ATHENS, STARTING OVER, AND IRL

Life of a Bookman

Bookman: 1. a person who has a love of books and especially of reading. 2. a person who is involved in the writing, publishing, or selling of books. Oh, hi that’s me!!

Why am I reading this? As I was boarding a flight to Athens, I thought it’d be a very good idea to buy a new book (a hardcover!!) about biological warfare. Aptly titled: Biological War: a scenario by Annie Jacobson. If you’re not familiar with Jacobson’s nonfiction work, she’s got style. She deeply researches possible catastrophic scenarios (her last one was on nuclear war) and walks you through a ticking-time hypothetical narrative of how it all goes down. It’s not, light. I’m only just at the beginning of how a potential rapid-onset global catastrophe due to engineered pathogens would destroy us, and boy oh boy, I’m not sure why I’m doing this to myself. Or to you (sorry!!!) Stay tuned.

What I’ve been writing: I’m working on a surprise holiday thing!!! And it may or may not include writing from the voice of my dog, Skye. The best part about this idiotic idea has been telling my bestie over pedicures, and launching into an impromptu brand exercise of what Skye’s writing voice is like and why. I highly recommend being a complete dumbass with your friends while eating Andes and painting your toes Andes green.

WOMEN’S STUDIES

What gets passed down becomes our history.

Starting Over at 38 by Jaclyn Johnson. In Wing Woman Issue .02 my friend Jac gets pretty real about the very courageous choice to begin again. And in beginning again, she faced really hard choices to leave some things behind. I remember being on the phone with her, commiserating over our joint choices to move back to cities we’d once left (her, NY, me, SF) from places we really adored (her, Napa, me, Savannah) and how logistically annoying (and omg expensive!!) moving is but also how important it is to go toward the energy and flow. This piece is about so much more than location. It’s about what it costs us (and what we gain) when we’re willing to listen to what we know, no matter how hard. Read it if you’re considering any next chapter while also feeling a little f*cking terrified.

How to Destroy a Woman’s Reputation, as told in 5 women’s Lawsuits. Reading this will make you ill. Because there are smear campaigns happening that are untraceable and absolutely destroying the lives and reputations of women. The NYT covered how this reputation damage apparently worked – when a rich and famous person had a lawsuit, breakup, or accusation from one of these women, a trio of professionals started attacking her online, in ways that flooded the online narrative about her with lies. We need more online protections, what in the actual f*ck!?!?

A Double Standard for Older Moms. I love seeing Hilary Swank pregnant at 52 with her third child! She looks glowing, and happy, and hell yeah, do what you want and when you want Hilary! But she also had a really interesting chat with Drew Barrymore about the sh*t people say to her (especially other women) and the double standard that has become so clear. Give it a watch to see what she said (newsflash, literally no one makes these comments of men at the same age).

Do Female Writers Have to Turn Themselves into a Brand While Men Get a Pass? This piece in Vogue was super interesting, for and about women writers (and specifically, publishing authors). As you can imagine, the answer is yes and yes. And as you can also imagine, male writers literally go about their lives with no one knowing what they look like. Like at all. I bet if I asked you what Ryan Holiday, or Adam Grant, or Michael Pollan look like, you’re like huh? Who? No Clue? Even though they’re some of the most successful bookselling men around. But if I asked you what women counterparts looked like you’d know them because their likeness is everywhere. Because it has to be. (Or does it?? A question I’m wondering and working with!! Does my face have to be everywhere for my writing to sell? )

PASS IT ON

Stories are heirlooms. Here’s one of mine:

Over the summer, I came across a note by the girl nook. I don’t remember what it was, but I remember it being soft, and thoughtful and SUCH You’re Not Lost vibes. And so, I sent her a message! I wanted to send a copy of YNL bc it just seemed like something her and her community would appreciate.

She warned me that the book may not arrive easily, bc of where she lives.

I got swept up in some end-of-summer travels, and by the time I went to send the book, I realized I would be visiting the place she lives!! A Mediterranean island that’s not exactly common. #universe
So I delivered my books in person, to my new Substack friend. We drank coffee, enjoyed the sunshine, and compared notes on what women are feeling and thinking these days.

I’m truly obsessed with women who turn to creative outlets, for creative outlets sake, and end up building really meaningful community along the way.

Keep writing. Keep creating. And keep meeting people off the internet when you can. (what!! We do it for dates??) Even in foreign countries.

woman on xx