New York Times Best-Selling Author, Kambri Crews, Saying...
Love, Daddy Hey, thanks for making BURN DOWN THE GROUND a New York Times Best Seller for the e-book. Yahooooooo! [link] Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Sun, Aug 16 2015

Dear Janice
Love, Daddy Dear Janice,Go fuck yourself, you lonely pathetic cunt.Love,Daddy Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Fri, Dec 19 2014

3-D Valentine
Love, Daddy    Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Wed, Feb 19 2014

Thanks! And While You're At It...
Love, Daddy Dad sent a card thanking me for the $50 I sent him for Christmas. But no "thank you" is complete without a request for more.   Ask and you shall receive, I guess, because I will definitely be buying him a copy of Humans of New York for his birthday. If you're not familiar with the book, check out the page on Facebook. Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Tue, Jan 28 2014

Minimums & Maximums - Tipping the Scales of Justice
Love, Daddy Yesterday President Obama commuted the sentences of eight federal inmates, each of whom were non-violent offenders convicted of crack cocaine crimes. One commute was given to Stephanie George who received a life sentence in 1997 for letting her boyfriend hide crack in her home. The judge in her case expressed frustration at not having any choice in her sentencing...
Fri, Dec 20 2013

My Deaf Family's Domestic Violence Story on Lifetime
Love, Daddy Many months ago, I was cast in a docu-drama pilot called “Family Secrets” for the Bio Channel. It never aired & I thought it was dead in the water. But…lo! It is scheduled to air this Sunday, Oct 27 on Lifetime Movie Network (LMN) at 10PM EST and again at 2AM Monday, Oct 28. Since it’s a pilot, it doesn’t even have a logo or show page on Lifetime’s w...
Thu, Oct 24 2013

CODA Author Kambri Crews at Mid-Manhattan Library in NYC
Love, Daddy 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 . Here is the press release. Hope you can make it. CODA Author Kambri Crews at Mid-Manhattan Library Author to Give Presentation, Sign Books & Answer Questions About Her Memoir ...
Tue, Aug 13 2013

I Performed a Medley of Songs in ASL
Love, Daddy I sang an ASL medley of all the songs featured in stories on "The Soundtrack Series". (Click here to see my ASL interpreted story about David Lee Roth.) Fast forward to 2:55 if you want to skip to the ASL. Runnin' With the Devil by Van Halen Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks Corner of the Sky from Pippin How Soon is Now by The Smiths Epiphany from Sweeney Todd Vogu...
Tue, Jul 09 2013

The Gospel of David (Lee Roth)
Love, Daddy I told a story on the Soundtrack Series about how David Lee Roth was my unconventional life coach when I was 14 and spending my summer living in a one room tin shack in Texas. It's ASL interpreted, too! I hope y'all enjoy it. Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Tue, Jul 09 2013

Happy Birthday Card from Dad
Love, Daddy I was out of town for my birthday so just now got all my mail. I was happy to see I had a handmade birthday card from Dad. It's pretty silly. Front & Inside: Back: Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Mon, Jul 01 2013

Naughty Deaf Joke
Love, Daddy Last Father's Day post, a joke from Dad as it appeared in my memoir BURN DOWN THE GROUND:~~~Mom answered my plea for a quarter by pantomiming empty front pockets and signing, “I’m out. Go ask your daddy.”Without hesitation, I turned on my heels and skipped to the bowling alley lounge, where I found my father leaning against the pool table holding court among a s...
Sun, Jun 16 2013

Dreams of My Father
Love, Daddy Earlier this week, I dreamt of my father. He was in the Free World. Dad had served his full twenty year sentence and had been released. He moved to New York to be close to me so I could help him adjust. He was 75 years old learning how to use a smartphone and computer for the first time.  I was teaching him texting and video chatting, delighting in how excited...
Sun, Jun 16 2013

DVD Pet Peeve
Love, Daddy I see this on DVDs a lot and it's a pet peeve of mine. Why is it "English for the Hearing Impaired"? Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Wed, Jun 12 2013

Mind Your Manners
Love, Daddy Dad got my letter where I tell him to chill the eff out on giving me lengthy homework assignments. (See: Gift Horse post). He was relieved to hear from me even though I've stayed in touch consistently and he had nothing to worry about. "You have lots & lots on your sparetimes with IPhone, Facebook, Email, Texting, Laptop and more than mine. Smile. I just sent you 5 ...
Sat, May 25 2013

