From the Founder, September 2018
Happy September!
I cannot believe that summer has come and gone and time is flying especially fast at the moment because my first book, The Feminine Revolution, is coming out on November 6th which feels like TOMORROW. It’s very exciting. Also overwhelming, intimidating, and a challenge in every possible way. Thankfully, I love these kinds of challenges and it’s good to be pushed outside of my comfort zone.
We’ve helped support many authors launching their books (handled their PR) so I have a pretty good sense of the process. That said, being the author is totally different from supporting the author. And only recently did I come to terms with the fact that people – lots of people including many people I actually know – will be reading this book. Catherine (my writing partner) and I, shared our own personal stories and anecdotes, and it feels really vulnerable to share those and to put something creative out into the universe. It makes me appreciate even more what my friends and clients have experienced.
It takes a real team effort to launch a book. The many days and nights (months) that Catherine and I spent pouring through the manuscript were truly just the beginning. Coleen, our book agent, has been a friend and colleague for years and now I am in the trenches with her, grateful that she took us on as her client. Our publisher, Seal Books, has been a great support system. Laura Mazer, our editor, has handled our book with such care and thoughtfulness. Seal’s marketing and PR team have been a pleasure to work with so far and we’re all truly in it together.
A few things have struck me the most (and touched my heart the deepest).
The unbelievable list of women (and men) who contributed to or took time to be interviewed for the book. I’m so honored. Their stories were remarkable and their insights and perspectives will be valuable to everyone that reads it. I can’t believe we were fortunate enough to have one of my favorite people ever write the foreword (Gabby Reece). Thank you to Paula Abdul, Dr. Pat Allen, Jamie Anderson, Liz Arch, Chloe and Halle Bailey, Courtney Bailey, Ilyse Baker, Justin Baldoni, Tiffany Bartolacci, Liz Bentley, Sara Bordo, Karen Brodkin, Sarah Brokaw, Jodi Guber Brufsky, Dawn Cartwright, Kristen Castree, Cari Champion, Cat Cora, Cindy Crawford, Deborah Curtis, Shelia Darcey, Jenna Elfman, Nicole Ehrlich, Julie Foudy, Jennifer Carroll Foy, Courtney Nichols Gould, Emily Greener, Jennifer Grey, Jan Stanton Holz, Alexis Jones, Elise Loehnen, Geeta Novotny, Malia Mills, Nikki Monninger, Melissa Palmer, Shel Pink, Amy Powell, Michele Promaulayko, Daunnette Reyome, Amy Ilyse Rosenthal, Dr. Habib Sadeghi, Christine Simmons, Ellen Taylor, Sela Ward, Jordyn Wieber, Marianne Williamson, Jill Willard, and Shelley Zalis.
My team. In general, I feel so grateful for the amazing women that work with and around me every day – they are superstars… passionate, caring, smart, committed, and so much more. Having them by my side at such an important time and working alongside me on my very own book is really special. (I know I’m driving them nuts and they have never had a client that has the experience and proximity to be this hands on – thank goodness.) But truly, they are magical.
And my friends and family. Wow. The outpouring of support in so many ways has astounded me. Preordering books left and right (thank you!), offering to host events, spreading the word and sharing on social channels, giving me ideas, supporting in so many ways. So far above and beyond. It’s incredible. I have never felt so grateful. And so loved.
I hope this book helps women. I hope it opens up a new conversation about how we can be our best, our most authentic, happiest selves. I hope women can feel freer and be more expressive and more aware. And I hope we can all continue to explore it together. So much more to learn.
Today, one of our wonderful interns, Gillian, who has been helping with brainstorms around the book said, “every time I’ve read the book, it’s been a different experience. Depending on what you’re going through in your life when you read the book, it gives you a new way of experiencing and relating to the stories.” I hope this can be true for others and I can’t wait to hear what people think (positive and negative!)
Of course, I would be grateful if you’ll preorder the book and tell everyone you know 🙂
More to come on this. I’ve been feeling so much gratitude and a sense of awe so I had to share!
xx
Amy