The Province (Vancouver, B.C.) Pop Culture Columnist favorably reviews Mondo Barbie edited by Richard Peabody & Lucinda Ebersole

Today, Sunday, May 9, 1993, The Province newspaper in Vancouver, British Columbia, published a Pop Culture column by Lee Bacchus, "Barbie lives, not only on shelves but in art, films" that reviews Mondo Barbie, edited by Richard Peabody & Lucinda Ebersole.

Gainesville Sun & Miami Herald on Richard Grayson's "Twelve Step Barbie" in MONDO BARBIE

The Gainesville Sun (May 9, 1993) and Miami Herald (May 4, 1993) have articles on Mondo Barbie, edited by Richard Peabody and Lucinda Ebersole (St. Martin's Press) with work by Denise Duhamel, A.M. Homes, Sandra Cisneros, Kathryn Harrison, Margie Piercy, Alice McDermott, Gregg Shapiro, Lynne Barrett, Lyn Lifshin and others, including Richard Grayson, represented by his story "Twelve Step Barbie."

Irish Newspaper The Star Attacks Richard Grayson for Portraying Barbie as an Alcoholic and Ken as Transgender

Today (April 19, 1993), The Star, a newspaper in Dublin, Ireland, published an article, "Boozer Barbie's Sex Op Shock," attacking author Richard Grayson for portraying Barbie as an alcoholic and Ken as transgender in his story "Twelve-Step Barbie."

Los Angeles Times reports on Richard Grayson's "Twelve Step Barbie"

The Los Angeles Times today (Tuesday, April 6, 1993) has an "Only in L.A." column by Steve Harvey on page B2 that mentions a story by Richard Grayson in Mondo Barbie, edited by Richard Peabody and Lucinda Ebersole (St. Martin's Press):


That girl: The editors of "Mondo Barbie" describe their irreverent anthology of fiction and poetry dealing with the improbably shaped blonde as "the answer to . . . all that misplaced Barbie Angst, all that childhood conditioning, torture and repression."

All in 185 pink pages, none of them, needless to say, authorized by El Segundo-based Mattel.

This is not the blankly smiling Barbie of store shelves. The works carry such titles as "Hells Angel Barbie," "Barbie Meets the Scariest Fatso Yet," "Barbie Comes Out" and "The Barbie Murders."

In one story, Barbie complains of Ken: "Have you ever noticed, he has molded plastic hair. His head and his hair are all one piece. I can't go out with a guy like that."

Then there's Richard Grayson's "Twelve-Step Barbie," which presents an older Barbie, an Alcoholics Anonymous member living alone, resentful of the younger women in workout classes, irritated that the loan officer at the bank doesn't recognize her (she has an asbestos removal business). She finds some satisfaction in giving volunteer health education lectures to teen-agers.

Author Grayson's Ken has changed, too -- "after he disappeared from Barbie's life . . . he became Gender Reassignment Ken and finally Kendra." Upon getting back together, Barbie and Kendra discover "what they liked about each other, what they had missed the first time." They become best girlfriends.

GRAPHIC: Photo, An off-the-wall journal about Barbie reveals that she hates Ken's plastic hair.

ZYX Magazine features critical article, "The Case of Richard Grayson"

ZYX Magazine's current issue (#5, Spring 1993) features a critical article, "The Case of Richard Grayson" (misspelled as "Greyson") by Arnold Skemer.

Richard Grayson story "R Evolution" in PLEIADES

Richard Grayson's story "R Evolution" appears in the current issue (#11, 1991) of Pleiades, the literary magazine published at the University of Central Missouri.

Gainesville Sun reports on Richard Grayson's plan for Florida legislative reapportionment

The Gainesville Sun reports today (Friday, September 27, 1991) on Richard Grayson's testimony before the Florida legislative reapportionment commission and his plan to have artists create election districts with shapes like palm trees, alligators and the space shuttle.

P'an Ku Magazine interviews Richard Grayson

The spring 1991 issue of P'an Ku magazine has an interview with Richard Grayson by Diane Madio.

Graduate Coursework at Florida Atlantic University

Richard Grayson earned 26 graduate credits in at Florida Atlantic University from spring 1985 to spring 1991.

Richard Grayson to Appear at Fourth Annual California State University at Long Beach Writers' Conference on April 21-22, 1991

Richard Grayson will be among the writers who will be staff members at the California State University at Long Beach's Fourth Annual Writers' Conference at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach on April 21-22, 1991.

CNN Report from December 1990: Richard Grayson's Pauper Magazine

The New York Times reports on Richard Grayson's PAUPER, the Perfect New Magazine for the Current Recession

The New York Times Sunday business section reports today (December 2, 1990) on Richard Grayson's PAUPER, the perfect new magazine for the current recession.

Laughing Bear Newsletter reviews Richard Grayson's THE GREATEST SHORT STORY THAT ABSOLUTELY EVER WAS

Laughing Bear Newsletter #23 (Fall 1990) reviews Richard Grayson's The Greatest Short Story That Absolutely Ever Was.

THE GREATEST SHORT STORY THAT ABSOLUTELY EVER WAS

By Richard Grayson

(price unknown; Lowlands Press, 6109 Magazine, New Orleans, LA 70118; 64-page chapbook)

Richard Grayson's short stories have been a delight for the past 15 years or so. They add spice to innumerable magazines, and here, in his sixth book, they're gathered in an irresistable collection.

Graduate Coursework at Teachers College, Columbia University

Richard Grayson earned 34 credits in graduate education courses at Teachers College, Columbia University, from fall 1985 to summer 1990.

Laughing Bear Newsletter reviews Richard Grayson's NARCISSISM AND ME

Laughing Bear Newsletter #29 (August 1990) reviews Richard Grayson's Narcissism and Me:


Narcissism and Me
by Richard Grayson
($5.00 + $1.00 p&h;
Mule & Mule, Publishers,
350 West 85th Street,
New York, NY 10024-3822)

Grayson's humor is best presented straight-forward and deadpan. This book's coated white cover and bold black type are clean, sharp, and demand attention.

Richard's work deserves a well-designed showcase. His experimental fiction combines humor with tragic touches to create real stories instead of jokes, and he's willing to take chances rather than go for an easy laugh. At the heart of his work, he can create sympathetic characters. Humor without strong characterization falls flat. Richard's short fictions are full of real people who stumble into the surreal and surreal people who happen to be real.