When I first wrote The Art of Gathering, and it was time to launch the book, I was terrified. Would anyone come to the launch? My publisher was stoked that The Strand, the iconic New York City bookstore, was taking a chance on a first-time author and hosting my launch in its storied Rare Book Room. I was too. And then it dawned on me that we would need actual people to come.
As I was fretting (and, if we’re being honest, hiding), my wise husband, Anand, told me that I needed to clear my day and make a bunch of phone calls. Phone calls??? As in, pick up the phone? Yes, pick up the phone, he said. Call ten friends or people you know who love you (or at least don’t mind you), and who you think would be interested in the actual book. And say what?? I thought. And ask them to be your ambassadors and bring 10 people with them to The Strand, he counseled.
I listened to his advice. I picked up the phone and called friends who had done Sustained Dialogue with me, choreographed hip-hop dances with me, been in facilitation workshops, and sung karaoke together into the wee hours of the morning in a mediocre hotel with me. People who believed in gathering. And I asked them to help me. It took me weeks. But in so doing, I got to explain aloud why I wrote this book, why I needed their help, and then, gulp, ask for it.
On Thursday, May 16, 2018, I stepped out onto the floor, with my pal Melissa Bell by my side as my interlocutor, into a room full of my friends, and my mother, and my in-laws, and my work colleagues, and my editor and publishing team, and my neighbors — and all of their friends, too. It was like one giant hug.
And I realized that night that ideas spread through people and in community.
And now here I am, eight years later, once again.
In a little over a month (September 8th), The Art of Fighting will be out in the world. And so, this is me now, inviting YOU, my Group Life community, to come to a book launch and hang out with me in person! this September. Bring your people. Make a night of it. And, please, come say hi.
I will be hitting the road, visiting 11 cities to celebrate the launch of the book. So without further ado, here is the tour. Find your city, grab a ticket, and bring someone you love to fight with. 👹
(And if you find yourself in Seattle or Bainbridge Island, my mother has been known to show up behind the decks as DJ Deep Dive, and I am not confirming or denying anything, but I would not skip those two if you’re local 😉.)
Warmest, warmest, warmest,
Priya
WASHINGTON, DC
When: Tuesday, September 8 at 7:00 PM EST
Where: POLITICS & PROSE at 5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
In Conversation with Clint Smith
NEW YORK, NY
When: Wednesday, September 9 at 6:00 PM EST
Where: BOOKS ARE MAGIC @ First Unitarian Church at 119 Pierrepont St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
In Conversation with America Ferrera
BOSTON, MA
When: Thursday, September 10 at 6:30 PM EST
Where: WBUR CITYSPACE at 890 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215
In Conversation with WBUR’s Tiziana Dearing
VIRTUAL EVENT
When: Friday, September 11 at 12:00 PM CST
Where: FAMILY ACTION NETWORK VIRTUAL EVENT
In Conversation with Daniel Pink
*Event Link To Come
SUMMERLAND, CA
When: Sunday, September 13 at 6:00 PM PST
Where: GODMOTHERS at 2280 Lillie Ave, Summerland, CA 93067
In Conversation with Jennifer Rudolph Walsh
LOS ANGELES, CA
When: Monday, September 14 at 7:00 PM PST
Where: REPARATIONS CLUB @ Thayer Hall at 200 S. Grand Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
In Conversation with Elaine Welteroth
DALLAS, TX
When: Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 PM CST
Where: WHOSE BOOKS @ Kalita Humphreys Theater at 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd, Dallas, TX 75219
In Conversation with Claudia Vega
SEATTLE, WA
When: Friday, September 18 at 7:30 PM PST
Where: ELLIOTT BAY BOOK COMPANY @ Town Hall Seattle at 1119 8th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
In Conversation with Aaron Hurst
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA
When: Saturday, September 19 at 11:00 AM PST
Where: EAGLE HARBOR BOOK CO. @ Bainbridge Public Library at 1270 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
In Conversation with Deepa Narayan
BENTONVILLE, AK
When: Monday, September 21 at 8:30 AM CST
Where: TWO FRIENDS BOOKSTORE @ Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce at 125 W Central Ave #200, Bentonville, AR 72712
In Conversation with Denise Thomas
When: Monday, September 21 at 6:00 PM CST
Where: TWO FRIENDS BOOKSTORE @ BlakeSt House at 301 NE Blake St, Bentonville, AR 72712
In Conversation with Rachel Stuckey Slaton
*Open to BlakeSt House members only // Event link to come
HUNTSVILLE, AL
When: Tuesday, September 22 at 7:00 PM CST
Where: THE SNAIL ON THE WALL @ Randolph School, Thurber Arts Center at 4915 Garth Rd, Huntsville, AL 35802
In Conversation with Christie Finley
MIAMI, FL
When: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 - 7:00 PM EST
Where: BOOKS & BOOKS with MOSAIC MIAMI at Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ at 3010 De Soto Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Exciting! Any chance you can make it to Philly? I promise to invite a dozen friends if you do!
Please come to Minneapolis! We have had so much practice with this in the last year.