Ross Perot (1930 – 2019)
“Failures are like skinned knees: painful but superficial.” — Ross Perot
Ross Perot passed away of leukemia today. As a student in Texas in the 80s, Perot was a household name well before he was a presidential candidate. He oversaw a TX public schools reform committee which led to No Pass No Play and so we students talked of him often and worried of the sweeping changes he wrought. I saw an original Magna Carta at the National Archives thanks to his loan of the document which he purchased in 1984. He (or, rather, his foundation) sold it at auction in 2007 because Perot wanted funds to start projects for wounded soldiers, medical research and education.Perot was pro-choice, supported Planned Parenthood and gay rights, increased AIDS research and stricter gun controls like assault rifle bans. He supported veterans beyond measure and so many other civic causes including museums, hospitals, and more. He was a true Texan, veteran and philanthropist of great distinction. What a firecracker.
This line from the New York Times obituary says it all:Mr. Perot remained proud of his singular life. “Eagles don’t flock,” he told visitors in Dallas. “You have to find them one at a time.”
Rest in peace. #RossPerot #RIPRossPerot
My memoir Burn Down the Ground (Random House) hit The New York Times Best Seller list!
Performed on “Women of Letters” at Joe’s Pub with Molly Ringwald, Stoya, Deborah Chopaken & others.
Opened a new performance space / learning center called Q.E.D. in Astoria, Queens.
Performed and presented at the WV Writers’ Conference.
Gave a presentation followed by a Q&A and book signing as part of the Town Hall Speaker Series in North Platte, Nebraska.
Appeared at Fox Cities Book Festival in Wisconsin where I gave two presentations on my memoir BURN DOWN THE GROUND.
The TV show pilot I starred in called FAMILY SECRETS is re-airing on Lifetime Movie Network tonight 11/24 at 9PM & 1AM EST and again on 11/29 at 9AM EST!
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Appearing in a docu-drama called “Family Secrets” airing on Lifetime Movie Network (LMN) October 27th at 10PM. DVR it. Drink wine. Watch & laugh/cry.
I’ve been invited to perform a workshop of my solo show adapted from my memoir at The PIT’s first ever Solo Comedy Festival celebrating new works. 11/10 @ 3PM – $5 BUY TICKETS
I’m giving a presentation / reading / performance at the NY Public Library on 8/21. Free! ASL interpreted! Click here for the Facebook invite. Or here for the library’s page.
I Performed a Medley in ASL
I sang an ASL medley of all the songs featured in stories on “The Soundtrack Series”. FF to 2:55 if you want to skip to the ASL.
Appeared at the SC Festival of the Book in Colubmia, SC.
Was a guest speaker at Illinois State University sponsored by the Deaf Redbirds and St. John’s University.
Spoke at Rutgers University as part of their Mark Conference.
Was the keynote speaker for the regional conference of the Association of Late-Deafaned Adults (ALDA).
Gave a presentation about my deaf family and domestic violence at the Administration of Children’s Services in New York City.
Performed a 45-minute solo show presentation in Madison, Wisconsin as part of the Wisconsin Book Festival.
Wrote an essay for The Huffington Post about Mayor Bloomberg’s ASL interpreter extraordinaire Lydia Callis & the ensuing spoofs on comedy shows.
Teresa Thome interviewed me as part of the GRCC Bob and Aleicia Woodrick Diversity Campaign. Watch on YouTube here: Diversity Conversation
Toured Oregon where I appeared at Wordstock in Portland, the library in the deliciously quaint Cannon Beach and the University of Oregon in Eugene.
Appeared on the Risk! Show and podcast. Download the MP3 or iTunes audio versions, listen online or watch the YouTube video.
I’ve been invited to the book festivals this fall in Austin, TX; Portland, OR; Madison, WI; Cincinnati, OH and lots of other bookstores, universities and schools. Check out my calendar for details. I hope to see you soon!
Interviewed on PRX’s “Out of Bounds” with Tish Pearlman. Loved this interview because I got to talk a lot. Heh. Listen here.
Appeared on The Moth podcast for a story I told at a Mainstage Show in Saranac Lake. Listen on iTunes: Kambri Crews: A Blind Ear or on TheMoth.org’s Feed.
Appeared on the John Batchelor Show on WABC. Listen here or download the podcast.
Was the keynote speaker at the National Black Deaf Advocates regional conference in Cleveland, OH.
Gave the keynote address at the annual “Friends of the School of Nursing” luncheon benefiting the UT Health Science Center of San Antonio.
Appeared live in-studio on the Leonard Lopate Show. Listen here.
My new favorite review appears in this Sunday’s The Dallas Morning News!
Wrote an essay for Huffington Post about life being tough & how we should all laugh more. Read it here.
Glamour magazine thinks I’m an inspiring voice. Check out their interview with me.
Had a really fantastic interview on Dallas NPR affiliate’s who “Think” hosted by Krys Boyd.
Appeared on the podcast How Was Your Week with host Julie Klausner.
Was interviewed in Women’s Wear Daily Click here to read & to see the pictures.
Shelf Awareness gave this fantastic review of BURN DOWN THE GROUND and a separate profile / interview for Shelf Awareness for Readers. The Writer’s Life Kambri Crews: Self-Reliance, Storytelling and Healing
From Kirkus Reviews, “The World’s Toughest Book Critics,” comes this review of BURN DOWN THE GROUND: “A New York publicist and producer’s unsparing yet compassionate account of her dysfunctional childhood and the father who both charmed and victimized her family…Poignant and unsettling.” Read the entire review.
Interviewed in the Chicago Tribune for this celebrity travel piece called “Go Away With…” in which I talk travel to San Antonio, Matagorda Bay, Peru, etc.
ELLE magazine gave a glowing review of BURN DOWN THE GROUND in the March 2012 issue. Click here to read it.
Was invited to attend the Ohioana Book Festival in Columbus, OH on May 12th.
Lisa Lampanelli guest reviewed Burn Down the Ground for Amazon. Check it out!
Sneak Peak
Here’s a sneak peak of my memoir, my lovelies. I made it just for you. I hope you like it!
http://www.scribd.com/doc/76253236/Burn-Down-the-Ground-by-Kambri-Crews-Early-Excerpt
Received another amazing review for BURN DOWN THE GROUND from Publishers Weekly in which they describe it as “a remarkable odyssey of scorched earth, collateral damage, and survival.” They also called it a “harrowing memoir” and an “extraordinary story” and said I “face the truth with an unflinching eye.” Whoa. Read the full profile here.
Received a rave review for BURN DOWN THE GROUND: A MEMOIR from Publishers Weekly which called it “intensely readable.” Click here to read the article.
Holiday special! Pre-order my memoir & I’ll send you an autographed bookplate & something from my apartment! Click here for details.
Ballyhoo client and awesome husband Christian Finnegan performed on Conan. Watch the clip.
Gave a presentation to over 650 students in Montgomery, TX about my book, life in New York City and how I made it out of the back woods to where I am now. They didn’t boo or hiss, laughed in the right spots and asked lots of questions. I’d consider that a success. Plus, they were awesome.
Launched a Kickstarter project to re-vamp the East Village night spot Luca Lounge. The money raised will transform the leaky party space into an independent comedy venue. Click here to learn more and/or donate to the cause.
Praise
Received praise for Burn Down the Ground: A Memoir from Sister Helen Prejean, Janeane Garofalo, Annabelle Gurwitch, Paula Froelich, Hillary Carlip, and more. Read what they had to say, here.
