In this newsletter: a quick report about New York, some possible book sabotage I’ve been wanting to tell you about, a new Book Impact Goal, and updates on the SCOTUS and Book Clubs goals.
Yes, it’s an act of sabotage by a so-called Christian. You know the Joseph Heller quote from Catch-22: “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you.” 😉
Hi Gabby: I've been reading DesignMom for a long time. You lived in New York and I had babies.
I just ordered your new book for my downstairs/guest bathroom and am thrilled. For years, I've been planning to put a jar of free condoms in the drawer there for anyone to grab. It will go right next to the tampons and bowl of sunscreen: all of which are used by guests regularly in this beach house. Your book will go right there next to a jar of free/always stocked condoms. (possible merchandise idea?;-)
My oldest just turned 15, and while he's not yet sexually active, i know it's around the corner. my children and I talk about these things all the time, but I do remember that being 15 and going to buy condoms was not really an easy task. I want condoms to be as simple to grab as the other health items in our guest bathroom. Not just for my kids, but for any of their friends that will need them. Hoping the teen boys in my orbit can start ejaculating responsibility from the start.
Thank you for for writing this manifesto / perception shift they all need to read.
I should clarify that while I love the idea of “ejaculate responsibility” branded condoms, I was dreaming of a 70s-style etched glass jar & lid with the logos from your tote bag. 😜 congrats again on publishing this important book.
The book sabotage is nuts! And I’m also worried now that the copies I ordered from that website to be sent to the justices is going to end up being anti-abortion instead. I’ll have no way of knowing, unfortunately.
I loved your original twitter thread and I’m so looking forward to reading the book. I ordered copies for myself and our bookclub!
Finally, love the merchandise you have going on and I think having “ejaculate responsibly” printed on condom wrappers is 👌🏼
I'm also worried about the book I sent to Samuel Alito! I'm reaching out to Bookshop to see if they can confirm the correct book was sent based on their records.
Something similar happened to me! I bought 5 copies for myself and 4 friends, and we all live in different states (I'm in NJ, others are in SC, NC and GA). Two of my friends received random books (not necessarily sponsored by Focus on the Family lol since one was a hardcover copy of The Hobbit and the other a book called The Last Van Gogh), and I was convinced that it was because someone at Bookshop wanted to keep your book out of people's hands. I did get a message back from them that they would be shipping the correct books out, but it seemed very fishy to me!
I'm also worried the ones I sent to random friends are just going to end up being random books. Let's hope not! So crazy! I do like the intrigue it adds to the book launch though. Kind of like banning books...what better way to get people to want to read than this!? Ha!
This sounds just like a campaign by the “Christian’s” who set up the pregnancy shops to try to keep women from making their own choices about their bodies. Good news? They see your book as a threat!!
I agree, it means it's making an impact if people are trying to keep it from those who want to read it. But I'm also kind of bummed they're seeing it as a threat. WHAT IS WRONG with just...you know...educating and EJACULATING RESPONSIBLY?! I am hoping to maybe get some conservative family to read the book, just to try to open their eyes to what a fantastic shift of perspective this would be for pro-choice AS WELL as pro-life folks. Blah. I guess it's not surprising, but still a bummer.
I am SHOCKED by the "rogue employee" possibility, which seems like something straight out of a novel, yet makes the most sense. How bizarre and (strangely) what a great story that has the opposite affect the potential "rogue" intended, which is to highlight the book's importance and quality...and hopefully, its reach.
Just wanted to throw out a suggestion - I went to send my senators books today, and realized I had a decent "points" balance on my Amazon account from my credit card. I usually let the points accumulate and then "treat myself" (ha!) to something I haven't been able to justify purchasing, or for gifts, etc. So, I drained all the points today sending copies to my governor, senators, and a few family members. It's an easy, "free" (ish) way to get the book out even more!
Have you, Gabrielle, or anyone else, thought about a plan to get this into school libraries? I feel like another path/avenue to getting the word out is getting it into the hands of younger people who can build good habits from start! But, not sure how to even approach that, other than bombarding the schools with copies too :D
Just got a reassuring response from Bookshop in response to my order inquiry: "This issue was investigated internally and unfortunately was a bit overblown in terms of its scope and severity. We hade over 900 orders for Ejaculate Responsibly with only 10 orders that were mispacked -- and only 3-4 of those mispacks were packed with pro-life/christian-centric books. Though the result was very unfortunate, we've found the issue to be unintentional." I would have been furious if my gift to justice Alito had turned out to be an anti-choice book!
OMG that book issue though 🤨🤨 is this the work of the Christian Cult. The book choice that they ‘got it wrong with’. Um.
