1 00:00:02,489 --> 00:00:06,229 Welcome to Plans Are Booked, a podcast for every reader. 2 00:00:06,229 --> 00:00:07,569 I'm Molly Geller. 3 00:00:08,077 --> 00:00:09,837 I'm Stephanie Blackburn. 4 00:00:09,945 --> 00:00:11,365 that on Caitlin. 5 00:00:12,346 --> 00:00:14,346 chapter 30. 6 00:00:14,346 --> 00:00:16,166 We're in our 30s. 7 00:00:16,166 --> 00:00:18,146 Steph's in her 30s again. 8 00:00:19,546 --> 00:00:21,136 It's chapter 30. 9 00:00:21,136 --> 00:00:23,206 It's our 30th episode. 10 00:00:24,465 --> 00:00:28,302 can't believe it that feels like a really big number all of a sudden. 11 00:00:28,302 --> 00:00:29,202 I agree. 12 00:00:29,202 --> 00:00:29,922 I agree. 13 00:00:29,922 --> 00:00:36,962 I think that we haven't learned a lot in terms of the technology, if I'm being 14 00:00:36,962 --> 00:00:37,272 honest. 15 00:00:37,272 --> 00:00:41,942 We had a big flub dub the other day, which was no one's fault. 16 00:00:41,942 --> 00:00:44,402 And also collectively, none of us could figure it out. 17 00:00:44,402 --> 00:00:46,622 And we just like made do. 18 00:00:46,622 --> 00:00:50,494 But I think we've come a long way in other respects. 19 00:00:50,933 --> 00:00:55,893 would interject that I no longer feel panicked when we do have an issue while 20 00:00:55,893 --> 00:00:59,406 we're recording because now I know how to edit properly. 21 00:00:59,406 --> 00:01:04,430 uses terms like I'll splice it together and we're like, yeah, okay, sounds good. 22 00:01:04,677 --> 00:01:08,637 I feel like I say this a lot, but I just want to say again Stephanie taught herself 23 00:01:08,637 --> 00:01:13,877 how to edit these episodes like just Navigated on her own something she had 24 00:01:13,877 --> 00:01:19,577 never done before if she ever gets sick or like her computer dies Caitlin and I will 25 00:01:19,577 --> 00:01:23,657 just have to apologize to all of you because we don't know what to do so mad 26 00:01:23,657 --> 00:01:27,119 props to Steph the editor extraordinaire of plans are booked 27 00:01:29,990 --> 00:01:31,440 what do we have to catch up on? 28 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:35,990 I feel like Molly has some stuff, but we just recorded a podcast like a couple of 29 00:01:35,990 --> 00:01:36,490 days ago. 30 00:01:36,490 --> 00:01:42,250 So I feel caught up other than Molly had some kind of work snafu that I'm looking 31 00:01:42,250 --> 00:01:43,590 forward to hearing about. 32 00:01:44,733 --> 00:01:50,343 I am still a little upset at snafu, but I've been coming off it for a while. 33 00:01:50,343 --> 00:01:51,413 I'm sorry. 34 00:01:51,453 --> 00:01:57,153 One, I've got to work for those who care about the person I work for here, and also 35 00:01:57,153 --> 00:01:59,473 for those who check startup companies. 36 00:01:59,666 --> 00:02:01,761 form of open -mindedness and alert. 37 00:02:01,761 --> 00:02:03,441 with another company. 38 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:07,261 We had a complete plan set for when we would announce this to the public, when 39 00:02:07,261 --> 00:02:09,361 journalists would be able to cover it. 40 00:02:09,361 --> 00:02:15,521 And four days before said day, a journalist from a top tier international 41 00:02:15,521 --> 00:02:18,401 business publication sent an email saying, hey, I heard a rumor that this is 42 00:02:18,401 --> 00:02:19,041 happening. 43 00:02:19,041 --> 00:02:21,541 I'm writing about this today with or without you. 44 00:02:21,541 --> 00:02:22,729 Would you like to make a comment? 45 00:02:22,729 --> 00:02:23,529 it? 46 00:02:24,590 --> 00:02:25,645 Hmm? 47 00:02:25,645 --> 00:02:26,693 No. 48 00:02:28,270 --> 00:02:31,136 I just lost air a little bit for a second. 49 00:02:31,545 --> 00:02:38,365 so my whole day yesterday blew up just like blew up the entire day was taken over 50 00:02:38,365 --> 00:02:42,265 I didn't stand up for hours on end because I was afraid to walk away from my computer 51 00:02:42,265 --> 00:02:46,805 because I needed to deal with a lot of things in real time The company that I 52 00:02:46,805 --> 00:02:50,465 work with as well as the company they're merging with had not told any of their 53 00:02:50,465 --> 00:02:53,285 employees that this was gonna happen So they were literally gonna learn about it 54 00:02:53,285 --> 00:02:57,257 in the press So I can't really say more than that. 55 00:02:57,257 --> 00:02:57,369 I 56 00:02:57,369 --> 00:03:03,229 but it just, it was a really difficult experience. 57 00:03:03,869 --> 00:03:08,628 And I think a lot of times, when people say they work for VR, people think like, 58 00:03:08,689 --> 00:03:13,069 we stand in the front of the bed with a clipboard and we let people in the room, 59 00:03:13,069 --> 00:03:16,109 that's really people who just sort of manage social media. 60 00:03:16,589 --> 00:03:19,419 We are working on the front line. 61 00:03:19,433 --> 00:03:23,393 protecting these business interests of these two companies and trying not to 62 00:03:23,393 --> 00:03:26,753 spoil like the legal terms of this deal. 63 00:03:26,753 --> 00:03:27,426 And. 64 00:03:27,426 --> 00:03:29,386 And it was absolutely insane. 65 00:03:29,386 --> 00:03:31,446 I was on the verge of tears for like hours. 66 00:03:31,446 --> 00:03:35,186 Steph, I didn't walk scout, we literally couldn't walk over the entire year. 67 00:03:35,326 --> 00:03:40,226 And today was a little bit better, but we're still in a few days out of the 68 00:03:40,226 --> 00:03:43,406 actual day that it's supposed to happen. 