A Week of Dentists, Downtime and Summertime Rain: The Ups (and Downs) of New Books

The Ups (and Downs) of New Books

Not feeling super for this update, had dental work earlier this week and got pretty sick for the whole week. This happens a lot to me after dental work. Part of the whole “crappy immune system” that is part of my life.

Goldfinches in flight

But that’s not what I want to talk about on the blog this week. Someone on Twitter this week talked about how depressed she felt after her first book came out. I tweeted back something like: “That’s normal, you’ve got it all built up in your head so there’s inevitably let-down, book launches (now more than ever before) take so much effort on the part of the author—social media, readings, constant promotion. It is tiring.” And those things are the truth. Flare, Corona is my sixth book of poetry, and my eighth book altogether—but you never really get used to it. It never gets easier. Even if you have a great press, even if you’re totally healthy, even if you’re not coming into year three of a pandemic.

See the goldfinches in that picture. One of them is about to get off his perch—the other is mid-flight. You get the sense these birds are putting in a lot of effort. If you’re mid-flight, you’re thinking about your destination—if you’re just launching, you’re thinking about how you’re going to make it. It’s sort of like that with books.  There’s the book launch—maybe a party with friends or with your publisher—a few readings, a few reviews, maybe even good ones. Maybe you sell a fair number of books. Then the excitement fades, and guess what? You’ve launched, but you’ve still got work in front of you. My first poetry book still has readers, believe it or not—and it was published in 2006, the publisher changed hands, and I don’t even know if you can buy it through regular channels anymore. The point is, after the three months of book launch activities have faded, the book goes on. Sometimes you get tired. Sometimes—and this is completely normal—you feel discouraged that the book didn’t do as well as you’d hoped.

Pink Peony garden

I’ll tell you a funny story about a non-poetry book. I wrote a technical book about web services once. I knew the press expected to sell 60,000 copies, and it sold more like 10,000. That would be a huge number for a poetry book, but a disappointing one for this particular kind of technical book. Because I was writing about technology that didn’t even fully exist yet, reviews were sort of dismal. But the key for me was that the expectations were higher than the actual performance. That always hurts. You always think: what could I have done better? Every book, I’ve learned something. Book promotion has really changed since my first book. The pandemic has maybe changed the face of book promotion forever. This time around, I learned about Instagram and video editing—there’s probably more I need to learn, too.

Striped rose

Summertime Rain and Restoration

It rained this week after a long (for Seattle, anyway) dry spell. My garden appreciated it, and also, it takes a little bit off the frenetic pressure (in Seattle, anyway) to be out having a “great time outdoors” during the summer, after the long gloom of wintertime (and it was longer than usual this year, too). The flowers appreciate the wet April and the dry, hot May—things bloomed early, then died off, and the second wave of summer flowers has begun in my garden and all around. I got out a little in my garden, fertilizing and pruning and checking on the health of all my little plant babies (my particular baby is my little Pink Lady apple tree which nearly died of mold last summer, after a very wet spring).

Red zinnia

The rain is a break, as I said, from the feeling that we should be out having a “good time” as long as the sunshine. Now, if you follow this blog, you may know I have something called “solar urticaria”—which means I’m allergic to the sun. My body actually does better under a protective cloud barrier. MS means the heat makes symptoms worse, too—so for most people, this is “max fun” season, whereas for me, summer is usually my time to stay in and not try to do too much. It’s a good writing season for me, as long as (ahem) I’m not sick. And downtime can be important. It can be restorative. When I study a lot of writers’ lives, I notice a lot of them had lots of downtime—whether because they were frequently ill, or they had a disability, or they were Emily Dickinson. The rain is good for the garden, restorative. It’s important for us as writers, especially during something stressful like a new book launch, to think about what restores us as artists. For me, the time to read (I’m reading five books at a time this week!) and spend time with other artists, and to be out noticing things – like, art galleries and gardens—are important parts of restoring my creative self. You have to decide what the things are for you. What’s your rain?

