Tara Jepsen is a busy woman

On July 19th we'll welcome Tara Jepsen to the Progressive Reading stage. She's a busy person; a writer and performer living in San Francisco, she’s been featured at the Porchlight storytelling series, the RADAR Reading Series and Litquake. She is co-host of the long-running, beloved queer open mic, K’vetch. Her work has been published in the anthologies, Pills, Thrills, Chills and Heartache and It’s So You. She toured extensively with the original Sister Spit’s Rambling Road Show in 1997, 1998, and 1999. Her most recent short film, Diving for Pearls, won the Most Innovative Short award at the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in 2005 and was selected for the Best of Newfest screening at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. She is at work on a novel, Like a Dog, as well as a new film. Her two-woman show, written and performed with Beth Lisick, “Getting in on the Ground Floor and Staying There” opens at The Center for Sex and Culture in San Francisco on July 24th, and she holds down a day job as a landscaper. Luckily Tara found some time to answer some questions via e mail.

Sona Avakian: When was the first time you got excited about a political candidate?
Tara Jepsen:Well, I remember the fever around my family in Wisconsin about wanting to re-elect Reagan for a third presidential term because he had been just that incredible. My mom's friend worked on his campaign. I don't know how my parents felt about it; they've both become far more liberal as they've gotten older. I remember thinking if they thought it was a good idea, it probably was. Experiments in blind faith! I don't remember thinking anything else they did was a great idea so why the election carried any weight with me, I don't know. The first time I remember getting excited about a political candidate was when Matt Gonzalez ran for mayor. He came to Beth [Lisick’s] birthday party and we did shots of tequila. I thought, "I like this guy." I know that's late in life to get politically excited but better late than never. I do remember when Geraldine Ferraro ran with Walter Mondale in 1984. I knew it was exciting that a woman was running but I was in a nest of conservatism in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, a factory town about halfway between Milwaukee and Green Bay. I wasn't aware of local politics at all growing up. Now I think about it a lot more.


SA: Are there any other politicians you've done shots with? Now's your chance to tell.
TJ: I remember only a small fraction of the people with whom I've shared tequila shots (I was just reminded about a tequila spaz-out in NYC that I had completely forgotten...), and I assume there are no more people who would outwardly identify themselves as politicians...? Now if we're talking non-profit employees, unsung talents or karaoke enthusiasts, pull back the sash and let the list unfurl.

SA: Is there any book in particular you read growing up that informed your sense of community?
TJ: God, my sense of community. I do not recall feeling anything that I would label a sense of community. That language was not part of my world!! Nancy Drew books made me excited to be a smart, investigative woman. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret made me aware that girls/women wrestle with Issues. And that a contemplative life is in my future. And being tortured and indecisive. All the Madeleine L'Engle books made me want to be smart too. So maybe I just new I wanted to be a smart woman among smart women. So far so good.

SA: Is there any book you'd recommend to the two presidential candidates, or one you hope either of them have read?
TJ: Well, if any candidate has time to read a book, and I am asked to evaluate their needs, I guess I would say that I would hope they read any book that expanded their knowledge of all the different kinds of people who live and breathe in the country they are governing. Or would it ultimately benefit us more if they just went deep into a Danielle Steel novel and relaxed for a moment? I guess it feels too arrogant for me to say what book anyone should read. I don't think they would like the same shit I do, and I don't think I can conceive of their burden as president well enough to know what would make an impact. Maybe something that got them excited about green building materials, vehicles, whathaveyou! Composting for Presidents! Feminism: It's Good for All of Us! Maybe a PFLAG parenting book? Homelessness and Drug Addiction: Not Just Issues for Underpaid Socially Minded Folks! And of course, Deenie, by Judy Blume.

SA: You run K'vetch, you've toured with Sister Spit, can we look forward to something of yours in print?
TJ: I have a couple short stories published and I'm shopping a novel around right now.

SA: Who would you rather take care of your pet goldfish, a magician or politician?
TJ: Obviously a magician should take care of my goldfish, they will have waaaay more time.


SA: How does it feel to be the first author interviewed for the Progressive Reading Series blog?
TJ: It feels amazing to be the first author interviewed here, and naturally it makes me think I am an expert on absolutely everything.


Tara can be found hosting K'vetch the first Sunday of every month at Sadie's Flying Elephant (491 Potrero @ Mariposa.) She will grace the Progressive stage on July 19th along with Neal Pollock, Doug Dorst, Frank Portman, Ethan Canin and Po Bronson. Don't miss it!

Title TK

The first reader in our June event to support Victoria Wulsin's run for congress in Ohio's second district was Sarah Fran Wisby. She read a crazy surreal story called "Who Will Walk Through Fire." It was awesome and I don't mean that just in the pyromaniac sense. She said she couldn't have written it without rent control, so give yourselves another pat on the back for that victory. Sarah Fran's story is proof that San Francisco needs rent control. We're looking forward to her first book, Viva Loss, out from Small Desk Press later this year and you should be too. 

