We are all readers in our merry band, and some of us are writers too; but it doesn’t often happen that we have a writer join us with copies of her work in hand. This past meeting happened to coincide with the release of a new anthology titled LONG HIDDEN: Speculative Fiction From the Margins of History, and one of the authors in the anthology happens to be a member of our group and came with us on our recent visit to Central Park.
So here’s another first: as long-time readers of our site know, we never use our members’ names on here, to afford everyone a bit of privacy/anonymity. But Nicolette Barischoff has given us her blessing to share hers, which we do so that you can look up her story, “A Wedding In Hungry Days.” We couldn’t recommend it more highly.
The rest of the book is worth a read, too. Here’s how the editors describe their mission: “Most written chronicles of history, and most speculative stories, put rulers, conquerors, and invaders front and center. People with less power, money, or status—enslaved people, indigenous people, people of color, queer people, laborers, women, people with disabilities, the very young and very old, and religious minorities, among others—are relegated to the margins. Today, mainstream history continues to perpetuate one-sided versions of the past while mistelling or erasing the stories of the rest of the world. There is a long and honorable legacy of literary resistance to erasure. This anthology partakes of that legacy. It will feature stories from the margins of speculative history, each taking place between 1400 and the early 1900s and putting a speculative twist—an element of science fiction, fantasy, horror, or the unclassifiably strange—on real past events.”
As you might imagine, we too believe in casting light on that which has long been hidden.
Great post ladies. Thanks for supporting the written arts!
A case of synchronism? Thank you for bringing it up! Although I am a skeptic by nature, I do enjoy events where coincidence reaffirms and enriches what is churning in my head. Before this posting, for many day, the idea of simple, salt-of-the-Earth characters in novels and stories was parading in my mind: the characters in Pearl S. Buck’s books; the inhabitants of Manuel Rojas’ narratives; the desperate and hopeless souls of the great Russian novelists … yes, they are not sexy, however, as we decipher the intention of the writer and introspect in our own experiences, some ruth and feeling of relief that we are not part of their world comes about in the end. A socio-economic catharsis? — On a lighter note: although titillating, I am glad you are encouraging others to enjoy a book, a rare activity amongst the new generations. You have a new friend and supporter. (BTW, I do not talk the way I write – that would make me unbearable!)
For anyone who wants to know more about this book, it was featured as a Big Idea on John Scalzi’s “Whatever” blog this week:
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2014/05/13/the-big-idea-rose-fox-and-daniel-jose-older/
She’s beautiful!
What a beautiful day. What a beautiful lady. Go Nicci and long live OCTPFAS! Hope to see you again soon.
Had you thought of doing more group shots so your fans can get a grasp of how many members are at some of your functions? It might make for an interesting visual when you speak of growth. Perhaps holding a rally where there may be hundreds laying on the lawn reading….. say on National Book Week? Seems to me that falls almost on top of National Go Topless Day in August.
We always shoot some group shots and include a few, but really nice group shots are harder to come by than shots of just one or two people, because in a shot of 6 or 10 or 20 people someone’s bound to be chewing or have her eyes closed, etc. And we’ve never had (and don’t plan to have) an event attended by hundreds. Our get-togethers aren’t rallies — they’re a group of friends meeting up in the park to relax and have a good time. Very different tone. So don’t expect any photos of Woodstock-like crowds on our blog…
“Let a million flowers bloom! Let ten thousand qualified primates step forth!’
Her book sounds really awesome! I’ll have to check it out. Thanks!
What a perfectly lovely setting. She makes a beautiful addition to Central Park. i read the story with a friend and was so enthralled. it was so enjoyable, I want more!
Wow! Stumbled across this site by accident, and just had to read it through from beginning to end. It’s truly wonderful. Very well written throughout – articulate. grammatical, often verging on the poetical; informative and rational, conveying the sense of fun you all must enjoy. Glad to see you occasionally, very occasionally, get impatient with nuisances, but generally very tolerant of all shades of opinion.
And the pictures. Superb. They show an ever changing group of confident women, for the most part not posing, but getting on with reading, chatting or sunbathing, oblivious of the camera, comfortable in their own skins. Those that are aware of the camera just giving a happy smile, nothing exhibitionist. Great photographs.
You must be very pleased with how the group has gone from strength to strength from that excrementally terrifying first outing. Did you really imagine that you would keep going into your fourth season, with no doubt many more to come?
And to think that this has happened in public parks in New York, in the prudish, puritan USA where one hears of nude statues and paintings being draped to protect the squeamish and countless other idiocies. Quite extraordinary.
Nicci has shown a huge amount of courage in joining you and showing that a woman in a wheelchair can be beautiful and proud of her body. She’s an inspiration to us all. Do hope that this wasn’t a one-off and that she continues to be part of the group. She certainly looks as if she was enjoying it. It would be interesting to read her account of the experience. Well done her!
And well done all of you.
Richard
Awesome Nicci!!! Your story is AMAZING!!!! Super proud of you 🙂
Couldn’t be more proud! This is some amazing work! Congrats! 😀
Nicci is so totally amazingly awesomely..er.. Awesome! 🙂
Reblogged this on Adventures of The Nude Writer and commented:
An article about my awesome friend Nicci 🙂