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Sarah Grace McCandless

@sarahgraciously

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Proud to be his mommy! These are the boys we need.
Tender. Compassionate. Respectful. Funny as F. Thoughtful.

(That’s his buddy Asher behind Charlie in first pic from when they were at a protest the other day when I was in Los Angeles, doing a book event)

⚽️⚽️⚽️

And yes, Charlie’s soccer uniform is pink and there’s two female coaches WHO ROCK!
When I was a kid, I can’t imagine that.

Also, his team is called the bombs but my deaf ears heard THE BOBS, and so, henceforth, to me they shall remain THE BOBS

Ps custom hats made by @fembomb_fire - my WEIRDO hat is my favorite but she makes loads. Give her a call and DM her if you want a hat. I also have a few that say Fck 🧊
(you can figure that one out. I can’t write the whole thing or algorithm won’t show it to you.)

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This is how we do it. 💃
Forgot to share this news with you!

I’m getting busy with speaking gigs 💃💃 and all the things (like getting ready to do first art show and my upcoming Ojai retreat Oct 15-18) and therefore, I neglected to announce my joy over the fact that I’m now working with The inimitable Washington Speakers Bureau these days.

And… My creative right hand genius is the one and only @sarahgraciously (brilliant writer, I might add.) I owe so much to that goddess.
if you want to book me for a thing or a magic show (jk I do not do magic) Lincolnbio or go to their site or email me and I’ll connect you.

Besides keynotes & commencement speeches, I have done a lot of corporate workshops & private retreats and talks for places like The Mayo Clinic and Northwestern University Medical School & caregivers & librarians and mental health conferences and recovery conferences (looking at you @she_recovers ) and things about having an invisible disability, and I often add yoga classes in with my shenanigans ….you name it….. Holla at your weirdo! (Me)

my mom took that first picture of me in Italy
& well, shucks, I kinda love it, as well as my @ashapateldesigns labrodite crystal I’m wearing.

Luckily, Asha sent me a new one since I gave mine. That was well worn and well loved to @alanis 🦋🦋🦋

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What an honor! In conversation w/ @sonyawalgerofficial at our beloved @dieselbookstore for her STUNNING BRILLIANT BREATHTAKING- HOW ARE YOU SO TALENTED- NOVEL? Pinch me!

@realhenryczerny are obsessed with Wifehouse!

She has impeccable taste in humans (audience was the loveliest) - and words.
Many of you read her first book LION so you know I tell no lies.

I’m wearing my F*ck 🧊 hat: I tell no lies.

She shatters the idea of what I call the “JUSTA BOX” -
“Justa mom, just an actor, just a waitress, just a teacher etc.

When we (or others) attempt to fit us into a box-
when we live according to who the world tells us we are
or who we think we SHOULD be.

Should is an a$$hole.

Sonya is a well-known/gifted actor & to change up the “so called rules”
& write a novel is a game changer.
Major declaration of: I am who I say I am. Me. Not you!

That those “rules” are made up doesn’t stop a lot of us from adhering to them.🤷🏻‍♀️

Sonya made something beautiful & then vulnerably put it into the world.
And we are made better for it.

She narrates the audiobook- it’s the most gorgeous I’ve ever listened to.

Yes, I’m deaf, but it streams through my hearing aids so you can trust me on this.

I’m ALL TOO AWARE how hard it is getting books in people‘s hands.
Word-of-mouth is everything!
So read my lips (no pun intended says the deaf lady) : GET WIFEHOUSE.

Sonya is a masterful & insanely skilled novelist & storyteller, one who isn’t afraid to explore what’s oft deemed as “unspeakable.”
She isn’t afraid to “go there.”
No, I won’t spoil what “going there” means.

I’d wager a bet (if I had any money) that she was, in fact, afraid. And yet. She wrote it anyway.
That makes her my hero.

She dared put a woman front & center & not punish that woman for making choices men so often make without getting punished.

Lmk if you got it by writing Wifehouse below

See you at my book club this Sun!

Join my book club up by subscribing to my Substack
Lincoln bio or stories or comment WBC below (Weirdo Book Club.)

Wifehouse is our May book pick & Sonya will join us on a Zoom!

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What an honor to be included in the extraordinary @hidesert.lofi.lit last weekend. Please go follow them and check them out and stay tuned for the next one. It was so inclusive and diverse and wonderful And FREE (what what!)

I landed from Paris & drove straight to Joshua Tree (like a real ding bat) so I was delirious but it was worth every second of delirium.

Pure magic.

Bonuses:
Got to spend time with my family at my favorite Airbnb and some of my chosen family & Rachel Goodwin & laughed so hard. we fell on the kitchen floor and by We I mean me.

Met some incredible folks at the festival I hadn’t met before but who feel like long lost sisters I didn’t know I had. (Talking to you Resnick & Natasha)

Reunited with some friends I hadn’t seen in a long long too long time

Got a ton of books-
Lord help me with the amount of books I have. If one day, I don’t emerge from my house for a week it’s because I’ve been smothered under an avalanche of books and somebody please send help.

Learned a lot,
sweated it a lot,
sunsetted a lot,
laughed a lot,
met a weird bird (slide 18)
gifted my heart painting (last slide) to a remarkable human being
asked “huh? I can’t hear you” a lot LOT LOT LOT 🦻🦻🦻🦻

I’m a huge fan of this festival & of the people who made it happen. If you’re not following Gina Frangello & Emily Rapp Black, crawl on out from that rock you’ve been under.

Thank you, thank you thank you thank you.

With deep respect and gratitude and….turned up hearing aids, Jen

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That’s right. Said what I said.

