Andrea Avery

@andreaavery.bsky.social

646 Followers 1811 Following

Author of: • SONATA: A MEMOIR OF PAIN AND THE PIANO (Pegasus Books) • VISITING COMPOSER: A NOVELLA (Miami U Press) • Co-author LET’S DISCUSS (Teachers College Press) BA (🎹) MFA, Ed.D @ ASU Rheumatoid arthritis since 1989. She/her.

First up, My Aim Is True (1977). My canary yellow silk blouse and chunky red acrylic chain necklace are meant to evoke the background color and typeface, while my subtly checked black and white pants represent the border. I am wearing my red shoes to refer to the track “Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes” as well as red glasses and holding a black handbag.
an Instagram ad for a dental product says “Nobody talks about the real reason gum disease happens in your mouth.”
Three photos are shown: a Victoria’s Secret pajama set, a Cabela’s camp jacket, and a big Ferragamo tote-style handbag that is unremarkable other than its $2,500 price tag
Fig. 1: In a screengrab from the show, “star” Taylor Frankie Paul of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is shown walkikg down the street in baggy camo pants (hunting party) with an itsy bitsy undershirt (pajama party), a business-lady handbag, a delicate gold chain, a deep tan, and full glam (Grand Old Party). The elements of the look are labeled with text boxes.
A white woman is shown in five different outfits, each inspired by a bruise in various stages of healing. The colors in the outfits start out in shades of plum, black, and red and gradually move through pinks, yellow/greens, and beige.
A multicolored longhaired tabby cat sits in peaceful repose on a blanket on a lap. he shows no signs of guilt or even awareness that he (accidentally) landed his doting human in urgent care.
A ticket and program from a 2015 event sponsored by the Origins Project at Arizona State. The event featured Noam Chomsky and Lawrence Krauss in dialogue about “science, mind, and politics.”
The cover of a forthcoming volume from Teachers College Press. The title is Let’s Discuss: Practices for Equitable Student Participation in ELA Classrooms. The authors are Jen Soalt and Andrea Avery. The book is part of the visions of practice series edited by Sonia Nieto.
A headline from the New York Times reads “What you have in common with a pigeon, and why its [sic] causing problems for you.” The first part of the headline has been amended to read “You replaced your human copyeditors” to draw attention to the use of “its” where “it’s” is correct.
On the right side of the image is a white flufft Thai rice cake festooned with fresh fruit in shades of red and green. The cake is set on a yellow wooden surface. On the right is an image of a woman wearing a silk blouse festooned with pictures of bright red and green and yellow fruit, a tan and white striped waistcoat, wide leg khaki pants with exposed French seams, white ankle booties, and red glasses. She holds a white bag with a yellow scarf tied on its handle.
On the left side of the image is a plate of cabbage roulades served on a ceramic plate. The cabbage is green, and drizzled with pale yellow sauce. The plate is white with a purple and green floral motif on its edge. The plate sits on a black and white cloth, perhaps a keffiyah, against a purple background. On the right side, a woman wears a black and white patterned Marimekko mini dress, black tights, and purple boots. She wears a green Athleta puffer vest and a diaphanous silk skirt in pale cream with bright purple wool trim. She holds a gray and green Zac Posen handbag.
A still from the Nancy Guthrie surveillance video showing the purported abductor. The post above it says “Where is Adam Walsh when you need him?” Adam Walsh was abducted and murdered in 1981, when he was six. His father, John Walsh, went on to have a career as a TV presenter, victim’s rights activist, cofounder of the Missing and Exploited Children, and host of America’s Most Wanted.
On the right side of the image is a bowl of cubed, cooked potatoes and chili beans, garnished with coriander and parsley. The bowl is teal and it is displayed on a blue striped tablecloth. On the left, a woman wears a deep burgundy bias cut silk skirt (Ralph Lauren), teal leather pointed flats (Miz Mooz), a light teal sweater tank (Eileen Fisher) and a long blue and white stripedduster (Eileen Fisher). She is holding a kidney bean colored leather bag (Rebecca Minkoff) and wearing an oversized chunky link necklace in potato-esque white.
