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One of the best things about living in the Bay Area of San Francisco is that I get to meet and mingle with some of the most talented artists in the world: Amy Tan standing six feet away from me, singing “These Boots are Made for Walking” with the band, Los Train Wreck, as I sit drinking cheap wine at El Rio in the Mission; Robin Williams winking at me as he sits with fellow cyclists, when I get my morning coffee at Java Hut in Fairfax; my neighbor, Don Novello stopping in his car to give me advice about my book, as I work in my garden; Joyce Maynard serving me stew and critiquing my writing, and getting to sing, “Be My Baby” with Deborah Grabien and other local literati at the California Writers Club Centennial Celebration. It’s probably no surprise to anyone that I discovered, as I work and walk amongst those who are celebrated for their art, that they fall into two categories ─ those who are willing to give ‘newbies’ like me a hand, and those who are not nearly so obliging.
Scott James, bestselling author of SoMa and The Sower, New York Times columnist, and three-time Emmy Award winner, falls into the first category. From our introduction, Scott James has been…well, the only way I can describe him is, ‘an old-world gentleman.’ He’s gracious, helpful, available, and respectful. For example, it’s not only that he agreed to give me a quote for my book cover, he actually said, “I’d be honored to.” Now tell me ─ what bestselling author would you expect to say something like that? And when I pressed my luck further asking him for this interview, he said, “Thank you so much for thinking of me.”
As an author, it’s hard for me not to think about Scott and his writing. Innovative and daring, he is an inspiration to all who are not only trying to break into the field, but who have opinions they wish to share that are different and new, and perhaps, not so popular. He is both widely criticized and widely lauded, not only for his bestselling fiction, (which he has written under the name, ‘Kemble Scott’) but for his investigative work at the New York Times.
As you can read on his website, he started writing fiction when he moved to San Francisco in 1997, because he wanted to capture the outrageous behavior he witnessed in his new neighborhood, South of Market (SoMa). After writing dozens of these tales, he created a home for them online by launching the e-zine SoMaLit, SoMa Literary Review, with co-editor Jon Stuber. Some of these short stories later inspired his debut novel, SoMa. Released by Kensington Books in 2007, it was the first novel launched with videos on YouTube. The videos, coupled with the support of independent booksellers in Northern California, helped SoMa hit the San Francisco Chronicle bestsellers list its first week in stores. SoMa also became the number one bestseller in June 2007 in the Doubleday Book Club’s InsightOutBooks division, and in June 2008, SoMa was honored as a finalist for the national Lambda Literary Award for debut fiction.
In May 2009, Scott released his second novel, The Sower, which takes on this provocative premise: What if there was a virus that could cure all diseases known to man, but it could only be spread through sex─ and gay sex ─ at that?
With this foundation, he explores the possible results and calamities, with the underlying themes of what it means to be socially ostracized, the horrific damage to mankind caused by corporate greed, and even a lesson in a tragic history most still want to see shoved under a carpet – The Armenian Genocide.
Scott’s decision to premiere The Sower as an exclusive e-book received media coverage around the world when it became the first novel sold by tech start-up and e-book publisher, Scribd.com. In August 2009, the first print edition became available when Numina Press published The Sower in hardcover. For the print launch of The Sower, Scott daringly restricted in-store sales of the first editions to independent bookstores, because they had been the longtime supporters of his work, and because he believes they are “the cultural curators” of the literary world.
In his podcast interview with me, he talks frankly and endearingly about the detractors of his work, (some who hail from the gay community, interestingly enough) and how California’s Prop 8 affected his own life with his long-time partner, a Stanford University professor. He reads from his latest work, The Sower, and gives us some humorous background into how the story came about.
I challenge anyone who supports Prop 8 to listen to this podcast and not be moved to rethink their position. And I challenge anyone who listens to Scott’s reading to not be curious about how The Sower begins and ends.
Scott James’ books are pictured below, and his new column can be accessed by clicking on the New York Times logo.
