Links referenced in this vlog

• A Deaf Adult Speaks Out by Leo Jacob
• Deaf Heritage, by Jack Gannon
• Deaf In America: Voices from a Culture by Carol Padden and Tom L. Humphries
• Growing Up Deaf by Jamie Berke
• Alone in the Mainstream by Gina Olivia

Michelle: Thank you

Jose: What? Deaf authors Books??? I've absolutely do NEVER heard of it! Only I saw the Boarder Books Store where i found the ASL for babies book and dat is ALL. However, Not ALL of it. I was enjoyed many different type books and magazines, But I dont THINKS of their deaf ppl who wrote it in the book, Nobody of it, Expects it 4 available in all deaf educational Skool are ONLY and not in ALL the Stores of the Mall. U Shld go seen there is NOTHING books for the deaf company. Nope. U can go check out of Boarder Stores or Other any Books in the Mall.

James: I really enjoyed watching these vlogs about deaf authors. I didn't realize there were that many deaf authors, but they were indeed back in the olden days mostly. And yes things have changed but I think we can still get the ideas from these books if we do read them about ourselves. I haven't read any of those listed books but I think I willa after hearing about those authors. I, myself am already writing a book. I am deaf but the book isn't about deaf culture or anything such..but it will involved a deaf character..perhaps a couple but then again its a hearing's world we're in so the majority of the people in my book will be hearing. I have been working on this book for 5 months now and plan to have it finished in a year or 2 from now. I feel this has encouraged me more to do this so. thanks for posting this wonderful information about deaf authors.

Colleen: As a ASL interpreter student, I really enjoy these vlogs, they help me with my recptive skills.

Raymond: Never mind--everything seems okay now. Thanks again for your patience!

Raymond: Hello--I tried to cut and paste my longer comments but they were truncated. Is there any way around this space problem? Thanks!

Raymond: Lauren: While I do appreciate you pointing out these books by Deaf writers, I am a bit disappointed that you didn't point out either anthology that I've edited: EYES OF DESIRE: A DEAF GAY & LESBIAN READER (Alyson, 1993) won two Lambda Literary Award nominations, and the new anthology EYES OF DESIRE 2: A DEAF GLBT READER has stories and interviews by over 85 Deaf and hearing gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) people sharing their experiences from over the world. These two books combined brought to light a total of over 125 folks from the Deaf GLBT community who were "heard" in print for the first time; more so in the second volume, they represent a nice handful of true diversity rarely found in books about Deaf people. Jack Gannon's book DEAF HERITAGE, as fundamentally important as it was at the time, does not even acknowledge the existence of Deaf GLBT communities and organizations in America. I should know because when I got his book, I was a closeted deaf gay man in need of Deaf role models. I didn't find any in that book and had to wait a few years before I arrived at Gallaudet and found other Deaf GLBT people. Only years later did I find out that many Deaf leaders in the book were gay and lesbian. That's got to change. Not only that, my forthcoming Deaf gay novel MEN WITH THEIR HANDS won first place in the Project: QueerLit 2006 Contest. The hearing publisher Suspect Thoughts Press will bring out the book, which will be my eighth title to see publication, in the spring of 2008. It is my hope that in your future vlogs about literature written in English by Deaf people and ASL literature created by Deaf people, you will include more recent titles by Deaf writers and ASL poets and storytellers. They will be part of Deaf history in the future. People who've mastered the intricacies of ASL have stories and poems that are just as important as those who've mastered the intricacies of English well enough to get published "out there" in the hearing world. We are certainly out there. Thank you for pointing out the importance of "listening" to our Deaf writers. I look forward to learning more about your experiences in future vlogs. Sincerely, Raymond Luczak BOOKS * FILMS * PLAYS http://www.raymondluczak.com/

Jorge: I checked the dates of the books and most of these books are old. The only book that was published recently is the one with the title: "Alone in the Mainstream." I want Deaf / Hard-of-Hearing authors to write books on Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing issues including employment, communication barriers, etc. at this present time. I am not interested in reading books written by Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing authors many years ago because a lot of things have changed in the Deaf / Hard-of-Hearing community these days.

Ryan: Lauren, thanks so much for sharing the story about our deaf authors. I am always a big fan of Jack Gannon since I am a kid. I met him in my high school at once. I must admit that I want to be an author someday, but writing is not my best subject. However, who knows? I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving! :)