Notes on Angie Thomas in Vancouver
I went to see Angie Thomas with some friends when she came through Vancouver recently. I’ve seen many authors and often walk away, thinking I could have stayed home. But not with Angie Thomas. She was LOVELY. Warm and authentic. At one point, she asked writers, authors and aspiring authors to put up their hands. There were a whole bunch of us. Then she asked again and encouraged anyone who has ever dreamed of writing, but doesn’t feel like they dare say they are a writer, to also put up their hand. This time there were even more hands. She saw her audience and encouraged the heck out of us.
These are my notes from that night:
“Books either give us mirrors, windows or sliding doors.”
We’re told we’re either too much or not enough.
“I wanted to say to black girls: You’re enough, as long as you define yourself.”
Too often the world does not give them that validation.
The Hate U Give is about finding your voice.
On the Come Up is about making some noise.
“When marginalized voices are silenced, we don’t get representation and when we don’t get representation, we get stereotypes. “
I write in hotels, on the airplane
The characters always come to me first.
I get to know the character.
What does family dinner look like ?
What does it look like when they go to school.
I try to do an outline chart. (Via JK Rowling)
Do a calendar for your book!
On the Come Up took about 20 drafts
I’ve learned to listen to my author voice.
13,000 people were employed to make The Hate U Give Movie!!!
My anthem would be Alright, by Kendrick Lamar
Keep your head up, by Tupac
On a line in The Hate U Give:
It was an escape, more than a mirror.
“I am someone’s hope. I am somebody’s mirror.”
You’re your ancestor’s wildest dream. —Michelle Obama
I’m one for Representation on paper and behind the pen.
Books are great to make us aware of lives beyond our own.
If we call you out, listen and learn.
Be prepared to listen and learn and get it wrong.
Her first book received over 200 rejections.
Her mom used to ask her: What would you rather regret: doing and failing? Or not doing it and wondering about it?
There’s something powerful about being a dreamer.
Your dream is worth chasing.
It’s worth it. Keep going.
With Chervelle (left) and Shaley (middle) with our brandnew copies of On the Come Up.
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