Many thanks to Danny Schreiber and the entire Silicon Prairie News staff for the opportunity to post a guest blog earlier this week about Nerdy Thirty. What fun!

Read it here: “From blog to book: The story behind Nerdy Thirty”

What started with a quick Facebook message months ago from Shout! Weekly editor Chris Larkin evolved into a glass of wine at M’s Pub with writer Lisa Martin, a photo shoot with photographer Beth Rigatuso, and, today, the cover. Whoa, Nellie!

I’ve always wanted to be a cover girl … a nerdy cover girl, that is. The experience was exciting and fun and intriguing and honest and more than I could have hoped for. To Shout! Weekly and its metro-area readers, I thank you! My Macintosh never looked so good.

Congratulations to Big Omaha volunteer Nia Nielsen! Within five minutes of posting a tweet Friday at Big Omaha that announced a Nerdy Thirty give-away, Nia, right, claimed the prize: a signed copy of the book.

The driving rains and brisk winds made it feel more like a day in October than in early May. Sitting in the passenger seat of Cindy Grady’s apple red Volkswagen Rabbit, rain pouring outside all around us, I removed the bright pink rubber bands and peeled back the brown cardboard packaging that sat in my lap to reveal the very first copy of Nerdy Thirty.

I now held in my hands not just a year’s worth of work, but a lifetime of experiences neatly packaged into a slim, ninety-eight-page collection of essays that brought tears to my eyes. My reaction to seeing the book, and its absolutely gorgeous cover by Eric Downs, wasn’t as ladylike and professional as I would have hoped.

“Oh my God!” I yelled to no one in particular countless times as I smoothed my hand across the glossy cover and flipped through the book’s rich, cream-colored pages. “Oh my God! I can’t believe this is happening!” I said again and again, a bit in shock and then, a bit embarrassed at my volume inside Cindy’s cozy car.

Cindy and I have a wonderful working relationship that developed during the past year; but we also have become good friends. I could see the joy in Cindy’s big grin that she was authentically excited for me and for the new experiences about to happen with the publication of this book.

After extending the book-gazing experience for as long as I could, I re-wrapped my copy of Nerdy Thirty and dashed out of Cindy’s car, adrenaline and excitement coursing through my veins. Cradling the brown package, I ran back inside to avoid the raindrops.

Later that evening I reclined on my couch and examined the book again and again. Although alone in my house, I again uttered countless more “Oh my God!” sentiments and marveled that the book, had indeed, arrived. I read the words as if reading them for the very first time. It was an odd experience. I was almost surprised that the words I wrote – some as long ago as five years – were now in print.

When Matt arrived home from work he took my spot on the couch and read the book in one sitting. It was nearly impossible not to monitor his expressions as I prepared dinner from the kitchen. I smiled when he smiled, laughed when he laughed, albeit a bit nervously. I could see what was happening on his face, but had no idea what was going on inside his head.

Matt finished the book. We ate dinner. We talked about the essays – the stories he knew so well, others that weren’t as familiar, the honesty that is unmistakable throughout the pages. I was still bubbling, effervescent at the day’s events. But it was, after all, just another Monday night. Three days later I’m still excited, but still find tremendous comfort in the grounded life I live every single day.

P.S. I’m delighted to announce that Nerdy Thirty is now available for purchase at the WriteLife website!

“Lovely and hilarious?” Oh, stop! Michael Shearer, Jeff Peterson, and Bryan Mohr, the hosting trinity behind The Weekly Grind radio show Saturday mornings in Omaha, were the funny ones. I was just excited to come along for the ride, as their blog post below reflects in greater detail.

It was thrilling and an absolute riot to appear on their May 8 show to discuss Nerdy Thirty and how the book came to be. I opened with a jovial insult of the boys, followed by lots and lots of authentic laughs. The fifteen-or-so minutes we spent joking and chatting just flew by.

If you missed the broadcast, don’t fret. Download the podcast at their website. My interview appears about thirty minutes into the show. And be sure to following The Weekly Grind on Twitter: @weeklygrind

“Cracking the mic” is an old radio axiom about turning on one’s microphone and, literally, going on the air. For me, Saturday morning marks my first mic-cracking experience for Nerdy Thirty. I’ll be a guest on The Weekly Grind at 10 a.m. CST. (In Omaha, tune your radio dial to 1180 AM. From the nether-regions of the World Wide Web, consider streaming the broadcast online via The Weekly Grind’s website.)

Saturday won’t be my first time “on the radio,” but it will be the first time I promote (let’s be honest here: pimp) something that’s uniquely and unquestionably my own. The experience has taken some getting used to. I work in public relations for a living, so you would think such experiences are easy, breezy, and effortless. For me: not always. I find great satisfaction discussing and celebrating the projects and ideas of others. But when talking about my work, my life, and my book, I fear coming across too boastful, too egotistical, too full-of-myself.

