An Interview with Nancy Peacock

Novelist Nancy Peacock was kind enough to respond to e-mailed questions related to her memoir on work and the writing life, A Broom of One's Own: Words on Writing, Housecleaning & Life. I'll post the first couple now and then the others in a future blog:

AK: Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickle and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America is one of the most famous contemporary works about how difficult it can be for women to survive in America. It’s nonfiction of course, but I’m wondering if you have any favorite, or even inspiring, books from the genre (fiction or nonfiction not only about struggling in the “greatest country on earth” but also struggling from a woman’s perspective)?

NP: I read Ehrenreich's book as about the working class, and not just about women's survival. But in answer to your question - sort of - one of my favorite books of all times is A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown. Her story is about one woman's survival from homelessness to becoming a lawyer. It's a great read. I don't think this answer is really to the point of your question (I'm having trouble thinking of books specific to that) but it's a chance to plug Cupcake Brown's book. Really - read it. So many of the memoirs I've read had to do with dysfunctional families and sexual abuse rather than with society as a whole.

AK: Is Virginia Woolf’s classic, A Room of One’s Own important to you? Are there other classics with similar themes that you see as influences?

NP: I certainly played off of the title A Room of One's Own - A Broom of One's Own. I think that women have more trouble finding time, quiet, physical space, and psychic space for writing, but I think we all need it. In my own life I have, as I've grown older, found it easier to get this for myself, probably because I recognize the importance of it more now than I did when I was younger, and because I am more willing to take it without apology.

Videos, Voice, Excerpts, and Graphic Novel Interpretations for FFYLD

Nathan Holic's graphic-novel interpretation at Atticus Review:

http://atticusreview.org/a-comic-adaptation-of-fight-for-your-long-day-episode-1/

http://atticusreview.org/fight-for-your-long-day-a-comic-adaptation-episode-2/

http://atticusreview.org/fight-for-your-long-day-a-comic-adaptation-episode-3/

http://atticusreview.org/fight-for-your-long-day-a-comic-series-adaptation/

http://atticusreview.org/still-fighting-for-your-long-ass-day/

Radio:

http://nhpr.org/post/fight-your-long-day

Videos:

http://writing.upenn.edu/wh/multimedia/tv/reruns/watch/108019

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fah_s1XHswo

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/42577902 (first speaker's paper partly concerns FFYLD; I start speaking around minute 48 minute, but the middle paper is a penetrating look at how adjunct concerns intersect with Jesuit college mission statements)

Excerpts:

http://atticusbooksonline.com/blog/2011/05/16/fight-for-your-ippy-gold/

http://atticusbooksonline.com/books/2010-releases/fight-for-your-long-day/excerpt/

Book Reviews for Fight for Your Long Day

Genealogies of Modernity

"Fight for Your Long Loud Laughs" by Jeffrey Wald at Genealogies of Modernity (January 2022)

The Chronicle of Higher Education
"Considering Adjunct Misery" by William Pannapacker at The Chronicle of Higher Education (March 25, 2013)

American Book Review

"Fight for Your Long Day by Alex Kudera" by Peter Faziani at American Book Review (Winter 2022)

Neworld Review
“The Scholar/Pauper Fights the Good Fight” by Joseph A. Domino at Neworld Review (January 2013)

Philadelphia Inquirer
“Should College Teaching Be a Full-Time Job?” by Joseph N. DiStefano for the Philadelphia Inquirer (January 30, 2011)

The Southeast Review
“Review: Fight For Your Long Day” by Charles Dodd White, The Southeast Review (January 7, 2011)

E. Patrick's Blog
"Book Review: Fight for Your Long Day" by Eric Gilliland at E. Patrick's Blog (April 17, 2014)

Caustic Cover Critic
“Rummaging Around in the Atticus” at Caustic Cover Critic (April 11, 2012)

When Falls The Coliseum
“Book to ponder: Fight for Your Long Day by Alex Kudera” by Michael Leone at When Falls the Coliseum (Jan. 8, 2012)

Small Press Reviews
“Fight for Your Long Day” by Marc Schuster at Small Press Reviews (June 10, 2011)

Inside Higher Ed
“An Adjunct’s Novel” by Scott Jaschik at Inside Higher Ed (September 21, 2010)

This Blog Will Change Your Life
“This Book Will Change Your Life—Fight for Your Long Day by Alex Kudera” by Ben Tanzer at This Blog Will Change Your Life (February 13, 2011)

Contemporary Literary Horizon
"A Debut Novel: Fight for Your Long Day by Alex Kudera” by Don Riggs at Contemporary Literary Horizon (December 23, 2010)

