A Historical Moment with Toni Morrison

3/7/2013

Three Days Before the First Ever

Toni Morrison

Digital Book Signing Event…

Nobel Laureate and novelist, Toni Morrison (who just turned 82 on February 18)
and Bay Area novelist, poet, and MacArthur “Genius Award” recipient Ishmael Reed conversed live from the legendary Harlem Arts Salon on February 24, 2013.

On the same day, I visited the Toni Morrison Elementary School and the Toni Morrison Reading room in the Lorrain Public Library where I met some of the nicest people.

Lorain, Ohio

Lorain Public Library The Toni Morrison Reading Room

The Toni Morrison Reading Room in the Lorain Public Library

Mr. George recalls how his family migrated from Alabama to Ohio. He welcomed me into the Toni Morrison Reading Room with a wonderful smile. Thank you Mr. George!

Then on February 27 at 3 p.m, Ms. Morrison participated in a first ever digital book signing of her latest novel, “Home,” using a Wacom tablet from New York’s Google offices. Additionally, she participated in a live Google+ Hangout celebrating the culmination of Black History Month. I had the honor to be 1 out of 5 people in the country selected to participate in an intimate conversation with Ms. Morrison where at the end of the event she graced all five of us with a signed digital copy of “Home.” A heartfelt thanks to Ms. Morrison and Google+ for a memorable experience!

32 Comments

Dov Shapira link

3/8/2013 06:40:36 am

I was watching the 2nd video, Miss Morison sounds very wise
Dov

Yvonne Brown

3/10/2013 05:03:57 am

Thanks Dov! Like her works, Ms. Morrison is deeply penetrating.

Heather Petersen link

3/8/2013 06:41:38 am

Thank You! I love your work!

3/10/2013 04:44:42 am

Thanks for your support Heather!! It means so much!

Jemaria Ware

3/8/2013 09:04:36 am

I love Toni Morrison's work. I have this latest book but I have not read it yet. This just made me excited to do so. Wow what a wonderful experience.

3/10/2013 04:47:58 am

I am so glad my blog inspired you to Morrison's work! Check out www.tonimorrisonsociety.org and consider becoming a member! Best wishes to you and please share your reaction to HOME here when you get around to it. Thanks!

Betsy Charlesworth link

3/8/2013 10:50:53 am

I love Toni Morrison and am so excited for this book. I'm not a big reader, but I will stop and read this one for sure.

3/10/2013 04:49:54 am

Thanks for stopping by Betsy! Check out www.tonimorrisonsociety.org and consider becoming a member. Also, "like" the TMS on FB too! Best wishes to you!

Tanya J. Peterson link

3/8/2013 12:21:46 pm

Wow, Yvonne! What an honor to have been selected to be part of a conversation with Toni Morrison. From what I know of you, although only through online connections, I can assert with confidence that that honor was highly deserved. I am ashamed to admit that, while I of course have heard of Toni Morrison, I have not yet read any of her works. I now have two wonderful literary works that have rocketed to the top of my (long) reading list: Home, and your Crying Girl. My sixteen-year-old daughter will also greatly enjoy both, and I'm excited to have discussions with her about these works. Congratulations to you and may you continue to create success for yourself with the support of your mentors!

3/10/2013 04:51:33 am

Dearest Tanya,

Thank you for making my day! I wish you and your family the best!

YB

Claire @ A Little Claireification link

3/9/2013 02:54:34 am

Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your sweet comment! :) Claire

3/10/2013 04:52:27 am

Hi Claire! It is my pleasure! Best wishes to you and do come back!

