This week in the writing world has established one thing: lying is the new black. An hour in jail versus 87 abuse-filled days – come on, anyone can make that mistake. I bet it felt like 87 days. Maybe that’s what James Frey meant.
Then there’s the Oprah-doesn’t-like-bad-press issue…
While we all vilify Frey – and I’m all for that – my favorite writer mishap (mishap being code for Big Fat Liar) is the story of author Nasdijj. Nasdijj won award after award and significant praise for his poignant memoirs The Blood Runs Like A River Through My Dreams and The Boy And The Dog Are Sleeping . The novels followed his tragic life growing up on a Navajo reservation and the death of his adopted son. Problem is, Nasdijj seems to be a white guy named Timothy Patrick Barrus who, before he remade his image, wrote gay erotica (actually defined as “Sadomasochistic Literature”).
Let’s recap on Nasdijj – From Michigan. Grew up in the suburbs. Not Navajo. No dead son. Oops. Hey, it can happen to anyone. I often have trouble remembering whether I grew up on a Navajo reservation or in Amish country in Pennsylvania. Hard to keep those pesky little details straight.
Subscribe to Posts
It must be time for me to come out, as well.
I’m really Wonder Woman, and I’m really ticked off that people have been drawing cartoons about me. It totally takes the freshness away from my memoirs, which Pamela Anderson is helping me write.
by Shannon January 27th, 2006 at 3:48 pmI knew it! I’ve also gotten a Wonder Woman vibe from you.
Think of the bright side – look how much money people owe you in royalties.
by HelenKay January 27th, 2006 at 9:37 pmCan I be Spiderman? *ggg*
by Jordan January 27th, 2006 at 11:51 pm