Greetings earthlings,
How strange it is to realize that six months have passed without writing an
essay for the internet. The reason is I have discovered that I do not
seem to do more than one thing at a time, in this case, focus to write
a book and let my mind roam around in the essay process.
This summer I signed a book deal with Random House Crown, with the
manuscript to be delivered May 1, 2006. The book is tentatively titled DRINK, PRAY, FIGHT AND FUCK: Dispatches from the American Class Wars.
Whether such a title will make it onto the shelves at Borders next
summer without asterisks may be a good indicator of how strong a grip
America’s new neocon consciousness still has on freedom of speech.
Whatever the case, I have a great editor, Rachel Klayman, whose advice and suggestions -- such as "Stay out of the beer joints and write dammit!" -- are vital. Our backgrounds couldn't be more different. She is an urbane, educated middle class Jew and I am a pee dribbling old redneck who can't say three words without two of them being profanities. Consequently, communicating with the New York literary set can sometimes be like sending up smoke signals across the cultural gap and hoping we catch each other's drift.
Which of course is why the book is being written -- to entice liberals to consider looking at things in a new and more inclusive way, one which includes that great sea of the unwashed, the patriotic, Nascar, French hating, modular home dwelling, deer hunting Christian cigarette smokers. Needless to say, it’s a rather hard sell with the Starbucks set. Maybe it will take seeing Condi Rice or Jeb Bush nominated in ‘08 before we on the so-called left get the point that we must reach the very people who kicked our asses in the last elections, or nothing will really change even if we do manage to elect Democratic president. Meanwhile, out here the mainstream heartland majority is lacing up it boots to do some more ass kicking, though there are rather hopeful signs -- such as the president's ratings -- that they are not quite sure whose ass to kick this time. Rest assured the GOP will be ready to misdirect their rightful anger yet again.
There is no way on god's green earth I can thank the websites and webmasters who published my essays for the past two years. All I can say is that I am greatly in their debt for allowing me access to so many good folks, to whom I also grateful for taking their valuable time to read my work. I cannot list the thousands who took the further time to write an email. But I can offer my deepest thanks to ColdType, EnergyGrid, Counterpunch, DissidentVoice, OnlineJournal, Smirking Chimp, CJonline, Swan, YurikaReport, simbaud.blogspot (KingOfZembla), BigMagic, TrimYourBeard, Swans, ArvinHill, ByNeddieJingo, TheHollywoodLiberal, ZionsHerald, DoubleStandards, and many, many others who accepted and published my material.
On other fronts, I managed to spend some time in August in Southern France, thanks to the generosity of Ken Smith who opened his home in Nice to me. I fell in love with the Riviera (who wouldn't?) and got to see what a humane people and government look and feel like. Got to meet people who discuss real ideas with verve and directness every day as a simple matter of course. I haven’t felt so free in since the 1960s. My only disappointment was that I didn't happen to spot Brigitte Bardot. Geezers need hotties too.
It was while in France that Ken in Nice and Tony Sutton of ColdType both threatened to kick my ass if I didn't get off my can and get a website up. When they donated their own time to the project I was shamed into action. All of which reminds me what a lucky man I am to have friends like them and readers like you, whose response to my online work led to the book contract. With luck this time next year I will not be commuting three hours a day to my "straight gig" just so I can afford health insurance. Which means I will have more time to meet more of you good people in person.
Do feel free to send me an email. Snail mail too. I appreciate and answer them all -- not to mention steal some pretty good ideas in the process. ;-)
Warmest regards,
Joe Bageant
102 Peyton St.
Winchester VA 22601