Ericka Hagan link

3/9/2013 06:32:28 am

Great blog! Looking forward to more posts, Blessings :)

Rebecca Vance link

3/9/2013 08:28:49 am

Thanks Yvonne for your comment about a picture of the Saluki breed of dog. I added that as a comment/reply on my blog, so you can see it there now. It is the picture on the home page of the Saluki Welfare Fund website. I love the piece about Toni Morrison. I remember in one of my literature classes in college, her novel, Beloved, was required reading. I absolutely love that book, then and now. She is a very talented author. That is one thing about literature classes. Sometimes, as in this instance, you have to read a particular book, maybe outside of what you would normally read, and you expand your horizons. I am so grateful to have read it, because her beautiful prose brought the slavery issue front and center and you could not only see it, but you could feel it, taste it, and hear all the noises and sounds from it. A very powerful book and a very talented author. :)

3/10/2013 04:56:15 am

Hi Rebecca!

The Saluki breed is beautiful! Thanks for sharing the pic! As I've mentioned to others on this blog, since you "love Morrison," you may want to consider becoming a member of the Toni Morrison Society and staying connected on FB. Beloved is a very powerful book and it moved me in the same way it moved you. You have a generous heart and I welcome you to visit again! WIshing you and those beautiful dogs all the best!

YB

Jen @ Existential Evolution link

3/9/2013 11:34:00 pm

Wow that looks like a fantastic event! So happy you were able to be a part of it!

3/10/2013 04:57:20 am

Hey Jen!

Thanks for your support and kind words! I wish you the best! Please stop by again!

3/13/2013 03:30:29 am

I'm so proud of you and am sure that you were elated to have such a wonderful opportunity to interact/converse with your mentor. I'm very much looking forward to The Crying Girl.

Explode Your Business Online @Norma Doiron link

3/26/2013 03:38:41 pm

Tks for sharing, I did not know about this book. Will check it out!

Erin link

3/26/2013 07:44:59 pm

I did not know about this book either! How fun and what an honor to be given the opportunity to meet Toni! Thanks for sharing and I will have to check this book out! :)

denny link

3/27/2013 12:56:42 am

Wow! How exciting for you! Love Ms Morrison's work!

Carla J Gardiner link

3/27/2013 02:56:12 am

How exciting to be a part of history in the making. The virtual signing of a book by it's author, Toni Morrison...imagine what our grandparents would be thinking right now...something out of the Twilight Zone. Congratulations for a wonderful gift and thank you for sharing the interview with all of us.

Cindy Taylor link

3/27/2013 03:00:57 am

Wow....what an awesome experience you had....and thanks for sharing it with us too! So fun!

Carele Belanger link

3/27/2013 04:28:33 am

wow, this is amazing. thank you for sharing your experience with us.!

Gary Hyman link

3/27/2013 06:31:41 am

Great you were able to be part of this event & thanks for sharing it with us. I sense your excitement through this post.

Daniele Holmberg link

3/27/2013 09:25:55 am

That is awesome! I had never heard of a digital book signing before! Thanks for sharing:)

Meire Weishaupt link

3/27/2013 11:09:54 am

How exciting, it looks like you had a lot of fun! Thanks for sharing this nice visit!

Alexandra McAllister link

3/27/2013 12:27:52 pm

WOW! Thanks for sharing this! So glad you were part of this event! You must be thrilled!

Shari link

3/27/2013 10:00:21 pm

How cool this is! The first Morrison book I read was The Bluest Eye, and I think Sula remains my favorite after all this time. Loved reading this; thanks for sharing it!

Jennifer link

4/7/2013 05:18:33 am

This is a huge honor for you (well-deserved, I'm sure!) and I can't imagine how exciting it must have been. Thanks for sharing. I know of Toni Morrison by reputation, but don't have much time to read fiction unfortunately. I did read The Bluest Eye a long time ago and thought it was fabulous. She is definitely an extremely gifted writer.

TheGirl link

9/22/2013 06:18:12 am

That's pretty awesome, I was just thinking about her yesterday and her work on The Bluest Eye

Byron Suggs link

10/3/2013 12:03:14 am

Good stuff, Yvonne!

A Historical Moment with Toni Morrison

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