People keep asking me "When you gonna finally write that novel?" Well, this is the moment. I am sitting down during the month of November to write my first novel. As a matter of fact I am participating in a national writing marathon where I will write a 175 page, 50,000 word novel during the 30 days of November. This way, that inner critic telling me this sucks will have to compete with the competitive kahlil trying to reach a specific goal. This will be the greatest test of my will since I will probably never run an actual physical marathon.
But I need your help! In addition to writing my novel I am trying to finish the book component for my CD/book project CounterIntelligence. I am working on this book with an extremely talented artist Fuse Green, executive director of Free Magazine and creator of Wheat Bread Clothing. The book will have graphic collage interpretations of each of the poems in the book. This way the project will blur the lines between the written word and the spoken word, lyrics and literature. I have tried to get several grants to complete this project, but have been unsuccessful. So now I am coming to Da People!
During the month of November, you can sponsor my Write-athon by making a donation. I am trying to raise an ambitious $2,500 through my mental sweat and tears. Donations can be made through the link on this site through PayPal. You do not have to worry if you do not have a PayPal account, you can pay with a credit card. PayPal is a secure way to make payments online, that is why I am using it. In return you will receive one of several gifts.
Donation/Gift Breakdown:
- Ally - $25 - UNLEARN. T-shirt Comrade - $50 - CounterIntelligence CD - Your name listed as a sponsor. (plus all of the above) Secret Agent - $100 - Chapbooks times 3 - I'm Crying Everyone's Tears, Chivalry Is Dead, and a special collection of unpublished poems (plus all of the above) Double Agent - $200 - One of the last 9 First Edition signed copies of Grandma's Soup. This is my first book currently out of print. I only have nine original copies left that I was planning on giving to my children.(plus all of the above)
These gifts are merely a small token of my appreciation. Please give what you can, $5, $10 or a message or thought of encouragement.
I will update my myspace blog regularly with reports from my writing journey. Or you can email me at [email protected] to sign up for my newsletter.
Until soon,
peace & light
kahlil almustafa is the People’s Poet, whether for a mass rally of hundreds of people, a nightclub, church, university or a backyard family reunion. He uses the stage & page to speak the truth of the people. almustafa is the 2002 Nuyorican Grand Slam Champion and the author of two collections of poetry: Grandma's Soup (February 2001) and I'm Crying Everyone's Tears (August 2002) which has sold more than 5,000 copies internationally. almustafa released his highly anticipated debut CD CounterIntelligence (May 2006).
"kahlil almustafas poetry has a mixture of content and soul. It comes out as powerful in its message as it does in its style. - Ras Baraka, Deputy Majority Leader of Newark
almustafa has opened for and shared the stage with Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, Manning Marable, dead prez, Floetry, Dilated Peoples, Motown Recording Artist Donnie and tours regularly with the live hip-hop/rock band GAME Rebellion. He has been a featured poet at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, the C-Span televised “March to End Occupation in Iraq,†Columbia, NYU, Indiana, Yale, Wesleyan, Northwestern, Princeton, the International African Arts Festival, the Harlem Book Festival, the Afrikan Poetry Theatre, the Baltimore Arts Festival, the Pacifica Radio, the National Black Writer's Conference, Afro-Punk Liberation Sessions and many more.
"The words of kahlil almustafa are both fierce and loving, chilling yet warm, a reminder that poetry goes beyond spoken word touching not only the ears, but the heart and the soul. His work possesses an integrity reserved for the truly gifted, one that reminds the elders and the ancestors that we are still here, still fighting-with genuine spirits like kahlil on the frontlines." - Toni Blackman, Author Inner-Course/US Hip Hop Ambassador
In addition to performing and writing, almustafa is a dedicated educator. He conducts regular workshops at universities, schools, community organizations and prisons. Some of his workshops include Poetry Is a Necessity, Poetry in Our Communities, Metaphorically Speaking and Poetry for Social Change.
almustafa is currently a performer and speaker on the Hip Hop Is Dead Tour spearheaded by Rosa Clemente of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement – the follow-up to the Speak Truth to Power Tour (2003-05). The tour also features M-1 and Stic.man from dead prez, Immortal Technique, Jennifer “J-Love†Calderon, co-founder of the B-Boy Summit, Boots Riley from The Coup, Marinieves Alba, co-founder of the International Hip Hop Exchange (IMX) and Dawn-Elisa Fischer, co-founder of the co-founder of the National Hip Hop Political Convention. The tour is dedicated to raising consciousness about identity, the war, the role of hip-hop, sexism, reparations and political prisoners.
His upcoming book Chivalry is Dead, a collection of poems discussing gender, sexism, masculinity and romance, will be released Spring 2007.