Reading Reports and Videos from Third Place Books and a Disability Fundraiser, First Butterflies and Ducklings, and Waiting and Planning (Summer Edition)

First butterfly report – swallowtail and lilacs

Reading Reports from Third Place Books and a Disability Fundraiser, First Butterflies and Ducklings

I was a little under the weather last week, and then had two reading events in a row – so this weekend I am taking it easy. The good thing about being a little under the weather is that when you’re around the house you notice things more – like, for instance, the first Swallowtail butterflies on the neighbor’s lilacs, or the first ducklings in the water.

And I was well enough for both readings to be fine – and I will say more about the readings later – but it’s nice now to have some downtime to plan for the summer. Maybe planning an online workshop, an online salon with a friend, or planning for the visit from my older brother and his kids. Right now it’s sunny and 65 degrees – now this is my kind of summer weather!

Glenn and I with peonies before disability awareness fund-raiser reading

Third Place Books and Breaking Barriers Reading Reports and Videos

So the two readings I had this week couldn’t have been more different, though both were wonderful. The first was Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park location. My college roommate (who I hadn’t seen in six years!) came and so did some old friends and even some of my book club friends, and I had lovely interactions with the bookstore employees too (and left with a special signed edition of one of my favorite books, Siri Hustvedt’s The Blazing World.) I was a little late and breathless on arrival, but Glenn captured some video. You can go to YouTube to watch the whole reading:

or if you don’t have much time, watch (in less than one minute!) one of the poems, “Wish You Were Here (Postcard from a Pandemic)” here: Jeannine Hall Gailey reads “Wish You Were Here from Flare, Corona.”

The other reading was at a fund-raiser event for Disability Writers Washington called “Breaking Barriers.” I performed after a hip-hop artist, there was a one-act play, a pianist and a comedian as well, all of us with disabilities, and the party was mostly disabled people (and some politicians) – it was huge, probably the biggest audience I’ve had in a while, at least two hundred people – and I felt I really connected to the audience, which was nice. (There may be a recording available but I don’t have it yet.) There were service dogs and I must say some very advanced wheelchairs – and an array of excellent sparkly jackets and shoes on both genders. (This has got me thinking of getting Glenn some bling-ier clothes!)

I was a little afraid of some kind of overload of people wanting some kind of performative positivity from disabled artists (which if you know me, is not really my jam), but because the audience was mostly disabled, it didn’t really feel like that. It did feel like a bunch of people who were actually trying to fight for things like accessible public transport and working rights (ADA stuff) being defended and other kinds of activism. I left feeling like I was part of a new kind of community. And I talked to a disabled teen about publishing her stuff, which sounded amazing. That kind of thing is very much like “oh, this is why I do this!”

Full Strawberry Moon

Waiting and Planning (Summer Edition)

So now is a time of rest, and waiting (for book reviews, or prize news, or anything else about Flare, Corona which, by the way, you can now buy locally at Open Books and Third Place Books,)  and planning for the summer. I plan to do a few more readings in the fall, if people are still interested, but in Seattle it feels like the summertime is not a good time to plan poetry readings, because so many people (especially after a weirdly cold long winter) are desperate to be outside ALL THE TIME. I’m looking forward to visiting Port Townsend and the beach, to visiting my local lavender garden and walking around the local wineries, summertime book club meetings, and more family visiting time. Glenn is also going to graduate from his Master’s program in August, so we should do something to celebrate that, right?

Summertime is also max MS symptom time, so I’m careful not to plan too much during the hot months. Last year there was bad wildfire smoke all the way through September, so hopefully no repeat of that (see: Poison Ivy new comics based in Seattle inspired by the pandemic and wildfires here.) The hard push – that started with Seattle’s AWP and ended with June 1st’s fundraiser reading – for Flare, Corona‘s launch has kind of eased, and now I can plan a more relaxed approach to book promotion, and choose my projects, which is nice. I’ve talked to a couple of people about doing some online events, workshops, and salons, which sounds fun. So as summer approaches, I’m wishing you all the same things I’m hoping for – adequate time to get outdoors in the forest, mountains, or beaches, good writing and reading, and getting back to in-person outdoors visiting with friends and family.

