Quick note: Tomorrow (Saturday) we’ll be in Dallas at 11am at the West Elm on 5307 East Mockingbird Lane for cookies, cocoa and a book signing. We’d love to see you there!
We’re back with a book-and-tour update, and yes, it’s a long one. It’s earlier than we expected to post again, but so much has happened we couldn’t wait to share. First, some incredible news: our book is an instant New York Times bestseller. We’re still pinching ourselves. It will appear in print on 11/25, but we received an early image and—well—we called our parents, Sherry cried happy tears, and I pretended not to get emotional. We also laughed for minutes about the hypothetical title of book #10. #catpoetryforthewin
We’re still figuring out how bestseller lists are compiled and what it all precisely means, but one thing is crystal clear: we have the best readers. This milestone happened because of you—whether you bought a copy, came to a signing, or left an encouraging comment when we were getting started. We owe you a huge thank-you and a virtual fist bump. It still feels a little like an elaborate dream.
Since signings are a big part of this tour, here’s a recap of recent stops. After flying back from Boston to Richmond, we took part in our hometown event, “R for the Holidays.” R.Home surprised us by featuring us on the Nov/Dec cover, and seeing that oversized cover at the event was surreal. We both made some very unflattering faces in reaction.
We used to write a DIY column for R.Home and have attended the event as guests for years, so being speakers this time felt full-circle. The cover photo even included a sparkly ornament representing Burger because we couldn’t wrangle him and Clara together. You can find a short snippet and behind-the-scenes coverage on R.Home’s site.
Sherry had a blast decorating the built-ins for the cover shoot—so much so that they still look festive. When we get back from the tour she’ll probably add even more Christmas decor. #imarriedachristmaself
At the event we auctioned off several projects from the book to benefit The School of Richmond’s Ballet, which offers dance lessons to children who might not otherwise afford them. We auctioned desks, chairs, a bookshelf, a mirror, a rug and raised $500 for local kids. Sherry even checked drawers for bugs before the auction. #keepingitreal
The evening started with Adam Roberts from The Amateur Gourmet, who spoke about his cookbook and was brilliant, inspiring, and funny. We followed with a chat about seven DIY lessons we’ve learned the hard way. It was nerdy, oversharing, and the crowd was wonderfully smiley.
After the talks came the signing—our favorite part. We met familiar faces and new friends, traded stories, and took funny photos. Hallie, who won our “trip to Richmond” giveaway, stopped by with her mom for a whirlwind RVA weekend. They were delightful. We also met a woman who gets mistaken for Meryl Streep a lot, so Sherry insisted on a photo to pretend we’d met the star of many classic films.
Readers brought thoughtful and quirky gifts: a onesie we signed with a baby-sized hammer doodle, a Justin Timberlake bobblehead that’s an office inside joke, and sugar cookies modeled after Burger. The generosity and creativity of our readers never fail to amaze us.
After Richmond we flew to Chicago the next day. We squeezed in some blog work, visited Nicole from Making It Lovely for a House Crashing feature, and grabbed a tourist photo at Cloud Gate (the “bean”) before the West Elm event. Fans in Lincoln Park started lining up early—one superfan drove overnight from St. Louis and camped out since 5:30am for a 1pm start.
Chicago was an incredible stop despite a surprise thunderstorm. Highlights included a bride who sent a live greeting from her hairdresser, handmade gifts like a sparkly Burger portrait and a wooden horse puzzle made by a high school shop teacher, and a handbound book compiling Clara’s photo project from Week 1 through Month 29—a very emotional gift.
One couple used our book in a creative proposal at the bean, and then shared the story with us at the signing. We saw ceramic animal reunions, posed for a requested “crazy picture,” and took an “End of the Line” group photo to celebrate the people who waited the longest. After the event we raced to O’Hare, and during the wait I wrote postcards to “Granny” from our stops—a little tradition we’ve kept up for each out-of-state event.
We had a rest day in Richmond that turned into catch-up chores, but we made sure to spend quality time with Clara and Burger before leaving again. Monday morning we headed to Toronto. We admired the CN Tower from below, posed with moose souvenirs in the gift shop, and enjoyed simple moments like standing under a sign with my name on it.
Our Toronto hotel was fantastic, and we’ll share a full Hotel Crashing post later. One memorable detail: a double-sided glass shower in the middle of the room with blinds for privacy. That evening we did a signing at West Elm in the rain; fans brought maple donuts and a worm watercolor for Clara, and we even had our first FaceTime guest join the event virtually.
Toronto produced more fun moments: Sherry met her Canadian “twin” in blazer-and-stripes style, and a mom-to-be brought signs so Sherry could help squash any pregnancy rumors while announcing a surprise of her own. Sherry also confirmed the blazer she wears to signings is the same one each night (Target). Her theory: it’s like wearing the same jersey for every game—she changes accessories, but the blazer travels.
We were also surprised by an unusual request in Toronto: some people outlined the message they wanted in the book in addition to leaving a name. It led to playful moments like Mad Lib-style dedications, invitations to Christmas dinner, and lifelong BFF proclamations.
After the signing we were wiped out and opted for room service: classic Canadian poutine. It was our second time ever ordering room service and it was a memorable nine-dollar plate of fries with gravy and cheese. The next morning we had a surprise invitation to appear on Global TV’s The Morning Show with about 20 hours’ notice. Live TV made us nervous, especially after some props were delayed in transit, but we improvised with items borrowed from West Elm and groceries and pulled together a segment.
That wraps up our biggest week of tour stops so far. We’re beyond grateful to everyone who has supported the book and joined us along the way. There would be no book or signings without you. We’ll finish the week in Dallas and will share updates from Dallas, Minneapolis, and Houston in the coming weeks. Thank you for being part of this incredible ride. We love you all.
P.S. If you can’t make a signing and want a signed copy, Fountain Books in Richmond is shipping autographed copies—contact them to order.