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    Inprint Reading Series

    Hurricane Katrina troubles and inspires National Book Award-winning author Jesmyn Ward

    Tarra Gaines
    Mar 24, 2013 | 12:49 pm

    In 2005, author Jesmyn Ward was staying with her family in her hometown of DeLisle, Miss., when Hurricane Katrina stuck. The storm destroyed homes, devastated the community and silenced Ward as a fiction writer for two years.

     

    When she finally found her authorial voice, she used some of that experience as inspiration for her story Salvage the Bones, an underdog of a novel that would go on to win one of the most prestigious awards for American fiction, the National Book Award.

     
     

      At one point, Esch’s father even says that it’s the hurricanes with women’s names that are the worst.

     

     

      In the novel, set 10 days before Hurricane Katrina, a poor, African-American 15-year old girl named Esch describes her daily life growing up surrounded by men, her brothers, their friends and her father. Her only female companions are memories of her deceased mother, her brother Skeetah’s pit bull China, who gives birth at the novel’s beginning, and the myths of Medea that Esch is reading for school.

     

    Ward comes to Houston Monday for the Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series. Before her visit, Ward talked to CultureMap about the novel, powerful females, and why her upcoming memoir will be her first and last.

     

     CultureMap: You’ve described Salvage the Bones as being about a girl growing up in a world of men. Why did that particular situation call to you as a writer?

     

     Jesmyn Ward: Everything that I write is set in the fictional version of the community that I grew up in. Esch’s situation is the polar opposite from how most of the young women that I know in my community grew up, where the whole community sort of functions as a matriarchy. It’s the women who hold families together and therefore that hold the community together in some ways.

     

    So I think I was intrigued by the idea of Esch because her experience was so opposite of what I had seen, and I wondered what living in a world like that would be like for the kind of young women I grew up with.

     

     CM: Yet, you seem so at ease creating that world of men in the novel, and especially the world and language of young men. Did you have points in your life when your able to observe that kind of closed culture of men?

     

     JW: I grew up with a younger brother. I was always around him and his friends because he’s closest in age to me, out of my siblings. I grew up around a lot of women, but for a while when I was younger I was the only girl in the neighborhood of boys all around my age. I think that experience informs that drive to write about them, almost a curiosity about young men, about young, black men.

     

     CM: For all the swagger the men and boys have in the novel, it’s the females who possess the most creative and destructive power. At one point, Esch’s father even says that it’s the hurricanes with women’s names that are the worst.

     

     JW: When I set out to write the book one of the reasons I really did want to isolate her [Esch] and take away any female influences is so she had to turn to other things: like the hurricane, like the Greek myths of Medea, like [the pit bull] China, and her mother in order to understand what it means to be a woman, and also to be a mother.

     

    It’s really interesting now when I look and see the things that I choice for her to look at for models, that they are very powerful entities. I think that’s a great reading of it, but I wasn’t consciously thinking of it when I wrote the book.

     

     CM: You’ve said that your experience in Hurricane Katrina caused you to stop writing for a period. How does a writer turn such a horrific and silencing experience into the catalyst or fuel for story?

     

     JW: After the hurricane, I went back to the University of Michigan. One of the professor who I worked with when I was there, studying, said, “This is your story. You should write about the hurricane.” It wasn’t until someone else, this older writer, told me, and in a way gave me permission to do it, that I actually thought about using it. . .I guess because it was so horrific, it didn’t feel like it was something I could write about.

     

    Maybe it was time and distance that allowed me enough space to that I could access my creativity and funnel something of my experience of living through a category 5 hurricane into fiction. That [storm] chapter and the chapter afterwards, were hard to write because they brought me back to that experience. It’s a dark realization to have that everything you love can just be undone in a matter or hours. Everything, not only people, but the very landscape itself can just be erased.

     

     CM: Your next book, due out in the fall, is a memoir. It’s about your brother?

     

     JW: The premise is that basically between 2000 and 2004, five young black men who were friends of mine in my community died in different ways. The first was my brother in 2000. So the question I’m asking is why is there an epidemic of young men dying? Why would this happen in a place where I’m from? People associate those epidemic with places like Chicago or Detroit or New Orleans. They don’t associate those epidemics with places like where I’m from. I’m using my life and my family’s life as context to reach an answer for that question.

     

     CM: Are there any similarities in the way you approached this memoir vs. the novel?

