The Nicholberry Dispatch
A Modern Love favorite, a dog brain rabbit hole, and kindness (always kindness)
BOOK NEWS
If I’m honest, I had a hard time receiving the positive feedback on Puppy Brain when it first released. This was definitely a me problem and something I’ve been sorting through for the last year. The more I talk to other writers, the more I realize how common this affliction is — when you are writing your book, you just don’t know how it will be received, and in preparing yourself for the worst, you fail to prepare yourself for the best. It’s a very strange thing indeed.
When the paperback released last month, I wanted to embrace the kind feedback and celebrate the positive reviews. As part of that, I’m putting one here. And seriously, if you have loved someone’s book, please go to Amazon and/or Goodreads and leave a positive review for them. It means the world to those of us who have poured our lives into bringing a book to fruition!
Can I give this more than 5 stars? This book was THAT GOOD!
I was told to get this book before our puppy arrived, and I am SO glad I did. Not only did I follow his development as he was growing, but I was prepared and confident for our little guy's arrival.
Doesn't matter what dog breed you are getting, this book will educate you on the entire process of getting a new dog. You will learn about how puppies develop and why the environment in which they are raised in is so vital to their development… The preparations for our gotcha day were easy to follow and I am so glad I took the time to prepare the house like the book says…
Even now that he is 17 weeks old, I am still referring back to this book for topics I need to refresh, or viewing the author's website for training help or her Amazon list for items we need…Thank you Kerry for all the time and effort that you put into this book! A true treasure!
Events
Santa Monica, California
July 15th 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.
East Coast
Rockport MA, Boston MA, Exeter NH, and Bedford, NY are all coming - stay tuned here!
I’m doing several events with Kristin Koval, as we are both retired lawyers who have found a second act in writing. And, we love dogs! We are excited about what our conversations will entail and look forward to meeting so many of you.
September 13th 5pm Rockport MA (tickets TBA)
September 14th Waterstreet Books - Exeter NH
September 15th Hummingbird Books - Boston MA (tickets TBA)
September 18th Bedford Books - Bedford NY
SOMETHING TO WATCH
This is an hour long video, but if you like a good rabbit hole about dogs, this one is for you. Erin Hecht, Assistant Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology and director of the Canine Brains Project, provides an introductory overview of the emerging field of canine neuroscience. As I’ve mentioned in previous newsletters, her Harvard team uses MRIs to study canine brains and in this talk, Dr. Hecht helps us understand the similarities and differences between dog and human brains, and discusses how evolution shaped dog brains (spoiler: we are more closely related to rats than dogs!). So fascinating.
SOMETHING TO READ
The “Modern Love” column in the New York Times began in 2004 and has since evolved into a TV show and podcast (the episode with Anne Hathaway is riveting). This rundown of reader favorites, including anecdotes from readers about why certain stories resonated with them, is quite moving. Not only does it convey a sense of camaraderie as we walk through this human experience, but it reveals the power of the written word. Enjoy (it’s a gift link, so even if you don’t have a NYT subscription, you’ll be able to click through and read it).
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER
“Kindness is a language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” - Mark Twain
SOMETHING TO LOVE
Exactly, Kerry. This just in from a famous opera singer (not my sister):
My armchair warriors? I swear, I'm exhausted by you all knowing more about how we should create our art than we do.
Whether we are worthy to step on a stage because of your expectations. You are entitled to your opinion - 100% - but with that comes a request for understanding that there is an "ass for every seat", as the saying goes. Different people like different things. Different people find different things beautiful, and distateful.
I don't need to tell you which of our colleagues this was about, and though I don't particularly I care to hide this woman's name, as she put the comment out there for all to see, I will because I do not I want anyone to go searching for her and telling her off.
.. but y'all? Given all the things going on in the world right now and how *difficult* it is for all of us to keep going let alone create art and try to bring some semblance of beauty and imagination to the world..
.. be gentle. It costs you *nothing*. Happy Weekend.