Marketing and promotions is a double-edged sword: too much and you tune people out; too little and they never hear a word you say. Social media and Web 2.0 have given me the sublime opportunity to publicly promote Nerdy Thirty from the comfort and quiet of my own home. Facebook and Twitter have allowed me to shout about the book but with small, incremental details that, together, gently whisper the whole story.

Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m a natural born Social Butterfly and absolutely love floating about a cocktail reception, a little mixing here, a little mingling there. These days I give great thought to my new role as a “minor celebrity,” especially when I hear the phrase, “So, tell me about your new book.”

When I turned thirty a few years back, I closely examined my life and marveled at the sheer number of unusual experiences I had. The common thread I found woven through all of these events is how awkward I felt. Being blessed with a wry sense of humor gave me the courage I needed to write about my experiences in Nerdy Thirty, with the hopes that fellow nerds will laugh at my stories as well as their own.

Perhaps my experience during the next few months will yield more than few chuckles. Here’s hoping.

The outfit was determined weeks in advance, with a combination of trendy, chic, and literary (if that’s even possible) in mind. Tuesday, April 13 was my first public event to promote the publication of Nerdy Thirty, and I was certain every detail needed to be just so. I took painstaking time selecting my ensemble, whose centerpiece was a lovely linen blazer featuring the prettiest shades of browns, whites, and creams. The blazer would be paired with to-die-for brown clog sandals, a brown blouse, a flowing strand of (fake) pearls, and slightly worn denim capris that said, “I’m serious enough to wear a jacket today, but just fun enough to sport jeans to a luncheon whose name rings of absolute and pure professionalism.”

The jacket was purchased well before my speaking engagement and never worn to ensure its appearance was in tip-top shape. While getting ready, with just moments to spare before leaving the house, I checked the mirror one last time to ensure my appearance was as close to flawless as humanly possible. And that’s when I saw it: that damn, institutional-beige security tag that the birdbrained sales associate forgot to remove upon my purchase.

What I find so side-splittingly hilarious is that the said teenage female wasted no precious breath alerting me to various perfumes, shoes, and other accessories I didn’t need or want that were on sale. She rambled on and on about upcoming sales and how I could save “ten percent TODAY by opening our credit card!” And as she did this, I nervously checked and re-checked my watch, knowing I would be late to a meeting.

With her two tank tops, hooded cardigan, a bevy of bangle bracelets, shredded denim jeans that pooled around her ankles, and nauseatingly blue nail polish, she stuffed my blazer in a plastic bag, and out the door I ran.

As flustered as I found myself this morning, forced to completely rethink my ensemble before this very important luncheon, I said a silent prayer for the Tulle yellow and gray dress hanging – still unworn – in my closet. I stripped to my skivvies, with sandals still on, and quickly and rather sloppily ironed the delicate pleats that adorn the collar. I changed earrings, stepped back into the dress, and dashed out the door.

While doing so, I mentally drafted (1) a script to use the next time I visited the store for the removal of that security tag; and (2) a razor-sharp letter alerting the store’s management to my dilemma and disgust.

The aforementioned blazer still sits at home with the plastic tag protruding from the side, mocking me all the while. But I wonder: is it worth saying anything to the store?

What would you do?

I promise my blog will not evolve into a vehicle simply to promote my new book, Nerdy Thirty. That’s what the new Web site is for!

Say hello to the new and improved online home to Nerdy Thirty:  http://nerdythirty.com

It’s another gorgeous project designed by Eric Downs of DownsDesign, who also crafted the nifty cover. (Honestly: how does he do this?)

Today is certainly an exciting day! Say hello to the cover of Nerdy Thirty by graphic design extraordinaire Eric Downs of DownsDesign.

Isn’t it just gorgeous?

Also! Save the date for my first two readings/receptions/book signings in Omaha: Saturday, May 22 and Saturday, June 5. More details coming soon!

In the meantime, let’s be friends:
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/nerdythirty
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/nerdythirty
• Flickr:  www.flickr.com/nerdythirty

Now I know it isn’t much, but after seeing my cover for Nerdy Thirty earlier this week, I just had to post a sneak peek! It’s a preview of the clever and creative work by graphic designer extraordinaire Eric Downs of DownsDesign.

Remember to bookmark the Nerdy Thirty Web site. A new site will launch in the coming weeks, leading up to the publication of my first book. (I wrote that last sentence and had to pause. Me? Publishing a book? Absolutely. I’m so excited I could scream, but I won’t because those around me here at Crane Coffee most likely would not find my outburst hilarious or amusing, regardless of its origin.)