Breaking News

A few days ago, Krystal Sidzyik, Entertainment Editor for UNO's Gateway, published a feature article, "Author of 'Marcella' reads story 23 years after the book was first banned."

If you want to read it, here's the link:

http://www.unogateway.com/news/author-of-marcella-reads-story-23-years-after-the-book-was-first-banned-1.2933457#.UIYb1jlVpUQ

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When I was browsing Amazon today, I noticed that it was offering a copy of my book-length poem, A Cretan Cycle: Fragments Unearthed from Knossos. That startled me.

This beautiful tiny hardcover book, illustrated with woodcuts created by Kostas Lekakis, is a gem--and rarely for sale.

A Cretan Cycle retells the ancient story of the Minotaur from a feminist perspective. WARNING: My language is sometimes racy.

The seller on Amazon is offering a single copy, "Used - Very Good" for $17.77. If this interests you, here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Cretan-Cycle-Fragments-Unearthed-Knossos/dp/0942208145

Triplets

MARCELLA

The Marcella Marathon, version 2012, took place October 6 in Omaha's Benson Library as though reading aloud about "sex, sin and guilt" were normal. Lindsey Peterson, a reporter for KVNO News, videotaped the reading for UNO TV. If you're curious to see how I look at 75, here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/9gwolwf

THE "M" WORD

You can read or listen to Lindsey's unexpurgated radio interview of me, "Banned author talks censorship for Banned Books Week," on this link: http://www.kvnonews.com/2012/10/banned-author-talks-censorship-for-banned-books-week/

This version contains the horrible "M" word--twice!--a word no one heard in the live broadcasts.

LIT FEST

Planning to be in the Omaha area Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20? Do drop into the W. Dale Clark Library, 215 S. 15th St, for the Omaha Lit Fest 2012. It's free and open to the public.

This year, the festival focuses on women writers. Its tongue-in-cheek title is "The Lit Fest Guide to Etiquette for Women Writers." Saturday at 5 p.m., three other women writers and I are on a panel called: Your Guide to Unladylike Demeanor: women writers making people nervous.

We writers will discuss the challenge of writing honestly about touchy subjects. What happens when women writers explore controversial topics (either willingly or inadvertently)? Are the rules of propriety different for women writers than they are for men?

On the panel with me will be Elizabeth Crane, Katie F-S, and Stacey Waite.

For details on the panelists or on Lit Fest, go to http://omahalitfest.com/

 

 

from:  a JoLt of CoFFeY 

 An Intermittent Newsletter

by Marilyn June Coffey

"BitterSweet Rebel"

http://thenewrevolutionists.org/revolutionists/marilyn-coffey/

"That Word"

If you'd like to hear, or read, the unexpurgated version of "Banned author talks censorship for Banned Books Week" by Lindsey Peterson, KVNO News -- that's her interview of me -- go to:

http://www.kvnonews.com/2012/10/banned-author-talks-censorship-for-banned-books-week/

I noticed that "That Word" had been expurgated in the edited version that hit the airwaves October 1, 2012.

I think it was expurgated because, when Ms. Peterson questioned me and I mentioned "That Word," she said:

"...even as we're talking and in a radio station it is kind of hard to talk about that. Because some of our listeners might be kind of taken aback by that."

Indeed. "That Word."

I used to say autoeroticism instead. It has such a nice academic ring, and almost no one knows what it means. Mark Twain preferred onanism, but since women don't spill seed, I stuck with autoeroticism. 

But lately I've been in a "call a spade a spade" mood when discussing my banned novel, MARCELLA. It's in such good company:

Song of Solomon. Huckleberry Finn. Alice in Wonderland. Diary of Anne Frank. Harry Potter. Little Red Riding Hood. Green Eggs & Ham. 

Plus dozens more, including many classics. Just take a look at the American Library Association list:

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics

 

from:  a JoLt of CoFFeY 

 An Intermittent Newsletter

by Marilyn June Coffey

"BitterSweet Rebel"

http://thenewrevolutionists.org/revolutionists/marilyn-coffey/