Red Room Originals
Since redroom.com launched at the beginning of 2008, it's been my particular pleasure to edit original articles written specifically for the site's homepage by our authors and members. Each short piece—essays, op-eds, reports, and even one image gallery—is different, but each reflects the literary, community-based spirit of the writers who make Red Room their online home. (The date given is when each article first appeared.)
Are you a Red Room author and have a 500-words or less essay you’d like to submit for our homepage? We run essays on a variety of topics, from serious social and political issues from a personal perspective, to tips on writing, editing, and publishing. We prefer exclusive, original content, but sometimes consider reprints. We don't offer monetary compensation to our authors for their essays, and authors retain copyright and reprint rights to their work. We appreciate your submissions, although we can’t run them all. Please email submissions to editors@redroom.com.Thanks!
–Huntington W. Sharp, Editor, Red Room
Let's View Television From a Critical, Yet Practical, Race Perspective
History and African-American Studies professor Elwood Watson calls for balance in assessing Mad Men's representation of race. November 9th, 2009.
How I Learned About the Great Woman Who Played the Bad Witch
Grant Hayter-Menzies's expert knowledge of one Hollywood icon led him to a unique appreciation of another. October 19th, 2009.
G. Willow Wilson writes about why Dave Eggers's new book Zeitoun is so important to her as a Muslim and an American. October 12th, 2009.
Red Room Interview: Carol I. Hoenig
Charles Purdy asked the author of The Author’s Guide to Planning Book Events: Tips and Tools for Bookselling Success to share her expertise on book promotion, in a brief interview. September 14th, 2009.
The buzz over the Kindle and other e-readers leaves Rob Boston skeptical. September 14th, 2009.
Sixty authors blogged about what they would have done differently. Douglas Keister's story stood out, but the whole series amounts to a master class in publishing. August 3rd, 2009.
Empowering Afghan Women Writers—One Blog Post at a Time
Masha Hamilton's vision to pair American teachers with women's writing classes in Afghanistan is already succeeding. June 29th, 2009.
Archie's Getting Married in the Morning
Jennifer Gibbons took Red Room's pulse at the announcement of this major pop-culture milestone.June 1st, 2009.
Amy Shojai (left, with Serendipity the Siamese) and other authors reveal what makes the animals in their profile photos so special. May 11th, 2009.
Charles Davis praises those hardy souls who dig through a dozen books a week, looking for the gems. May 4th, 2009.
Richard Milner wonders if we mean it when we say we should live with animals. April 13th, 2009.
Jennifer Gibbons's very personal welcome of a revered children's author to Red Room includes a reading challenge. April 6th, 2009.
Giving a prize to an aspiring writer was just the beginning of Brad Schreiber's lesson in writers' community. February 23rd, 2009.
A Real Feminist Hero, by Trina Robbins
A veteran of writing strong female characters praises DC's Huntress: Year One. February 9th, 2009.
What Would Cormac McCarthy Do?
Violence because of an overdue library book? Matt Richter says bring it on! February 2nd, 2009.
Using Amazon.com To Your Advantage
Michele Ulriksen has an easy-to-implement tip for authors looking to improve their bottom line. December 22nd, 2008.
Al Pacino's reaction gave Lawrence Grobel a novel experience as a biographer. December 15th, 2008.
It's as essential as breathing for Lynn Ruth Miller. November 17th, 2008.
The late author's insistence on truth shone for Richard Moran. November 10th, 2008.
The "You Can't Make Stuff Like This Up" Awards
Will Durst's hilarious take on the more unlikely highlights of the 2008 elections. November 3rd, 2008.
Inspired by the Women of the Bible
Eve Etzioni-Halevy recognizes the literary power of her family's faith. October 20th, 2008.
Looking For The Perfect Book Title
Sam Horn shows why it's vital for your title to pop! October 13th, 2008.
Matt Richtel uses up-to-the-minute technology to create a new literary genre. September 15th, 2008.
Boldly Blogging Where No Newspaper Has Gone Before...
The Book Smugglers show why the book review's future is online. September 8th, 2008.
