My journey as a full time graduate student in the MFA in Creative Writing degree program at The New School in NYC, has come to an end. I'm a graduate!! So many people asked me, "DuEwa, why another Master's degree - you already have one?" and "Why an MFA, you're already a writer." I felt the need to immerse myself in the writing life in a different way. I wanted to study the craft and expand my knowledge in ways that I hadn't before. I wanted to be linked to serious writers and learn from esteemed professors who have published or at least have taught writing for many years. Did I expand my knowledge? Yes. Did I study and link up with writers I did not previously know? Yes. Was the journey difficult at times? Of course. Am I glad I applied to the program, went through it and finished? TOTALLY!!! A mentor once said to me, "Anything worth having is worth struggling for." And I did. ...
Author Feature: Kelly Starling Lyons! NEATE: Eddie's Ordeal by Kelly Starling Lyons DF: You are the author of several children’s books: One Million Men and Me , NEATE: Eddie’s Ordeal and forthcoming Ellen’s Broom and Tea Cakes for Tosh . How did you start writing for children? KSL: As a child, I rarely saw children’s books featuring African-American kids. That’s why it moved me so much to see them as an adult. The first picture book I read with an African-American character on the cover was Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth. That story spoke to me in such a special way. I knew I had to add my voice. The first story I wrote for kids was called Butterfly Wings . It was a story about a girl who wanted time to hurry up and make her taller. It was never published, but it still has a special place in my heart. The next was more personal. Isaiah’s Cake was about my brother’s relationship with our grand-dad and how he coped when my grand-dad passed away. For ...
A Is For Anansi: Literature for Children of African Descent October 8-9th 2010 presented by Institute of African American Affairs – New York University Location for all programs: Kimmel Center-NYU, 60 Washington Square South Rm. 914-Silver Please RSVP at (212) 998-IAAA (4222) A Is For Anansi will cover the history, criticism and theory of contemporary books for and about children of African descent, as told by its most influential critics, scholars, teachers and producers. The need for more in-depth analysis and for more information, critical evaluation, and publications on this topic still remain. The conference will look at these and consider other questions and issues as well. Visit link for Program Schedule
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