4

It’s a Book!

Look what I have in my hot little hands—it’s here, it’s a book!

Two hundred and twenty pages, all my words (except one great joke supplied by my agent, thank you Danielle). All of it printed on lovely (read: expensive) paper, thanks to my wonderful editor Shannon. The design team did a gorgeous job. Even the cover feels good. And it’s incredibly cute.

It’s a book!

Nearly four years ago a friend of mine (that same Danielle) read this post and told me I should write a book about meat. She sent me an email with five little words on it: The Butcher and The Vegetarian.

I laughed and said no thanks. I never thought I would write about meat.

Now, four years later, I’m holding the book in my hand. It’s been a rocky road, I won’t sugarcoat it for you. In life there are stories you want to tell and stories you have to tell and this one is the later. There have been tears and revisions and more than a few breakdowns. I’ve wanted to walk away and write about something easier, sweeter, less controversial. You know, like cupcakes. But something made me stick with it. I can be pretty dang stubborn when it comes down to it. Ask any of my family members.

But there is a magical thing that happens with writing—with any expressive art. If you’re lucky it goes into the world and other people react to it—good or bad, it almost doesn’t matter, they react to it. Maybe it makes them laugh, maybe it makes them mad, maybe it makes them think. But hopefully it makes them feel something. How amazing is that?

I know I said in December that I didn’t care if anyone read the book, that my lessons had been in the writing, but I must say, it’s fascinating to have it go out in the world (terrifying too, in equal measure). No one book is right for every person, but it’s so interesting to see people have their own reactions to it. The good reviews make me smile, but I am sure there will be plenty who don’t feel as warmly. Hopefully they’ll feel something. That’s where the magic is.

In the next weeks and months I will be traveling to do publicity for the book (that’s terrifying too, the idea of live television has been mentioned and it makes me want to hyperventilate). But as scary as it is, it’s also exciting. There are so many of you who have been leaving the kindest comments for me—for years now—and I’d like nothing better than to meet you. I’ll be posting the schedule at the bottom here. If I’m in your area (and events are still being added), I hope you’ll consider coming out to say hi. Many of you feel like distant friends I just haven’t yet had the chance to meet yet. I’d love to rectify that.

But mostly what I want to say, as I sit here in my pajamas the night before the book releases, is THANK YOU. I was a writer before I started this blog, was published even, but this is the place where I found my voice and discovered what I love to write about. I owe so much of that to you—to your kind comments and emails, to your support and good humor, to your shared passion and encouragement and patience with me when I wasn’t here. I may have written this book alone, but you were always here too.

My favorite part of the book is the acknowledgment page, where I get to thank all the lovely and wonderful people who have had a part in making this book, and my life as a writer, come to fruition. The last words there belong to you, and they are even more true today than the day I wrote them.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. For being here.

BOOK EVENTS

(more events are being added soon, I’ll keep you updated)

SEATTLE

February 8, 2010: Book signing and reading
University Book Store, 7pm
4326 University Wy NE, Seattle, WA 98105
206-632-8840

*Additional Seattle events are being planned for April and May.

June 10, 2010: Book signing
Queen Anne Farmers’ Market, with Queen Anne Books, 5pm
W. Crockett St. at Queen Anne Ave. N, Seattle WA 98109

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

February 18, 2010: “To Meat or Not to Meat”: Discussion and book signing, featuring sustainable meat producers, vegetarian chefs, and more (ticketed event).
18 Reasons, 7pm
593 Guerrero at 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
For more information and tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/97820

February 22, 2010: Book signing and reading
Booksmith, 7:30pm
1644 Haight Street, San Francisco, California 94117
415-863-8688

March 13, 2010: Book signing and reading
Omnivore Books, 3pm
3885a Cesar Chavez Street San Francisco, CA 94131
415-282-4712

PORTLAND

March 19, 2010: Books signing and reading
Powell’s City of Books, 7:30pm
1005 W Burnside Portland, OR 97209 USA
800-878-7323