Then came Helena Echlin, a British author who teaches us all about manners and etiquette in her column for Chow. She's like a latter-day Jane Austen, Dear Abby and Miss Manners all rolled into one. But she did fall prey to fast food when she first moved to America, particularly Dunkin Donuts' Omwhich, which is an omelet/pizza/breakfast sandwich all rolled into one. I am definitely going to track one down on my next visit to the east coast. It sounds delish. She's trying to get them to make a donut/hamburger and assures the brass at DD that it will revolutionize the concept of the breakfast sandwiches and the Brits will be all over it. 

We were lucky enough to have Wells Wulsin, son of Victoria with us. Wells spoke about his mother and how her increased disillusionment with the direction the country is heading led to her decision to run for congress. It's not going to be an easy race, he admitted, so please tell all your friends and relatives in Ohio about Victoria Wulsin. If you want to go to Ohio this summer and help out, that can be arranged too. Sign up here. 

Daniel Alcaron was up next and it's true, as Andrew Altschul said in his intro, Suzanne Kleid has been pushing his book Lost City Radio on everyone she knows. I'm one of those people and I should've have listened to her sooner. This book is so purely crafted, it deserves every glorious accolade it has garnered in the year since its publication. Anyway, Daniel read from a novel in progress and I felt privy to a secret literary masterpiece. It doesn't have a title yet; he's taking suggestions. Also, his parents were in town. We clapped for them too and believed him when he said the parents in the piece weren't based on his own. Behold the power of the imagination! The All Star Minstrels were next. What can I say? We gladly filled in as the horn section per Dan's request and Adam took a stage dive (sort of) at the end of their set. No need to worry about the future of music with these two on the scene. During intermission, a fierce game of Rock Paper Scissors broke out. And paper takes it again. 




Lorelei Lee was up next, reading a story about a day on the set of an adult film set. I for one couldn't tell that her flats (as in shoes) were inhibiting her confidence. Can you?

 And finally, the nicest guy in the writing world,  Andrew Sean Greer, wearing a mime shirt, but thankfully speaking. He read a scene from his new novel The Story of a Marriage that brought me chills even on that warm night. You should go out and buy it as soon as possible. Suzanne says so.     

At the end of the night Evan Rehill stacked himself up with glasses.



And that wraps up June. Thanks to Sonya Worthy and Liz Clinkenbeard for the photos. Next month we welcome Po Bronson, Neal Pollock, Tara Jespen, Doug Dorst, Ethan Canin and Frank Portman. Also stay tuned for our first Progressive Reading Series featured author interview. Q&A with Tara Jepsen. 

New Poster

Click for full-size printable poster for the June 21 Progressive Reading.

The June Reading!

Announcing the Sixth Progressive Reading of 2008
Saturday, June 21

7 PM at The Makeout Room
3225 22nd Street
415.647.2888
$10–20 sliding scale

Featuring

Eileen Myles, author of Chelsea Girls and Cool For You

Andrew Sean Greer, author of The Story of a Marriage and The Confessions of Max Tivoli

Daniel Alarcon, author of Lost City Radio and War by Candlelight

Helena Echlin, author of Gone

Sarah Fran Wisby, author of Viva Loss

and Lorelei Lee, author of Doublefisted

Music by The Progressive Reading Series All-Star Minstrels
Hosted by Stephen Elliott

Proceeds benefit Victoria Wulsin, running against Jean Schmidt in Ohio's 2nd Congressional District

Click here for advance tickets

**

And stay tuned for next month's event, happening July 19, featuring Neal Pollack, Tara Jepsen, Doug Dorst, Ethan Canin, Po Bronson, and Frank Portman

Wulsin Update

Here's an interesting update concerning the Wulsin-Schmidt race in Ohio. Once again we are supporting the forces of good against the forces of evil, because that's how we roll. Come out June 21 to support Wulsin's candidacy.

Whoops! L#009 is missing!

I'll slip it back in November. Promise. 

Victoria Wulsin

Hey everyone. For June we're going back to supporting awesome progressive challengers running against particularly evil conservative incumbents. In June we're raising money for Victoria Wulsin. Get your advance tickets here. Find out more about Victoria here. Victoria's running against Jean "I love what we've done in Iraq" Schmidt. Schmidt is famous for calling war hero John Murtha a coward.

Come on out June 21 at 7pm and show your support.

61-39!

Well, we did it - all of us: We saved rent control!

Proposition 98 failed spectacularly - 61% to 39%. At the same time, Proposition 99, real Eminent Domain reform, passed handily - 62% to 38%.

We can all breathe a sigh of relief - for once the reactionaries who put regressive and discriminatory initiatives on the California ballot did not get their way.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who pays rent in San Francisco, to everyone who attended the March, April, and May Progressive Readings, and to all our wonderful readers. Thanks, too, to George Nixon and Ellen Gould for their contributions to the cause, and to our volunteers, who make these events run so smoothly.

Check back here for announcements about the June 21 Progressive Reading, featuring Eileen Myles, Andrew Sean Greer, ZZ Packer, Helena Echlin, Lorelei Lee, and of course the Progressive Reading Series All-Star Minstrels!

Writers and Rent Control

Like books and the writers who produce them? How about low rent? If you responded at all in the affirmative, I urge you to check out Jen Sullivan Brych's op-ed piece in the SF Bay Guardian.

Remember to VOTE ON TUESDAY, or else you won't be seeing Steve at Tartine for much longer, and his roommate will have sleep somewhere other than the living room. That'd be one Unhappy Baby.