4/2014
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou has debuted on Apple’s Top Paid iBooks in the U.S. this week at No. 3. Apple has released its top selling books list for paid books from iBooks in the U.S. for week ending 5/26/14. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green leads the list followed by City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare. We’ve included Apple’s entire list after the jump. continued...
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By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 6/2/2014
Yesterday, final day of our incredible retreat with my incredible partner-in-teaching Jordan Rosenfeld and 18 incredibly intrepid writers, I found myself rushing faster and faster to the finish-line, my vision narrowing to one thing and one thing only -- escape!! Well, not really escape. The weekend was filled with heart-felt memories and deep learning. Rather… solitude… space… freedom…
By: Maryann Yin,
on 6/2/2014
The New York Public Library (NYPL) is hosting a pop-up exhibit in honor of the late Maya Angelou. According to the NYPL website, this exhibit has been installed in the lobby of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. It will run from May 30th to June 30th. Back in 2010, Angelou donated hundreds of boxes filled with her personal papers to the NYPL. Many of the items sourced for this display comes from that donation. Visitors will see letters, handwritten notes, typed drafts of Angelou's works, a portrait, and more. Will you be making a trip up to Harlem? (via Time Out New York)
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By: Penny Dolan,
on 5/31/2014
Once, the term “women writer” did not mean celebrity author or jaunty comedy woman, full of exuberant wit, or gently envied best seller. Those words brought a kind of doom.
Such often inaccurate versions of their lives tolled like bells, warning me that “being a writer” was an unwise choice. These writers - or what I knew of them then - offered solid evidence that any girl or woman bold enough to write faced loneliness, unhappiness, disgrace, and illness, Probably there would be madness death by one's own hand. 
Besides. there were whispers of madness close to home. My great-aunt and grandmother spent time in mental asylums, as such places were called. I had seen their empty, bewildered eyes and how hard they found it to hold on to reality. I'd heard talk about "electric treatment" and "women's problems" and other mutterings. I was terrified that “trying to be a writer” would invite such shadows into my already unstable life and lead towards that unhappy darkness. 
By: Maryann Yin,
on 5/28/2014
Famed writer Maya Angelou has passed away. She was 86-years-old. Here's more from The New York Times: "Throughout her writing, Ms. Angelou explored the concepts of personal identity and resilience through the multifaceted lens of race, sex, family, community and the collective past. As a whole, her work offered a clear-eyed examination of the ways in which the socially marginalizing forces of racism and sexism played out at the level of the individual." In addition to writing, Angelou proved to be an accomplished Renaissance woman who worked as an activist, entertainer, streetcar conductor, magazine editor, college professor, and lecturer. To commemorate Angelou's life in letters, we have put together a literary mix tape. Below we've included links to free excerpts of Angelou’s books and poems. (Photo Credit: Dwight Carter) continued...
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