Dear Somebody: How it Feels to Find Yourself
Navigating Life's Changes with Purpose, Clarity, and Heart
Hi, friends.
Today’s newsletter is a departure from our usual while I reveal the cover for my upcoming book, HOW IT FEELS TO FIND YOURSELF: Navigating Life’s Changes with Purpose, Clarity, and Heart, which will be published on May 23, 2023 by TarcherPerigee (Penguin Random House).
HOW IT FEELS TO FIND YOURSELF is a collection of paint palettes and short essays. Together, they work harmoniously in offering guidance for navigating the most important relationship in our lives: the one we have with ourselves. The book is full of thoughtful reflections on parenthood, friendship, love (for others and ourselves), family dynamics, and the larger questions we carry about finding our place in the world. Each essay is accompanied by a vibrant paint palette designed to help you find your way through the moment you’re in.
If you enjoy reading this newsletter, this book is for you.
Book promotion is not exciting for me. If I’m being honest, it fills me with a sense of existential dread. I don’t like asking people to buy things from me, and I don’t like to be pushy. Like most creatives, my heart and purpose lies in creating the work, not talking about it. The reality is that I support myself and my family with my work.
Pre-orders are vital to the success of any book. All publishers rely on pre-orders (and sales, in general) to see whether the books we write resonate with people and whether they should continue supporting us in creating them. Strong pre-orders for this book indicate strong interest. Strong interest encourages my publisher to buy my next book.
More than that, pre-orders signal to my publisher—and the larger world of book publishing—that the work I’m making is important. That talking about emotions, vulnerability, and the complexity of the human condition is important. That raising our children with greater introspection and awareness is important. That creating books of value, with the intent of widening a reader’s mind and heart, is more important than a book designed to simply look good on Instagram.
So, how can you support me and this work?
Pre-order a copy (or like, five) of How it Feels to Find Yourself
Forward this newsletter to someone who will appreciate this book!
Ask your local library to carry the book if you can’t afford to purchase it—knowing that your entire neighborhood will now have access to it!
Ask your local bookstore to carry the book. I love local bookstores and want to support them as much as possible throughout this launch.
If you want to review or write about How it Feels to Find Yourself (or know someone who might), feature it in your publication/podcast/etc., or interview me — just reply to this email to reach me. Every little bit helps.
THANK YOU for reading and for all of your support and encouragement. It means the world to me.
See you next week with a new edition of Dear Somebody!
xx,
M
Will pre-order from Parnassus Books. Next time you visit Nashville--will you please come to visit some art classes at my school-Nashville School of the Arts. I would love for you to share your process and your journey with our wonderful students.
You are amazing! I love your artwork & books.
Keep shining.