What a way to end Black History Month while starting Women’s History Month with a book I won from a GoodReads Giveaway. Can I just lay out how all of this progressed, well this started back in 2013; yes, I took all the way back to the beginning. I sat in my office with my friend/ co-worker. If you are wondering, we were friends first, who ended up working together, and are still friends cause we stay in our lane but also support each other career growth. One day in 2013, my co-worker we will call “Rue” mentioned Samantha Irby’s book Meaty was dropping. I had heard her talk about or laugh at a few of Irby’s writings. Samantha Irby had the popular blog “Bitches Gotta Eat,” and for everything she right, we got to eat. The meaning of the blog is much deeper and significant, but for this blog post, we keep it simple “Bitches Gotta Eat.” One day while there was still a Barnes and Noble, disposable income was plentiful.
*Pause if you like reading my blogs, you can totally drop me a cash app or Venmo or buy me a Coffee on Kofi*
I purchased the book, one the cover amazing rooster or chicken staring you down with the stank eye of 2013 in a field with the Bold Yellow Letter “MEATY” across the center. It was visually stunning and made me want a 2-piece and a biscuit. Don’t ask why I assumed I needed a chicken box with saltpeppaketchup and a ½ and ½. I brought the book, and on my lunch breaks at both jobs, I would cackle, cry and shake my head in agreement with Samantha Irby’s opinions curated on the book’s pages. Rue introduced me to a new favorite author, and I would patiently wait for her next post, next book, or next project that her name was attached to it. Fast-forward 10 years later, Goodreads was having a giveaway for Irby’s new book “Quietly Hostile.” I entered the giveaways and giveaways on Goodreads; some are hit, and some are misses. I think I get a free book once a year, which is good for me.
I thought I entered this giveaway in January, maybe December, and forgot about the giveaway. Sunday, February 26, 2023, I see my email notification. I opened the email to see a UPS tracking email. My face looked skeptical, I was worried I was being scammed, but all the links were valid. So I copied the tracking number, opened a new browser, and entered the tracking number, and it was authentic, a package coming from Random House. For one brief moment, I dreamt “some editor found my blog, read one of my short stories, and was sending me a contract to publish my work in a book, and this was a contract for me to have my lawyer go over the details. “Now that I have returned to planet earth, I was trying to figure out what did I order? What am I getting? I kept my joy to myself and secretly checked the link to ensure it was delivered and not stolen off my porch. The anticipation grew over the next two days. What am I receiving on February 28? it hit me, “Oooo I won a book, but what book!!!” So I reviewed all the giveaways I entered in the last few weeks. None of them said Won.
I should stop and say that I have two Goodreads accounts, so I looked at one but not the other. I started dreaming and thinking again, “OH MY GOD. A publisher read my blog and love my reviews of books and wine and wants me to feature their book on my blog!” Again, these illusions of grandeur are both a hoot and scary. I brought myself back to earth and decided to be surprised when I opened the package. I started thinking, what if this was a process server who used my love of books to give me a summons. My brain stays maladaptive, daydreaming. I think I need to talk to a therapist. On February 28, I made it home after trivia and avoided spending money that should have been invested or saved. I got in the house and ripped the package open. An orange book with an angry skunk on the front cover lit my eyes with a verbal “Oh Snap!!!” I realized I had won a copy of Samantha Irby’s book “quietly hostile” I did a mini dance, which caused my mom to ask if I was ok. “Yes!” Smiling from ear to ear about my fortune luck to get an early copy of the book due to be published May 16, 2023.
I am so excited about reading this book! On the front cover, a very clear statement is posted “THIS IS AN UNCORRECTED PROOF. Please do not quote for publication without checking the finished book.”
When I do drop my review, it will be a simple reaction to how the book made me feel, with no mention of certain parts or essays in the book. I am so excited that I have come full circle 10 years later, reading Samantha Irby at work on my break.
Until Next Time,
Che Michelle
Che-Michelle Tales 
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