Stacy Horn

I’m so stressed. You work hard, for years, and it all comes down to this day, or rather, a few short weeks. I forget what the general wisdom is about the time period, but you have something like a few weeks for something to happen, and then everyone is on to the next wave of books.

I may have an op-ed in the New York Daily News this weekend, and another on the History News Network. We shall see. I’ve done some Q&As and podcasts, which will come out soon if all goes well. And of course I’m hoping for more, and positive reviews, and appearances on the radio.

Also, I once again realized I have no clothes and have to run out and buy a few things. I’m hoping I can get away with two new shirts. I can throw those over a pair of jeans, no one cares I think, as long as your shirt is presentable, with maybe a pretty necklace.

My picture today is of fallen cherry blossoms on West 11th Street. I love walking along the streets when the blossoms begin to fall. This actually made it into my book about singing. “The best part however, is when the petals begin to fall. It makes me wish New York City were car-free. I want to be able to walk down the center of the street like I’m in the middle of my own botanical ticker-tape parade. I’d raise my arms to the skies and twirl around in this confetti-like explosion of renewal and possibility and pretend it’s all for me.”

Publicity for my book is gearing up, and I’ve started recording podcasts, participating in interviews, writing op-eds, and the answers to Q&As. It’s stressful, because you want to do a good job, and having a new book out in the world feels so vulnerable. You’ve worked for years on this thing, its your baby, and people will pounce.

But it’s great, and it’s exciting as well. And I’m being offered a lot more opportunities for this book, which seems to indicate there’s interest in the subject. It’s also such a pleasure when the person asking questions is familiar with your work (I’m looking at you Citizen Reader) and asks meaningful questions.

I recorded a podcast at the New York Public Library this week. The host, Aidan Flax-Clark, and the producer, Schuyler Swenson, were incredible. They really were into the subject, and got what I was trying to do, although this led to a sad moment. Schuyler told me about learning about a German immigrant while working at the Tenement Museum. He’d come to America and built up a life, and a business. She knew he ended his life on Blackwell’s Island, but she didn’t know at the time exactly what that meant. Now she does. (It was not a happy ending.)

Empty stacks at the New York Public Library (books are being moved around).

The first public event for my new book Damnation Island: Poor, Sick, Mad, and Criminal in 19th-Century New York is on May 16, from 6 – 8pm. Untapped Cities, is hosting a presentation, Q&A and book party inside the historic Starrett-Lehigh Building in Chelsea, a New York City landmark located along the Hudson River.

PRICE: FREE for Untapped Cities Insiders, $15 for the public
CAPACITY: 74 guests. Spots allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Please, please consider attending! It would be nice to have friendly, familiar faces in the crowd!

As the rents skyrocket in my neighborhood, one by one businesses shut down and leave behind empty storefronts that don’t get filled because who can make a go of it with rents like these?? Someone wrote their comment on what was left behind in my former newspaper/magazine store. It was sad, but I no longer read print versions of newspapers, and the magazines I used to love are largely gone or are not so lovable anymore. (You can see my reflection in the window.)

They almost look like the same tree. This is the cherry blossom tree, which is currently in bloom.

This is the magnolia tree which was in bloom a couple of weeks ago.