Feeling Busy and Grateful: Two Upcoming Events for Flare, Corona, Interviews, Reviews, and Articles, Writers & Books Interview Online and More!

Feeling Busy, Grateful: Interviews, Reviews, Articles, and Two Upcoming Events

Happy Memorial Day Weekend, a time when Seattle usually has a lot of rain, but we’re going to have beach weather instead. I had to snap the picture of my typewriter on the one day the cherry blossoms had fallen but before they were blown away by storm. It went straight from a cold rainy spring to bright hot summer, nothing in between. Lilacs and rhodies bloomed and died under the heat.

I’ve been a little down health-wise this week, but feeling grateful for news about Flare, Corona – a new essay out in Adroit, guest blog posts, really kind thoughtful reviews.  One of my readings and interviews is up on YouTube in case you missed it in real time – and I have two readings coming up next week. It seems like I am either responding to e-mails about book-related things or thinking about book-related things. I forgot how much work this whole “new book coming out” thing is!

Rufous hummingbird at coral bells

A Very Personal Personal Essay in Adroit

First is a very personal personal essay that I wrote for Adroit, called “How to Write About Your Body Falling Apart (When the World is Falling Apart.)” It is the first time I actually wrote down all the things that happened to me over the last six years (then edited a lot of it out) so it was an emotional piece for me. It’s more challenging for me to write a personal essay than, say, a poem or a book review. So any feedback is appreciated. And leave comments at Adroit if you liked it. Here’s a little bit:

“You can’t write about sunshine and rainbows all the time. Or in my case (see my first five poetry books,) superheroes and supervillains and fairy tale characters and apocalypse – sometimes, you have to crack yourself open, write the real, vulnerable truth about your life in your own body. It’s hard. And maybe it’s healing and maybe it isn’t. Can poetry save the world? Can it save you, or me? No, but it can be a way of documenting it. Even after we are gone.”

Pink roses

Upcoming Readings at Third Place Books and A Short Appearance at Breaking Barriers

I am hoping to heal up over the long weekend because I have my final bookstore reading for a while – Lake Forest Park’s Third Place Books is hosting me on Wednesday May 31 at 7 PM, with a reading, a Q&A and a book signing afterwards. (Free) Tickets and more information are available here: Jeannine Hall Gailey presents ‘Flare, Corona’ | Third Place Books

It’s a real in-person event, so come out, grab some great coffee and a couple of books, and come say hi. It’s the last thing I’m doing for a while! 

I will also be making a brief (five minute) appearance at Breaking Barriers: a Celebration of Disability Community. Tickets to this one are free to go to virtually, but not free to attend in person, because I believe it includes food and drinks. It’s downtown at 415 Westlake in Seattle from 6-8:30.  And then a bit of a break!

Female black-headed grosbeak in cherry tree

And More! Reviews, Guest Blog Posts, and One of My Readings and Interviews Online!

Okay, so much news! So, if you missed my reading with Writers & Books and interview with my publisher at BOA Editions, Peter Conners, it is up online at the Writers & Books YouTube channel. Check it out! You’ll learn industry secrets, such as why I’m the first poet BOA has signed that’s been in the Best Horror of the Year anthology, and how I ended up writing a much bigger book than I originally anticipated.

Okay, even more!

Here’s my guest post on how my writing life has changed over the six books I’ve written at Anthony Avina’s blog: Writing Journey Over Six Books (and 25 Years) by Jeannine Hall Gailey | Author Anthony Avina’s Blog (authoranthonyavinablog.com)

And here’s a kind review from Serena Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse and Wit of Flare, Corona. Here’s a short excerpt: “Gailey juxtaposes the glow of radiation with the dulled reputation of America and the significant changes to her own abilities to walk, think, write. “In “my bones, organs, skin, I’ve been storing/all of America’s dark secrets//” (“Self-Portrait as Radioactive Girl,” pg. 19)

Is that it? I think that’s it! And remember, if you still haven’t gotten a copy of Flare, Corona and you want a signed copy from me, I’ve still got a few left. (And I mean, just a few.)