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Browse previous Podcasts by Patricia Volonakis Davis
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Dear EFR: I am a man, age twenty years, who’s always loved and looked up to his father. I could never understand why my parents divorced, and secretly, I guess I blamed and resented my mother for it. However, recently my thoughts about my father are changing; and I begin to understand why my mother found it so difficult to live him: he is just never pleased with anyone or anything. Ever.
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If I talk to him about what I want to do with my life, he sneers at me and criticizes me. If I wear my hair a certain way, he disapproves. If I introduce him to a girl I like, he finds something to dislike about her. Lately, I have started to try and defend myself, and then he screams at me. He also ridicules and condemns everyone around him – his colleagues, his new wife, his in-laws, and of course, my mother especially, who he can’t resist taking potshots at whenever I mention her name. He seems to hate his job and where he lives, yet he’s lived in other places and had other jobs, which he also didn’t like.
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I’m getting to the point where I don’t want to be around him at all, and yet I still love him, and want him to be happy. I also admit that it would be so nice if he could say he was proud of me. Sometimes the situation really depresses me.
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Signed,
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Giving Up
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Dear EFR: I am a twenty-three year old female artist from Chicago, Illinois, whose recently moved to ‘The Castro’ in San Francisco, California. My new apartment is great, and the surrounding areas are perfect for someone who wants to create and study art. The problem for me is that my neighbors are mostly gay, and it bothers me a lot. In fact, I could even say it disgusts me to see men walking hand-in-hand, and women eyeing me. Also, the two men in the apartment upstairs are always saying “good morning” or “good evening” to me if we run into each other on the steps as we leave or return from work. I don’t want to respond, because the thought of what they do together just makes me ill. Sometimes I can hear their laughter coming through my ceiling and it completely creeps me out. Do you have any advice for me?
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Signed,
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Feeling Gross on the West Coast
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Joyce Maynard and daughters
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Harlots’ Sauce Radio has had the honor of interviewing some of the most dynamic movers and shakers of the century. These people never rest on their laurels. Here are some of the wonderful new things a number of our podcast interviewees have been up to:
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If you recall in her podcast interview in July 2009, Joyce Maynard, author of Labor Day, To Die For, and many other novels and memoirs, gave us the scoop on the fact that she would be adopting two little girls from Ethiopa. Joyce returned home less than month ago with her two lovely daughters, Almaz and Birtukan, ages 7 and 10. Above Joyce is pictured with her daughters. If you would like to read more about their adventures, click here. To listen to Joyce’s podcast interview with HS Radio, click here
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David Corbett, our podcast interview in January of 2009, and author of a number of crime drama novels, including The Devil’s Redhead, (which was recently named one of the Top 50 Novels of the Decade by BSC Review), has another book out as of March 1, 2010, Do They Know I’m Running? David will be doing a nationwide book tour in the United States, starting on March 1, 2010. For information on dates and places, click here. To listen to David’s podcast interview with Harlots Sauce Radio, click here. And, if that’s not enough, view his awesome new book trailer below!
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After three and half years, Logan and Noah Miller‘s independent film, Touching Home, will be headed to the big screen. The Miller Brothers were our podcast interview for June of 2009, and their book, Either You’re In or In the Way, tells the story of how they got their dream film of their father’s life financed and produced. The California Film Institute will distribute “Touching Home” to theaters. The film will be opening in the San Francisco Bay Area in late April, and then expand to several other major cities including, Sacramento, New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix, and Tucson. Read about it here in Indiewire . Listen to Noah and Logan’s podcast with HS Radio here. Become Facebook fans of their film, here.
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And, last but not least, our favorite astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, who was our podcast interview in November 2009, gets his own TV show. “The Pluto Files” (named for the book) airs on March 2, 2010 on Public Broadcasting System. Listen to our podcast interview with Dr. Tyson here. Enjoy this funny trailer for the new show:
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reported by Ilias Kountoupis
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During his presidential campaign, President Obama voiced numerous times the necessity to recognize what historians assert as the first holocaust of the 20th century, the Armenian Genocide. Unfortunately, after his ascension to the presidency, his words were rendered to an unfulfilled pledge, and this was not the first time this promise to the Armenian community had been broken.