The Price IS Right!
Love, Daddy Smiling big at watching this video of a Deaf contestant on The Price is Right. My Deaf grandma would've LOVED this. She so enjoyed TPIR and only missed an episode when she traveled. I even got Bob Barker to autograph a photo for her. Deaf Contestant on "The Price is Right" Game Show - May 20, 2013 from i DEAF NEWS on Vimeo. Letters and stories from my jailed deaf...
Sat, May 25 2013

Chicago! Want a FREE copy of my memoir?
Love, Daddy From the University of Chicago Barnes & Noble, comes this cool offer: We’re planning a special event to slow down the pace and give you a little inspiration before finals! The University of Chicago Barnes & Noble is opening its doors for a fun evening of discussion, laughter and FREE books -- but we need your help! Here's how it works: If Kambri gets 50 RSVPs, ...
Sat, May 11 2013

A Gift Horse
Love, Daddy Dad has been in prison ten years, ten months and one day.  In that time, I've sent money, letters and postcards and have bought subscriptions, called on his behalf, researched a multitude of topics, and visited. In ten years, ten months and one day, I'm the only one who done so without fail.  Only one other person --my brother (or his wife)-- has ...
Sun, Apr 28 2013

Happy Birthday Fool Man
Love, Daddy My husband Christian's birthday was yesterday, April Fool's Day, and Dad didn't disappoint with his usual hand-drawn card. Dad and his fellow inmates sometimes catch an episode of "Are We There Yet?" and they've noticed how gray Christian has gotten as the series progressed. In truth, hair & makeup had him dying his hair in the first season but it looked kind of fak...
Tue, Apr 02 2013

NYC Corruption
Love, Daddy Dad's drawing of my friend Stacey before she left Texas to visit me in NYC And how I sent her home. What's funny is that Stacey & I actually DID consider getting tattoos while she was here. So, maybe Dad has a point. Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Tue, Mar 19 2013

Not Your Typical Hallmark Card
Love, Daddy Dad is pen pals with my childhood friend Stacey. She's coming to NY to visit me and Dad made this card to surprise her when she gets to my Rock House. She won't have time to actually visit the Rock House this time around but I'll give her the card anyway because she's a big fan of fart humor.     Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Tue, Mar 19 2013

Day in the Life
Love, Daddy What day-to-day life is:   How I envision it: Think it! Become it! Visualize what you want and deserve and manifest it, people! Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Mon, Feb 25 2013

Casting Fluent ASL Signers in Los Angeles
Love, Daddy Off topic but cool opportunity. My pal Scott is a talented producer, writer, and director. He's casting a music video for the musician Eleanor Friedberger and is looking for fluent ASL signers in Los Angeles.  For a sampling of Eleanor and a past video of hers, check out this YouTube link [link] They'll be shooting on Saturday, March 16th,...
Thu, Feb 21 2013

Desire & Hope
Love, Daddy This week's card from Dad:   Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Thu, Jan 31 2013

Deaf Life Lydia Callis Profile
Love, Daddy Deaf Life Magazine published a nice profile piece on Lydia Callis, Mayor Bloomberg's ASL interpreter who captured the eyes and hearts of America and possibly even the world. In it, they used a quote from my Huffington Post article about her. Very cool! Check it out: Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Wed, Jan 30 2013

Momaughter?
Love, Daddy Dad's last card was addressed to me as "Momaughter" -- like I've become a a mashup of his mom & daughter.  Freud is SO wishing he were alive right now.    Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Tue, Jan 29 2013

The I.Q. Test
Love, Daddy Dad or "Cigo" as he's called by his friends, is so smart that other inmates use him as a reference. "Let's go to Cigo University," they say when a dispute arises. Dad says besides his general wealth of knowledge, he carries around three books for such occasions:  1) World Almanac 2) Dictionary 3) Sports Encyclopedia Basically, if this were a sitcom,...
Fri, Jan 18 2013

Man With a Van
Love, Daddy Back in September I sent Dad a postcard with a simple note knowing that he had read my memoir and might be angry and hurting, especially on the heels of his parole being denied. Soon after, I received his reply in the form of a handmade card. The cover is made of pen, watercolor and what seems to be Liquid Paper or some other similar substance. It's based on a sket...
Thu, Jan 17 2013

