Something to look forward to!

book tour is happening!

My book comes out in one month! AHHH! I ran into some friends at a demonstration on Friday, and once we’d hugged and commiserated over the bullshit they both exclaimed “Your book! It comes out so soon! IT’S SO NICE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO!” That was so wonderful to hear and it made me realize how true that is—sometimes I feel weird about sharing book stuff in the midst of literal authoritarian crisis, but I am reminded, again and again, in the power and importance of joy and art and coming together in community. So! On that note LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY BOOK TOUR!

I definitely know writers who do NOT love doing book events, because I definitely know writers who are deep introverts who don’t love sitting on a stool in a bookstore in front of a crowd (or cluster, or smattering) of people, some (many?) of them total strangers, being made to talk about the words they put on the pages. I can see how this is can be very unpleasant! There’s also the part where it very much feels like that part of throwing a party where you’re convinced that no one will show up and it will be awkward and sad. That part is unpleasant for sure!

BUT! I am a person who LOVES sitting on a stool in a bookstore in front of a crowd/cluster/smattering of humans, talking about the words I put on pages. I am an extrovert and I like parties and public speaking and IRL interactions and because I spent so much time alone/in my brain/in my office/on my laptop, just making shit up and hoping it’s good, I relish the chance to gather with people to talk about it all. I love answering questions, I love being in conversation with other writers, I love connecting with readers and booksellers, I love meeting total strangers AND seeing people I know, and in general I just love being part of the World of Books.

What a long-winded way to say that I like doing book events and I hope you’ll come join me! Like, PLEASE COME. It’s something positive to look forward to! I’ll be joined by SO many incredible people, it’s seriously a thrill for me. Come hang!

The FIRST event is happening next TUES FEB 10, 6:30pm in MILL VALLEY, CA: It’s a ticketed event at The Hivery, a women-focused co-working space. I’ll be in conversation with my mom! Ticket price includes a signed pre-ordered book that will ship to you on pub day!

And then the official book tour events (thus far—more to come!)

• TUES March 3, 7pm in SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Launch Party at Booksmith (on Haight in SF) in conversation with Caro de Robertis (author of Palace of Eros, So Many Stars, Cantoras, and so much more). Caro is one of my dearest friends and I absolutely LOVE being in conversation with them, whether it’s the long voice messages we send each other about our lives, the ones we have over dinners at their place, or the Official Author Conversations we often have at book events. I’m so excited to welcome the book into the world with them!

• WED March 4, 7pm in SANTA CRUZ, CA: Bookshop Santa Cruz in conversation with Dr. Bettina Aptheker (author, activist, and legendary founder of Women’s Studies and UC Santa Cruz Professor Emerita). AHHHHHH it’s Bettina! Honestly, IYKYK. If you went to UC Santa Cruz, if you know the world of Women’s Studies, if you’ve studied revolutionary politics of the 60s and 70s…you know Bettina. I am one of THOUSANDS who had their lives and brains and hearts transformed by her infamous “Intro to Feminism” course, and it’s been one of my deep joys to remain in touch over the years, and to be able to tell and show her how impactful she’s been on all of my work. Come to Santa Cruz and see me gush over her!

• THURS March 5, 6:30pm in ALAMEDA, CA: Hometown launch party at Books Inc in conversation with Tracy Clark-Flory (author of Want Me and the forthcoming My Mother’s Daughter). Yeah! Hometown crowd! So excited to talk with Tracy, a new friend who’s also like an instant old friend! The wonderful Courtney Martin connected us when she realized that we’re publishing books that are absolutely connected. Tracy’s incredible memoir My Mother’s Daughter comes out in May, and tells the story of searching for—and finding—the daughter her now-deceased mother surrendered for adoption in the 60s. It’s brilliant and beautiful and heartbreaking and Tracy and I have A LOT to discuss!

• MON March 9, 6:30pm in MENLO PARK, CA: “Story is the Thing” event at Kepler’s in Menlo Park, with fellow novelists Claire Oshetsky, Parini Shroff, and Mike Trigg. This will be me plus several other wonderful local novelists sharing our books and I’m very excited to meet them and Kepler’s is great!

• MON March 16 in SEATTLE, WA: Third Place Books in conversation with Molly Wizenberg (author of The Fixed Stars, A Homemade Life, etc). Yessssss MOLLY! Another favorite writer friend to be in conversation with! And a favorite bookstore! So happy to return to Third Place (Ravenna) and always adore the chance to talk with Molly. This will be our first in-person event, I realize—we’ve done Zoom during the pandemic, so now we get to be IRL! Molly is a dream to know, to read, to listen to, and to talk to! If you follow along with me online you also know that I love Seattle and am a KEXP superfan, so expect me to be extra giddy bc I will like have just come from hanging out at the station all day.

• TUES March 17 in PORTLAND, OR: Powell’s in conversation with Corin Tucker (lead singer of Sleater-Kinney, my favorite band!) OMG yes you read that right. Look, the last time I did an event at Powell’s it was with Megan freaking Rapinoe, so clearly I am blessed by some magical Portland goddess who enchants my heroes and gets them to say yes to doing events with me there. For real, I am thrilllllllled to get to sit down and talk with Corin. I guess the topic will be my book but 100% I’m going to be talking about America’s greatest rock and roll band as well. Also, my entire family will likely be in attendance, so expect major family vibes!

• March 27-29 in PALM SPRINGS, CA: Palm Springs Book Festival. Date shakes and mid-century gay vibes, anyone?! Funnnn!

• WED April 15 in DENVER, CO: Tattered Cover w/ Camille Dungy (author of Soil and the forthcoming America, A Love Story) My first time at Tattered Cover! I’ll be in Boulder that week for a conference, so I reached out to my former neighbor and dear friend, the award-winning incredible poet and essayist Camille Dungy. Camille’s new book America, a Love Story shares a pub date with mine. It’s her first book of poetry in almost a decade, and is “a powerful testament to living and loving as a Black woman and mother in today's America.” I AM SO EXCITED TO READ IT and to talk with Camille about motherhood, histories, and all of it.

• MAY 29-31: BAY AREA BOOK FESTIVAL No schedule yet but it’s a guaranteed good time!

Ok! Those are the events for now. More to come, including Los Angeles and East Coast and more.

Genuinely looking forward to seeing you!

XO

k