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October 26, 2009 |
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People
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Lesley-Ann Brown - Bandit Girl Press
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Lesley-Ann Brown
Writer/Poet and Founder of Bandit Queen Press
"Hello Brooklyn," is a familiar greeting to Lesley-Ann Brown, but as an expat living in Denmark, she also responds to "Hej Copenhagen." Having lived there for almost 11 years, she doesn't dispute the city's level of sophistication but she sometimes feels its smallness. "Since I'm here and raising a half-Danish child, I'm very committed to contributing toward making it a more cosmopolitan place." Hence, literary activities are Brown's focus--not a stretch since she's been writing since she was 6 years old. In 2007, Brown founded publishing house Bandit Queen Press. Its most recent release is Good Works, a paperback collection of short stories, lyrics, sketches, and photographs by English-speaking women living in Denmark. We'll be keeping up with Brown via her blog, Blackgirl on Mars: Notes on a Life in Copenhagen. But first, we got her to dish on new beginnings, an upcoming foray into theater, and the art of creativity.
Breaking into writing: I started writing at 6 and always knew I was a writer. I started writing professionally while in high school, and continued with magazines throughout New York City. I started performing around New York while studying at the New School for Social Research.
Becoming a publisher: Bandit Queen Press is about taking ownership of your work and having some sort of control over who has it. I started the company in my house about two or three years ago. I had a collection of poetry and I just wanted to get it out there. So I hand-made these books using really beautiful paper. Each was different.
Currently working on: A performance piece with an African-American director. It's based on my blog and my experiences being here: reflections on womanhood and race and motherhood. It's about coping with differences and learning to accept ourselves by accepting other people. We'll probably do a run here, but it's really for New York. I also teach English to mostly immigrant kids.
Reflections: First job: Marie Brown Associates, a literary agency devoted to getting people of color published *Advice she would have given herself 10 years ago: I don't think there's anything I could ever have done that would have prepared me for what I've embarked on. The only thing I could say is I wish I learned Danish faster * Her mantra: The biggest act of creativity is being yourself. It's an art.
Diversions: Currently reading: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I'm reading it with my 8th graders * Next read: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini * Last fun purchase: A ticket to New York. I'll be traveling this week! * Recently discovered: Entourage. I love the writing. I know it's not new, but I've only just discovered it * Keeps her up at night: My love interest.
Playing favorites: Hotel: Hotel Chelsea, NYC * Entree: Roti from somewhere on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn! And Kate's in Copenhagen. It's unpretentious, inexpensive, and has different African, Indian, and Mexican dishes * Getaway: Lisbon, Portugal, and Paris, France * Drink: Ginger, carrot & apple juice * Guilty pleasure: Beer & wine.
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Fresh
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Simple Diary. Simply Brilliant.
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We came across Simple Diary while on the road and haven't been able to stop thinking about it.
 Call it the miniskirt version of a journal: short enough to keep your attention, long enough to cover the subject at hand. It's just right for those who've always wanted to keep a record of their day-to-day adventures (like us) but lacked the discipline (like us). Or adventures to write about. (That too.)
The pages are a mix of fill-in-the-blank and multiple choice record-keeping. Additional entertainment is provided by a quirky mix of philosophy, psychology, and inspirational musings sprinkled between sections.
Buy at SimpleDiary.com. $15
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Enculturation
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Creep - Artfully
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A gallery crawl is a good way for you and some friends to take in a lot of art in one fell swoop. Most are free, self-guided tours through a cluster of art galleries within walking distance of each other. You're likely to find yourself around more people during one of these than during a gallery's normal business hours, so take advantage of the chance to chat up some of your like-minded neighbors (wink). Our members tipped us off to these upcoming crawls.
CHARLOTTE
November 6, 6 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. Free.
The first and third Friday of every month, wander at your leisure
through the historic arts district near 36th and Davidson. The NoDa Gallery Crawl takes you through 10 local art houses. As you meander,
stop for a bite to eat or something to sip at the nearby eateries and
bars.
 LOS ANGELES
November 7-8, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Free.
The Silver Lake Art Crawl is a two-day extravaganza in the same nabe where L.A.'s bohemian creative class congregates. More than 25 galleries will open with extended hours. Special events include several opening receptions for new exhibits, performances, live painting, and the always expected mini-spa treatments and fish taco party.
NEW YORK
November 7. 12:30 p.m.-4 p.m. Early bird tickets are $40.
This time around, ArtCrawl Harlem zips its guided trolley tour through East Harlem. The trolley-bus makes stops at five local galleries that feature paintings and photographs exploring the lives and contributions of Latin Americans and Caribbeans in New York.
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