69 00:03:43,406 --> 00:03:45,749 And I'm just gonna pull our curtain. 70 00:03:45,749 --> 00:03:47,117 have a little bit of an emergency switch. 71 00:03:47,117 --> 00:03:48,657 and then. 72 00:03:52,217 --> 00:03:54,097 We declined to comment. 73 00:03:54,557 --> 00:03:56,621 So the story still went up. 74 00:03:56,757 --> 00:04:00,925 But it's that like you reach out to both companies and they both come to comment. 75 00:04:04,853 --> 00:04:05,985 Prolonged silence. 76 00:04:05,985 --> 00:04:08,525 facial expression, but she's losing her mind right now because she didn't hear 77 00:04:08,525 --> 00:04:09,931 this until right now. 78 00:04:11,650 --> 00:04:16,050 of all, my mouth went completely dry at the beginning of this story. 79 00:04:16,050 --> 00:04:21,910 And now I my brain hasn't like caught up almost. 80 00:04:21,910 --> 00:04:28,820 It's almost like so fun, fun fact, one of my brother's best friends from childhood, 81 00:04:28,820 --> 00:04:34,198 his dad is a lawyer and he specialized in mergers and acquisitions. 82 00:04:34,438 --> 00:04:39,698 So at some point, I think it was TJX bought. 83 00:04:41,678 --> 00:04:42,758 Albits or something. 84 00:04:42,758 --> 00:04:43,998 I mean, it was like a big one. 85 00:04:43,998 --> 00:04:47,678 It was like the merging of like two big brands. 86 00:04:47,798 --> 00:04:52,248 And I just remember Greg's dad was like out straight on it. 87 00:04:52,248 --> 00:04:56,618 And like, we found out about it before he was like, don't tell anybody. 88 00:04:56,618 --> 00:05:01,818 But this is like, my dad basically can't breathe or sleep or like do anything until 89 00:05:01,818 --> 00:05:03,097 this is done. 90 00:05:03,621 --> 00:05:09,421 And then I think he did another one that Nine West got bought by somebody, the shoe 91 00:05:09,421 --> 00:05:09,901 company. 92 00:05:09,901 --> 00:05:12,109 Anyways, that's the kind of thing that he like, 93 00:05:12,109 --> 00:05:13,429 for a living. 94 00:05:13,429 --> 00:05:18,809 And he had to like drop all the contracts and like do all the legalities of that. 95 00:05:18,809 --> 00:05:23,169 And a lot of the times it was like he was dealing with international law, the 96 00:05:23,169 --> 00:05:24,241 company's part. 97 00:05:24,370 --> 00:05:26,070 based in the United States. 98 00:05:26,070 --> 00:05:28,190 It was like a whole thing anyway. 99 00:05:28,230 --> 00:05:34,558 So I know like that angle of it and like how. 100 00:05:36,105 --> 00:05:44,033 bad it is for that to get out and exist in the world and... 101 00:05:44,726 --> 00:05:49,446 do you know anything about like did the did it get a lot of hits like are you able 102 00:05:49,446 --> 00:05:51,857 to like monitor that like 103 00:05:51,857 --> 00:05:57,077 we can see if anyone else could syndicate a story or run stories based off of that 104 00:05:57,077 --> 00:05:58,017 story. 105 00:05:58,089 --> 00:06:01,789 those who maybe don't follow media reporting that closely. 106 00:06:02,229 --> 00:06:06,349 These kinds of stories are only valuable if they actually state the facts, like the 107 00:06:06,349 --> 00:06:10,483 size of the two companies and the financial value of the deal. 108 00:06:10,525 --> 00:06:12,705 because these companies declined to comment. 109 00:06:12,705 --> 00:06:13,725 There's no information. 110 00:06:13,725 --> 00:06:15,925 It's completely specular. 111 00:06:15,925 --> 00:06:18,225 It's like 500 grams long. 112 00:06:18,485 --> 00:06:24,475 It's regurgitating facts that were already out there in the public domain of funding, 113 00:06:24,475 --> 00:06:26,470 as they've raised at the past, or. 114 00:06:26,470 --> 00:06:28,541 or things that were already. 115 00:06:28,541 --> 00:06:29,251 existing. 116 00:06:29,251 --> 00:06:34,201 It would basically be like writing a journalism article based off Wikipedia is 117 00:06:34,301 --> 00:06:37,583 like the level of quality that's going on here right now. 118 00:06:37,765 --> 00:06:42,605 And these reporters are interested in just getting the scoop. 119 00:06:42,605 --> 00:06:47,545 And one of our songs is to put this out there, that they go out into the world 120 00:06:47,545 --> 00:06:50,751 without any confirmation, and without any. 121 00:06:51,968 --> 00:06:53,598 because it's about clicks. 122 00:06:53,598 --> 00:06:55,761 It's not about it being accurate. 123 00:06:55,761 --> 00:06:58,781 We have Trump as a president for four years. 124 00:06:58,781 --> 00:07:00,820 Do you think it's about being accurate? 125 00:07:01,121 --> 00:07:02,941 Absolutely not. 126 00:07:03,721 --> 00:07:06,001 I'm so sorry. 127 00:07:06,001 --> 00:07:09,901 I'm delighted to be here with you after you're talking about the entire incident. 128 00:07:09,901 --> 00:07:12,901 like my hair is on fire and I can't breathe. 129 00:07:12,901 --> 00:07:15,641 And actually, I was really worried I wouldn't sleep at all last night because 130 00:07:15,641 --> 00:07:18,371 I'm a very anxious and busy mind. 131 00:07:18,371 --> 00:07:22,791 And somehow I slept from 1 a to 7 a which I feel like is pretty good. 132 00:07:23,137 --> 00:07:27,957 I keep telling her she needs to have like a supply of melatonin just for like those 133 00:07:27,957 --> 00:07:29,730 nights because that's what I do. 134 00:07:29,730 --> 00:07:31,990 got stuff better than that you can give me a call. 135 00:07:37,950 --> 00:07:40,530 I taught for 10 years. 