Julia Park Tracey

Just checking in to say why, yes, had a great weekend at the Jimmy Buffett concert with wonderful Significant Other (he’s the best; can you say fun, limo, Jacuzzi, fun, and more fun?), and though tired, hit the ground running. The new issues of Alameda and Oakland City magazines arrived today in our offices and look beautiful — my first big magazine spread is in both: a large feature in AM about our graduating high school seniors and a smaller feature in OCM on same topic, different kids. There were 21 kids featured in Alameda; we tried to get more response in Oakland but got just six kids’ stories back.…

News flash…just found out that my Modern Muse column in the Alameda Sun (most of which were posted here) won an Achievement Award from the CNPA (California Newspaper Publishers’ Association) for 2004, in the category of Columns/Commentary/Criticism. They were judged together, not individually, as an example of general excellence in the category. The three I submitted were the book signing that went wrong, slavery and hunger/food bank. Wait, I think I didn’t actually post them all. I’ll find them and post them here for your elucidation and entertainment. So woo-hoo! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to be an award-winning writer? Hint: FOREVER! Advice to Aspiring Writers: Good…

I’ve been swimming in bigger ponds (whatever that means — off the Island, I guess) lately, the other night at the book awards, and last night had a brief interview with Dave Eggers after his really funny and entertaining conversation with Stephen Elliott onstage at the Oakland Museum. The event was to highlight National Library Week at the Oakland Public Library, and the place was packed. Digression: Sometimes I hate being press — people don’t trust you, don’t want to talk to you, they think you’re out to screw them somehow (as if I have time for that) — but when it gets you front-row (or free) seats to sold-out…

Not really crazy — just busy as all get out. Having a full-time job sure gets in the way of all that other living you might like to do. Heh. I went to the Northern California Book Reviewers awards tonight in San Francisco and saw, chatted with or met so many writers. Like Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Kim Addonizio, Lynn Freed, Brenda Webster, and so on. So many. And movers and shakers in the SF lit world — Joyce Jenkins was there, and Richard Silberg, and Larsen and Pomada, and others who are just beginning to make their marks. It was fun, it was cool, it was entertaining in its own way.…

I have been contemplating the passing of Pope John Paul II, trying to make sense of it, and what it means to me, a lapsed Catholic – whatever that means. “Lapsed” sounds like I forgot to pay my dues – but oh, believe you me, I think I’ve paid them. When I was a practicing Catholic I never knew quite what to make of the pope. (“Practicing” sounds like I never quite got it right. In which case, am I still practicing?) I am not alone in this state of wonder. Many people I know who once went to Mass or parochial school or grew up in the culture of…