Episode 291 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.
In this week’s episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about the new fiction anthology, A Very French Christmas, from New Vessel Press.
NOTES
Some context for the dubious Dutch tradition of Black Pete.
David Sedaris discusses this in his essay, “6 to 8 Black Men.”
Be sure to check out the music of David Rego, whose song “Harp” appears on this episode.
Dave Rego
Episode 291 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.
The Drunken Odyssey 
A nice episode this week. There’s something very satisfying when I’m doing the ironing and listening to ‘The Drunken Odyssey’ when you’re talking about a book quoting stories and using terms and ideas I can understand. That makes it sound like it happens rarely, but in fact I do the ironing every day. Also, sometimes the stuff that gets talked about goes so far over my head it leaves a contrail. Or maybe just alongside my head so fast I can’t get a handle on it.
I started this comment with a point in mind, but have lost it completely. Oh, yes, that’s what it was. ‘A Florida Christmas’. Don’t be worried about, or ahamed or confused or chagrined or whatever other emotions that get conjured up, by having a Christmas with pine trees and snow and Disney faux neve soap. It’s the same with people here talking about Father Christmas’s (or “Santa’s”, which makes my gorge rise) sleigh being pulled by kangaroos. Christmas is a cultural thing. It may have originated in the MIddle East, but celebrating it comes from the bits of Europe that we carry with us in our culture. So stay with the pine trees, the snow and the antlered hats.
Joyeux Noel (or, since it’s Florida, Felice Navidad)
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