Wishing you all a healthy, safe, and happy Memorial Day Weekend while I recover from the evil bug that hit me this week. Hit the zoo and the botanical gardens for me.

The Open Books Flare, Corona Reading, Interviews and Podcasts, Things Breaking Down, Heat Waves with Goldfinch and Hummingbirds

A Long Week of Ups and Downs – Readings, Podcasts, Interviews, Heat Waves and Health Emergencies

It’s been a LONG week since I last checked in. Had my debut Seattle reading at Open Books (in record-breaking heat), my interview and podcast reading with Writers and Books in New York, which will eventually be available on YouTube, my mother went into the ER with heart issues the day before Mother’s Day, I broke a tooth and our washing machine broke and had to be replaced, and someone else ripped the screen door off of our front door. Plus a scary-hot heat wave with day after day in the high eighties and nineties, absolutely terrible for those of us with heat-sensitivity and MS, and a dental appointment (to fix the tooth) and a bunch of blood work.

Billie, Open Books’ owner, me, and Martha Silano

Open Books Flare, Corona Reading

I’ll start with my Saturday reading at Open Books in Pioneer Square, the first time I’ve read at the new location. It was a day of record-breaking heat (and no air conditioning), so I doubly appreciated the people that came out, and the store putting out several fans. I also packed a cooler with water bottles (and sparkling rose) and boxes of macarons—because people need sustenance during a book signing.

The reading itself went okay—you can see the whole thing here on my YouTube channel—did you know I had one? Minus Martha Silano’s excellent introduction. (Hey, you have to be there in person for some parts!)

And a single poem, “In the Second Year of the Plague, I Plant a Fig Tree” is in the embedded video below. This poem also appears in the current issue of American Poetry Review.

And here are some pics pre-reading, including the Open Books “Parlor” all decked out with flowers and sparkling wine. Any reading where I can walk out with new books and a borrowed recording of Sylvia Plath readings is a good reading in my book, and it was a really good venue, especially the “Parlor” for afterwards visiting.

Goldfinch in fountain

A Week of Podcasts and Interviews (and Things Breaking Down)

Monday was my reading and interview with BOA Editions Publisher Peter Conners at Writers & Books in New York, which will make the entire thing available on their YouTube channel shortly (I’ll post the link when it’s up). I also had a radio interview yesterday with the Hive for a Santa Cruz radio station, which will go up, believe it or not, in November.

And here is an interview that went up today on Review Tales by Jeryan Main: An Interview with Jeannine Hall Gailey – Review Tales (jeyranmain.com)

But Things Break Down…
During this time my mom had a trip to the ER with dizziness, and they thought they caught a rare kind of heart attack on the ECG. She saw a cardiologist yesterday and is getting a full workup, but suffice it to say I was very worried (and the timing ironic, with Mother’s Day—and she was just here, looking as healthy as possible). I subsequently broke a tooth, which I had repaired the morning of the Writers & Books podcast, I had blood work the day of our book club (where we discussed Kelly Link’s White Cat, Black Dog) and our washing machine broke—and a service person ripped our screen door off of the trim and hinges, so it was a weird time for stress, breaking things, and oh yes, a record-breaking heat wave. There was not a day last week that felt comfortable outside—stifling nineties and high eighties in a town with little air conditioning, few pools or public cooling areas, etc. The summer flowers burst into bloom almost to start immediately wilting. At least my little fig tree—yes, I really did plant one last year—is enjoying the heat. My MS symptoms are at a high point—so today is a resting day. Writing this post, I realize a lot went on in the last week!

My next reading isn’t until May 31 at the Lake Forest Location of Third Place Books, so hopefully I’ll be fully recovered by then!

It’s a reminder that with good things – like a book launch – come bad things – like family health emergencies, broken appliances, and broken teeth – and it is my goal to survive and thrive through the good and the bad. But I appreciate any good vibes (especially for my mom.)