136 00:07:40,690 --> 00:07:47,410 I would like lose sleep because I'd be thinking about like how I was going to 137 00:07:47,410 --> 00:07:50,530 teach my lesson plan in like four different ways to four different classes 138 00:07:50,530 --> 00:07:53,461 with like varying ability levels and then. 139 00:07:53,461 --> 00:07:58,011 I would be thinking about certain students who like, I mean I had homeless students, 140 00:07:58,011 --> 00:08:04,141 I had students that had unsaged home lives, like I had all sorts of things and 141 00:08:04,141 --> 00:08:08,421 when you're like in a quiet place trying to go to bed at night those are the things 142 00:08:08,421 --> 00:08:13,521 that you think about and so yeah I need to turn that off. 143 00:08:15,761 --> 00:08:16,926 Well. 144 00:08:16,926 --> 00:08:23,750 I have had a boring work week, nothing super eventful has happened and 145 00:08:38,161 --> 00:08:41,561 are all in short sleeves tonight, which feels like we're finally making the 146 00:08:41,561 --> 00:08:44,061 transition to spring for real. 147 00:08:44,861 --> 00:08:46,701 And the windows are open. 148 00:08:46,798 --> 00:08:52,058 which is super nice, although my allergies might, you know, take over, but we'll 149 00:08:52,058 --> 00:08:54,378 just, we'll work with that when we can. 150 00:08:56,138 --> 00:09:00,498 So Steph, do you have anything you want to catch up on or should we just go right at 151 00:09:00,498 --> 00:09:00,905 it? 152 00:09:00,905 --> 00:09:06,821 I just want to say that I am so thankful that I wasn't at home. 153 00:09:06,821 --> 00:09:11,581 to help out because that made me feel like I was at least contributing something to 154 00:09:11,581 --> 00:09:14,939 take a little piece of the stress away from your plate. 155 00:09:14,939 --> 00:09:16,389 You did big time. 156 00:09:16,389 --> 00:09:21,729 And I also just want to say to people who have friends who have dogs, one of the 157 00:09:21,729 --> 00:09:25,689 hardest things during any kind of crisis work or otherwise is how you're going to 158 00:09:25,689 --> 00:09:28,109 make sure that the dog sticks to the schedule. 159 00:09:28,249 --> 00:09:31,649 I've had a lot of grandparents who have had really hard. 160 00:09:38,630 --> 00:09:42,570 most helpful thing that anybody ever did was to say, could I walk a scalp for you 161 00:09:42,570 --> 00:09:42,810 tonight? 162 00:09:42,810 --> 00:09:44,550 Could I walk a scalp for you tonight? 163 00:09:44,550 --> 00:09:48,530 That is an easy, wonderful. 164 00:09:48,721 --> 00:09:55,521 emotionally like heavy and impressive way to help people during a time of need. 165 00:09:55,521 --> 00:09:58,341 So for anyone listening, if you have a friend with a dog and you're like, gosh, 166 00:09:58,341 --> 00:09:59,641 seems like things are really rough for them. 167 00:09:59,641 --> 00:10:00,849 What could I do to help? 168 00:10:00,909 --> 00:10:03,432 Just make me an offer if you can. 169 00:10:03,432 --> 00:10:07,462 particularly nearby if possible, it makes a really big difference. 170 00:10:08,182 --> 00:10:14,082 And scouting out the side just because my work life was upside down and a step in my 171 00:10:14,082 --> 00:10:17,602 mind just right over it made a moral difference and I could stay focused on 172 00:10:17,602 --> 00:10:18,425 what I needed to do. 173 00:10:18,425 --> 00:10:22,929 got to have a beautiful spring walk and become a star of her Instagram story. 174 00:10:24,073 --> 00:10:27,053 I actually just remembered what I did yesterday. 175 00:10:27,053 --> 00:10:29,233 This whole time I've been like I didn't do anything yesterday. 176 00:10:29,233 --> 00:10:33,053 I met with one of my old coworkers for breakfast. 177 00:10:33,208 --> 00:10:38,528 She has been writing a memoir for the past one and a half, two years. 178 00:10:38,528 --> 00:10:42,808 So we had a fantastic conversation just comparing. 179 00:10:42,865 --> 00:10:51,825 you know, writing, editing, working on an arc, ideas for publishing and finding 180 00:10:51,825 --> 00:10:54,685 agents and just hopes and dreams and whatever. 181 00:10:54,685 --> 00:11:00,845 And I cannot wait to read this book when it comes out because she is one of my 182 00:11:00,845 --> 00:11:01,535 favorite people. 183 00:11:01,535 --> 00:11:03,305 She has always been. 184 00:11:03,305 --> 00:11:06,525 positive even when her life is a dumpster fire. 185 00:11:07,745 --> 00:11:13,565 I know her story, but I'm still excited to read about it whenever that day comes. 186 00:11:14,585 --> 00:11:15,545 Yeah. 187 00:11:17,278 --> 00:11:17,448 right. 188 00:11:17,448 --> 00:11:22,218 People are getting the live update right now because I got an email from my realtor 189 00:11:22,218 --> 00:11:25,158 and the condo that I wanted to go see on Thursday. 190 00:11:25,158 --> 00:11:29,168 The agent didn't update the listing and they already accepted an offer. 191 00:11:29,168 --> 00:11:31,878 So I'm not going to see that on Thursday. 192 00:11:31,878 --> 00:11:37,698 And the condo, I canceled tutoring yesterday to go see a condo that I thought 193 00:11:37,698 --> 00:11:40,338 was really promising and it sucked. 