beenthinking:

epic:

This American Wife Episode 11 - “Coming and Crying”

Meaghan O’Connell and Melissa Gira Grant, creators of a self-published anthology about sex, discuss their journey on the verge of the project’s tearful release. Erica Moore reads a heartbreaking story from the book about being free, while producer Eric Martin tells a story about going down - just not like you think. Chin up, it’s This American Wife.

Hosted by Ned Hepburn and Eric Martin

Subscribe on itunes here

Download episode here

Despite a little initial trepidation, it was a lot of fun to work with Eric and Ned who were professional and creative. I’m actually a fan of the podcast (if you haven’t listened to Justine Bateman’s episode, stop what you’re doing and go find it) but alerted them from the start that I lacked the usual coquettish wit and ballsy female charm to which they tend. (“Awkward” was a personal disclaimer frequently proffered.)

Lucky for me, they were fine with focusing part of this Very Special Episode on rambling, heartbroken, mildly-erotic and overly-analytical dispatches from “the middle of nowhere.”  Which IS right in my wheelhouse. Win!

So, check out this episode in which Meaghan and Melissa  provide a smart, wry summary of the book-making business.  

Then I take a deep breath and read the first half of my C&C story, which was scary and vulnerable but falls in the category of “Things You do After Saying What the Hell And Ultimately Don’t Regret”  

Finally, producer Eric Martin shares a pretty epic, funny, pause-giving story about surviving and what the hell you’re going to do with this one life you’ve got.

Things like this, apparently.

(Source: epic)

kickstarter:

The problem with making a book is that eventually you make books

Ted from Kickstarter literally came over to Melissa’s and helped us put all of the books in envelopes. HOW’S THAT FOR SUPPORT?

Also, if you go read this link you will see some fun news about this Sunday.

thewordunheard:

meaghano:

“Coming & Crying got its funding through a platform for artists called Kickstarter, which makes the book sort of a full-circle of helping. People helping people have popular blogs, people helping people have sexy times to write about in said blogs, and people helping people to get books made so that people who don’t have the Internet (can you imagine?) can read about them. I’m into it.”

Being a part of this project means I get to feel wide-eyed and flustered and starstruck with alarming frequency, what feels like every other day.

We were on the Kickstarter podcast!

From the beginning of Coming & Crying, we were struck by what an amazing job Meaghan and Melissa did of putting themselves into their project. Being a backer was far more than a financial transaction; you really felt a part of their vision.

We invited Meaghan and Melissa down to the Kickstarter offices a few weeks ago to discuss their success, the origins of their project, and whether their parents knew what they were up to. Unsurprisingly it was an awesome conversation, and we came away inspired by their passion and excited to see how their project would grow.

I was afraid to listen to it all day because the sound of my own voice terrifies me, but when I finally did, I was really happy with the way it turned out. A few people have told us that it helped cement all of our intentions and what we are driving at, so if you are looking for that or looking to share this with someone, it might be a good place to start (also, bonus! we read!)