Sending you all good vibes for a wonderful beginning of summer…I’ll leave you with a pic of my book in the Appalachian Mountains, near where I grew up in Tennessee, sent from blogger and writer Kristin Berkey-Abbott. And a few goldfinches and hummingbirds from my backyard.

Book Launch and Straight into Summer, Interview with Kelli Russell Agodon, BOA’s Blog Post and Making a Flare, Corona Cocktail, and Readings Tomorrow and Monday!

Book Launch! And Straight into Summer!

Summer has Arrived in Seattle! It’s supposed to be 80 today, and 90 this weekend! So we went straight from February to August with no spring in between. Too bad – since spring is my favorite season.

On the plus side, my book Flare, Corona has officially launched, I have my Seattle debut reading at Open Books tomorrow, a great interview with Kelli Russell Agodon went live, and I have funny videos and graphics to share – including how to make a cocktail (it turns out I did not miss a secret calling as a bartender.) I’m posting a little early this week because I have a reading tomorrow and a reading and interview on Monday, and I wanted to give you all the news in between.

Interview with Kelli Russell Agodon

Kelli did a wonderful interview with me about Flare, Corona for The Linebreak (and will also appear in the upcoming issue of Redactions.

It’s funny, revealing, and sounds like a chat between two old friends – which it is! So check it out.

Here’s a little bit of the interview:

Kelli: “But I’m wondering, in this world which can feel like a lot of terrible news, how do you make space for art?”

Jeannine: “I have to admit I wrote more during the pandemic – I’m sure that’s true of many people. I think I wrote over 200 pandemic poems over the last two and a half years, not all of which were brilliant, but they were one way of dealing with the uncertainty and stress that went along with living through a pandemic. I also read through a ton of Joan Didion and Virginia Woolf, neither of whom I knew much about, read two fantastic huge nonfiction books about writers (Red Comet and The Equivalents, both of which I highly recommend), and walked through about every neighborhood in a five-mile radius. And planted about seven trees.

Gardening, photography, getting together with friends, seeing art, reading–all these things feed the creative side of me and make it easier to be productive as a writer.”

Reading at Open Books in Seattle Tomorrow Saturday the 13th with Special Guest Martha Silano (and Macarons)

I’ve got my poetry set all set up and so excited to be at my favorite all-poetry bookstore tomorrow with my friend Martha Silano (whose poem was a clue in NYT crossword this week, what what!) and we’re bringing fancy macarons to share during the book signing afterward in the Parlor.

This is my first time reading at Open Books’ new location in Pioneer Square. I’m hoping we can keep it cool (and I’m bringing a few cold drinks with me just in case) and that people show up since we are having beautiful sunny weather after an entire spring of rainy gray cold days. I had to drag out all my summer dresses and sandals after wearing sweaterdresses and boots earlier in the week. I’m happy to say you can also order a personalized copy of Flare, Corona from Open Books here. Support indie bookstores!

Flare, Corona Cocktail – BOA’s Flare, Corona blog post, and a (Funnyish) Video

So, BOA did a blog post about cocktails, food and drink in Flare, Corona:  A Cocktail Pairing for FLARE, CORONA with Jeannine Hall Gailey – BOA Editions, Ltd. and then I did a video about how to make the cocktail (recipe at left.)

It’s sort of funny because it’s obvious I’ve never used a cocktail shaker before and Glenn keeps whispering things about  how to make the cocktail but you know, I wasn’t really pursuing a mixologist future. The drink itself is pretty good if I do say so myself though!

Another Virtual Reading and Interview at Writers & Books in New York on Monday the 15th!

This even is actually taking place in New York State, because Peter Conners, the publisher of BOA Editions, will be doing the post-reading interview. I hope I sound smart (and my Zoom connection holds.) It’s Free on Zoom – here’s the link for attending: Jeannine Hall Gailey: Flare, Corona – Writers & Books (wab.org)

Thank you to everyone who has bought the book, written an Amazon or Goodreads review, sent me a kind message – book launches are hard but you guys make it worthwhile.
More pics to come in the next post!