194 00:11:40,338 --> 00:11:43,218 Like top to bottom, not good. 195 00:11:43,418 --> 00:11:44,390 And. 196 00:11:44,565 --> 00:11:51,105 I don't know what, I'm gonna roll with it, but I am a little annoyed because I mean 197 00:11:51,105 --> 00:11:55,485 this came on today and apparently already had an offer and they just like should 198 00:11:55,485 --> 00:11:58,885 have never put it on line for me to even look up. 199 00:11:58,885 --> 00:12:00,085 Yeah. 200 00:12:00,110 --> 00:12:01,450 Idiots. 201 00:12:01,950 --> 00:12:04,111 Okay, but let's get into the book. 202 00:12:04,111 --> 00:12:06,911 We're in a great mood today, y 'all. 203 00:12:06,911 --> 00:12:07,921 So. 204 00:12:08,777 --> 00:12:12,337 I read this book. 205 00:12:13,857 --> 00:12:20,317 No, before that because I read it in 2021 and you had already read it before you 206 00:12:20,317 --> 00:12:21,777 gave it to me, I think. 207 00:12:23,737 --> 00:12:24,270 okay. 208 00:12:24,270 --> 00:12:26,670 it's hardcover, so I think I got it right away. 209 00:12:26,670 --> 00:12:30,990 So it's called Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brody. 210 00:12:30,990 --> 00:12:39,190 And she is a longtime publisher, but first time author with this book. 211 00:12:39,190 --> 00:12:42,709 And I... 212 00:12:43,118 --> 00:12:46,098 read maybe a People magazine review. 213 00:12:46,098 --> 00:12:50,738 Somebody like started as like great debut or something like that in a magazine that 214 00:12:50,738 --> 00:12:52,798 I read maybe Entertainment Weekly. 215 00:12:52,798 --> 00:12:59,238 And I was like, this is about kind of like an up and coming singer and she gets to 216 00:12:59,238 --> 00:13:05,578 debut at this like seaside music festival that sounded a lot like Newport Folkfest, 217 00:13:05,578 --> 00:13:09,708 which like I go to every year and I was like, this really sounds up my alley. 218 00:13:09,708 --> 00:13:11,069 Like I love music. 219 00:13:11,069 --> 00:13:12,761 And I think it was gorgeous. 220 00:13:12,761 --> 00:13:17,840 It's got a large cover of a sunset and somebody playing a car. 221 00:13:18,141 --> 00:13:20,561 You can always see their side profile. 222 00:13:21,301 --> 00:13:25,541 But it was like live music, so I had to wear all of my girl pants. 223 00:13:26,261 --> 00:13:27,451 It just had all of them. 224 00:13:27,451 --> 00:13:28,930 So I was like, I gotta do this. 225 00:13:28,930 --> 00:13:33,461 So I read it and I really enjoyed it. 226 00:13:33,581 --> 00:13:40,941 I have to say it's one of those things where it felt like a start of a new bit. 227 00:13:40,941 --> 00:13:42,581 It was like cliche. 228 00:13:42,997 --> 00:13:48,617 like dying going through this whole thing, on stage, like it was like a festival, 229 00:13:48,617 --> 00:13:51,417 like I had recently wrapped D .C. 230 00:13:51,417 --> 00:13:55,697 Talks in 6, so I was like, this ain't gonna happen, I don't know, I feel like 231 00:13:55,697 --> 00:13:59,737 I'm just reckless, I don't know if I've done really well, and 232 00:14:00,198 --> 00:14:05,957 and so I like stuck with it and I was pleasantly surprised by like. 233 00:14:05,957 --> 00:14:09,954 there's like, some, like, some points that are very personal. 234 00:14:09,954 --> 00:14:15,834 it and the connection between the people is really deep and the writing is really 235 00:14:15,834 --> 00:14:16,474 good. 236 00:14:16,714 --> 00:14:21,614 And then fast forward to like a year or two later and the woman that wrote the 237 00:14:21,614 --> 00:14:28,514 book, Emma Brody, was offering an online Zoom class called The Art of the Query and 238 00:14:28,514 --> 00:14:31,694 it's all about like how to get your book noticed and published. 239 00:14:31,694 --> 00:14:34,094 And so I took her class. 240 00:14:34,729 --> 00:14:40,169 and I thought to her, being so much familiar, and reading the bio of the 241 00:14:40,169 --> 00:14:41,144 instructor, I was like, 242 00:14:41,144 --> 00:14:42,194 I've read her book already. 243 00:14:42,194 --> 00:14:43,814 Like, this is hilarious. 244 00:14:43,814 --> 00:14:46,434 So she's like really cool. 245 00:14:46,534 --> 00:14:48,904 She provided a lot of information. 246 00:14:48,904 --> 00:14:50,414 It was a really valuable class. 247 00:14:50,414 --> 00:14:51,534 It's through catapult. 248 00:14:51,534 --> 00:14:55,634 I don't know if you guys have heard of it, but they have all sorts of like online 249 00:14:55,634 --> 00:14:58,964 writers, workshops, different kinds of like things. 250 00:14:58,964 --> 00:15:02,784 If you want to meet other people that are also writers. 251 00:15:03,163 --> 00:15:09,063 At various levels of either being public or public store. 252 00:15:09,063 --> 00:15:11,086 They're working on their first page. 253 00:15:11,086 --> 00:15:13,066 or whatever it happens to be. 254 00:15:13,066 --> 00:15:16,266 And so she's just kind of in the thick of it and she kind of like walks people 255 00:15:16,266 --> 00:15:22,526 through what it's like and kind of like tips and tricks of the trade and how to 256 00:15:22,526 --> 00:15:24,606 get your stuff to stick out. 257 00:15:24,626 --> 00:15:28,686 And she was just like really cool and she gave everybody her email, like her 258 00:15:28,686 --> 00:15:32,838 publishing house email and then also her personal email and was like, 259 00:15:32,910 --> 00:15:36,550 You know, if you come up with something and you think that I'm like, these are the 260 00:15:36,550 --> 00:15:38,690 books that I've been involved with getting published. 