Dorothy Allison, a renowned author of lesbian literature, read excerpts from her soon-to-be published novel, "Two or Three Things I Know for Sure," and related her writing to her personal experience to about 75 people last night.
In her books, Allison uses themes that relate to her own life: growing up poor, female and lesbian, and having to deal with dysfunctional familial relationships.
"Sometimes the stories you don't tell people are the things you need to tell people," said Allison, who is perhaps best known for her book "Bastard Out of Carolina."
She spoke about the role of the working class in American society and described it as the "grease that runs the machine." Allison said she objected to the perception of women in the working class as "wide-hipped baby machines ... predestined."
Allison also spoke of the negative influence society has on female relationships. "If we are not beautiful for each other, we don't know anything about beauty at all," she said.
Allison emphasized the importance of understanding and communication between family members. "If you do not know who you come from, you do not know who you are," she said.
Allison told the audience about her present family.
"I am a happy lesbian, living in California," she said.
Allison talked about how her family reacted to her writing. She said her family does not read that much.
"I really thought they read 'Bastard,' but they just skimmed it over, looking for themselves," Allison said.
Allison was speaking as part of a weekend conference titled, "Books and Other Acts: Contemporary Women Writers and Social Change."