Put yourself in the way of what you want

beauty. opportunity. new friends. old friends. the next chapter

“Put yourself in the way of beauty”— Cheryl Strayed (actually I believe her mother said this nugget)

Put yourself in the way of what you want, then make it beautiful, I say.

I have been watching from afar the emergence of a new type of publisher, one focused on community (my sweet spot) and multi media/platform (yes, please) and authentic connection (swoon). And to top it all off, they were opening a bookstore (yes, a real live bookshop) on the same weekend I was going to be in California. Granted, I was going to be in San Fransisco and the event was in LA but, coming from Montana, I took this as a sign, listened to my instinct, and went for the bold move.

I bought the ticket. I wore bright colors to match the photos of the bookshop, blue, pink, bam (dress for the day you want to have). I rolled in like I had gotten more than the four hours of sleep provided by my super early flight. I tamped down the imposter syndrome and the weirdness of spending an entire day lurking and I rallied. I cheered on writers I have known for years, met new ones, fangirled a few, and found myself at an afterparty with a bunch of authors. I met the bookshop owner / publisher / influencer / podcaster /wonderwoman that is Zibby Owens.

I even met her mother. I gave them Mamalode magazines and told them about my book. Most importantly, when asked about myself, I said “I am an author” like it wasn’t the first day I claimed it (instead of publisher, CEO, consultant, mom, or one of the zillion other titles I have held, this one, author felt so bold and vulnerable.)

To be honest, it has been a while since I have really claimed or chased anything. Perhaps I was focused more on boundaries than horizons. More focused on my children’s dreams than my own. More practical or data driven or blah blah blah. I was tired from the cocktail that was covid+grief+burnout. I was distracted by the privilege of getting work coming my way on interesting enough projects to no longer create my own.

I used to really hustle. I was the queen of making something out of nothing, and then making it special. I would finagle a grant to get to an event and from there turn it into an interview that I could shape into an article that would win an award that would fund the next leap. Just writing that sentence makes me understand why I was tired. Everything led to something and I was a firm believer in anything worth doing should accomplish multiple goals at the same time. Two birds with one stone was a rule, three of four was the plan, 5 was the standard. So many birds, so few stones.

I was so good at it.

Turns out, I still am.

All that rest must have paid off, because I am on effing fire. After a year of kicking the can on what are the next steps for this book, I have finally picked up the can, cracked it, and shotgunned it. My whiteboard is filled with possible agents, warm introductions, possibilities, and pathways to publication.

Putting myself out there, in the beauty and the bold steps, in the gut instinct that has zero data to back it up, in the chase, in the dream.

Much love,

Elke—Publisher, entrepreneur, consultant, and yes, AUTHOR

*****

Zibby’s Bookshop, on the corner of 11th and Montana in Santa Monica, CA. It’s a magic portal of discovery with shelves organized by how you want to feel (Cry, Lust, Tremble, Laugh)

Over 40 authors were featured during the opening weekend