#38 Book tour

and other summer updates

Some book tour reflections

I’m sitting at the table in my house. Birds—gray catbirds and european starlings—call to their companions outside the window. Rainbows from sun catchers are strewn across the kitchen floor. It feels good here in this moment. I’m grateful for that.

Last week I drove to Philly. Partners & Son, a drool-worthy comics bookstore, hosted me for a reading and conversation with Sally Madden. I really enjoyed poking around Partners & Son. Unsurprisingly I found new comics that I had to have. Sally’s thoughtful questions made me laugh and reflect in new ways on my book.

Then I headed to American Library Association— ALA. I’m no stranger to conferences—but ALA is its own magical beast—in the most enchanting way possible. Free books; author signings; the opportunity to meet author heros; nerdy conversations—it’s dreamy. Librarians are rad. I’m grateful for their work to protect our freedom.

The best part of ALA was the people. Conversation with Maia Kobabe was soul-filling. And I cried after meeting and sharing my book with Chanel Miller.

Summer updates & offerings

I’ve been reflecting on soft things—and on this newsletter, Soft Things.

I began Soft Things as a way to share some of the fruits of my research deep dives. I’ve loved exploring research about shame. And now I’m finding myself so far from shame and deeply interested in new questions.

Currently I’m working on a few new projects. Stayed tuned for details :)

These projects feel distinctly different from my first book.

How I’m working is different. I’m more okay with the deep uncertainty in the creative process—the way “things come together and fall apart” as Pema Chodron says. I’m letting there be room for all of this. I see glimmers of another possible world. A world of soft things. Compassion. Slowing down. Just…being. For me. For all of us.

I’ll share some of the process here—and where these new deep dives are taking me.

I’m turning on subscriptions for my newsletter—I hope you’ll subscribe to support this new unfolding of Soft Things. Benefits of becoming a paid subscriber include helping me create comics about fascinating deep dives and occasional bonus zoom hangouts, as well as discounts on workshops. Founding members: serious gratitude for your generosity. As much as possible, I’d like to keep Soft Things posts freely available while balancing the need to sustain my labor.

I would really appreciate if you’d share Soft Things with a friend or two who might be into nerdy deep dives, too.

I’m also offering one-to-one comics editing this summer. I’d love to work with you on your comics project. Reach out if you’d like support. Sliding scale rates are available.

Thanks for reading Soft Things: comics about science, research, and being human. I create narrative comics that intertwine research and storytelling to make science relatable. My comics have been featured in the Washington Post and Mutha Magazine, among other outlets. My graphic memoir, Everything is Fine, I’ll Just Work Harder is available from your local bookstore and elsewhere. If you’re new here, welcome! You might wonder why I was curious about shame, why this newsletter is called Soft Things, and who I am. For more comics, check out my Instagram @cara_gormally and website.