Showing up
It definitely matters.
Hello friends,
I have been floored by your support of The Unlikely Village of Eden! I have heard from readers that the memoir has lifted you up, made you laugh and cry and think about connection differently. That it has encouraged you to reach out to others! Thank you for letting this memoir move you, for caring about books and stories, and for being so open minded. Your caring is lifting me up. I didn’t know what it would be like to let people into my life in this very specific and revealing way. And I’m so glad I took the risk.
I’ll be signing books this Sunday, May 21st at Barnes & Noble Galleria in Edina, Minnesota from 1-2ishpm. And I’ll also be in Durham, NC on Sunday, May 28th at 6pm Arcana Durham with author, activist, and Duke instructor Faulkner Fox in collaboration with The Regulator Bookshop. Both events are free.
For those who are feeling the book, I would love to have your help to get The Unlikely Village of Eden into the hands of more readers. Please post a review or rating on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Getting 100 reviews on Amazon is the goal, and we are about 25 percent there so far. Please don’t feel pressured to make it poetic. I mean, poetry is awesome, and also your honest, straightforward take, or putting some stars up there—all great.
Let’s get to the hope! Here are three things that have boosted my hope lately:
The order of flowers
What a miracle it is, every single spring here in the North, how the crocuses come first, then hyacinths, tulips, and on and on. The flowers just keep doing their thing and the structure of it is both relieving and amazing. I was talking with my neighbor K. yesterday and she said, “You can really look to flowers to get a sense for painting—how the colors work together.” I can tell you here and now: I am not going to paint anything in the foreseeable future, and yet it is still mind blowing what nature can do.
How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis
This book came with a gushing recommendation, and I get why. Even if you don’t struggle with keeping your home clean (maybe you tend to overdo it, for example, like myself), this guide is such a gentle, self-compassionate guide. Challenge shame, perfectionism, and practice more loving acts of care with this resource.
Everything Happens with Kate Bowler (Kwame Alexander: To Be Loved Like That)
What is not to like regarding anything related to Kate Bowler? The author, Duke professor, and podcaster lives in Durham, North Carolina, which is one of my favorite places to visit (shout out to my dear friend, also named Kate, who lives there). If you are looking to laugh while exploring real narratives about grief and love, check out her podcast Everything Happens. This recent episode with Kwame Alexander was full of great storytelling, heart, and humanity. And also, he has published 38 books, so whatever he says is worth considering.
Thank you for reading, and for being a part of this.
Emma