Steve Hauk's respect for a revered author deepened when he uncovered a telling detail. September 1st, 2008.
No Matter the Medium, the Art is in the Details
A neurological disorder caused Tennessee Reed's creativity to blossom. August 25th, 2008.
The Reviewers are Running the Asylum
Commenters hijack an Amazon reader review thread. August 18th, 2008.
Red Room is proud to present a retrospective of the artist's variegated work. August 11th, 2008.
Large Print Publishing, Part 1 and Part 2
An acquisitions editor reports on the industry's history and her own book selection criteria, and the founder of another industry leader shares how his sister's illness changed his perspective. August 4th and 11th, 2008.
Ray Solnik's journey to India changed several lives, including his own. July 27th, 2008.
Daniel Handler, Lisa Brown, and a hundred other Red Room authors celebrated together in San Francisco. July 27th, 2008.
A Visit to the Real Secret Garden
Julie Buxbaum's research trip took her to the site that inspired the beloved children's classic. July 14th, 2008.
Creating and Perfecting the Writers Group
devorah major provides the ingredients to ensure your writing group comes out just right. July 7th, 2008.
The shuttering of a Bay Area institution provided the venue for a poignant introduction between a new author and his newest fan. June 30th, 2008.
Attend Hooked Reading—WIN BRAND NEW CAR!
Hmm...really? You might as well read and find out...c'mon, it's a car!! June 23rd, 2008.
Ellen Sussman proposes that authors stick together when on the road. June 16th, 2008.
The Future of the Book Part 1 and The Future of the Book Part 2
Naomi Bock covers gadgets, gimmicks, and the real future of reading. June 9th and June 16th, 2008.
Crashing Paradise: Reginald Lockett 1947-2008
Elmaz Abinader's loving tribute commemorates a literary icon. May 26th, 2008.
CEO By Day, Superhero By Night
Red Room CEO Ivory Madison reveals her secret identity as a comic book writer. May 12th, 2008.
A convergence of past and present for Red Room editor Huntington Sharp. May 5th, 2008.
Kevin Hearle hopes inspiration doesn't end on Election Day. April 14th, 2008.
Steve Hauk relates the unique tale of a revered writer's generosity. April 7th, 2008.
The Main Library, that is. Bill Hayes finds much to appreciate about a San Francisco institution. March 24th, 2008.
In Jessica Barksdake Inclán’s class, Shakespeare’s passion needs no translation. March 17th, 2008.
Jane Ganahl gets to live a minor Hollywood fantasy about which most of us have probably speculated. March 3rd, 2008.
Thomas Dotson reports that our community was well represented at the bustling comics convention. March 3rd, 2008.
Poetry, PEN, and Flora Brovina
Michele Zackheim's experience "handling" a dissident Kosovar poet for PEN. February 25th, 2008.
Caroline Leavitt shows why it's just as important to read to three people as three hundred. February 18th, 2008.
U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama joins our author community. February 11th and 18th, 2008.
Victoria Zackheim proves that bad reviews happen to great authors. February 11th, 2008.
An event that brought politics and authors together prompted Ayelet Waldman's report. February 4th, 2008.
Mark Krahling proves that men really can do book groups. February 4th, 2008.
Ishmael Reed on The Great Debaters
He explains why the film about role model Melvin Tolson was overdue. January 28th, 2008.
More than one hundred Red Room authors collaborated to help one of their own. January 21st and January 28th, 2008.
Brenda Webster Supports the Freedom to Write
She describes a dissident Turkish writer's struggle to remain free. January 21st, 2008.
Jennifer Steinman's Quest for Healing Led Her to Motherland
Working in the Red Room Writers Society led to a documentary about the survivors of genocide in Africa.
January 14th, 2008.
Jesus Freaks Gets Noticed: Don Lattin Talks to Redroom.com
The Bay Area journalist and author created a stir in religious circles with his book. January 1st, 2008.
Alan Black Talks to Redroom.com About Swearing and Kicking Balls
No conversation with writer, performer, promoter, Scotsman, and “saloon boss” (as he puts it) is ever conventional. January 1st, 2008.
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