261 00:15:38,690 --> 00:15:43,810 And if you think that your stuff kind of fits into what I do, then like shoot me an 262 00:15:43,810 --> 00:15:45,350 email and blah, blah, blah. 263 00:15:45,350 --> 00:15:47,350 And she was really awesome. 264 00:15:47,450 --> 00:15:54,050 So, I feel like I should let other people jump in on this because I did not read it 265 00:15:54,050 --> 00:15:56,096 as recently as other people. 266 00:15:58,923 --> 00:16:04,323 just want to say that I too had read Daisy Jones and the Six recently before this 267 00:16:04,323 --> 00:16:09,213 book came out and also had a similar, no, is this like a copy of it? 268 00:16:09,213 --> 00:16:10,821 And I think... 269 00:16:11,370 --> 00:16:16,150 it has the same feel in that it takes place in a same time period filter, I 270 00:16:16,150 --> 00:16:17,950 believe in the 70s, right? 271 00:16:19,290 --> 00:16:24,669 And the male female characters do feel a little more, you know, strong female 272 00:16:24,669 --> 00:16:29,790 characters, kind of, I don't know if too much away, but troubled, shall we say, 273 00:16:29,790 --> 00:16:31,430 male singer. 274 00:16:31,790 --> 00:16:34,277 But, but, how do we, from the beginning, 275 00:16:34,277 --> 00:16:39,669 is the house, the generation of women who are producing that house. 276 00:16:39,669 --> 00:16:41,158 and live in this 277 00:16:41,158 --> 00:16:48,218 pictured just sort of like the cratial siding like meant to fit houses and just 278 00:16:48,218 --> 00:16:53,678 like winding staircases and kind of like you know kitschy decor I mean who knows 279 00:16:53,678 --> 00:16:57,818 that might not be what she intended that was what I pictured in my mind kind of 280 00:16:57,818 --> 00:17:02,801 like you know obviously not underwater but if you're on a on a island that's just not 281 00:17:02,801 --> 00:17:04,985 Massachusetts, you're kind of always near the water. 282 00:17:04,985 --> 00:17:05,604 them. 283 00:17:05,805 --> 00:17:08,585 That's where we see a lot of difference between the two, because I just love 284 00:17:08,585 --> 00:17:10,006 strong female. 285 00:17:10,006 --> 00:17:11,306 relationships. 286 00:17:11,306 --> 00:17:15,846 And then from there, it definitely deviates completely from Daisy Jones and 287 00:17:15,846 --> 00:17:16,056 the Six. 288 00:17:16,056 --> 00:17:23,306 But if you like that genre of like 70s Arab bands who go from nothing to the low 289 00:17:23,306 --> 00:17:28,666 and not seemingly overnight and then there's tangled, troubled romantic 290 00:17:28,666 --> 00:17:31,589 relationships, then this is a fantastic read for you. 291 00:17:31,589 --> 00:17:32,209 that. 292 00:17:32,953 --> 00:17:36,713 I'm going to complete the trifecta of people who also read Daisy Jones in the 293 00:17:36,713 --> 00:17:37,913 sixth first. 294 00:17:38,453 --> 00:17:40,113 that book came out in 2019. 295 00:17:40,113 --> 00:17:45,493 So two years before Ursa Major, I read all of Daisy Jones while on vacation with 296 00:17:45,493 --> 00:17:48,173 Steph in the Bahamas at a place called Bahamar. 297 00:17:48,173 --> 00:17:51,493 I can picture myself on the exact lounge chair I was on where I like didn't move 298 00:17:51,493 --> 00:17:54,053 for hours except to maybe put my feet in the pool. 299 00:17:54,053 --> 00:17:59,449 I loved that book and I would guess that the success of that story. 300 00:17:59,449 --> 00:18:03,609 helped her sell in Ursa Major because there was already so much interest in that 301 00:18:03,609 --> 00:18:05,357 kind of genre, if you will. 302 00:18:05,357 --> 00:18:08,837 and she could have used it as a comp in her own query. 303 00:18:08,837 --> 00:18:11,277 query letter, speaking of the art of the query. 304 00:18:11,597 --> 00:18:15,997 I liked this book for many of the reasons both of you already said. 305 00:18:15,997 --> 00:18:17,877 Two things I wanted to add. 306 00:18:17,877 --> 00:18:24,497 It felt to me like Jane, the singer, Jesse, the male singer, that they were 307 00:18:24,497 --> 00:18:27,397 kind of fated to be in each other's lives. 308 00:18:27,397 --> 00:18:33,401 And it reminded me of Seven Days in June in the way where you just are like... 309 00:18:33,401 --> 00:18:36,801 Yeah, these people are really meant to be in each other's lives, even if it's not 310 00:18:36,801 --> 00:18:40,161 always perfect, even if it's not what they always dreamed of, even if it doesn't have 311 00:18:40,161 --> 00:18:43,261 the resolution some of us might've been rooting for. 312 00:18:43,261 --> 00:18:47,781 And the other thing is that there's a side character in this story. 313 00:18:47,981 --> 00:18:54,781 Willie, who is Jane and Jesse's manager, he really champions both of them in 314 00:18:54,781 --> 00:19:00,901 different ways at a time in US cultural history where it was not as easy for a 315 00:19:00,901 --> 00:19:02,201 female lead. 316 00:19:02,201 --> 00:19:05,161 she had the same kinds of opportunities as her other men. 317 00:19:05,161 --> 00:19:07,998 And she's very happy about that. 318 00:19:07,998 --> 00:19:12,158 her ability and what the damage is on her and how they use her in the form of spear 319 00:19:12,158 --> 00:19:12,813 timing. 320 00:19:12,813 --> 00:19:19,433 And I think unlike Daisy Jones, who had a very drug fueled existence, Jane is like 321 00:19:19,433 --> 00:19:23,173 very focused and has a very clear vision of what she wants for herself. 