After months of planning (and stress) Aug. 19 was launch day at Powell’s City of Books in Portland, Oregon, an institution in the Pacific NW. After an hour discussing Dumb Girl, reading a few segments and answering a ton of questions I drank a cocktail, went home and slept VERY heavily. Seeing my name on the Powell’s sign was surreal.
Around 90 people listened to me and local NBC anchor David Malko in conversation about the book. It was wild to have a mix of friends, family, gun control activists, neighbors and Powell’s patrons spend an hour with us — and ask very smart questions, too.
As if it wasn’t stressful enough to talk publicly about my abuse, my recovery, my activism and my family — the local NBC affiliate had two cameras on me, plus those incredibly bright lights. All up it was a real out-of-body experience — but one I loved once the nerves calmed down.
The day after the launch I walked to Powell’s (it’s near my apartment) and wandered the aisles, something I do frequently. The difference this time was that in aisle 202 were copies of Dumb Girl, next to Tara Westover’s Educated memoir. I stood there for a while kind of awestruck — because it’s been a long journey of recovery and claiming my voice and power!
Warmly,
Heidi
