14 Comments

Oh I love how you fleshed this idea out from the first draft, which was also lovely. Can’t wait to pick up your book someday and tell people “We’re Substack friends!” Also I’ve been to beautiful Finnriver and can confirm that their cider would be preferable….

Expand full comment

Thank you! And fun that you've been to Finnriver! It's such a magical place. My best friend lived nearby for a couple years so we would hang out there when I visited her.

Expand full comment

I was reading Heather’s newsletter just moments ago :) Can’t wait to see your cover in a bookstore someday 🥰

Expand full comment

Thank you!

Expand full comment

"(I just have to finish writing it, first.)" -- Causality is such a pesky thing!

Thank you for sharing your day-trip adventure! (liberating me, in spirit, from my deskbound existence today)

Expand full comment

Happy to help!

Expand full comment

Great story & writing, I enjoyed that. Especially being a ferry & a book store fan. Thank you. 🥰

Expand full comment

Thanks!

Expand full comment

Hmm if you have the Pretend You’re Good At It as a newsletter title, at the bottom, it means you can’t also have it as the book title. Unless you have it on there twice. PYGAI is a decent book title you think? Or something shorter like Parenting Unleashed etc I’m just spitballing.

Expand full comment

I actually thought about that after the fact LOL. I haven't settled on a title for my book yet, but it's definitely leaning toward PYGAI. Maybe it could say, "Author of the newsletter by the same name"!

Expand full comment

"Mostly I’m okay with tenacity! It’s a fine trait if you want to become the first female President of the United States, but it feels a little over-the-top when you are no longer nine years old and still hold your family hostage to mediocre vacation meal choices"

LOL. Yes, I feel this. We take turns picking restaurants on vacation, which is why I can tell you what British and Spanish McDonald's are like (they have beer!) Also, when I was 21 years old, I loved a Mike's Hard Lemonade, haha

Expand full comment

haha Yeah, when I was her age and even in high school, my thing was the Bartels and James Wine Coolers! Which are probably not much different from a hard lemonade.

Expand full comment

Great story Jen! I loved the whole adventure, I love spontaneous adventures and taking a ferry to begin with is wonderful. Our journeys now always have to begin and end with a ferry, but it is still a really good way to change gears. And I am REALLY looking forward to sauntering around the bookshops in West Seattle when I am visiting my daughter and seeing your book there on the staff picks AND local author shelves!

Expand full comment

LOVED THIS!!!!! YES to your future book cover, Jen!

I remember being deeply affronted when I came across MY future book TITLE - my perfect, beautiful title - on the cover of a translated European mystery novel I found a couple of years ago. I'm over it now, though - it makes me laugh.

Two more things to say, too.

1. Favourite line of this post: "I can finally inhale the salty air and exhale the city."

2. MEAT AND PASTRY IS MY BAAAAAAAG! Fits VERY badly with my low-carb lifestyle, but mmmmmmhhhh, meat pies...... I can't wait for our forthcoming work trip to Cornwall, where I shall gorge on pasties and come home a stone heavier (that's 14 pounds across the pond).

Great post, Jen. I'm so behind on my reading, but am treating myself to a spot of catching up now that it's the weekend. xxx

Expand full comment