Erika Dreifus

–Seeing dear friends who are coming to NYC this weekend. Always helpful and inspiring for me to spend time with them.

–Posting (soon, I hope!) another author profile I’ve written up for my “day job.” Can’t wait to point you to it.

–Receiving (also soon, I hope!) the next issue of TriQuarterly, which includes my story, “Matrilineal Descent.”

–Mailing a hard copy of my collection ms to a publisher who seems quite interested in it (the e-copy went out last night, and no, I’m not going to reveal the publisher’s identity at this time because yes, I worry about jinxing myself!). Please think good thoughts!

–Finishing up the May issue of our free monthly newsletter, which will go out to subscribers next week. I am very happy about the interview you’ll find featured there (terrific author and terrific information about her residency experiences coming just in time for the summer residency season). Hope that piques your interest, and if you’re not yet on our confidential mailing list, remember that it’s not too late to subscribe and receive the issue yourself!

When I read Tayari Jones’s blog post about working to do something good for the victims of the Dunbar Village attacks, I knew I wanted to sign on and help. Tayari has really moved ahead in the past few days and set up the eBay auction, now in progress. In this post Tayari introduces the auction (and describes how and where to contribute funds directly). And this is the direct link to the auction. Goodies include manuscript critiques, autographed books, and a set of market e-books offered by yours truly. Here’s a way to help others and do something good for your writing practice at the same time. I hope you’ll join in.

I could link to any of the many, many links that are surfacing that discuss the latest memoir hoaxes.

Or, I could simply send you over to Margaret Soltan’s University Diaries. One more excellent “academic” blog I read regularly.

I vote for the latter.

Didn’t want to wait until the next “Markets/Jobs/Opportunities” round-up to post this! One of my favorite magazines, The Sun, is looking for freelance manuscript readers. “This is an ideal job for someone who loves to read and can provide insightful written evaluations of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.” You must be able to work 10-20 hours/week at home and make “at least a two-year commitment.” The Sun is based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and you must be local to apply. (NB: The Sun is also looking for a full-time circulation assistant. Find information on both positions and application instructions here.)

Just sent the March newsletter out yesterday, so I’m taking a bit of a breather as far as the writing-and-publishing-information-and-resources are concerned. Instead, I thought I’d indulge in one of the Internet “quizzes” I saw popping up throughout the academic blogosphere last week. I’m not sure what to make of my own result (since it likens me to the one spice I never use). But that shouldn’t stop you from going ahead and discovering yours. Enjoy, and have a good weekend.

You Are Black Pepper

You may be considered ordinary by some, but you’re far from boring. You elevate the mood of any discussion, and people miss you when you’re not around. You are secretly very dominant and powerful. Most can only take you in small doses.