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In the midst of the First World War, during the early 1920s, the Armenian population, dwelling on Turkish soil, suffered gravely under the fist of the “Young Turks” government of the Ottoman Empire. Large groups of Armenians were violently uprooted from their homes and died of famine during their relocation, while others were executed during their employment in labor battalions. Even if there is no consensus on the exact number of Armenian deaths, the figures are still out of scale…
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by Tom Hames
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Henry woke up to the smell of dirt and pine needles, his face partially buried in a mixture of both. Slowly, consciousness crept back, and he became aware of a sharp, throbbing pain in his head. He suddenly remembered the battle and jumped to his feet. His eyes revolted at the sudden movement by releasing a swarm of small, angry lights that left him both dizzy and nauseated. He tried to take a step, but was unable to find his footing and fell backwards again onto the carpet of pine needles. This time he stayed there…
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Read the rest of this article here…
I’ve been thinking a lot about happiness. After all, that’s what we are all supposed to be pursuing, isn’t it? But what is happiness? Perhaps the formula for it is in the words below:
“Grant to us the serenity of mind to accept that which cannot be changed; courage to change that which can be changed, and wisdom to know the one from the other.”
As everyone knows, the quote above comes from The Serenity Prayer.
“The wisdom to know the one from the other”. So…
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Feeding Strays by Stefanie Freele
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Paperback, 268 pages
Publisher: Lost Horse Press; First edition (September 1, 2009)
ISBN: 978-0980028959
Reviewed by Patricia V. Davis
If you read only one collection of short stories this year, Feeding Strays must be it. In fact, if you’re short on time, just the titles of some of the stories in this collection are worth its price ─ “Because Condoms Seem So Desperate, She Also Buys a Fern”; “All My Drownings”; “Priests and Balloons”.…
Note from editors: Every since our editor-in-chief’s book, Harlots Sauce, was published, she has been receiving dozens of emails and Facebook messages each week from people seeking her advice on their life and love problems. About this she has said, “People seem to feel comfortable asking my opinion, even if they haven’t met me. Maybe it’s because after reading my book, they learn that I’m someone who, in my past, has failed miserably at every possible relationship – that of being daughter, wife, mother… even friend. You go to an expert when…
Read the rest of this article»
From the moment we shared our first cup of coffee, my mother-in-law was my best friend. She’d call us and say to my husband, “You watch Daniel, and I’m going to fly Sharon up here for the weekend, so we can go to ‘Music Circus’.” These were a series of off-Broadway productions. She loved music, loved and she and I attended several together.
When she retired at age 75, we brought her to live with us – healthy and happy. We have a guest apartment down at the end of the hall and frequently, I’d be…
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Dear Department of Health, Opposition Parties and anyone else who has an unhealthy interest in what I consume.
I have sat in my office with the radio on since returning to work after the New Year break, and I am noticing a recurring theme on the news bulletins, namely that alcohol is about to bring about Armageddon, the end of days and the fall of civilisation.
Now it may just be that you’re all trying to divert attention away from something truly bad, like the fact that the government is useless, or the announcement…
Read the rest of this article»
Henry woke up to the smell of dirt and pine needles, his face partially buried in a mixture of both. Slowly, consciousness crept back, and he became aware of a sharp, throbbing pain in his head. He suddenly remembered the battle and jumped to his feet. His eyes revolted at the sudden movement by releasing a swarm of small, angry lights that left him both dizzy and nauseated. He tried to take a step, but was unable to find his footing and fell backwards again onto the carpet of pine needles. This time he stayed…
Read the rest of this article»
I finished The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Theories of the Universe. Am I any the wiser? I think so. I know there are more questions to be answered than I’ll ever find answers for. That’s alright. I know the quest for those answers is an ongoing one. As they say, better to travel hopefully than to arrive. Or something like that. It fits my worldview. I’ll continue to travel hopefully. I suppose recognition of that is arrival in a sense. Knowing what you don’t know is wisdom of a sort.
