ODE TO JOYFUL
Thrilled to have an essay — and one co-written with my son, Lou! — in Suleika Jaouad’s THE BOOK OF ALCHEMY, out today.
Hi friends!
Today is publication day for our dear
and THE BOOK OF ALCHEMY.As so many of you found me via Suleika and my contributions to The Isolation Journals over the years, I wanted to send this special note out today to celebrate! I’m thrilled to share that I have an essay and writing prompt (and one co-written with my son, Lou!) alongside many of my heroes (and yours) in this absolutely gorgeous book.
Hearts full!
Lou and I tried multiple times to make a proper video for you. Here’s my favorite outtake! I’ve got some more over on Instagram. We tried…
Needless to say, if you would have told me years ago that our survival story — that of a wild, imaginative little cancer patient and his (slowly losing her marbles?) Cancer Mom — would appear alongside the words and wisdom of the very writers that got me through those impossible times in the first place…
Elizabeth Gilbert? Sharon Salzberg? Kate Bowler? Melissa Febos? Lena Dunham? Martha Beck? George Saunders? Salman Rushdie? Gloria Steinem? Dani Shapiro? The list goes on!
Honestly I would have told you to go tell it to the Purell dispensers!
I try to play it cool, but my hands shook when I first held my copy. To have our tough times alchemized into something bigger than ourselves, to be of service in this way, in such wise company….now that’s ALCHEMY!
Suleika, you (and Jon!) are angels in our lives. What an honor to be in cahoots! Thank you for including us in this tour de force. You inspire us to KEEP GOING. (And we have you to thank for finding us Oscar Wilding!).
So, friends! Order your copy today, ideally from an independent bookseller! There is so much brilliance in these pages…you will be in the best of hands.
To you, Suleika! To all the incredible contributors. To you, Lou! And to everyone out there for whom the story took turns they never could have imagined — which is all of us, isn’t it? Write now, write through it. Write yourself home.
May all beings be safe, happy, healthy, and FREE. And may this gorgeous book be of benefit…
xx Alexa
PS. I’ll be at BAM this Saturday for Suleika’s book tour! Say hi if you’re there :)
I'm cackling at this video—it's the cutest thing I've ever seen! I love you both so much, and I feel so lucky to know you and to get to include your words in the book ❤️
Congratulations all around to Lou and you. My book is ordered and on its way, awaiting your signatures sometime soon! Sending lots of love and respect for the power of storytelling.