Buy My Book?
On Advertising My Book About How Much I Hate Advertising.
Oh hi!
It’s been a minute since I posted here because I have been spending a lot of time making videos of my face and then posting them on Instagram and TikTok. I am trying to build momentum for my book launch on June 9th, and even I, a writer, can’t deny the that fact that it’s a lot easier sometimes to open my phone and turn on my ring light and post something in ten minutes that one hundred and seventy thousand people might see, rather than it is to sit down and spend a day or two to write a thoughtfully crafted piece for my Substack that a few good friends (and a couple kind randos —hi randos!) might find in their spam folder.
Even I — a writer who loves and respects words — has found herself falling into the trap of how seductive it is to make quick videos, rather than draft an essay that’s worthy of asking someone to sit and focus on for ten minutes straight. So, I’ve been dabbling in the “art” of short form video content, where I am calling back to skills I learned when I marketed television (poppy colors! a good soundtrack! a compelling, easy to digest message!). Even though my years in that business were complicated, I did enjoy many parts of it. It’s been fun to dip my toes into the video world since back then, I was never allowed to be seen in the frame of anything I made. There were always better looking and more famous people who got that honor. In that way, it’s been quite healing to speak my own words with my own face.
This is all to say that if you are someone who hate follows me, you are in for a real treat these next few months! I am about to debase myself consistently in public, in the hopes I will convince people that my book is something they might like to spend a few of their hard-earned dollars on.
When I was working for decades on behalf of brands, I never felt the ick when I flexed my marketing muscles. It was fine when I used them on behalf of global corporations, to hawk their wares in public with multi-million dollar budgets, but now, when I’m shilling my own product in broad daylight, I kind of want to be transformed into a fine aerosol mist and disappear. Turning into an aerosol mist, however, is not an option! I wrote a book I’m so proud of and I do, really think it speaks to the complicated moment we find ourselves inside of — when nothing we do is private, our rights and humanity are being stripped away and finding the strength and power of our voices has never been more important. So, on I go, into the conundrum of being an artist inside capitalism!
Lately, a lot of people have been asking me, “So, what’s your book about?”
Usually, I say, “It’s about my career in advertising and how it almost killed me,” and although that’s true, and gets a cheap laugh, I’ve been realizing there’s so much more at play in it. I thought I’d share a quick little shorthand of themes the book contains, in case you, yourself, may be a fan of books that take on:
Grief stories, particularly mother loss. My mom, Rose, died thirty years ago this Saturday and I never thought I’d live long enough to say, “My mom’s been dead for thirty years,” but, somehow I did.
FATNESS. The word is on the cover so you know it’s important, but the story of my life is paved with plus size pants and diet culture. Please join me if you’ve ever been tormented by a carbohydrate.
Corporate burnout. I once slept under my desk before a big pitch because there wasn’t time for sleep. Yeah, that wasn’t sustainable.
CAPITALISM LOL/OOF. Can a person exist without owning the perfect pair of pants and can a face cream make you look like Bella Hadid? Don’t Buy What I’m Selling answers this question and more!
Lady Biz. Dudes have a lot of expectations and things can be rough for them too, but if you’ve ever felt talked over, underestimated or considered “emotional” for being a human being with feelings who also happens to have a uterus, this book is for you.
I could go on! And I’m sure I will! As I mentioned, it’s a little over three months until the book comes out and in that time, I’m going to do my part to make sure it reaches the right people, even if I generate gallons of ick for myself in the meantime. I keep trying to remind myself that it’s a time of profound ick in culture, and in politics, and I should have more grace for my own since ick doesn’t seem to stop “them” from using their whole chests to say the most heinous things. I have to own and embody my ick of self promotion if my book has any hope of finding the people I hope will find it, and see a little of themselves in it.
Also, here’s a picture of my cat Neko. She is my silent writing collaborator and doesn’t know what advertising or social media is and many days, I wish I were her. If you made it this far, please share a photo of your pet and tell me their name? Or just drop a like so I can know you were here? Being vulnerable in public is no joke and your support, this way, is really meaningful to me. I also want to say that I hope you’re doing okay out there, too. Really. All we have is each other and I’m out here if you need someone to talk to. OK BYE FOR NOW!
Rando here, love you on TikTok, stoked to buy the book. As you were.
I bought your book!! I can't wait!