That time A24 emailed me (yes, THAT A24)
Plus a P!nk concert, creative magic, and A24's book about movies for kids
This week’s newsletter includes silly picture book sneak peeks, that time I got an email from A24 (yes, THAT A24), a P!nk show that made me cry tears of joy, and some inspirational goodies from friends. Buckle up, buddy.
Oh hi there!
Lately I’ve been in the depths of a deadline — dare I say working my butt cheeks off — and BABY, we are basically done with all the art!
Though I’m admittedly a little embarrassed to be walking around without butt cheeks, I really am proud of my second book — no matter what Baby says.
Want a sneak peek?
Yes, that IS the eye AND eyebrow of my main character done in chalk pastel. I know, it is looking so good. Like it really pulls you in.
Anyway, in the middle of working on this very eye, I received an email.
(Disclaimer: I may have been working on something else at the time, but specificity is an important part of great storytelling so just let me lie about this one thing. I only did it for you!)
The email said:
A24 is publishing a book for young movie lovers. Hey Kids, Watch This! collects 100+ movie recommendations for family movie night from discerning critics, animators, and directors. Many of the films are obscure deep cuts that will entice aspiring cinephiles and delight adults bored blind by Baby Shark...
Let me know if I can send [a copy] your way?
Okay, first of all, I am a huge A24 fan. Long time readers of this newsletter may remember me gushing about Everything Everywhere All at Once. I bawled in the theater. Like embarrassing sobs and all I could do was be grateful that the lights were still off so I could hold onto the little bit of dignity I had left.
Second of all, I LOVE lists. I spent many hours as a kid (and adult) making “movies I want to watch” lists. And A24’s book is basically a list (a beautifully illustrated, perfectly curated list) of the best movies for kids with fun facts and places to take notes and EVERYTHING LITTLE RACHEL WOULD WANT IN A BOOK ABOUT MOVIES.
So of course, my immediate reaction was to assume this email was fake. It was too perfect for me. And I didn’t believe that little ol’ me would actually get an email from THE A24 in any of my multiverse timelines.
But with each email, the truth got truthier: Yes, THE A24 wanted to send me a book that was perfect for me. A book that little Rachel would spend hours exploring as she analyzed each movie and took notes detailing all her discoveries. A book that’s out today which you can find here.
It’s got some of my faves like Fantastic Mr. Fox and My Neighbor Totoro.
And it’s got some movies I’ve never heard of but CANNOT wait to watch.
So as we enter into fall, you’ll know where to find me. Wedged in the corner of my couch that my husband, dog, and I fight over. Wearing fuzzy socks. Watching all the movies A24 recommends while taking notes because they thought of everything and provided a place for my nerdy self to do that.
Kid table vibes of the week
Crying tears of joy: For some people, this is just a saying. For me, this is a reality. It’s been a while since I’ve experienced it because I’ve been a bit depressed this year. BUT last night, I went to my first ever P!nk concert. I’ve always wanted to go because, in addition to being a great singer, she is a pro dancer and freaking acrobat! And Aaron got us tickets for my birthday (thank you, Aaron).
As I watched Pink fly through the air and hang upside down from one foot without being hooked into anything — all while singing — my eyes leaked tears of joy. Not just because it was awesome (it was), but because every single person on that stage was having the time of their lives. Her show was so thoughtful, and she gave every person a space to shine. All the musicians and dancers were celebrated by name and given a solo. Just pure kid table joy. Yes, my cup runneth over and spilleth out my eyes.
I hope you get the chance to see her some day. But for now, here is a little clip of the fun:
Creating to tap into the MAGIC: Saki Tanaka is the author and illustrator of the gorgeous picture book Between Words. Recently she wrote a blog post about how she discovered and clarified her why. If you want to be lead by an expert hand through the question, “Why do I create?” and come out the other side with new insights about yourself, read this.
The parent-child relationship: My dear friend and talented writer Tony Tong wrote an article for Stanford Magazine about helping his newly graduated son transition to college. The opener made me laugh out loud: “Since his high school graduation three months prior, I’d felt an overwhelming urge to punch him in the face with advice.” Read the rest here (it is funny and profound).
Trade-sies!
Now it’s your turn. It’s that special kid table moment when you trade your dad’s famous chocolate chip cookies for your favorite fruit snacks — but this time, we’re trading things that make us feel like a kid again.
Choose one or more kid table vibes to share:
Do you like making lists too? Please share a few things on your current list!
Have you ever cried tears of joy? What caused them?
What is the best concert you’ve ever been to?
Shoutout: Share something your friend has written or made!
A big thank you to the sponsors of this post!
Thanks to Whiskey Geraldine for our podcast music and Joanna Rowland, Marietta Apollonio, Saki Tanaka, Angela Pham Krans, Nyasha Williams, Pamela A Mathy, and Martha Brockenbrough for sponsoring this newsletter.
(Paid subscriptions are on pause at the moment while I catch up on the time I was away. Just over here trying to give the people what they paid for in my own imperfect way.)
Thanks for sitting with me AT THE KID TABLE today.
Until next time! As always I’ll save you a seat right next to me.
Your currently-making-a-list-of-fall-activities-to-do-this-year friend,
Rachel
*Raises hand* Fellow EEAAO crier here, too! And so jealous about your P!nk show tickets--heartily agree that she's a total bad*ss.
Re: Do you like making lists too? Uhh...I've even made lists of lists (that I needed to make). So, I may actually have a problem.
Re: Have you ever cried tears of joy? What caused them? Oh, ALL the time! But the time that it was funniest, was when I went into the flagship Whole Foods in Austin, TX when we first moved there. We had been living in a remote part of Idaho, and I guess I missed having gourmet ingredients at my fingertips way more than I had realized!
Re: What is the best concert you’ve ever been to? Oooh, this is tough! I loved so many different things about various ones! David Bowie for swagger, The Killers for energy, Smashing Pumpkins for "at their peak"ness. BUT: I would say I most enjoyed getting to see Paul McCartney with my oldest son for "bonding over Beatles music" reasons, and also he and I at a tiny, tiny Tiffany concert in Nashville, where she came over and talked to us after. :) That was like a childhood dream situation for 80s kid me, and he still teases me about it now.
Re: Shoutout: Share something your friend has written or made! OOOH! This is also such a good one! My sister-in-law, Becca, is so creative and talented, and she's been embroidering these large-scale thimbles from a childhood collection she amassed. https://www.instagram.com/p/C_dmFGGptmD/ is one example. Anyhow, I can NOT wait to see them all on a long gallery wall somewhere.
1. Lists! I make lists about lists I need to make…it is sooo satisfying! I once (betraying my gen x age here), stayed up with a friend on New Year’s Eve to carefully document and list, with our matching thick 4 ink in one pens, the entire top 100 songs of 1989 by listening to the radio!! Why? Because lists!
3. U2, in Toronto, where we got free tickets because my employer BlackBerry was sponsoring the tour. The Skydome was open, it was a warm, magical September night, and the CN Tower was lit up in rhythm to the songs. Collective effervescence and joy! 🫶