Things I should have told my daughter : lies, lessons and love affairs

In this inspiring memoir—that Jane Fonda raves "will make you braver...want to live your life better and make a difference"—the award-winning playwright and bestselling author of What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day reminisces on the art of juggling marriage, motherhood, and politics while working to hone her craft as a writer. Before she become one of America's most popular playwrights and a bestselling author with a novel endorsed by Oprah's Book Club, Pearl Cleage was a struggling writer going through personal and professional turmoil. In Things I Should Have Told My Daughter , Cleage takes us back to the 1970s and 80s, when she was a young wife and mother trying to find her voice as a writer. Living in Atlanta, she worked alongside Maynard Jackson, the city's first black mayor and it was here among fraught politics that she began to feel the pull of her own dreams—a pull that led her away from her husband as she grappled with ideas of feminism and self-fulfillment. In the tradition of literary giants such as Joan Didion, Nora Ephron, and Maya Angelou, Cleage crafts an illuminating and moving self-portrait in which her "extraordinary experiences, deep social concerns, passionate self-analysis, and personal and artistic liberation, all so openly confided, make for a highly charged, redefining read" ( Booklist ). "In this inspiring memoir, the award-winning playwright and bestselling author of What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day reminisces on the art of juggling marriage, motherhood, and politics while working to become a successful writer. In addition to being one of the most popular living playwrights in America, Pearl Cleage is a bestselling author with an Oprah Book Club pick and multiple awards to her credit. But there was a time when such stellar success seemed like a dream. In this revelatory and deeply personal work, Cleage takes readers back to the 1970s and '80s, retracing her struggles to hone her craft amidst personal and professional tumult. Though born and raised in Detroit, it was in Atlanta that Cleage encountered the forces that would most shape her experience. Married to Michael Lomax, now head of the United Negro College Fund, she worked with Maynard Jackson, Atlanta's first African-American mayor. Lies, Lessons & Love Affairs charts not only the political fights, but also the pull she began to feel to focus on her own passions, including writing--a pull that led her away from Lomax as she grappled with ideas of feminism and self-fulfillment. This fascinating memoir follows her journey from a columnist for a local weekly (bought by Larry Flynt) to a playwright and Hollywood script writer, an artist at the crossroads of culture and politics whose circle came to include luminaries like Richard Pryor, Avery Brooks, Phylicia Rashad, Shirley Franklin, and Jesse Jackson. By the time Oprah Winfrey picked What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day as a favorite, Cleage had long since arrived as a writer of renown. In the tradition of greats like Susan Sontag, Joan Didion, and Nora Ephron, Cleage's self-portrait raises women's confessional writing to the level of great literature"-- Provided by publisher In This Inspiring Memoir, The Award-winning Playwright And Bestselling Author Of What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day Reminisces On The Art Of Juggling Marriage, Motherhood, And Politics While Working To Become A Successful Writer. In Addition To Being One Of The Most Popular Living Playwrights In America, Pearl Cleage Is A Bestselling Author With An Oprah Book Club Pick And Multiple Awards To Her Credit. But There Was A Time When Such Stellar Success Seemed Like A Dream. In This Revelatory And Deeply Personal Work, Cleage Takes Readers Back To The 1970s And '80s, Retracing Her Struggles To Hone Her Craft Amidst Personal And Professional Tumult. Though Born And Raised In Detroit, It Was In Atlanta That Cleage Encountered The Forces That Would Most Shape Her Experience. Married To Michael Lomax, Now Head Of The United Negro College Fund, She Worked With Maynard Jackson, Atlanta's First African-american Mayor. Lies, Lessons & Love Affairs Charts Not Only The Political Fights, But Also The Pull She Began To Feel To Focus On Her Own Passions, Including Writing--a Pull That Led Her Away From Lomax As She Grappled With Ideas Of Feminism And Self-fulfillment. This Fascinating Memoir Follows Her Journey From A Columnist For A Local Weekly (bought By Larry Flynt) To A Playwright And Hollywood Script Writer, An Artist At The Crossroads Of Culture And Politics Whose Circle Came To Include Luminaries Like Richard Pryor, Avery Brooks, Phylicia Rashad, Shirley Franklin, And Jesse Jackson. By The Time Oprah Winfrey Picked What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day As A Favorite, Cleage Had Long Since Arrived As A Writer Of Renown. In The Tradition Of Greats Like Susan Sontag, Joan Didion, And Nora Ephron, Cleage's Self-portrait Raises Women's Confessional Writing To The Level Of Great Literature-- Pearl Cleage. In this inspiring memoir, the award-winning playwright and bestselling author of What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day reminisces on the art of juggling marriage, motherhood, and politics while working to become a successful writer. In addition to being one of the most popular living playwrights in America, Pearl Cleage is a bestselling author with an Oprah Book Club pick and multiple awards to her credit, but there was a time when such stellar success seemed like a dream. In this revelatory and deeply personal work, Cleage takes readers back to the 1970s and 80s, retracing her struggles to hone her craft amid personal and professional tumult. Though born and raised in Detroit, it was in Atlanta that Cleage encountered the forces that would most shape her experience. At the time, married to Michael Lomax, now head of the United Negro College Fund, she worked with Maynard Jackson, Atlantas first African-American mayor. Things I Should Have Told My Daughter charts not only the political fights but also the pull she began to feel on her own passionsa pull that led her away from Lomax as she grappled with ideas of feminism and self-fulfillment. This fascinating memoir follows her journey from a columnist for a local weekly to a playwright and Hollywood scriptwriter whose circle came to include luminaries Richard Pryor, Avery Brooks, Phylicia Rashad, Shirley Franklin, and Jesse Jackson. In the tradition of giants such as Susan Sontag, Joan Didion, Nora Ephron, and Maya Angelou, Cleages self-portrait raises womens confessional writing to the level of fine literature. "An inspiring and revelatory memoir of juggling marriage, motherhood and politics as she worked to become a successful writer and self-fulfilled woman"-- Provided by publisher