Here's Your Effing Card!
Love, Daddy I received two Christmas cards from Dad this year. Both were a little on the salty side. I'm not sure where he got the poem --I assure you, he didn't make it up-- but they made me laugh.       Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Wed, Jan 09 2013

Apology Accepted
Love, Daddy I returned to NYC after a lovely Thanksgiving at my cabin to find a letter from My Jailed Deaf Dad waiting for me. He included a letter he wrote to the Board of Pardon & Paroles that he wants me to review and translate to English. In it, he accepts responsibility for the crime he committed, admits his problems with drugs and alcohol and sets forth a plan for a positi...
Tue, Nov 27 2012
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Lydia Callis, Ace Interpreter for Bloomberg, & ASL...
Love, Daddy Some deaf people are up in arms (pun intended) about the recent spoofs of Mayor Bloomberg’s American Sign Language (“ASL”) interpreter Lydia Callis that have been popping up all over the Internet and television. Like Callis, I am a child of deaf adults or a “CODA”.  I even wrote a memoir about my childhood experience. (“Burn Down the Ground” available ...
Tue, Nov 06 2012

Say "Cheese!"
Love, Daddy If you haven't seen the photos from my last prison visit with Dad, check them out. We're happy. You can tell. We were goofing around and we're natural. We look like we're having a naturally good time. But then I suggested Dad get a solo shot for his Facebook page and he turned into Jack Donaghy in the "30 Rock" episode where he suddenly didn't know what to do w...
Thu, Nov 01 2012

I'm in Austin, TX for a Free ASL Interpreted Event
Love, Daddy AUTHOR KAMBRI CREWS AT BOOK WOMAN BOOKSTOREAuthor to Give Presentation, Sign Books & Answer Questions Austin, TX —Kambri Crews, author of the highly acclaimed new memoir Burn Down the Ground (Random House) will appear at the Book Woman Bookstore on Thursday, November 1st at 7PM.  Burn Down the Ground is Crews’ powerful, affecting, and unflinching m...
Wed, Oct 31 2012

Book Tour Pit Stop
Love, Daddy I love you, too, Dad and your prison issue glasses! I made a pit stop on my whirlwind book tour to visit Dad* in the clink. Dad thought I looked so beautiful in our photo wearing his prison issue glasses that he wants to buy a pair from commissary to mail to me. I assured him that wasn't necessary --I don't wear glasses-- but he insisted and said I could just put in...
Mon, Oct 29 2012

The Moth Presents Kambri Crews: A Blind Ear
Love, Daddy For those not familiar, The Moth is an acclaimed not-for-profit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. They're a great group of folks who genuinely love helping people from all walks of life share their stories. I was honored to be part of a Mainstage Show they produced in Saranac Lake and even more thrilled when they decided to air it on their ...
Thu, Sep 20 2012

The Tempest
Love, Daddy The Tempest.Postcard to Dad sent 9/3/12.Front: One of Edmund Dulac's color illustration of "The Tempest". Back: My note to Dad. Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Tue, Sep 04 2012

So I Guess I Am Lost
Love, Daddy "So I guess I am lost," Dad wrote in his last letter from jail. He's frustrated and sad about being denied parole, not having a home or family to rely on and fearful of staying behind bars till 2022. This was only his first time up for parole and statistics show that in Texas most inmates --especially ones in for violent crimes-- are not granted parole the first time...
Mon, Sep 03 2012

6th Anniversary Card from Dad
Love, Daddy August 12th marked six years of marriage for me and Christian. Dad drew a quick little sketch (in only five minutes!) based on this photo: He painted a watercolor version that he plans to send later once he has more money for postage and a big envelope. If this is what he did in 5 minutes, I can't wait to see the painting. Here's the inside and back of the card:...
Mon, Sep 03 2012

Screw Hallmark...
Love, Daddy Screw Hallmark, Dad made his damn own card in TDCJ for my 41st birthday coming up this Friday.      Letters and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Mon, Sep 03 2012

Christmas Wishes & Satellite Dishes
Love, Daddy My jailed deaf dad wrote with his Christmas wish list. He's jealous of the other inmates with New Balance sneakers & wants a pair for himself. I don't want to disappoint him, but I think Santa knows that he's been naughty. Ahhh, who am I kidding, I'll get him the shoes. They're out of stock in his size right now but I sent the extra $40 for his inmate trust ...
Sat, Dec 24 2011