322 00:19:23,173 --> 00:19:28,193 And Willie really supports that and kind of goes against the corporate entity that 323 00:19:28,193 --> 00:19:30,733 he works for to really make her dreams come true. 324 00:19:30,733 --> 00:19:31,326 And. 325 00:19:31,326 --> 00:19:36,186 if this were to ever be optioned I hope he gets like proper screening done because I 326 00:19:36,186 --> 00:19:39,666 feel like he was one of my favorite friends at the time and I sent him these 327 00:19:39,666 --> 00:19:43,166 cows right before we started recording the audio so if you could just walk right into 328 00:19:43,166 --> 00:19:43,441 it. 329 00:19:43,441 --> 00:19:43,591 it. 330 00:19:43,591 --> 00:19:47,541 I couldn't like smash that five stars on Goodreads fast enough. 331 00:19:47,541 --> 00:19:50,301 It's pretty rare for me to give five stars. 332 00:19:50,561 --> 00:19:55,041 I struggled to do it unless the writing is like exceptional, but this was really just 333 00:19:55,041 --> 00:19:56,121 based on a feeling. 334 00:19:56,121 --> 00:19:57,377 Like I was. 335 00:19:57,947 --> 00:20:02,467 totally, fully, I just was like, I'm a huge human monster. 336 00:20:02,467 --> 00:20:04,377 I'm just a huge poster figure. 337 00:20:04,377 --> 00:20:06,647 I just was addicted to this book. 338 00:20:06,747 --> 00:20:11,647 And I didn't know what was gonna happen. 339 00:20:11,887 --> 00:20:13,613 I'm gonna have to put it use. 340 00:20:13,613 --> 00:20:14,573 what's gonna happen. 341 00:20:14,573 --> 00:20:19,653 I just like let it go and Even though it doesn't tie up with a bow, which is always 342 00:20:19,653 --> 00:20:23,953 my preference I did still really love it and I feel like it's hard to capture 343 00:20:23,953 --> 00:20:27,101 someone's attention like that and I wanted to reward her for that. 344 00:20:27,101 --> 00:20:27,601 I 345 00:20:29,582 --> 00:20:35,922 I think what I would also like to show is that it was an injured form and it wasn't, 346 00:20:35,922 --> 00:20:41,342 but there were little arm holes, in general little arm holes in the first 347 00:20:41,342 --> 00:20:47,742 person, but I think I liked getting the perspective that we did and also I thought 348 00:20:47,742 --> 00:20:49,342 each one occurred. 349 00:20:49,801 --> 00:20:57,461 romance because you know, I like the ups and downs and this has a lot of downs, but 350 00:20:57,461 --> 00:20:58,729 then that makes 351 00:20:58,778 --> 00:21:05,338 the ups you have the you know the other change feels weird I don't know what the 352 00:21:05,338 --> 00:21:10,658 end of this one is obviously but I also think that in the past two cents there's 353 00:21:10,658 --> 00:21:14,238 nothing really exciting about this because it sees stuff 354 00:21:15,056 --> 00:21:16,977 location that just feels... 355 00:21:16,977 --> 00:21:20,937 I mean, it doesn't take place just in summer, but in my mind, it's summertime, 356 00:21:20,937 --> 00:21:26,961 which has a magical quality to it that just makes the romance bigger and... 357 00:21:26,961 --> 00:21:29,841 the relationship between you and the other person. 358 00:21:29,841 --> 00:21:31,691 And also just a bit bias. 359 00:21:31,691 --> 00:21:34,257 I think that's mostly what we need to see, Joe. 360 00:21:34,549 --> 00:21:40,629 so good is that you kind of got entangled in their like side romances and whatever 361 00:21:40,629 --> 00:21:45,849 and Emma does a really good job of doing side characters in this because you care 362 00:21:45,849 --> 00:21:47,365 about them, you know? 363 00:21:47,621 --> 00:21:50,341 also want to say I love the piano. 364 00:21:50,341 --> 00:21:52,041 I played the piano for many years as a kid. 365 00:21:52,041 --> 00:21:54,681 I was terrible, but I loved it and I wanted to be good. 366 00:21:54,681 --> 00:21:58,621 I have a thing for men who can play the piano, which is a big part of this 367 00:21:58,621 --> 00:21:59,011 storyline. 368 00:21:59,011 --> 00:22:02,574 And again, if it ever comes to screen, I hope they don't cut those parts. 369 00:22:02,574 --> 00:22:04,737 I was like, I'm just sit here and let just 370 00:22:04,737 --> 00:22:09,057 emotional and haunting about the piano, but also really beautiful. 371 00:22:09,057 --> 00:22:13,137 And they do a lot of songwriting at the piano in the studio, in their homes. 372 00:22:13,137 --> 00:22:15,327 It's almost like another character in the book. 373 00:22:15,327 --> 00:22:18,801 Like when they are at the piano, you know something is about to happen. 374 00:22:19,618 --> 00:22:25,658 think the other thing that I liked about this book that Daisy Jones didn't have is 375 00:22:25,697 --> 00:22:30,098 Jean's really close with her family and still lives with a lot of them. 376 00:22:30,098 --> 00:22:36,614 And so that was like a really nice, you kind of saw like, 377 00:22:36,681 --> 00:22:42,041 more of what you were fighting for is what you had to lose where Jasmine actually 378 00:22:42,041 --> 00:22:42,406 also 379 00:22:42,406 --> 00:22:45,546 had some fame at the beginning of the book. 380 00:22:45,546 --> 00:22:52,486 And so there's a have and have not quality that's going on as well, in addition to it 381 00:22:52,486 --> 00:22:54,566 being a tortured romance. 382 00:22:54,726 --> 00:22:58,946 And they're both basically poets, musicians. 383 00:22:58,946 --> 00:23:03,165 They're very passionate and artsy and... 384 00:23:03,165 --> 00:23:07,525 and all of those things and sometimes they get two people that pass together and like 385 00:23:07,525 --> 00:23:10,845 really explore the different care methods. 