The Amazing Wonderful Fabulous & Kind Team—Photographers: Christina Richards Photography, Emily Takes Photos, Hart & Sol West (Roll over the pictures to see the photographer’s name, click through on most photos for more shots.) * Event Coordination: Lowe House Events * Catering: Trumpetvine Catering * Wine: Monogamy Wine * Hair: Wes Pine at Sammy Oliver
So, apparently, writing a book and launching it is a little like… getting married. (I didn’t actually stretch for that analogy, it’s totally true.) It’s this weird hyper-stressful, super-exciting moment, where everyone is exceptionally nice to you. Except, in this case, it’s mostly about you and your professional achievements instead of being about you and your life partner. So basically, what I’m saying is that a book launch party feels like a feminist wedding (I am half not joking).
But seriously, everyone is exceptionally nice to you. My day started off when Wes Pine (My amazing stylist who I’ve wanted to mention on the blog forever, so I’m totally grabbing the chance. He’s rad. And hilarious. And super talented. You’re welcome, San Francisco.) who’d gotten back from Europe only the night before, offered to do my hair for free. “Celebrity blow out,” he called it. He also ended up doing Maddie’s hair that day (pink), and I was just overwhelmed by how effing nice it was.
But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Elizabeth of Lowe House Events was just going to manage the event, but she also ended up making a gorgeous centerpiece, which is now living at my house. Trumpetvine Catering, who catered our wedding, did a trade for the event food (all gluten-free, god bless them) and totally rocked it out. Um, dried apricots dipped in dark chocolate? The best. Monogamy Wines, who also helped at Yay New York, provided the wine. And of course, our amazing photographers were amazing. And then finally, Green Apple Books. After we’d been treated so badly by another San Francisco bookstore that I cried, Green Apple (my favorite bookstore in the city… for good reason) stepped up and blew our minds. They bought us booze. Ashley (that’s Ashley and me in the second to last picture) was everyone’s favorite person by the end of the night, and the second I finished signing books, he had champagne in my hand.
So it was like being overwhelmed by kindness. And that’s before we even get to the party.
I’ve been performing… technically since I could walk, and I’m trained as an actor. I’d do public speaking every day of the week if I could (good thing too, since that is essentially what my next month looks like). But until now, I’ve had a really hard time with suddenly becoming kind of a public person, because of APW. I was trained to be a character onstage, not a person that people want to talk to at cocktail parties. It makes me nervous because I know I’m just normal me. But somehow at the book launch, things got awesome. I wrote a book, damn it! I’m proud of that. So speaking about my book and getting to sign my book was… exciting and fun. Not scary. Ok, a little scary, but not much.
It felt like a little time out to celebrate doing work that’s important. I got to celebrate being a woman and being professionally successful, which felt great. It made me want to go to a party with wine and confetti centerpieces when my girlfriends get promotions or make big professional strides. It did actually feel a bit like a feminist wedding in that it felt like a big public celebration of professional success, not personal success… and maybe we all need more of that. I could personally do with more of that in the world, that’s for sure.
And so, thinking back, I was crazy thrilled that one of my favorite little people (who I routinely describe as being just like me, but little) got to hang out with me during the event. She stood next to me when I spoke. She helped me out with signing books. And perfect, right? Because if we could all model female professional success to little girls we love, I think the world would be a cooler, more adventurous place.
Now, onwards and upwards! I’ll see you soon! (Denver, Boston, New York City, DC, Atlanta, Austin, and LA, coming right up.) Let’s do it.
P.S. We sold all the books! There were only two left at the end of the night, which the bookstore asked me to sign. I can’t even say how important that is, and how grateful I am.
P.P.S. You guys were awesome. AWESOME! If you share your perspective on the party in the comments, I’d be crazy happy about that. I want to be able to hold on to your stories when I remember the launch. And you bet I’ll remember it.
