“A death brings you back to life; washes you in the blood; sanctifies you.” – Camonghne Felix, Dyscalculia
Hello Family,
Meet Camonghne Felix of the Lit 16. She is a poet, essayist, and memoirist. She is the author of Build Yourself a Boat, which was longlisted for the National Book Award in Poetry. Her essays have been featured in Vanity Fair, New York, Teen Vogue, and other places. Dyscalculia: A Love Story of Epic Miscalculation is her debut memoir and will be released on Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2023).
Here’s what Deesha Philyaw, author of the award-winning short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, had to say about Camonghne’s memoir:
“Dyscalculia took my breath, grabbed my heart, and made me see. It brought me back to every heartbreak I’ve ever endured, and I marveled at Camonghne Felix’s deep knowing and even deeper articulation of the pain of loss—the loss of self, the loss of love—and the pathway back to healing and something like wholeness. This book is a gift and a miracle, and Felix’s pen and heart are full of the most beautiful fire.”
Be sure to tune in to see Camonghne, and three other members of the Lit 16, read and converse at::
The Lit 16: Second-Quarter Fire Circle Virtual Readings
White Whale Bookstore
Thursday, January 19, 2023
7 p.m. EST
To register, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lit16-camonghne-felix-dante-stewart-david-dennis-jr-m-shelly-conner-registration-413730929347
You can purchase copies of Dyscalculia: A Love Story of Epic Miscalculation at the White Whale Bookstore Lit 16 site. Follow Camonghne on Instagram and Twitter.
We hope to see you there. And thank you for your support!
Blessings upon blessings,
Robert
In the spirit of community over competition, the Lit 16 is how Deesha Philyaw, Kiese Laymon, and I decided to use our platforms to shine a light on emerging writers whose art has impacted, inspired, and moved us in ways that we wanted to honor and share with you.
We could have easily created a Lit 64; there are so many fantastic recent works that we adore. Unfortunately, for many reasons, we are unable to accommodate that large of a scope. However, we do encourage all of our artistic peers to advance toward the directive set forth by the iconic and legendary Ancestor Toni Morrison: “If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.”
Be sure to follow the #Lit16 hashtag on social media and subscribe to Witness to stay up-to-date on upcoming Lit 16 events. Thank you so very much for joining us in celebration.
The Lit 16: Honoring sixteen emerging literary artists whose works are changing the game.
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