A Scrapbook from My Book Tour.

Coming down off the absolute high of the past month celebrating Small Wonders and in need of a place to sift through my thoughts and enshrine the highlights. I am still pinching myself, still re-living the questions and the conversations with Magpies and the total absurdity of being invited to speak in these hallowed rooms. After each event, despite being completely exhausted (occupational hazard of being an introverted author), I’d lay in bed and go over the details of every filigree and fleeting moment with a fine-toothed comb, electric with adrenaline. I could not believe — cannot believe — that Magpies had come out to support me in this way, had laughed and had me sign their books, had shared their stories with me. It knocked me sideways. The book is proof of effort, but speaking with you in the signing line strikes me as the crowning achievement of this entire undertaking. I’ll never be over it, not ever! A string of golden moments I’ll carry with me forever.

If you are curious about the back-of-house behind launching a book, the book tour planning was the heaviest lift of it all. My publisher encouraged them but was unable to facilitate them, and my PR firm offered light support in logistics, but at the end of the day, it came down to the generosity of my network and my will to see these events through. Some of them were inbound opportunities; others came to fruition thanks to enthusiastic friends who said, “hey, let me introduce you to someone I know there”; and still others manifested by shaking a lot of trees (i.e., “Hi, my name is Jen Shoop and I’m an author with a book coming out this spring. I was wondering whether you might be open to…”). But the matchmaking with the bookstores and venues was just the tip of the iceberg. I had to ask: where should I be — which cities? And do I know any bookstores or people who know bookstores there? And who should be my interlocutor there, and are they available? And can we get together a few times to talk about the book, connect, explore possible themes? And how much wine should we buy, and what type (*screwtop, mix of rose and white — booksellers don’t like red wine in their stores!), and how do we get it there? And do we offer any prints or bookmarks, and if so, how many and where do I print them, and how do I design them? And — most importantly — how do I get people to know about the event?! I think this was my biggest fear: arriving to an empty room. Not so much for my own vanity but for the bookstores and the friends who had stretched themselves on my behalf, and for the expense of it all — and it was expensive! Travel, time, childcare, lodgings, wine, etc! I suppose that writing for years with virtually no readers at all has led me to be very circumspect — or, realistic? — about audience. It still routinely astounds me that I have readers at all, so when I learned that most bookstores aspire to a “draw” of 50 people for these events, I thought: fifty people is a lot. Think about it: 50 women sparing a weeknight to hear someone talk about books? Braving rain and transit troubles, securing childcare, etc? I am still completely overwhelmed at the thought of all my Magpies showing up for me in this way, and show up you did. Every event sent staff members digging around the back for spare chairs! This is not a small thing. Not to me, not at all. I hope I communicated this enough in the signing line and on the dais. It’s a gift to have you show up every morning virtually to begin with — but to maneuver your schedule to see me in real life?! I’m overwhelmed by it.

Anyway – the logistics were one thing. The speaking was another. It’s only your first time once, I kept telling myself as I headed into the launch party at Wonderland Books in Bethesda. I was nervous and emotional. I knew my parents would be in the audience, and within a few minutes of the first question, I peered out into the audience and saw my mother crying. I knew why: the full circle of it. I’m almost positive she was looking at me and remembering the times she drove me to poetry competitions, and I’d nervously whisper my words into the microphone as quickly as possible, unable to make eye contact. A drive-by poem. She was my first audience member, and has been my most loyal. I felt like saying, “we did it, Mom!” and even this thought made me weepy. And then it was intense to talk about the dedication of the book to my Dad with him looking right back at me. In a good way, of course. How many opportunities in our lives do we have to speak about how much we love people in front of an audience? Which is to say, in a context where you are speaking earnestly and at length, and can’t just pause and give a hug or defuse the sob in your throat by making a funny little joke? A gift, all of it, but I would be lying if I didn’t say I was a mushy puddle the entirety of the first event. Afterward, when we’d packed everything up and said our goodbyes to the store owners, Landon and I walked out onto Norfolk Ave and I cried into his shirt on the street.

With each passing event, though, I felt myself relaxing and enjoying myself more and more. I remember commenting on this to Landon, saying something like “I’m getting better at this,” and he paused and said — “I don’t think you crying at the first event was bad in any possible way.” I knew what he meant. That weepy first event was exactly what it should have been. There is nothing wrong with tears. And as a friend told me later, “I’d be worried if you weren’t crying. This is big!”

This was big. And so rewarding. Like an enormous ticker tape parade to celebrate this lifelong dream coming to fruition. I had thought I’d close out my book tour and collapse quietly into silence for the next couple months, recharging my batteries, but I am surprised to find myself contemplating adding a couple of other events to the tour. I’ve had a few opportunities crop up (Virginia, Boston, NC) that I am evaluating. Over on Instagram, I asked Magpies where they’d be open to seeing me, and the highest volume of responses were: Boston, Austin, Raleigh, and Chicago. Should we keep it going?! Stay tuned…

A Thank You Gift…

I don’t know quite how to thank you for making this spacewalk possible, but as a small gesture, I’d love to send two Magpie readers signed copies of the book bundled with a couple of other goodies I know you’ll love. Just leave a comment on this post and I’ll draw a winner at random on Friday of this week!