Academe
“A Novel Departure” by Isaac Sweeney, Academe Magazine (January-February 2011)

Michael James Rizza's Gleanings in Literature: a Blog
Alex Kudera's Fight for Your Long Day by Michael James Rizza (July 26, 2013)

Karen the Small Press Librarian
“Guest Review: Alex Kudera reviewed by Joel Thomas” by Joel Thomas at Karen the Small Press Librarian (March 14, 2011)

Author Exposure
“Book Review: Fight for Your Long Day by Alex Kudera” by Shawn Edwards at Author Exposure (March 14, 2011)

Midwest Book Review
“Fiction Shelf: Fight for Your Long Day” by Small Press Bookwatch, Midwest Book Review (December 2010)

Shelfari
“Fight for Your Long Day – A Novel” by Fran Lewis at Shelfari (November 16, 2010)

Steve Himmer
“Fight for Your Long Day” by Steve Himmer on his blog (October 9, 2010)

Freedom from Things
“Book Review: Fight for Your Long Day by Alex Kudera” by Nick Mazzuca at Freedom from Things (December 25, 2010)

Lumpen Professoriat
“Fight for Your Long Day” by LumpenProf at LumpenProfessoriat (September 21, 2010)

Radical Teacher
“Fight for Your Long Day” by Jennifer Gaboury at Radical Teacher (Spring, 2012)

Foreward Magazine
“Fight for Your Long Day” in ForeWord Magazine

You're a Real Live Animal That Lives in My House
“Fight for Your Long Day” at You’re a Real Live Animal That Lives in my House Blog (March 22, 2012)

The New Dork Review of Books
“Fight for Your Long Day: Adjunct Hell” by Greg Zimmerman at The New Dork Review of Books (August 1, 2011)

The Next Best Book Blog
“Review: Fight for Your Long Day” by Lori Hettler at TNBBC’s The Next Best Book Blog (July 23, 2011)

Interviews (Answer and Ask)

Answer:

American, British and Canadian Studies Journal
"An Interview with Alex Kudera, Author of Fight for Your Long Day" by Merritt Moseley (June, 2016)

Chronicle Vitae
"The Novelist Who Chronicles Life as an Adjunct" by William Pannapacker (January 8, 2014)

Word of Mouth (New Hampshire Public Radio)
"Fight for Your Long Day" by Rebecca Lavoie (April 4, 2013)

Foreward Reviews
“One of a Kind: A ForeWord Interview with Alex Kudera” Atticus Books Online (May-June 2011)

The Next Best Book Blog
"In Conversation: Lavinia Ludlow Interviews Alex Kudera" by Lavinia Ludlow (April 26, 2016)

This Podcast Will Change Your Life
"This Podcast Will Change Your Life is the Alex Kudera" by Ben Tanzer (August 17, 2016)

Psychology Today
“Darkly Funny Debut Novel Exposes Adjunct Abuse” by Susan K. Perry, Ph.D., Creating in Flow (January 7, 2012)

Karen the Small Press Librarian
"Writer on Writer: Dave Newman Interviews Alex Kudera" by Dave Newman (September 8, 2013)

Clemson University
“English lecturer’s book explores the plight of the adjunct professor” by Angela Nixon, Clemson University media relations (October 11, 2011)

The Chronicle of Higher Education
“An Award-Winning Author on Adjuncts” by Isaac Sweeney, The Chronicle of Higher Education (June 1, 2011)

When Falls the Coliseum
“The Life of an Adjunct: An Interview with Novelist Alex Kudera” by Robert Anthony Watts, When Falls the Coliseum (November 1, 2010)

We Who Are About to Die
“We who are about to breed: Alex Kudera” by Patrick Wensink, We Who Are About to Die (September 27, 2011)

Smarts and Culture
“How One Author Finds an Audience: Part 1″ by Maryann Devine, smArts and Culture (October 27, 2010)

“How One Author Finds an Audience: Part 2″ by Maryann Devine, smArts and Culture (October 26, 2010)

Atticus Books
“Interview with Alex Kudera, Part 2 of 2′” by Dan Cafaro at Atticus Books Online (August 2, 2010)

“Interview with the Author of ‘Fight for Your Long Day, Part 1′” by Dan Cafaro at Atticus Books Online (July 22, 2010)

The New Dork Review of Books
“The Blogger/Novelist Relationship, with Alex Kudera (Part 2)” by Greg Zimmerman, The New Dork Review of Books (August 8, 2011)

“The Blogger/Novelist Relationship, with Alex Kudera (Part 1)” by Greg Zimmerman, The New Dork Review of Books (August 4, 2011)