Another First
Love, Daddy This is a week of firsts for me it seems. I created my first promotion and my first raffle and today I received my first review. From Publishers Weekly, no less. They call my memoir "intensely readable" and say I "paint a vivid portrait of an impoverished childhood in rural Texas with hearing-impaired --- and stories from my jailed deaf dad.
Mon, Nov 28 2011

Picture Day!
Love, Daddy It was picture day at prison, so I wore stripes. Dad didn't look scary like he did during the last visit when he had a shaved head and sallow complexion. This time he had hair (not a gray to be found even at almost 65 yrs of age!) and had a nicer, more flattering pair of glasses. He had taken the lenses out of his ugly "Buddy Holly" prison issued prescription glasses ...
Wed, Nov 09 2011

Daddie's Web: A Story of Friendship and Salvation in Prison
Love, Daddy Were you worried about Dad's suicide threat? If so, relax. He says he won't kill himself now because it's football season. I purchased him Phil Steele's College Football Preview at his request and threw in the NFL preview for fun since the nice lady on the phone gave me half off the whole order for no reason. Apparently, they are awesome as Dad wrote to apologiz...
Wed, Nov 02 2011

Forgive Me
Love, Daddy This morning I got a letter from my jailed deaf dad in which he threatens to commit suicide or hurt a guard or prisoner so he can get put in Ad Seg or be killed. I haven't written Dad since June. Not the longest I've gone without writing, but longer than I'd like. He had written me a letter that was inexplicably returned and so I hadn't heard from him...
Tue, Sep 20 2011

The Smurfs (and Dad) Wish Us a Happy 5 Year Anniversary
Love, Daddy It's been five years since I married Christian at Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn. The old mayonnaise factory was packed to the rafters with our friends and family. For me, the only one missing was Dad. He was four years into his 20 year sentence at the time, so instead he drew us a cute card and wrote a sweet speech wishing us well and reminding us to ...
Tue, Aug 16 2011

Oklahoma School for the Deaf names first deaf woman to lead...
Love, Daddy Exciting news! The Oklahoma School for the Deaf (OSD) has appointed its first deaf woman superintendent. A lot of my family history lives in this institution. My grandfather, parents, aunts, uncle & dozens of family friends all attended this fine school in Sulphur, OK. Dad lived there most of the year from five years of age till he graduated. That's also wher...
Mon, Aug 15 2011

Chris Lilley Portrays a Deaf Kid in "Angry Boys"
Love, Daddy I have a Google news alert for "deaf" and an article popped up from the Guardian (UK paper), about "Angry Boys" a BBC "mockumentary" starring Chris Lilley of "Summer Heights High" fame. The author of the article applauds Lilley for "breaking the mould for fictional deaf characters" by portraying a deaf boy named Nathan who, because of his family lacking knowledge...
Tue, Aug 09 2011

Technology Helps Deaf and Blind Experience Broadway Theater
Love, Daddy A couple of years ago, I flew Mom in to NYC for a stay with me and took her to see her first Broadway Show, Superior Donuts, starring Michael McKean. I selected this play, instead of any of the long-running, sure-fire hits because it was to be Closed Captioned. In fact, it was the only show offering the service the week my mother happened to be in ...
Thu, Jun 02 2011

The Bilingual Advantage
Love, Daddy The New York Times published an interesting Q&A today with cognitive neuroscientist, Ellen Bialystok, about the bilingual advantage. From the article: Among other benefits, the regular use of two languages appears to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. I always buy my hearing, parents-to-be friends ASL books for this reason...
Tue, May 31 2011

Nick Quivers & His Mullet
Love, Daddy Over five years ago I wrote a piece to perform on the Drink at Work Show. It was about my dad giving me the horrific fatherly advice: "Don't fu*k!" in front of my date "Nick Quivers". Thankfully his blunt words were in ASL which Nick did not know. I put Nick's name in quotes because that's not his real name. I used his real name when I posted the story on this blog no...
Sat, Apr 09 2011

Deaf Dog Adopted by Deaf Kids...
Love, Daddy Inmates in a Missouri prison taught a deaf dog sign language then asked the deaf school to take in the homeless pooch. Brilliant! Considering Dad can't get his teeth fixed, I doubt the Texas Dept of Criminal Justice would spend money on a program like that but it's worth asking. Imagine if Dad and other deaf inmates did the teaching. Now THAT would be synergetic.Read ...
Sun, Mar 06 2011