my memoir, "Want Me," is coming out in February
Oh, hi.
It’s been a while (approximately 312 weeks of my not sending this “weekly” newsletter). A few things got in the way: First, a human baby. Then, a book baby. That book, Want Me: A Sex Writer's Journey into the Heart of Desire (Penguin Books), is coming out just a few weeks from now on February 16. It’s a memoir about coming of age under the illusion of sexual liberation.
Kirkus Reviews calls it “a provocative, resonant memoir of emboldened self-discovery.” NYT bestselling author Rebecca Traister says Want Me is "intimate, challenging, and so very smart." (Also: "a gift.") Peggy Orenstein says it's "crucially important." Bustle calls it one of the “best books of winter 2021.”
Pre-orders in these weeks before publication create buzz among booksellers, and for my own publisher, which in turn influences the book’s shot at getting read far and wide. You can order however many, many copies you’d like through Bookshop, The Strand, Amazon, Powell’s, Walmart, or just call your local bookstore.
A few fun incentives for you (redeem by emailing your receipt):
—buy three books, you get my handmade zine, I Want, an ode to teen girl desire made from deranged artifacts of mine that loom large in the book (notes passed during class, cartoons of crushes, Teen Beat collages, and excerpts from the daily Leonardo DiCaprio newsletter that I ran as a 13-year-old).
—buy six books to be entered into a raffle to win one of two original paintings created by the talented Bay Area artist Leah Tumerman and inspired by the themes in Want Me. Plus, you get the zine.
—buy 12 books for your book club, and I'll swing by virtually to answer questions for 30 minutes. Plus, all of the above. (Limited to five.)
—buy 25+ books and get your choice of either a personalized piece of fanfiction starring your celebrity of choice (do this one), OR my editing services for a piece of writing under 3K words. Plus, the zine and the raffle. (Limited to five.)
A few other things that help enormously:
—Forwarding this email to a friend
—Requesting the book at your local library
—Posting about the book on social media (hashtag #WantMe)
—Telling your writer/podcast pals to cover it
—Suggesting it for your book group
—Once you’ve read it, posting a review on Goodreads
Please keep an eye out for upcoming virtual events, including a February 16 chat with Peggy Orenstein for Commonwealth Club’s INFORUM, a February 18 reading for The Strand, and a reading March 9 for McNally Jackson with Melissa Febos and Melissa Broder, who have phenomenal books arriving alongside mine. You can expect a few more missives from me in the coming weeks, including some fun sneak peeks from the book.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, and I hope you enjoy reading it—
Tracy