The book launch of my dreams
Pausing for gratitude ✨
In 2016, I got into the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference and spent basically the entire time feeling like a total impostor. I’d written exactly one short story, a story about turtles, and that’s what I’d used for the writing sample in my application. Not only had I never published anything, I didn’t even know how things got published. I was working on a novel, but I had so few clues what I was doing that — and this I have never told a soul until now — when we were given the opportunity to pitch an agent or editor, I accidentally booked with a poetry editor. I got into Laura ven den Berg’s workshop and felt lucky, and a little bit starstruck.
On the last day, I attended a session led by one of the conference judges. I don’t remember what the session was supposed to be about, but I do remember that she started by telling us we should all be proud because the fact that we were there meant our writing samples were very strong. And then she asked us to close our eyes and envision what writing “success” looked like to us.
Today, I would probably envision gobs of time to write, but back then I envisioned the launch party for my first book. It was in a bookstore in Brooklyn. There were ten or fifteen people there drinking wine out of plastic cups. I sat on a stool at the front of the store, talking about my book with a writer friend. A vision and a dream!
On Tuesday, my dream came true when we launched Leave: A Postpartum Account.
It’s so easy with publishing (and everything else in life) to achieve a goal and then immediately look to the next “milestone,” nothing ever enough. I am actively rejecting that mindset by soaking in this whole week.
I am so grateful to everyone who came out (WAY more than ten or fifteen people!) and to Briana and Davi at Lofty Pigeon Books for hosting the absolute best launch.
I’m grateful for all the pub week press!
This joy of a conversation with Jiordan Castle in The Rumpus!
This beautifully written review by Jenessa Abrams in LA Review of Books!
This Brooklyn Rail conversation with Rachel León coming out in print!
I’m grateful to Sara Lippmann for agreeing to be in public conversation with me. It all feels so full-circle — back in 2016, I read my turtle story at a reading Sara was hosting at Kettle & Thread, a now-long-closed cafe just three blocks away from where Lofty Pigeon is today. I didn’t know Sara, but she approached me after the reading and said, “I have a turtle story too.” That night, I stayed up late reading her turtle story and loved it and immediately signed up for a writing class with her, and the rest is history.
I’m especially grateful to everyone who’s already read the book, and to all the people who have reached out via email and text and DM to me to tell me what Leave has meant to them. Several people have told me they read it and then immediately passed it on to their mom, aunt, friend, etc. Now this is the stuff of dreams — a project of your heart, making its way in the world, finding its readers.
Finally, I am grateful to you, yes YOU, for being along for this ride.
Love,
Shayne
Congratulations!!
I loved your book and am so happy it’s in the world!