Behind the Scenes
Red Light District
My name is Roxane Gay (with one n).
My middle name is not “is.” I do not have a middle name.
I know I don’t have to turn on the red light.
I know you want to be my man.
I am not the rapper Roxanne Shanté though her sweater is lovely.
I write, I edit (check out that swank new site design by Gene Morgan), I am writing my dissertation, I teach, I am on the job market. I live near the end of the world in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Blake Butler was kind enough to ask me to join the team so here I am to bring the estrogen (not really) which is much like bringing the pain, only better smelling.
I am currently reading and really enjoying Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol which is as spectacular as you might expect—the book is full of ponderous passages explaining things like noetic science and extended exegeses on Robert Langdon’s claustrophobia. He almost drowned as a child, you see. To counteract the effects of Dan Brown, I’m also reading AM/PM, Vitals, A Boy, Fraud, and I’m the Man Who Loves You. These books and stories are helping. The doctors say I’ll live.
I hate book trailers and short story trailers. They are the work of the devil. I cannot engage rationally on this issue. When people talk about how amazing or innovative or otherwise remarkable they find book trailers, I hear a sharp pitched keening. Then I think about the naked emperor parading down the street.
My favorite James Joyce work is his dirty letters to his wife.
Onward.
Tags: roxane gay, The Lost Symbol
hurrah for roxane one n gay! i am really excited that you are posting here
i liked your discussion about class on pank
hurrah for roxane one n gay! i am really excited that you are posting here
i liked your discussion about class on pank
the giant gets even gianter. welcome, roxane.
the giant gets even gianter. welcome, roxane.
Well, this is about the coolest news I’ve heard all day.
Well, this is about the coolest news I’ve heard all day.
A welcome addition. Definitely.
And I agree with you on book trailers. All of them. But then, it seems that everything has to have a cinematic trailer available on Youtube. I will be going to the bathroom later – but the cinematic trailer of me going to the bathroom will be available on Youtube from an hour beforehand.
A welcome addition. Definitely.
And I agree with you on book trailers. All of them. But then, it seems that everything has to have a cinematic trailer available on Youtube. I will be going to the bathroom later – but the cinematic trailer of me going to the bathroom will be available on Youtube from an hour beforehand.
HTML Giantess, welcome!
HTML Giantess, welcome!
Nice.
So happy about this.
Nice.
So happy about this.
hebbity zaidee hay!
hebbity zaidee hay!
i have a lot of middle names if you would like to borrow one
i have a lot of middle names if you would like to borrow one
*claps hands excitedly*
*claps hands excitedly*
A fellow UNL alum! Nice. We are now officially taking over the Giant. Welcome, Roxane.
A fellow UNL alum! Nice. We are now officially taking over the Giant. Welcome, Roxane.
“my middle name is not ‘is'” hahahaha. fucking kids.
Welcomewelcomewelcome
[…] contributor Roxane Gay interviewed BULL’s editor, Jarrett Haley, for PANK. He doesn’t seem crazy (except […]
exciting, i loved your story that was on wigleaf recently
exciting, i loved your story that was on wigleaf recently
yay! i have nothing intelligent to add
yay! i have nothing intelligent to add
I like Pank & I like your blog. I am happy you’re here.
I like Pank & I like your blog. I am happy you’re here.
those dirty letterz R hawttt
those dirty letterz R hawttt
Whooo hoooo!
Whooo hoooo!
bring it with the estrogen, r.g.! a wise, wise choice …
bring it with the estrogen, r.g.! a wise, wise choice …
Thank you all for the very warm welcome. I am pretty psyched to be here. And yet, not here, seeing as this is all virtual.
xtx, kids are… servants of evil.
Christopher, UNL, represent! I thought I hated Lincoln, but now, living in the UP, I know that Lincoln is paradise.
reynard, they are hawt hawt hawt!
alec, thanks very much. Glad you enjoyed that story. I enjoyed writing it.
Thank you all for the very warm welcome. I am pretty psyched to be here. And yet, not here, seeing as this is all virtual.
xtx, kids are… servants of evil.
Christopher, UNL, represent! I thought I hated Lincoln, but now, living in the UP, I know that Lincoln is paradise.
reynard, they are hawt hawt hawt!
alec, thanks very much. Glad you enjoyed that story. I enjoyed writing it.
Congratulations, Roxane. I’m thrilled to read you here too.
Congratulations, Roxane. I’m thrilled to read you here too.
Nice to meet you, and welcome! Rad first post.
Nice to meet you, and welcome! Rad first post.
Welcome, Roxane. Nice pick, Blake. I had a great They Might Be Giants joke about this place but sorta forget it now. It had a rabbi, too.
Welcome, Roxane. Nice pick, Blake. I had a great They Might Be Giants joke about this place but sorta forget it now. It had a rabbi, too.
Nice. Perfect. Do some good, Roxane. I know you will.
Blow the doors off this frat house. Let the remodeling begin.
Nice. Perfect. Do some good, Roxane. I know you will.
Blow the doors off this frat house. Let the remodeling begin.
hooray for roxane
new doors will be good.
hooray for roxane
new doors will be good.
Roxane, don’t post your frat house story from fictionaut on here or anything.
Roxane, don’t post your frat house story from fictionaut on here or anything.
Nice! You need to get your rightful place in the about section too now.
Nice! You need to get your rightful place in the about section too now.
[…] HTMLGIANT. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Trailer.", url: "http://annalemma.net/blog/trailer.html" […]
[…] I am to bring the estrogen (not really),” she writes in her inaugural post, “which is much like bringing the pain, only better […]