386 00:23:10,925 --> 00:23:12,741 And... 387 00:23:12,741 --> 00:23:19,341 just thought that it was really impactful that you got to see like James Bond was 388 00:23:19,341 --> 00:23:23,709 like very well established at the beginning of the book and you really get a 389 00:23:23,709 --> 00:23:23,834 real 390 00:23:23,834 --> 00:23:29,184 idea of this is who she would be leaving behind if she did make it. 391 00:23:29,184 --> 00:23:32,646 And like, this is how much she cares about the music and like, 392 00:23:32,921 --> 00:23:35,621 know, that's pretty heated. 393 00:23:35,621 --> 00:23:37,677 You see a lot of people that are... 394 00:23:37,677 --> 00:23:38,677 are pop stars. 395 00:23:38,677 --> 00:23:42,917 They're like, they are very close with their family. 396 00:23:42,917 --> 00:23:47,477 Or they were a child star, so they weren't related that much. 397 00:23:47,497 --> 00:23:53,337 So it's interesting to see somebody who's already had an adult life and has had 398 00:23:53,337 --> 00:23:56,307 adult responsibilities and is still going for it. 399 00:23:56,307 --> 00:23:58,531 And I think that that is really important. 400 00:23:58,550 --> 00:24:00,393 compelling and maybe... 401 00:24:00,393 --> 00:24:05,273 not so much with the Easy Jones kind of a competition, like I have no family and 402 00:24:05,273 --> 00:24:07,143 nobody really likes me and I never had 403 00:24:07,143 --> 00:24:07,523 of. 404 00:24:07,523 --> 00:24:10,883 And she was in a lot of these all the time. 405 00:24:10,883 --> 00:24:14,103 That's just not what's going on in this book. 406 00:24:14,943 --> 00:24:17,563 It's a little pure, I guess. 407 00:24:18,643 --> 00:24:20,803 Yeah, it's possible. 408 00:24:21,203 --> 00:24:25,093 Daisy Jones reminds me of this. 409 00:24:25,093 --> 00:24:26,597 I think we all have to mention her. 410 00:24:26,597 --> 00:24:29,117 this, of the VH1 show Behind the Music. 411 00:24:29,257 --> 00:24:33,757 It talks about the high highs and the low lows and it interviews everybody who was 412 00:24:33,757 --> 00:24:35,781 part of the process and it feels like a... 413 00:24:35,781 --> 00:24:40,761 a literal, greater version of that experience. 414 00:24:40,781 --> 00:24:45,441 And personally, it's like a true, an accurate difference that we've done. 415 00:24:45,881 --> 00:24:54,301 And I think she establishes everything that we're pursuing if she tries to pursue 416 00:24:54,301 --> 00:24:56,587 this in a way that... 417 00:24:56,929 --> 00:25:05,189 you don't really feel with Daisy because she doesn't have much to lose and I also I 418 00:25:05,189 --> 00:25:06,826 said to Steph that 419 00:25:06,826 --> 00:25:10,626 there were parts of her skin that actually looked like a judge. 420 00:25:10,626 --> 00:25:15,846 One of her other ones, Elgar Isaac, which is also really the only one that's said in 421 00:25:15,846 --> 00:25:16,546 the order. 422 00:25:16,546 --> 00:25:19,917 And we're just really looking at how this is a small town. 423 00:25:19,917 --> 00:25:24,645 and everything with each other, trying to build your life into something bigger. 424 00:25:25,029 --> 00:25:25,379 I don't know. 425 00:25:25,379 --> 00:25:29,509 I wonder if these two women, Emma Brody and Taylor Jenkins read, see themselves as 426 00:25:29,509 --> 00:25:32,369 rivals or if they're really like inspired by each other's work. 427 00:25:32,369 --> 00:25:36,101 Because I think there's a lot of similarities in a way that I love. 428 00:25:36,101 --> 00:25:39,781 and really just like appreciate all of the stories even more. 429 00:25:40,058 --> 00:25:43,818 think that they probably don't see each other as rivals. 430 00:25:43,818 --> 00:25:48,718 And the reason that I'm going to say that is because Daisy Jones and the six is 431 00:25:48,718 --> 00:25:51,138 like, Sunset Boulevard. 432 00:25:51,138 --> 00:25:52,618 It's like fast. 433 00:25:52,618 --> 00:25:53,638 It's like, 434 00:25:53,901 --> 00:25:58,121 everybody's partying and everybody's made messes of their lives and they're looking 435 00:25:58,121 --> 00:26:03,842 back on it and Songs of the Earth are Major is more like... 436 00:26:03,842 --> 00:26:05,722 like Laurel Canyon. 437 00:26:05,722 --> 00:26:10,922 It's more like the Joni Mitchell and the Crosby Stills Nash and Young and like what 438 00:26:10,922 --> 00:26:14,222 my mom calls easy listening, you know, like Jackson Brown. 439 00:26:14,222 --> 00:26:16,442 Like it's more that. 440 00:26:17,282 --> 00:26:18,750 So like if. 441 00:26:19,237 --> 00:26:23,237 Jason Jones was supposed to be like a fleet with that, like I feel like this is 442 00:26:23,237 --> 00:26:28,797 about like Joey and Graham Napp for some time, you know, that's more the vibe. 443 00:26:28,797 --> 00:26:30,277 I love it. 444 00:26:33,326 --> 00:26:38,165 Anybody have anything else to say about this lovely little nugget? 445 00:26:38,165 --> 00:26:42,545 I know that it's not like new new, but if it is new to you, I think you should 446 00:26:42,545 --> 00:26:44,275 definitely give this book a chance. 447 00:26:44,275 --> 00:26:46,325 I think it's a great summer read. 448 00:26:46,465 --> 00:26:50,365 It will give you that sort of like wind in your hair feeling. 