On the right side of the image is some cauliflower, snap peas, carrots, asparagus and broccoli, garnished with red pepper coulis, beautifully plated on a mottled gray plate. On the left stands a white woman wearing an outfit meant to interpret the dish as fashion: green wide leg pants, orange shoes and bag, an orange and green neckerchief and a muted gray blouse.
On the left, a close up of a leafy green salad with red/pink beets, avocado, and walnuts. On the right, a woman poses outdoors in front of a gray stucco wall in an outfit composed of a beet-pink silk top with ruched sleeves, a green-yellow miniskirt, brown suede western boots, brown wooden jewelry, and a belt made of brown leather cinched with a green/brown/yellow/white scarf tied in a knot. She is holding a bright green purse and wearing green glasses and earrings.
JD Vance in Greenland, wearing an unstylish and ill-fitting fur-lined green parka and jeans. His arm is up and he’s saying something. No hat.
A closeup shot of a pair of feet in handknit striped socks of red, gray, and brown. The wearer is standing on a braided rag rug.
CNN commentator Van Jones sits in front of a set of shelves, presumably in his home office. He is positioned perfectly such that small figurines sit perched on his head, ear tips, and shoulders, symmetrically framing Van Jones’s very symmetrical face.
Noah Wyle in the opening sequence of The Pitt. He rides a vintage motorcycle while wearing aviator shades and black leather gloves.
A hand with red painted fingernails brandishes a small tub filled with yellow Play-Doh butter, garnished with plastic shreds.
Play-Doh scented butter comes in a pink and yellow plastic tub. The word butter is larger thanany other text on the label.
A non-elderly, white, female-presenting wheelchair user employs a reacher stick to get somethinf off a high shelf.
A close-cropped stock photo of a person in jeans handcuffed behind their back. Below it is an entreaty for career-seekers: be a MUNICIPAL JAILER. This six-syllable phrase can, of course, be substituted for ELIZABETH TAYLOR in that song on Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl. (The next line is “do you think it’s forever?”.) This is my last joke along these lines. I think.
A gray crewneck sweater is shown against a white background. Handstitched letters in pink spell out GRANDEUR ADEQUATE
The purchaser has given the cushion a five-star rating and written: Bien. Confortable. Grandeur adequate.
A labeled picture of the Currier painting AMERICAN WHALER, which can be substituted for ELIZABETH TAYLOR in that song on Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl. (The next line is “do you think it’s forever?”.)
A labeled picture of the VLAD THE IMPALER, whose name can be substituted for ELIZABETH TAYLOR in that song on Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl. (The next line is “do you think it’s forever?”.)
A labeled picture of the derailleur part of a bicycle, Shimanp brand (SHIMANO DERAILLEUR), a phrase which can be substituted for ELIZABETH TAYLOR in that song on Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl. (The next line is “do you think it’s forever?”.)
A bottle of INDUSTRIAL DESCALER, a phrase which can be substituted for ELIZABETH TAYLOR in that song on Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl. (The next line is “do you think it’s forever?”.)
A small white and gray cat, 18 years old, is shown in super close-up, her whiskers spreading to the sides of the image, her pencil-eraser nose a perfect pink heart, her eyes as blue as ever. A caption says “Inga (2007-2025).”
A vintage black Elvis Costello T-shirt features the artist holding a guitar and looking pensive behind his trademark glasses; The album title (“Brutal Youth”) is splayed across the image in red, as if spraypainted. To one side of the shirt is a pair of patent leather block-heel loafers by Jeffrey Campbell in olive green patent leather with brown and red accents and a horesbit embellishment. To the right is a pair of Adidas superstars in off-white suede with the signature shell toe plated in shiny rose gold metal. If you mentally add a black leather miniskirt, and riff on accessory options you see that these are two excellent and versatile looks.
A child’s crayon drawing shows a large fiery explosion and a person saying “Help.” In the sky, a plane labeled “Rushians” drops bombs. The child has written to her father, who worked for the CIA and was returning from a business trip, “To Daddy. Welcome back. I missed you. Even for the shortest time.”
Art from Taylor Swift’s upcoming Life Of A Showgirl, showing tracks named The Fate of Ophelia (1) and Father Figure (4).