Yes, it’s an act of sabotage by a so-called Christian. You know the Joseph Heller quote from Catch-22: “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you.” 😉
🤣🤣
Hi Gabby: I've been reading DesignMom for a long time. You lived in New York and I had babies.
I just ordered your new book for my downstairs/guest bathroom and am thrilled. For years, I've been planning to put a jar of free condoms in the drawer there for anyone to grab. It will go right next to the tampons and bowl of sunscreen: all of which are used by guests regularly in this beach house. Your book will go right there next to a jar of free/always stocked condoms. (possible merchandise idea?;-)
My oldest just turned 15, and while he's not yet sexually active, i know it's around the corner. my children and I talk about these things all the time, but I do remember that being 15 and going to buy condoms was not really an easy task. I want condoms to be as simple to grab as the other health items in our guest bathroom. Not just for my kids, but for any of their friends that will need them. Hoping the teen boys in my orbit can start ejaculating responsibility from the start.
Thank you for for writing this manifesto / perception shift they all need to read.
LOVE THIS!! What a great idea. I'm going to put my copy in my guest bath after I'm finished reading it I think!
I should clarify that while I love the idea of “ejaculate responsibility” branded condoms, I was dreaming of a 70s-style etched glass jar & lid with the logos from your tote bag. 😜 congrats again on publishing this important book.
Goodness! It’s terrible, but also kind of thrilling: you have a saboteur!
The book sabotage is nuts! And I’m also worried now that the copies I ordered from that website to be sent to the justices is going to end up being anti-abortion instead. I’ll have no way of knowing, unfortunately.
I loved your original twitter thread and I’m so looking forward to reading the book. I ordered copies for myself and our bookclub!
Finally, love the merchandise you have going on and I think having “ejaculate responsibly” printed on condom wrappers is 👌🏼
I'm also worried about the book I sent to Samuel Alito! I'm reaching out to Bookshop to see if they can confirm the correct book was sent based on their records.
Something similar happened to me! I bought 5 copies for myself and 4 friends, and we all live in different states (I'm in NJ, others are in SC, NC and GA). Two of my friends received random books (not necessarily sponsored by Focus on the Family lol since one was a hardcover copy of The Hobbit and the other a book called The Last Van Gogh), and I was convinced that it was because someone at Bookshop wanted to keep your book out of people's hands. I did get a message back from them that they would be shipping the correct books out, but it seemed very fishy to me!
I'm also worried the ones I sent to random friends are just going to end up being random books. Let's hope not! So crazy! I do like the intrigue it adds to the book launch though. Kind of like banning books...what better way to get people to want to read than this!? Ha!
This sounds just like a campaign by the “Christian’s” who set up the pregnancy shops to try to keep women from making their own choices about their bodies. Good news? They see your book as a threat!!
I agree, it means it's making an impact if people are trying to keep it from those who want to read it. But I'm also kind of bummed they're seeing it as a threat. WHAT IS WRONG with just...you know...educating and EJACULATING RESPONSIBLY?! I am hoping to maybe get some conservative family to read the book, just to try to open their eyes to what a fantastic shift of perspective this would be for pro-choice AS WELL as pro-life folks. Blah. I guess it's not surprising, but still a bummer.
I am SHOCKED by the "rogue employee" possibility, which seems like something straight out of a novel, yet makes the most sense. How bizarre and (strangely) what a great story that has the opposite affect the potential "rogue" intended, which is to highlight the book's importance and quality...and hopefully, its reach.
Deliberate sabotage.
Gabrielle, you are being much more polite about this than I would be. Props to you!
Just wanted to throw out a suggestion - I went to send my senators books today, and realized I had a decent "points" balance on my Amazon account from my credit card. I usually let the points accumulate and then "treat myself" (ha!) to something I haven't been able to justify purchasing, or for gifts, etc. So, I drained all the points today sending copies to my governor, senators, and a few family members. It's an easy, "free" (ish) way to get the book out even more!
Have you, Gabrielle, or anyone else, thought about a plan to get this into school libraries? I feel like another path/avenue to getting the word out is getting it into the hands of younger people who can build good habits from start! But, not sure how to even approach that, other than bombarding the schools with copies too :D
The sabotaging is terrible—I sure hope the books that have gone to SCOTUS and others have been the right ones!
Just got a reassuring response from Bookshop in response to my order inquiry: "This issue was investigated internally and unfortunately was a bit overblown in terms of its scope and severity. We hade over 900 orders for Ejaculate Responsibly with only 10 orders that were mispacked -- and only 3-4 of those mispacks were packed with pro-life/christian-centric books. Though the result was very unfortunate, we've found the issue to be unintentional." I would have been furious if my gift to justice Alito had turned out to be an anti-choice book!