three small bites 👕🪵📜
vintage j.crew, trolls, and ayo edebiri settling petty disputes
Hi hi! This is coming at you a little late today because *waves hands* life. It’s currently storming and pouring, so there are cozy vibes in my office even though I’m like…summer? Aren’t you right around the corner? But this is the South in the summer, I suppose. Two years in and summer storms still surprise me. I dug up this post from April 2022 and it seems my mentality around storms has not changed. It’s both romantic and not romantic. Here are your three small bites…I’m going to go hug my nervous animals and wait out the rain. 👋🏻
1. 👕 vintage j.crew
Last month, we talked about dELiA*s catalogs and the fashion that defined many childhoods. Well, there’s another style I love, and it’s one that has kind of come back around in my life: vintage J.Crew. Quite literally. When they brought back the 1988 heritage cotton Rollneck™ sweater, I snapped it up in Mountain White. (And look! Here’s the Rollneck™ from 1990!) I hope to see more of these pieces like this make a comeback (which sounds like may be part of their plan).
If J.Crew made it between 1983 and 2000, I want it. The clothing is straightforward and looks incredibly comfortable. And the mix and match options are endless!
I love everything about it all: the chunky sweaters, layers on layers on layers, the grab-and-go sensibility. It’s effortless, it’s cool, it’s sophisticated. Instant classics.
2. 🪵 trolls
I have been so eager to meet one of Thomas Dambo’s trolls in real life (it was a spring bucket list item), scouring the Trollmap (yes, it's a thing!) to see if any are in the places I'll be visiting. Thomas Dambo is a Danish recycle artist and activist. In 2011, he quit his job to become an artist and follow his mission to 'Waste no more.’ He does this by making large-scale artworks out of trash, namely trolls.
It takes about 5 tons of scrapwood to build one of his trolls. In the United States, 12.2 million tons of wood is added to landfills every year. According to Dambo, that could be 2.5 million trolls in the U.S. alone!
📍This month, I got to meet six of them at Cheekwood. These six young trolls are all about helping humans reconnect with and rediscover nature, and there are beautiful messages and themes of how art and nature and sustainability are all intertwined. Another one of the trolls’ messages is about the importance of nature—it’s a journey to get to the trolls, but by doing so, you’re immersed in the trees and elements.
The trolls are even more incredible and magical in person. I highly, highly recommend getting over to Cheekwood before they continue on their journey in September.
If you’re interested in learning more about Dambo and his approach to making something new out of something old, his TEDx Talk is an interesting watch. Dambo’s insights, and his trolls, might make you think twice about what you toss out, and treasures you might be able to recycle. This video also gives a glimpse at the making of the trolls, and the community that comes together to help build them.
3. 📜 ayo edebiri settling petty disputes
Do you need a laugh today? Ayo Edebiri settling petty disputes will inject a dose of joy into your day. Her outfit with that pencil. “They just don’t seem really compatible with each other, like, vocally.” The stolen hotel French fry? I CAN’T. Her reaction to the defendant’s response. Hysterical! Petition for this to be a series with Ayo and Ayo only.
📚 Extra bites: Book updates
The biggest recent update is that I revealed the cover of my third novel, Yin Yang Love Song, with the help of wonderful book friends. It was such a special day! We’re still getting the book description ready, but you can pre-order the book now! It’ll be out January 14, 2025.
Sometimes people ask if I have a preference for where to pre-order. I do have an answer for this: Parnassus Books is the best place you can pre-order because I love signing and stamping and personalizing books for you! (and yes, there will be a new stamp!) I also doodle if you want me to, and that’s also very fun to do for you. AND you’ll get very special pre-order goodies (stay tuned for those!)
But (but!) ultimately do what’s best for you. The fact that you’re pre-ordering at all means *the world* to me. You might hear a lot of authors talking about pre-orders—here’s a handy slideshow about why they matter so much!
Last weekend, I kicked off my event season at the Gaithersburg Book Festival and had so much fun meeting readers and authors, and being on a panel with Kennedy Ryan! Thank you to everyone who braved the pouring rain to be there. I shared more pics on Instagram from the weekend. 🥰
📚 I’ve got lots more events coming up:
A Novel Romance in Louisville, Kentucky, has a grand reopening at their new location, and I can’t wait to celebrate with them and authors Mazey Eddings and Gwenda Bond! It’s going to be a full, fun day!
On June 11, I’ll be in convo with the lovely Melissa R. Collings to help launch her beautiful book, A False Flat, at Parnassus Books. Join us! If you love books in the vein of Jojo Moyes or David Nicholls, don’t miss this one! 🚲
In July, I’ll be at the Columbus Book Festival! I can’t wait to meet readers and so many of the authors who are also attending. I’ll be sharing more details (including the panel) soon, and what I can say is that I get to hang out with some extremely cool people.
Steamy Lit is happening in August! I’m excited to be attending this year. If you want Lunar Love or Red String Theory, it's highly recommended to preorder from Meet Cute Bookshop by June 30 to ensure that you get your copies! When checking out, add "pick up at Steamy Lit Con" to the comments/notes. And if you come by and see me, I'll have goodies for you, as well as something extra special.
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Have a great rest of your month. I hope to see you this summer at a book event!
From me to you, in the present,
Lauren
In case you missed it:
About me: I’m Lauren Kung Jessen, author of Lunar Love, Red String Theory, and Yin Yang Love Song. Connect with me on Instagram for more on books and food.