Purchase Signed Copies of Small Wonders!

If you missed the event and would like a signed copy, you can order one directly from us here and I will sign and ship it to you! Onward, onward —

Now onto the scrapbook…

Small Wonders at Politics and Prose, in Conversation with Chesley McCarty.

While all of the events were incredibly special and different in their own ways, this was a major achievement for me — Politics and Prose is the independent bookseller in the D.C. area and is difficult for a first time author to book. To add to the complexity, it was a gross and rainy night and I was sure that no one would show up! But we filled the room 🙂

Several of these photos were taken by the incredible photojournalist Andy Harnik, who also happens to be a dear friend (and one of Landon’s best buds from high school). He was coming straight from work and was so generous to share his talent in snapping some of these photos I’ll cherish forever. The photo of the three hands holding cups of wine is from Whitley Gaffney. She posted it on Instagram and I asked whether I could re-share here!

Small Wonders at Proper Topper, Washington, D.C.

My most intimate and casual event — the venue was petite (and charming!) so we didn’t have any interlocutor and I gave only the sparsest remarks followed by a reading of two passages from the book. My children were at this event and I felt it was so special to have them there, to watch me read aloud to my Magpies.

Small Wonders at Ann Mashburn, NYC.

The energy at this event was next level, and it all stemmed from the luminous Ann Mashburn herself, who I was honored to meet that evening. She is a true woman of substance. I love the photo of her with her hands on her head below — she is just this way. Vivacious, light, joyful. This evening was particularly special to me as I had my longtime friend (and Emmy-award-winning producer!) Alison Kenworthy interviewing me, and she is such a tremendous talent. I also had my sister, cousin, and best friend in the audience that night — extremely special to have them around me.

My publisher is based in NYC, and the acquisitions editor who made this entire book possible attended this event — so incredible to have her there. Another full circle moment. She told me afterward that this was the most beautiful book event she’d ever been to!

Small Wonders at Ladybird Books, Charleston, SC.

Another evening with insane energy — the women in this room…! I was beyond flattered to be introduced (with wildly generous and poetic words) by my friend Jillian Eversole, and then to have the opportunity to talk craft, books, and writing with my friend Grace Atwood. This bookstore was spectacular, too, and the staff very organized and thoughtful. After the event, we went out to eat and ended up closing down the restaurant! A very special night with very special people.

In one of the photos below, a Magpie reader had come with a little journal of phrases and reminders she keeps close at hand, and she showed me that she keeps my dad’s mantra: “Nope, you’re going to love it” on one of the pages! I was blown away.

Small Wonders at Wonderland Books, Bethesda, MD.

I owe a forever debt of gratitude to my friend Jacqueline Bond for being there for my first event. I was emotional and excited and nervous and she navigated the entire experience with such grace and generosity. Also, look at all the tabs on her book!!!

A Couple Bonus Moments…

Me on TV! Watch the clip on Palmetto Life

Small Wonders in Southern Living!

My list poetry workshop with Lit Society

My in-studio podcast recording with Beltway Book Club with Ellen Meny — Watch on DC News Now

I recorded a couple of other podcasts and things that will be coming out soon, snippets here:

Me on the About the Authors Podcast with Jake Brown

Me reading “The Runaway Bunny” on Meg’s Reading Room Podcast

One upcoming recording I am really excited about is Totally Booked with Zibby Owens! Coming at the end of summer! She interviews a lot of authors you’ll recognize.

Finally, a couple of guest essays and interviews that have recently been published:

“Books That Help Us Turn on the Creativity Tap” (SheWrites)

“The Art of Repeat Reading (and Other Bookish Things We Find Deeply Chic)” (BookTrib.)

“Finding the Small Wonders with Jen Shoop” (Danrie)

“The Art of Specificity in Writing” (Writer’s Digest)

Post-Scripts.

+If you want to know more about the behind-the-scenes journey to publishing this book, I shared all the details here.

+Couldn’t not mention the surprise sale over at Tuckernuck! My top picks:

THIS KIWI GREEN CASHMERE CARDIGAN

THIS REVERSIBLE PATCHWORK JACKET

THIS LACE MINI

THIS FLORAL CAFTAN

Also on sale and worth a gander: 25% off at Marea (!!!) — I recently added this white eyelet set to my closet, and I absolutely love the fit of their Lake sweater, which is cinched at the waist. A great pairing for high-waisted skirts/jeans/shorts.

And! I was surprised by how many of us ordered this pink stripe dress (on sale at Hunter Bell) — myself included. Use code MOBILE10 for an extra 10% off.

+Select Rhoback shorts, on sale!

Lastly, my treat to myself this weekend: this striped caftan — also on sale! Use code ASHA10 for an extra 10% off.

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