     

     JW: The craft tools that make fiction engaging also make memoir engaging, so you want to develop your characters, have lots of detail and make sure your pacing is good. So all those things are the same. But it was a very different process from writing a novel.

     

    I really had to focus on the work I was doing on each of the characters because each young man gets a chapter. I had to be very deliberate about the thematic concern of each chapter. They have to build, so in the end I really do reach an answer. . .I love writing novels, and I hated writing the memoir. I’m glad that I wrote it. I think it should be out in the world, but it was so painful and I hated it. I do not want to write another one.

     

     Authors Jesmyn Ward and Amber Dermont will discuss their books that Inprint Margarett Brown Reading Series Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center. General admission tickets are $5.

    Author Jesmyn Ward

    Jesmyn Ward, pretty photo
      
    Courtesy photo
    Author Jesmyn Ward
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    Here are the 14 best things to do in Houston this weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Jul 9, 2025 | 6:30 pm
    Kesha
    Photo courtesy of Kesha
    Kesha

    People will be getting hella proud of the city this weekend. All over H-Town, folks will be celebrating 713 Day with everything from food and drink specials to full-fledged parties (stay tuned: our picks are coming soon).

    But, of course, there are other things popping off in Houston this weekend. The Dude Perfect gang will be in town to do some sports-related trickery. Many local artists will show off their work at several group exhibits. GreenStreet will throw a game day block party. And Kesha will be performing live – and that’s on period!

    So, shall we dance?

    Thursday, July 10

    Dude Perfect: Hero World Tour
    Dude Perfect will present an exciting blend of sports, comedy, and incredible stunts on their Hero World Tour. The group, featuring members Tyler Toney, Cody Jones, Garrett Hilbert and twins Coby and Cory Cotton, entertains with trick shots, challenges, and audience participation. Fans get to enjoy behind-the-scenes stories and exclusive content that give a fun peek into the group’s creative journey. 7 pm.

    Kesha in concert
    Pop singer Kesha is known for a lot of things: suing producer Dr. Luke for sexual assault, battery, and emotional abuse; getting hug-rejected by Jerry Seinfeld; appearing on the cover of Black-music magazine Vibe as “hip-hop’s guilty pleasure.” She’ll be coming to The Woodlands as part of The T**s Out Tour in support of her new album, . (yes, Period is the name!). She'll be joined by special guest Scissor Sisters and opening act Slayyyter. 7 pm.

    Lone Star Lyric presents Séance on a Wet Afternoon
    Séance on a Wet Afternoon is a psychological thriller in which Myra, a mentally unstable medium, convinces her husband to kidnap a child so she can help the police solve the crime and achieve renown for her abilities. Myra’s plan to achieve fame in the psychic community is perfect until… Lone Star Lyric presents the three-night regional premiere of the opera, followed by a reception with composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz. 7:30 pm.

    Friday, July 11

    David Shelton Gallery presents “Emerging From Where?” opening reception
    When we last spoke to artist Robert Leroy Hodge, he said he’d be taking a break from showing off his own artwork and curating shows featuring the artwork of others. He’s already assembled this exhibit, featuring 11 dynamic artists who push the boundaries of form, identity, and narrative. Artists include Saj Baldwin, Crystal Coulter, Xavier Gilmore, Morgan Newton, Jake Otto, and Anthony Rundblade. Through Saturday, August 16. 6 pm.

    Houston Center for Contemporary Craft presents "In Residence: 18th Edition" opening reception
    Houston Center for Contemporary Craft’s annual exhibition celebrating the Center’s Artist Residency Program features works in clay, copper, and found objects by HCCC’s 2024-2025 resident artists, including Prerata Bradley, Stephanie Bursese, Gbenga Komolafe, Gabo Martinez, Preetika Rajgariah, Jamie Sterling Pitt, Adam Whitney. Visitors can enjoy refreshments as they explore the exhibition, and visit with current resident artists Atisha Fordyce, Nela Garzón, Macon Reed, and Dongyi Wu. 6 pm.

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Shall We Dance?
    Shohei Sugiyama (Koji Yakusho) has a high-paying job, an exquisite home, and a caring wife and daughter he loves dearly. However, he feels something is missing in his life. One day while commuting on the train he spots a beautiful woman staring wistfully out a window and eventually decides to find her. His search leads him headfirst into the world of competitive ballroom dancing. This 1996 crowd-pleaser from Japan is presented in a new 4K restoration of the original film, available uncut for the first time in North America. 7 pm (5 pm Sunday).

    Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston and Laura Moreno present Crabs in a Bucket
    This Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Winner for Best Writing will have its Houston premiere this weekend. Inspired by Mexico-born, Houston-bred playwright Bernardo Cubría’s experiences in the Latinx theater community, this satire focuses on the impact of “crab mentality.” Bitter crabs Amargo and Pootz spend their days talking about the crabs that got out and the losers who haven’t. When a new crab arrives filled with optimism and hope for change, can it help them achieve their dream of getting the shuck out? Through Saturday, July 19. 8 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Saturday, July 12

    Cactus Music presents Rick Mitchell with Dr. Robert Morgan and the HSPVA Jazz Combo
    Former Houston Chronicle music critic Rick Mitchell will sign copies and read from his book Jazz in the New Millennium: Live and Well, Revised Edition. The book includes 84 profiles of the leading 21st-century jazz musicians, including several from Houston. Mitchell will be joined by Dr. Robert Morgan, retired director of the HSPVA jazz program, and the HSPVA student jazz combo (under the direction of James Westfall). They will discuss the role Houston-bred musicians have played in the creative renaissance of jazz in the current century. 1 pm.

    GreenStreet Game Day Block Party
    GreenStreet will be throwing down with a Game Day Block Party, in honor of the Silver Boot Series between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. Come and enjoy a block party that’s all about team spirit, Texas pride, and full-throttle fun. Expect live grooves from a band and a DJ, a mechanical bull, a bedazzler station, food, drinks, and something called “good trouble.” You’ll also get free parking and free shuttles to the game with your RSVP. 2 pm.

    Archway Gallery presents 17th Annual Juried Exhibition opening reception
    Archway Gallery will present the opening of their 17th annual showcase of Houston's artistic voices. Prizes are awarded at the discretion of the juror and include cash awards for first, second, and third place winners. The first-place winner also receives guest artist privileges for one month at Archway Gallery. The exhibition is juried by Project Row Houses founder Rick Lowe and benefits Brave Little Company. Through Thursday, July 31. 5 pm.

    Alley Theatre presents Agatha Christie's The Mirror Crack'd
    Miss Marple, Agatha Christie's iconic sleuth, takes center stage in The Mirror Crack'd, a gripping, glamorous mystery based on Christie’s 1962 novel, making its U.S. premiere. When the filming of a star-studded movie in a quaint village leads to a chilling murder, everyone becomes a suspect. Miss Marple untangles a web of jealousy, ambition, and hidden truths. Can you solve who is behind it all? 8 pm. Through Sunday, August 17. (2 and 7:30 pm Sunday).

    Sunday, July 13

    Improv Houston presents Pete Holmes
    Close the weekend out on an hilarious note by checking out Pete Holmes, during his final night of his three-night stint at Improv Houston. Perhaps the only aspiring youth pastor-turned-comedian-turned-talk-show-host-turned sitcom star in existence, Holmes was the creator and star of HBO's Judd Apatow-produced Crashing and TBS' Conan O'Brien-produced The Pete Holmes Show. Along with having comedy specials available on HBO and Netflix, he also hosts the long-running You Made It Weird podcast. 7:30 pm. (7:30 and 9:45 pm Friday; 7 and 9:30 pm Saturday).

    Mei Semones in concert with Lionmilk
    Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Mei Semones will be performing at Asia Society Texas this weekend, in support of her recently released debut album, Animaru (the Japanese pronunciation of the word “animal”). With sophisticated declarations of non-romantic love — love of life, love of family, love of music and her guitar — Animaru exemplifies Mei’s enchantingly wide range as a songwriter and musician, including some of the most challenging and most straightforward songs she has ever written. 7:30 pm.

    Smart Financial Centre presents Disney '80s-'90s Celebration in Concert
    Disney '80s-'90s Celebration in Concert features the best Disney and Pixar hits from two iconic decades. Broadway-star vocalists flashback through a defining generation of music, with show-stopping performances, rock-concert lighting and larger-than-life animation. Guests can go from "Zero to Hero" until they're seeing it "I 2 I" with fan-favorite moments from Hercules, A Goofy Movie, Toy Story, The Little Mermaid, Newsies, Aladdin, Tarzan, The Lion King, Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, The Disney Afternoon, and more. 7:30 pm.

    Kesha
      
    Photo courtesy of Kesha

    Kesha performs in The Woodlands on Thursday.

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