The Nicholberry Dispatch

Returning to Zibby's, crazy good webinar links, and the complexity of Mother's Day

BOOK NEWS

Last year, I launched the Puppy Brain Book Club, meeting weekly with hundreds of you to talk through the developmental stages described in Puppy Brain while simultaneously observing them in the whelping box. It was really fun and revealed to me just how much I enjoyed connecting with everyone in that format. We rebranded and launched Nicholberry Conversations - a webinar series where we talk with interesting guests (and bumble our way through technology, which could be its own comedy show). If you missed Dr. Lisa Lippman, you can see her episode here, and if you missed Juliana from JW Dog Training, you can see her episode here. I’ll post future episodes on this dispatch, as I am super excited about our next guest (hint: she has a book releasing in August that has been endorsed by Mel Robbins!).

Events

Santa Barbara, California

May 10th 4pm - Ticket Required

I sincerely hope that you’ll join me at this stunning Montecito home for a deep conversation with

Christy Warren

, author of Flash Point, and fundraiser for First Responder Therapy Dogs. (All dogs are welcome, so long as they are good with people, well behaved, and remain on their leash).

Get your tickets HERE.

Santa Monica, California

July 15^th 6pm - (Free) Ticket Required

I’m thrilled to be returning to Zibby’s Bookshop with fellow Celadon writer Kristin Koval (Penitence). We will of course discuss our books, but also the overlap between them, including the forgiveness we each reference. We are both retired lawyers and boy moms, so I suspect that we will wander down many interesting rabbit holes. Please join us, and get your (free) tickets now. Last year we sold out!

Get your tickets HERE.

SOMETHING TO WATCH

Rich Strike in 2022

If we can set aside the controversy about horse racing, this is a clip that embodies all of the things that make the Kentucky Derby so special. Heart, belief, and magic. I love watching someone like Rich Strike win. The announcer states the 79 to 1 odds, then says, “But what have we learned about the Derby? You never know.” I would say the same is true when we chase any dream. And perhaps that is part of what makes the Derby so very special - it reminds us that the seemingly impossible might just be possible.

SOMETHING TO READ

Mother’s Day (it’s tricky)

I’m always astonished by the honest exchanges I have in DMs on Instagram, as you wouldn’t expect that social media would foster any sort of meaningful relationships. But it does. This week, I’m hearing from a lot of you that it’s a tough week. The world wraps itself in Mother’s Day cards and restaurants overflow with celebratory luncheons, but there is a shadow side to this day. The loss of a mother or the absent mother or the regret of a mother. For many, it’s a hard day. Or at a minimum, a complex one. No one navigates the nuances and complexities of being human quite like

Alyson Brewer

, and she does it beautifully in this piece, her inaugural Substack post.

I also want to say this: posting on Substack is scary. If you read Aly’s post, leave a comment. Comments matter. Substack is a place where new writers can tiptoe into the vulnerable space of sharing their work — never forget that there is a human being behind those posts, wondering whether their work is worthy of being shared.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER

“Being a mother is discovering strengths you didn’t know you had, and dealing with fears you never knew existed.” - Linda Wooten

(I contend that this applies to those who are the mothers of four legged children as well as the two legged variety)

SOMETHING TO LOVE