The Stories We Tell Ourselves...

Ten Things so Lit-(erary and otherwise) 🔥

A few nights ago I dreamed of writing a letter. The letter was addressed to a graduation speaker whose job it is to kick a leather ball filled with air for a living. This is obviously very important work and keeps our society from spiraling into an abyss of terribleness.¹ I’m sure you’ve heard all about it by now.

I woke up still writing the letter in my head, super annoyed at the twisting and conflating of education, Christianity, and “the role of women” - and furthered annoyed that I had let his comments get to me. Because that’s a choice (see Seth Godin below).

I didn’t write a letter. Many other women have responded oh so wonderfully. I thank them 🙏

Instead, I got up, taught a class, read, went for a run, walked the dogs, planted nine tomato plants, and visited a middle school. I encouraged these young students (the majority of whom were girls) to learn, read, and write their stories.

Anyway. Here are ten things so lit-(erary) and otherwise.

1. I find ghostwriting so interesting. Did the ghost write this part in The Heir and the Spare- or did Prince Harry? “– I was the shadow, the support, the Plan B. I was brought into the world in case something happened to Willy. I was summoned to provide backup, distraction, diversion and, if necessary, a spare part. Kidney, perhaps. Blood transfusion. Speck of bone marrow.” Author Jennifer Weiner on voice and Harry’s Ghost.

2. I’m not SUPER ANNOYED that I pre-ordered this book and now it’s 50% off because I can be happy for YOU to order it. Dr. Mary Clare Haver’s AMAZING book on Menopause is half off (but not for long)!²

3. “…just when you're about to give up…IT happens. All of IT. Everything you want. Don’t give up. Until the stars align for you, keep telling and writing your story.” Praying out loud works in storytelling, too. A fantastic read by

   Kelly E. Keough
   with analysis of Eat, Pray, Love: “I need an answer. Please. Tell me what to do.” I used this literary device in Ten Thousand Tries when Golden remembers Messi pointing to the sky like a prayer.

4. I want to open a bookstore like

   Emma Straub
   “I guess what I’m saying is this—let’s all do all the good we can. Let’s read all the books we can. Let’s talk about them with our friends. Let’s wander through aisles—at my bookstore, or at someone else’s—and know that someone put those books there for you to find. That books matter, because they last, and because they are direct connections between your brain and someone else’s…How long do any of us have on this planet? We don’t know. Take what is for you and leave the rest, just like the books on the shelf. It’s not about the ones you don’t love, it’s about the ones you do.”

5. Teachers deserve only the best, but especially at the end of the school year. TikTok-er and middle school teacher Gabe Dannenbring never fails to make me laugh. “Did you throw that across the room? Yeah, maybe let’s not do that.”

6. The daffodils are waning, but my heart beats on for The Daffodils by Williams Wordsworth (my favorite poem, and the only one I have memorized):

   For oft, when on my couch I lie/ In vacant or in pensive mood/ They flash upon that inward eye/ Which is the bliss of solitude;/ And then my heart with pleasure fills,/ And dances with the daffodils.

7. Do Less: Do one thing really well. Stop stretching yourself so thin trying to do it all. Focus on what matters most to you, and double down on that. Not only will you feel better, you will be able to find more energy and time to devote to it, instead of spreading that out across so many other places. I needed to read this. Thank you,

   Dan Blank
   (the bomb-diggity author coach)

8. “It is not raining now, but it rained all day-a rain scented with lilacs. I like all kinds of weather and I like rainy days-soft, misty, rainy days when the Wind Woman just shakes the tops of the spruces gently; and wild, tempestuous, streaming rainy days.” -Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

My world is scented with lilacs - but it is fleeting - stop and smell the lilacs

9. I was so happy to read this email I may have shed a tear 😊 The McNifficents was chosen as New Hampshire’s 2024 Great Reads for Kids selection and will be featured at the New Hampshire booth at this year’s National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. on Sat., August 24th. Yippee! Please consider pre-ordering the paperback for yourself, classroom, or anyone else. Only $8.99! As always, I’m happy to send a signed book plate…

10. The Power - and Empowerment - of Story: Your problem isn’t the outside world. Your problem is the story you’re telling yourself about the outside world. And that story is a choice. If you aren’t happy with the story, tell yourself another story. Period. -Seth Godin

Love, Amy (who struggles to use only one spring-time emoji) 🌻🌱💐🌺🌿🌈🐣🐇🐞👒🐥

p.s. It’s ALS Awareness Month! You might enjoy this book.

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School Visits

I was in Bedford, New Hampshire yesterday for a middle school visit. How amazing is this LITERARY mural? A retired teacher comes in after school and paints with interested kids, how cool is that?

Interested in a school visit? I’m your girl! Be in touch.

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1. I’m not often sarcastic, only sometimes.

2. I am not an Amazon affiliate. If you can buy local, that’s the bestest, of course!