This Book Has My Heart Bursting With Pride

Last May, I got in the car and drove from New York City out onto the Great Plains of Western Nebraska. I was straight up burned out and I needed to reconnect with my roots before I could go on celebrating yours.

My brother and mom and I spent a few days wandering around the rural town where generations of our family built their lives. We drove through their neighborhoods and visited their graves. We found the building where my grandparents started their photography business. I stood out front on the sidewalk and physically felt my heart fill back up.

On the morning I was to head back East, I took a pause before hopping in the car.

“I hope I am doing this right and I hope you are proud,” I heard myself say out loud. I didn’t even know who I was talking to. But there was an energy around.

Five hours later, I received an email from Chronicle Books offering to publish a collection of my work. The universe had this planned.

I don’t believe in living in the past but I do believe the past is alive in us. Celebrating all of the glorious and heartbreaking and meaningful things about being alive is the best thing we can do- together. I can’t believe I get to write a book about it. This photo is The Heirloomist cheers-ing all of you who made it possible. The book is going to add some serious heart to your coffee table. Our baby is due in the SPRING OF 2024. Stay tuned, everyone— we’ll let you know when it time to pre-order.

If you checked my heartbeat right now, you’d only hear corks popping.