As I look at the world…
Read the rest of this article»During his presidential campaign, President Obama voiced numerous times the necessity to recognize what historians assert as the first holocaust of the 20th century, the Armenian Genocide. Unfortunately, after his ascension to the presidency, his words were rendered to an unfulfilled pledge, and this was not the first time this promise to the Armenian community had been broken.
In the midst of the First World War, during the early 1920s, the Armenian population, dwelling on Turkish soil, suffered gravely under the fist of the “Young Turks” government of the Ottoman Empire. Large groups…
Read the rest of this article»
Before I start writing here, I’d like to issue a few disclaimers:
1. I know that ADD is real and I’m not making light of it, even if it sounds like it.
2. I love my daughter, more than anything or anyone else in the world. She’s everything to me.
3. I’m not a bad mom, damn it. I just feel like one sometimes.
4. I am using “mom” interchangeably with “dad.”
Being a mom is a thankless job. I mean, there are no monetary rewards, nor is…
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I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for the spring. With Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, and Presidents’ Day long gone, it’s time to refocus on maintaining a fit and healthy lifestyle, and putting the ho-hums of winter behind us. By focusing our energy on improving our health and the way we look and feel, our attitude will become more positive, we’ll have more “pep in our step”, and our smiles will transform the gloomy days of winter into the renewing energy of springtime.
We’ve all heard that to maintain good health, we need to…
Read the rest of this article»Harlots’ Sauce Radio has had the honor of interviewing some of the most dynamic movers and shakers of the century. These people never rest on their laurels. Here are some of the wonderful new things a number of our podcast interviewees have been up to:
If you recall in her podcast interview in July 2009, Joyce Maynard, author of Labor Day, To Die For, and many other novels and memoirs, gave us the scoop on the fact that she would be adopting two little girls from Ethiopa. Joyce returned home less than month…
Read the rest of this article»Note from editors: Every since our editor-in-chief’s book, Harlots Sauce, was published, she has been receiving dozens of emails and Facebook messages each week from people seeking her advice on their life and love problems. About this she has said, “People seem to feel comfortable asking my opinion, even if they haven’t met me. Maybe it’s because after reading my book, they learn that I’m someone who, in my past, has failed miserably at every possible relationship – that of being daughter, wife, mother… even friend. You go to an expert when…
Read the rest of this article»Note from editors: Every since our editor-in-chief’s book, Harlots Sauce, was published, she has been receiving dozens of emails and Facebook messages each week from people seeking her advice on their life and love problems. About this she has said, “People seem to feel comfortable asking my opinion, even if they haven’t met me. Maybe it’s because after reading my book, they learn that I’m someone who, in my past, has failed miserably at every possible relationship – that of being daughter, wife, mother… even friend. You go to an expert when…
Read the rest of this article»Most of us are busy with work, family, taking care of others and all of life’s other responsibilities. Then it shouldn’t be too surprising that setting aside an hour or two a few days a week to workout is almost impossible.
I mean really, how many of us have the time to get ready to go out, drive to the gym, work out, and drive home? Time is valuable and every minute counts! I personally don’t want to spend a good chunk of my free time at the gym every week.
So, ideally, we…
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Grace on Advice from an “Expert in Failed Relationships”
Patricia on Advice from an “Expert in Failed Relationships”Grace on Advice from an “Expert in Failed Relationships”
petermcc on Revisiting the Armenian GenocideGrace on The Mommy Trenches: God Smote My Child’s Personality to Punish Me (At Least, I Think So)Grace on The Mommy Trenches: God Smote My Child’s Personality to Punish Me (At Least, I Think So)Grace on The Mommy Trenches: God Smote My Child’s Personality to Punish Me (At Least, I Think So)