Andrea Avery will be reading, discussing, and signing her new novella, Visiting Composer, on August 21 at Changing Hands Bookstore, 300 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix. The event begins at 6:30 pm and is free.
A collage of local Arizona headlines from the last week: Tarantula mating season has begun! Women shouldn’t hold office, says GOP woman now running for office! Fire destroys Oxbow Bridge! Bat flies into woman’s mouth!
A still from the 1985 movie Terror at London Bridge. Two plainclothes detectives are shown: Joe Nez (played by Randolph Mantooth” wears a nice leather belt with his dark-wash jeans, while Don Gregory (David Hasselhoff) is out here wearing no belt on his snug-fitting light-wash denim and his shirt tucked in.
A screenshot shows the poster’s Google calendar, where she is creating an all-day Event for August 8, the theatre release date for the new Jeff Buckley documentary. A memo on the calendar item says “Wait for streaming.”
A piece of home decor says “Croissants.” Below the word is an image of …. baguettes.
A little boy, about 5 or 6, stands nonchalantly next to a produce cart. He is wearing a full Superman outfit and light blue Adidas. His hair is mussed and he looks dreamy or pensive, like he just had a nap.
A stack of books: The Beginning of Everything, by Andrea J. Buchanan; The Skin Above My Knee, by Marcia Butler; Death Strikes: The Emperor of Atlantis, by Dave Maass and Patrick Lay; Duet for One, by Martha Anne Toll; Losing Music, by John Cotter; Fiddler’s Dream, by Gregory Spatz; I’m So Fine: A List of Famous Men and What I Had On, by Khadijah Queen; Why Mariah Carey Matters, by Andrew Chan; The Time of Our Singing, by Richard Powers; What Could Be Saved: Bookmatched Novellas and Stories, by Gregory Spatz; and Swing Time, by Zadie Smith.
A flyer invites viewers to a Book Launch for Visiting Composer: A Novella. It will be held August 21, 2025, at 6:30 pm at Changing Hands Phoenix. The address is 300 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix AZ 85013. The flyer is a cream-colored square with text in blue and orange. There is a line drawing of a stack of books in the center.
An antique Staffordshire poodle figurine sits atop a stack of books, the top one of which is Middlemarch. The dog is made of smooth and textured ceramic, with orange eyes and a dark snout. He wears a collar with a gold tag.
An open bag of the “limited edition” Old Bay Goldfish Crackers.
In the context of laws and regulations relating to harassment in the workplace,, a snippet of recorded voiceover says “prenatal, intranasal, or postnatal care.”
A screenshot from a Lifetime TV movie. The husband is a 30-ish white man in a toothpaste-colored polo shirt. He has carefully groomed hair, a short beard, and a smug and punchable face.
the cover of a paperback novella is shown. The title is Visiting Composer and the author is Andrea Avery. The cover design is an abstract, vaguely musical image of circles and arcs in black, yellow, orange, and blue, meant to evoke early 20th-century graphic design, as the book is about an aspiring female composer in 1910 Baltimore who crash-lands in a music theory class in 1996 in Arizona.
A screenshot shows the nonconsensually provided and unhelpful AI summary at the top of Google search results. It says “The brand name ‘Ecco’ is pronounced as eh-koh. It’s a one-syllable word with the ‘e’ sound like in ‘bed’ and the ‘ko’ sound like in ‘go.’” Ecco is a two-syllable word, kind of obviously, as this garbage explanation proves even as it declares it a one-syllable word.
hideous questions from “well-meaning“ strangers, vol. 1,496: woman I don’t know, on line at airport: what happened to you? me: what happened to me? WIDK: your hand me: oh I have rheumatoid arthritis WIDK: oh my son’s ex wife blah blah has that her shoulders hurt she can’t do her hair it’s terrible me: oh well I hope she’s doing well WIDK: do you take methotrexal [sic]? me: no, I did 30 years ago, though. WIDK: do you take something else now? me: yes WIDK: is it better? me: I hope so. WIDK: what is it? me: I’m sorry, I don’t like discussing details of my medical condition with strangers. WIDK: oh! I was just curious me: well those are personal questions, aren’t they? WIDK: if you prefer
An official registration (#1579546) from the Authors Guild certifying that Visiting Composer: A Novella is a human-authored work.
