For the launch of Places I Stopped on the Way Home, Laura and I sat down in-coversation-style to discuss the book and how it came to be. We talked about the two years we wrote to one another without ever actually meeting, how our friendship has changed in the time since, and just exactly how our books came to be. We – I think we would both say – we have both been radically shaped by the words we shared and the encouragement the other offered. My book exists because of Laura. And so it was one hell of an honor to have her be the person to ask me questions about it. If you fancy a listen, you can listen to the first event recorded at Stanfords Bookshop in Covent Garden.
Places I Stopped
"Give yourself permission to not be good at something. To write messy and imperfect words. To kiss a boy in the bar for no reason other than you want to. To let your legs shake during yoga. To stop apologizing for your height, for wanting to wear heels, for the actual space you take up in the world. Uncross tor arms. Regard as much as you can with awe. Carve out your life on your own terms. Try new things. Reinvent. Try again. Show up. Celebrate small successes. Make sure your identity isn’t based on something you might lose. Breath into downward down. Do the hard things. Adapt. Admit fault. The thing about life being really shitty for a long time is this: it gets better. Because the happiness that follows sadness is never the same that came before it. Everything worthy and good I learned through the lens of an unrelenting, impossible sadness. And I wouldn’t have had it any other way." from Place I Stopped on the Way Home and featured on Words of Women
Places I Stopped on the Way Home
In just three days the book comes out.
I'm in a bit of a daze because it's all happening so fast, and also it's been so long coming, and on top of that, I'm in the last push of a semester that has taken more from me than it probably should have.
But I just keep thinking about boarding that flight to London and having a good cry (from sheer exhaustion and total relief and a little fear, but joy too).
Because, well, this thing--a book. A real, actual book.
And then I'll probably just drink champagne for the next two weeks.
Laura asked me what I want to do while I'm in London and I told her, wear fancy dresses and celebrate. the.whole. time.
So, that's pretty much the plan.
Laura and I will be doing an in-conversation on May 10th to celebrate the release of the book. But as it's sold out, we're going to do a second on Monday, May 14...which is to say, come. Dress fancy and celebrate with me!
And oh yeah, my friend Elizabeth, who is maybe the most talented person I've ever met, did the above watercolor for me. Bananas.
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You guys, I am on a list with Cheryl Strayed and Anne Lamott. It's fine. I'm fine. Everything is fine. The book comes out in...like 9 days!!!