And Ask:

"Chinese Gucci: The Interview": Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4, The Less United States of Kudera,
May 12, 15, 19 and 22, 2020

"An Interview with Rebecca Schuman" When Falls the Coliseum, April 13, 2017

"Bay Area Blues: An Interview with Lavinia Ludlow" JMWW, February 29, 2016

"Writer on Writer: Part Two, Alex Kudera Interviews Dave Newman" Karen the Small Press Librarian, September 16, 2013

"An Interview With Nancy Peacock" plus Part 2, and Part 3, The Less United States of Kudera, March 31, 2013 to April 3, 2013

"John Warner on Frederick Exley" When Falls the Coliseum, May 13, 2011

"The Exley Influence: A Riff Between Two Authors 'Falling Inward'" Atticus Books Online, February 25, 2011

"Exley, Clarke, and Eleanor Henderson" When Falls the Coliseum, November 9, 2010

"Interview With Mark SaFranko" When Falls the Coliseum, October 19, 2010

"Interview With Dan Cafaro of Atticus Books" When Falls the Coliseum, August 9, 2010

"An Interview With Lee Konstantinou" When Falls the Coliseum, May 13, 2010

"An Interview With Jean-Philippe Toussaint" When Falls the Coliseum, April 19, 2010

"Returning 'Home': An Interview With Jayne Anne Phillips" The South Carolina Review, Spring 2010 (link to table of contents but not the interview)

"Interview With Olga Gardner Galvin" When Falls the Coliseum, June 22, 2009

"An Interview With Author Dan Fante" When Falls the Coliseum, May 21, 2009

"The Writing Life Starring Iain Levison" The Less United States of Kudera, May 4, 2009

"An Interview With Cassendre Xavier" The Less United States of Kudera, March 15, 2009

"Don Riggs on Writers and Writing" The Less United States of Kudera, March 9, 2009

which is it?

If I could only figure out if we're in austerity or growth, boom years or lean times. . .

. . . regardless, the birds are chirping outside at 7 a.m.

What are they saying?

"Hey, Teach, quit yapping and grade some more papers, why don't you?"

In a world where even the poor and on the go are no longer reaching past the dollar menu for the supersized fries, it's hard to believe business is as booming as the latest jobs figures suggest.

Did I mention that a gallon of milk is $3.97 at Wal-Mart in South Carolina?

A gallon of gas, we'll talk about another day.

feed the fire

The Huffington Post recognizes that Atticus Books is a publisher intent on lighting the lamp of literature.

american hunger

Is it possible we live in a broken country where children go hungry, and there is no political will to fight this or merely a state in which the two major "sides" have no ability, interest, or need to do so?

Of course, the DJIA has continued to improve upon its record close of yesterday, and in national newspapers we're joking about the "snowquester," so it's possible everything will be fine.

Or, near fine, at the very least. I suppose we should note that James Joyce's children also lived in poverty. Quite often, I think.

AWP

AWP

transnational food and beverage professional at your service

Some folks know how to live; or rather they learn how to escape and invent, and escape again and reinvent, and so on. Other folks know how to make a fantastic flyer for what looks to be a stimulating evening of Bolsheviks, "blacks," Memphis, Yale, jazz, booze, xenophobia, Moscow, Turkey, and more.

bargain or betrayal?

I couldn't help but notice that President Obama's new "signaling" that he is prepared to discuss cuts to the social safety net, and such programs as social security and medicaid, is exactly what Bill Black has been terming the administration's marketed Grand Bargain which in essence is a Great Betrayal for the vast majority of Americans.

Black, and many others, suggest that both parties are responsible, perhaps equally, for the Sequester and its impending "austerity" that will indeed hurt the less fortunate much more than the "haves." It's all very reminscent of President Clinton's "successful" reform, termed Welfare-to-Work, but I wouldn't want President Bush's No Child Left Behind to feel neglected here. I suppose it's just crazy fun that all these nifty new programs appear effective when the economy is on the rise or on the mend.

Alas, unlike Clinton's boom years and even Bush's housing bubble "good times," this "recovery," is a recovery of corporate profits and not one that is producing jobs that real living "regular" Americans can or will do. As everyone has noted, though, we are producing drones, food stamps, and the novelty of concurrent rising student-debt default rates and relief programs. Hey, we may not have the cure for all the debt burdens plaguing the median American, but at least we can rest easy knowing that President Obama has chosen a budget specialist straight out of Made-in-the-USA Wal-Mart to help heal our national wounds.

But what else is new?

Health coverage, or so we can hope.