Peak Experience: Escape Velocity Launch Party
All that hard work and, finally, celebration!
The popular indie bookstore, Newtonville Books in Newton, Mass., hosted my ESCAPE VELOCITY Launch Party on Monday, featuring a conversation with my developmental editor and friend, Michael Lowenthal, author of PLACE ENVY. I met Michael through the Lesley MFA program (R.I.P.) and reached out to him in Spring 2024 to discuss my “70x70@70” idea. He signed on, to my delight. Many months of hard work followed, but the vision held: to publish my 70 micro-memoirs of 70 words each as a book. And, someday, to do my launch together!
And this week, it HAPPENED!
About 25 friends and neighbors showed up to celebrate on a chilly spring evening. But there was nothing chilly about the experience for me nor, I’m told, for folks who came. Michael and I talked about the book’s origins, our working relationship, the gravitational pull of enmeshed families, memoir writing, the challenges—and joys—of linking 70 micro-memoirs to tell my story, and much more.
Our collaboration was one of the most deeply meaningful of my life. Michael said his too. Wow.
Kinda sorta but not really like a peak experience earlier in my life (#49 of 70):
Thanks so much to everyone who came and for the support of so many others who couldn’t make it. And thanks to all the Crowdfunder contributors who made the book possible!
Special shout-out to kid-lit superstar Mia Wenjen (pictured below) and Susan Rubin for recording the event. Sorry I don’t have more photos of the gang. Everything happened so fast. Next time!
Much gratitude to Newtonville Books owners Mary Cotton and Jamie Clark; our host, Nick Petrulakis, general manager; and Noa and Julio, who set up the welcoming space.
A mini-gallery:
BONUS! I forgot I have a YouTube channel! So I uploaded Mia’s recording. Total time: ~1 hour. Catch the warmth and the laughter and the emotion of the evening, and let me know your thoughts!
ESCAPE VELOCITY NEWS
COMING UP!
Wednesday, April 15, 7 pm, author event at Porter Square Books, Cambridge, Mass., in conversation with Nicole Graev Lipson, author of Mothers and Other Fictional Characters.
STAY TUNED!
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be recording an interview with the phenomenal Ronit Plank, of the Let’s Talk Memoir podcast, in June. What an honor! If you don’t know her Substack, check it out. More details when they’re available.
LINKS TO RECENT MEDIA
Friday, March 6: I was honored to join my friend Adam Roberts on his Substack Every Day, Luv, for a wide-ranging livestream video chat about Escape Velocity.
Also on March 6: Sari Botton posted my Memoir Land Author Questionnaire on the Substack Memoir Land.
Monday, March 9, one micro, “Home Sick” appeared on Darien Hsu Gee’s Substack Writer-ish, for “Micro Monday: Sit Awhile.”
Wednesday, March 11, Brevity Blog published “From Never to Yes: How and Why I Self-Published My Memoir.”
To order ESCAPE VELOCITY, go to 227 Press, here. For complete info and links, please visit my website.
NEW! “WRITE IT LIKE IT IS” FREEWRITING GROUP ON ZOOM. 10 TUESDAY EVENINGS, 7:00 TO 8:30 ET, BEGINNING APRIL 14: REGISTRATION DETAILS HERE!
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