Hats made by @bumblegurl , pictured in the following photos with the painting I made and gifted her for work she’s doing in the world & for who she is.

Thanks yo my beloved @sarahgraciously for connecting us.

Theresa text a photo of Charlie and I and she’s the one standing next to me reach out to you if you want a hat. Let’s support her AND those who need our help and support and also, in getting rid of this 💩

yes, my two upcoming retreats… May 14 to the 17th in Ojai California in September 12 to the 19th in Italy… A portion proceeds will be donated to people who have been affected by 🧊🧊🧊and need our support. Spread the word!!! reach out to me ASAP if you want to join and either of the retreats. Love jen

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‘Tis I: A TRUE WEIRDO.

I aim to be true.

In all I do.

And also, a weirdo.

also a true weirdo. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Plus I threw a couple other weirdos into the mix just cuz.

Including, but not limited to Sarah Grace, who gifted me this perfect shirt after I admired hers loudly, and often.

That’s her hottie self in #12 (that was the prom at my retreat and we will indeed have another prom at My May 14-16 Retreat in Ojai, duh.) she’ll be there again. She might dance with you, if you ask nicely.

I will be wearing this shirt it next week in Chicago at my book event on Wed 3/4. (Under my coat! 😳)

And let’s talk shoot my TRUE ring. This ring is magic. Handmade with love by @jengrasmerejewelry.

Make sure you look through ALL the slides.

You’ll see my friend Oneika’s book SIT WITH ME (Kirbee and I are holding.) It publishes this Tuesday. Get it, weirdos! Seriously. She is pure gold. So is her book.

You’ll be so sorry if you miss the last slide so don’t miss it.

If you indeed made it to the last slide, leave a 🎃 in the comments if you agree. if you don’t agree, you most likely aren’t following me or if you are, you ended up here by accident. And maybe leave a couple of heart emojis? Cause Lord knows we need more love.

See you Wed (3/4) in Chicago!
women & children first bookstore and I will be signing books. 7 p.

Then.. off to paris for moi.

then…
Joshua tree March 20-22 for:
the most amazing book festival ever, (hm, it’s free!!)
The High Desert Lo-Fi Lit Weekend is gonna be.. lit.
It is though! 🔥

I’ll post more about it & all the things tomorrow & in the Substack I will be sending out tomorrow,
so make sure you are subscribed to my Substack.

To subscribe go to Lincolnbio or my stories and if you’re weirdo self, can’t find it leave a comment below saying “ I’m a weirdo too” & I will DM you.

I’ll be doing the March 15 virtual writing workshop with Kerry Neville from Paris. from bed 😜

Weirdos unite!

Truth seekers unite!

and yes, “success” is so passé, especially if you’re defining it by the amount of money you have or number of followers or any that nonsense

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An update on the proper way 🍟

#mayo

I need to know in the comments below if you are team Mayo or not. Are you with me?

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You need ZERO evidence to prove that you matter.
You. You. You are your own proof of life.

You need zero permission from anyone else to
be happy or experience joy,
to live as you want (barring you’re not intentionally harming anyone or yourself)
to love who you want, to leave, to stay,
to write, to make art,
to use your voice,
etc. etc.
forever etc!

You are YOUR OWN PROOF OF LIFE.

we must stop waiting for it.
We must stip believing it comes from anywhere else besides within.

Another poem from my new book, called “proof of life” just like the book (& my Substack.)

this reading is also from when I was guest speaker at University of Nebraska.

BTE: If you’re interested in getting a masters in creative
a#writing, they have a beautiful online program. Check it out.

speaking of creative writing:

March 15- kerrybneville & I will be co- teaching an online writing class-
The class is Free to paid subscribers of my Substack.

Her book MOMMA MAY BE MAD (outstanding, brilliant, unputdown-able) was the very first book club pick for my new book club.

Next up: Hotshot by River Selby, so please start reading the book ASAP and reach out if you cannot afford or find it at the library.)

The WBC - Weirdo Book Club- is for ALL my Substack subscribers, whether you are paid or free subscriber.)

Make sure, however, that you’re subscribed to my Substack to join the Kerry & my class!

If you can’t find the substack info at Lincoln comment “proof of life” below, and I will DM you.

Kerry will also be at my May 14-17 retreat in Ojai, teaching a writing class. Email to inquire about the Retreat.

Yes, we will have a prom again. With dj Supergay aka the hottie Amanda Poynter!

Now, I have a question for you. Will you answer below & tag someone you admire/love/cherish?
Are you ready to be your own proof of life? ⬇️

Ps- who am I seeing in Chicago on March 4? Tag your Chicago peeps! I will be at women and children first bookstore in conversation with Dr. Gertrude Lyons. Cannot wait!! 💃💃

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Got to grab brunch with the incandescent @sarahgraciously. I love her so much and am so proud of her. I can't wait to see what 2026 holds for us.

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VERY excited to be reading with this bunch of superstars next week in LA!!!

Little Engines is the first lit mag I was ever published (thank you, Adam!) in!

I am stoked that my pieces live again in the freshly dropped — super gorgeous - archival issue!!! My OG LA pal Alan Griswold made beautiful images that accompany my stories!

Come on out early LA mo’effs!!! Order the archival issue.

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Had to share this amazing tee shirt by @kindcotton that designs “clothing that makes a difference.” With each purchase a children’s book is donated.

Share a book that saved your life in the comments 🤗

Besides the Bible, yes, Proverbs and words in red by Christ, the one that pops into my mind is “The Book of Longings, by @suemonkkidd and most recently “The Little Liar,” by @mitchalbom

Both changed me on a cellular level.

Your turn…I know, it’s hard to share just one, right?

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