A screenshot from the recent Atlantic article shows a search box where the OP's name has been searched in the illegal pirate site LibGen, with two results showing her work as having been pirated by Meta: A memoir and a story in a literary magazine.
A knitting project in progress. A completed hand knit sock in stripes of blue, orange, and yellow sits beside its half-finished mate, still on a set of double-pointed needles.
A headshot of Prince Rahim al-Husseini, newly named spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, and son of the recently deceased Aga Khan IV. The Aga Khan V is a 53-year-old man with a bald head, a neatly trimmed salt-and-pepper beard and mustache, a very symmetrical face, a pensive expression, and piercing eyes. He wears a gray suit and dark tie.
A white platform bed is made up in bold orange-and-white striped sheets, with bright orange pillows and bolsters. Modern cone-shaped lamps in gleaming white hang above the bed, against a shadowy gray-black background. Superimposed on the image of the bedroom is an image of a woman wearing black jeans, a white blouse, and a cardigan in bold orange and white stripes. Her shoes are pointy bright white oxfords with decorative metal straps to imitate the lighting fixtures.
An interior of a kitchen in the 1970s/1980s. The walls are lemon yellow and chartreuse, the appliances and cabinets berry purple. White formica countertops ans a wooden dining set complete the foundation of the room. Painted on the walls are bright graphic arrow-shaped designs in red, yellow, and orange. The door to the garage is labeled as such, in big bold black letters reading vertically. Next to the image of the room is an image of a white woman in a berry-colored leather miniskirt, layered lightweight sweaters in chartreuse and yellow, red and natural-wood accesseories, and brown boots.
A page from the California Home Book (1982) shows a wooden dining table and cane-back aluminum tubing dining chairs by Marcel Breuer. Each place-setting features a wooden plate and bowl, as well as a printed cloth napkin in brown and gold colors with a wooden napkin ring. The centerpiece of the table is a white vase labeled BREAD. From it spews an enormous arrangement of dried flowers, wooden spoons, rolling pins, and dry pasta. The walls of the room are off-white. A border of golden brown patterned tiles wraps around the room and a wall mirror. Superimposed on the image of the room are two images of a white woman dressed to match the room. She wears a maxi-length suede skirt, a yellow T-shirt that says NO-KNEAD BREAD, a white sweater duster, a golden brown neck scarf, and brown boots.
A living room is shown with a white upholstered sofa decorated with throw pillows in denim-blue and white geetric prints. A wallpaper border, also in blue and white, wraps around the room. Black and white geometric art hangs on the walls. The room is accented with pops of red in an abstract painting and a vase of flowers. In the foreground, a large spray of wooden branches juts out from a vase. Superimposed on the image of the room is a picture of a woman in dark wide leg jeans with folded cuffs, a denim chambray shirt, and a white wool coat decorated with a red black branch-like design. She wears bright red patent oxford shoes and a red cuff bracelet.
A sunny atrium is shown. Light streams in through a glass wall/ceiling, filtering through the cane backs of the dining chairs and making a cross-hatch pattern on the caramel brown caroet. Pots of green plants and red flowers hang in the sunshine. The table has beeen set for four, with more flowers as the centerpiece. In the corner of the room, a fire burns in a white stucco fireplace. Superimposed on the image is an image of a white woman with short hair and glasses, wearing an outfit inspired by the room.
The cover of the California House Book. It is a hardcover coffee table book. It shows a woman in silhouetted profile, placing flowers in a vase, against the backdrop of an enormous stained glass window in the likeness of red and yellow California poppies. The window was conceived and planned by designer Eszter Haraszty Colen and executed by the glaziers at Judson Studios.
A split-pane image shows, on the left, a close-up of a beautiful monarch butterfly perched on a leafy branch. On the right, a woman is dressed in flowing cream-colored tiered pants, an orange blouse with an asymmetrical hem, black and white shoes, and a black-and-white geometric hoodie to mimic the shape and coloring of the monarch.
the cover of a 1960s songbook says “The World of Rod McKuen.” It sits next to a melodica and a laptop computer