Hi!
For this month’s Substack, I’ve collected ten good things to share with you. If you’re struggling in what is considered one of the most difficult months of the year, you’re not alone. If you’re feeling good, I hope that peace radiates to everyone who comes into your orbit <3.
1) Brittany’s new song. Rise up, Broski nation! Just me? If you’re not familiar with Brittany Broski, she’s a comedian and internet personality who rose to fame in 2019 with her viral Kombucha Girl TikTok and meme. Since then, she’s expanded her career to include hosting popular podcasts like The Broski Report and Royal Court and recently she released a debut original song “The Sun,” that is so soulful and juicy. I can’t stop listening to it.
2) This book. My favorite Instagram account is publishing a poetry collection, and I’m so honored to have a piece included in it.
Poetry Is Not a Luxury has been an invaluable resource for me the last few years and has introduced me to some of my favorite poems such as: “Meditations in an Emergency” by Cameron Awkward-Rich and “I am the horse” by Dorothea Lasky. Poetry curation seems to be an eye for feeling—an understanding of what the moment needs, and how to provide solace or meaning. Poetry Is Not a Luxury does that with incredible care in this collection. Every poem is a revelation.” —Florence Welch
3) This show. I’d been resisting Dying For Sex, knowing how much I’d sob, but I finally faced it and boy was she worth it. Jenny Slate and Michelle Williams give performances of a lifetime. Smart, vulnerable, and beautiful.
4) Chatting with my friend Joanna over at Big Salad. Joanna and I love to yap. We had a great time in Seattle last year and she will be kicking off my book tour in Brooklyn this November with the wonderful Books are Magic. Other upcoming events: an evening with Claire Lombardo, an evening with Shannon Watts, and of course the How About Now book tour (dates coming soon!)
5) Magic & Brain tee for adults. Ask and you shall receive. We only made a few in each size*, but they might be my favorite item yet. A portion of every sale will benefit The National Bail Out, a collective that coordinates the Mama’s Day Bail Outs, bailing out as many mothers and caregivers as possible to spend Mother’s Day with their families where they belong. The National Bail Out also provides fellowship and employment opportunities to support their growth and create a national community of leaders who have experienced incarceration. For more information, visit www.nationalbailout.org. Kid sizes here.
6) Supporting local bookstores. These spaces matter now more than ever because they’re more than retail—they’re also community hubs, safe places, and homes for books that might otherwise be lost. ICYMI, one of my local shops has a bundle of all my books + a signed broadside of the poem, “Halfway There” (while supplies last). Find your local bookstore here for author events, book clubs, and your favorite books!
7) The puzzle trick. Recently I got advice from a friend on the value of puzzles at large gatherings. She said that putting out a puzzle gives anyone who might need a break from chatter or is feeling introverted (or just enjoys puzzles!) something to do. It also creates a cozy, relaxed vibe. I tried it this year for the first time and it totally works. This vintage cereal box one was a big hit!
8) This book cover. The wonderful Alina Stefanescu has a new book of poetry coming out and I cannot get over this wild cover. It’s a 10/10 from me.
9) These words on rejection by Maggie Smith. You can read even more on this topic in her newest book, Dear Writer, but I loved this substack essay on understanding how rejection plays a key role in the creative process and life in general.
By talking about and normalizing each no—each misstep, failure, disappointment—we remind one another that no one succeeds all of the time, and certainly not quickly. We’re all playing the long game, and the only way to fail at the long game is to give up. To refuse to play.
10) This perfect William Stafford poem from Learning to Live in the World: Earth Poems (1994).
Thank you for reading! See you next month. xo
PS: You can pre-order How About Now at your local bookstore, via Bookshop, or anywhere else books are sold.
* This tee sold out twice before I could publish this newsletter. We are working to re-stock popular sizes, so keep checking the link and refreshing. Doing our best to meet demand so that our donation can be as large as possible!
Love your recommendations 💕
Okay! I have been avoiding Dying For Sex for the same reason and I may give it a try!! All the praise hands for local bookstores. They really are the best places.