Publication updates! :)

Hi All! I’m feeling very blessed. I have a verbal agreement with Biyuti Publishing to publish my first complete book of poetry. I will start compiling it after He Mele a Hilo is delivered to Topside Press. Folks, it has been a tough couple of weeks, and being trans can be tough all around. I have talked to my friends and seriously, one thing so many trans folk have in common is we know a lot of people who are no longer with us. Sometimes it’s so hard just to do the normal everyday things in life. I wish things were easier. But, here we are—and for me, writing is my way of making life livable again. Thank you for reading this, and thank you for being in the world with me.

Cal State Fullerton Lavender Commencement Address

Visions (Perceptions) of Possibilities.

Lavender Graduation 2013 Keynote by Ryka Aoki

Thank you for inviting me to be part of this day. Congratulations! I am honored to be speaking in front of you, the Cal State Fullerton’s Lavender Graduating Class of 2013. I’d like to thank Cal State Fullerton’s Multicultural Leadership Center, and Dean of Students Lea Jarnagin for inviting me. But most of all, I want to thank you, for all your hard work and achievement. You did it! Look at you!

Writing and Performing

As rewarding as it was to tour with the "Fully Functional Cabaret," I will not be doing that show, or shows like it, again. :)

For me, it's time to do some work, to write, to push my voice--all the good stuff I've dreamed about doing. The Rainbow Book Fair in New York was incredibly affirming, as have been the last AWP conferences I've attended, and the fine people I've met at the Southern California Writer's Conferences. Through it all, I realize that I have everything, right here, right now, to create good work.

The Cabaret can recast my part--in fact, a rotating cast might be the best way for the show to propagate and grow. I will still perform and create pieces, but these will be more personal--not as an actor in a traveling pre-existing show. And, gosh! There are plenty of wonderful, talented, hungry actors who would benefit so much from the opportunity!

As for me--I have this story set in Los Angeles, with a family that.... :)

So... latest writing projects...

Well, my novel manuscript, He Mele a Hilo is finished, an now I am working query letter and synopsis. Wish me luck! So excited!

I have started my second novel today--it felt great to be back creating again. I love getting back to  the blank sheet of paper... This one is set in Los Angeles, at least for now. More on it later.

Also, I am working on some poems for a full manuscript due later this year and and and I will be starting soon on a performance piece to be staged in May.

Editing Tip!

My editor just told me to read my entire novel OUT LOUD and correct errors that way. Only two chapters done, but seriously--OMFG.... Totally eye-opening. I thought my manuscript was as close to perfect as I could get it--but all kinds of stuff popping out--not errors, but flow and tone flaws...places where I can tweak just a bit to make each character more distinct. Holy crud. 

Seriously, I am doing this with any major piece of writing I do from here on in. Yes, I teach this to my students for their papers, but for an entire novel--I thought my internal narration was enough. Nope. The physical act of moving air and sound through my lips, the laying of sound on the vocal chords, the gestures the words induce... Reading out loud becomes even more valuable.

I consider myself happily and gratefully reminded of a critical editing technique. Yay!

And a last one from "In Search of Geishaghost"

An Understanding Love

And there’s a rain coming down

all around us tonight

where we go doesn’t matter--

no direction is right. 

The engine is running, and the radio’s on

and you ask who will miss us

when we’re gone.

And there’s a storm coming in

from the ocean tonight

and the wind won’t stop running,

like a thief taking flight,

from the scene of a crime

that she didn’t do

and the fear in its footsteps

is the fear that’s in you.

And wherever we are, where no poetry is heard

take shelter in my vision, take shelter in my word.

And I will bring

an understanding love

when your heart lies as empty

as the church late at night.

When some notes on a napkin

hold all of our dreams,

an understanding love

is closer than it seems

to be.

A stranger can hold

the answer to the quest.

But only a true love

can hold the helplessness.

In the rain, in the storm,

on deserted streets we drive,

let me navigate this journey

let me keep us alive.

And wherever we are, when every turn is wrong

take shelter in my vision, take shelter in my song.

And I will bring

an understanding love

when your heart lies as empty

as the church late at night.

When some notes on a napkin

hold all of our dreams,

an understanding love

is closer than it seems

to be.

And I will bring

an understanding love

when you say there’s no answer

there’s no reason to fight.

When you know that we’re tired,

but forget what that means,

an understanding love

is closer than it seems

to be.

A song from "In Search of Geishaghost"

Never in Love With You

           

You say you’d never hurt me.

You say you’d never leave

if you were with me.

But you can never be with me…

And I know the sun will never rain.

The moon will never fall.

A stone will never cry.

And I will never be with you.

I will never be with you.

And I know that

if never means the same to you

as never means to me.

Then we can be never together

never in love

And I’ve never been as happy

with all that never can be

never wake up in the morning

never kiss you goodnight

and I’m never in love

never in love

never in love

with you.

If I were someone else

If this were another time

If no one else was watching

If no one else was watching

We’d take each other

take each other

take each other…away.

And I would never hurt you.

And I would never leave

if I were with you.

But I can never be with you…

And I know that

if never means the same to you

as never means to me.

Then we can be never together

never in love

And I’ve never been as happy

with all that never can be

never wake up in the morning

never kiss you goodnight

and I’m never in love

never in love

never in love

with you.