Good Writing

A new book from "my personal friend" Anne Lamott!

Years ago, when I first began writing seriously, a friend gifted me their favorite book on writing. Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott. I hadn’t heard of her before, but I fell in love with her immediately. I read everything of hers that I could find: spiritual essays, whimsical novels, and my personal favorite, a memoir of her first year as a mother called Operating Instructions.

Years later, when I was shopping my own memoir, I was astonished to realize that one of the offers for The Light We Give came from Anne Lamott’s editor, Jake Morrissey. He was at an imprint called Riverhead at Penguin Random House. I loved Jake’s personality and his vision for the book, and I loved that he had edited one of my writing heroes, Ms. Anne Lamott.

When my manuscript was ready, Jake started to send it out for endorsements. He mentioned Annie (as he called her), and I just about died. What if she hated the book? Or even just declined to endorse it? I’d never be able to write again.

I waited for weeks, worried about what she’d say. And one day, it finally came in. Jake emailed to let me know that Annie loved the book and was writing a lovely endorsement for it. My life was made. If only Annie knew then how much influence she had over a stranger’s life.

I thanked Annie, of course, and offered to thank her in person when my book tour went to California where she lived. She agreed, and maybe she was surprised when I followed up with her the next year while I was visiting the Bay Area. She offered to host a video interview with me while I was in town to help promote my book. How generous and thoughtful is that?!

I was nervous, and stopped to pick up flowers along the way, which I think I forgot to take out of the car until we were halfway through our time together.

We had a lovely time getting to know one another, though, and we’ve continued to stay in touch over the years. I visit her any time I’m in the Bay Area. When her last book came out, I went to the launch to celebrate her, along with hundreds of other New Yorkers, at the Symphony Space theater on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Each of these interactions, whether in-person or online, whether on the west coast or east coast, has been infused with her signature kindness. Imagine how blessed I feel to have found this unexpected friendship in my life.

All of this is why I’m so excited to share that Annie has a new book on writing out now, co-written with Neal Allen, or as Annie calls him, “her personal husband.” It’s like Bird by Bird got a new lease on life, or evolved, decades later, with all of Annie’s humor and insights that the world has known and loved, and also now with another voice blended in, with just as much gravitas, depth, and wisdom.

I’m providing the link to their new book here. I’m confident you’ll love it as much as I do, even if you’re not an aspiring writer. It’s fun and meaningful for everyone! And think about it this way. The worst that can happen is that you order a book and support an incredible human being who lives with grace and kindness :)