449 00:26:51,095 --> 00:26:56,105 and I think if you love kind of the, as Steph said, New England seaside vibe, it's 450 00:26:56,105 --> 00:27:01,665 a great one, but it also kind of has the high drama and, I just loved it. 451 00:27:01,665 --> 00:27:03,185 I really, really loved it. 452 00:27:05,046 --> 00:27:07,306 I'm just looking at the quotes on the back of the book. 453 00:27:07,306 --> 00:27:10,306 I don't know what these are called, like the blurbs from other writers. 454 00:27:10,306 --> 00:27:13,686 So Kevin Kwan, who did crazy rotations. 455 00:27:13,926 --> 00:27:15,346 This is what he said. 456 00:27:15,346 --> 00:27:17,286 So he and I were on the same page. 457 00:27:17,766 --> 00:27:22,506 So many of the passages throughout songs in Ursa Major are such pure poetry, I got 458 00:27:22,506 --> 00:27:23,626 chills as I read them. 459 00:27:23,626 --> 00:27:27,886 I could drink a case of this book and I'd still be on my feet. 460 00:27:28,026 --> 00:27:30,446 So he even referenced Joni. 461 00:27:30,446 --> 00:27:33,509 Okay, I feel better about my my analysis now. 462 00:27:33,509 --> 00:27:34,177 in the paper. 463 00:27:34,177 --> 00:27:37,402 I haven't changed what I'm reading right now. 464 00:27:37,402 --> 00:27:39,162 I'm still reading the new Carly Fortune. 465 00:27:39,162 --> 00:27:41,517 What are you guys up to? 466 00:27:41,517 --> 00:27:47,337 So I started, I think last night, We Run the Tides by Vandala Vida. 467 00:27:47,337 --> 00:27:50,457 Caitlin had given this to me many moons ago. 468 00:27:50,457 --> 00:27:52,225 I couldn't even tell you when. 469 00:27:52,225 --> 00:27:54,830 around the same time I think we're solving this together. 470 00:27:54,830 --> 00:27:55,465 Manager. 471 00:27:55,465 --> 00:27:57,905 it could have been in like the same bunch of books. 472 00:27:57,905 --> 00:28:00,885 I'm sorry that I've held on to it this long. 473 00:28:01,705 --> 00:28:07,795 This story takes place in 1984, 1985, and it's about a bunch of 13 year old girls, 474 00:28:07,795 --> 00:28:11,424 although it's mostly from the perspective of Ulibi. 475 00:28:11,645 --> 00:28:16,385 She lives in an affluent neighborhood of San Francisco, and it's about her and her 476 00:28:16,385 --> 00:28:17,945 friends and her family. 477 00:28:17,945 --> 00:28:20,365 And what I love is it reads. 478 00:28:20,365 --> 00:28:26,305 like a memoir, it feels like a 50 year old woman is writing about her childhood. 479 00:28:26,305 --> 00:28:33,225 And what happens in that year is like so many things from her and her best friend 480 00:28:33,225 --> 00:28:37,665 both viewing an incident completely opposite. 481 00:28:37,805 --> 00:28:42,545 And then that best friend goes missing, unrelated, but goes missing after the 482 00:28:42,545 --> 00:28:43,485 fact. 483 00:28:43,825 --> 00:28:48,325 But it's also about like that age where everything is heightened. 484 00:28:48,325 --> 00:28:50,285 Everything is such a drop. 485 00:28:50,285 --> 00:28:54,885 You also don't have to stand up, the adults are saying, everything. 486 00:28:55,985 --> 00:28:58,885 It's beautiful. 487 00:28:59,661 --> 00:29:05,401 I wonder if it is secretly part of her, the author's life, and that's why it reads 488 00:29:05,401 --> 00:29:06,446 like a memoir. 489 00:29:06,446 --> 00:29:11,266 a coming of age book that you should not and will not find in the young adult 490 00:29:11,266 --> 00:29:11,946 section. 491 00:29:11,946 --> 00:29:13,826 That's the best way I can describe it. 492 00:29:13,826 --> 00:29:20,706 Like it's about that time period, but it's very much framed for adults. 493 00:29:21,725 --> 00:29:25,735 And it's not only for adults, the setting is so good about it. 494 00:29:25,735 --> 00:29:26,965 It's really grand to you. 495 00:29:26,965 --> 00:29:34,165 You really can picture what it's like living in San Francisco in the 80s. 496 00:29:34,165 --> 00:29:35,992 What it's like, you know, 497 00:29:35,992 --> 00:29:39,462 spying on all, you know, keeping up with the Joneses basically and what's going on 498 00:29:39,462 --> 00:29:40,602 with all your neighbors. 499 00:29:40,602 --> 00:29:46,982 And that to have this girl go missing, the girl going missing basically like. 500 00:29:47,325 --> 00:29:51,030 gives you permission to like be escorted through the messy line. 501 00:29:51,030 --> 00:29:53,910 all these people that live on the street. 502 00:29:53,910 --> 00:29:58,080 And it's really, I thought it was really good and it's not very long either. 503 00:29:58,080 --> 00:29:59,854 Like it really packs a punch. 504 00:30:05,433 --> 00:30:06,393 finish. 505 00:30:06,593 --> 00:30:12,313 I am about to start The Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarrow. 506 00:30:12,313 --> 00:30:16,733 So for those who don't know, this is the second book in the fourth wing series. 507 00:30:16,757 --> 00:30:19,497 I just say you better text us? 508 00:30:19,497 --> 00:30:24,037 There are certain points that I feel like you'll know when you get to them like 509 00:30:24,037 --> 00:30:26,877 Stephanie probably wants to know my reaction to this. 510 00:30:26,961 --> 00:30:30,621 well, the reason I'm starting it now is because I'm about to go on a big trip and 511 00:30:30,621 --> 00:30:34,881 I have many plane rides ahead of me and this book is 623 pages. 512 00:30:34,881 --> 00:30:40,501 So it should keep me occupied, I think, for at least all of flight one. 513 00:30:40,501 --> 00:30:46,721 And on that note, just so everyone knows, you're listening to us today, May 23rd, 514 00:30:46,721 --> 00:30:49,841 but we will have no new episode next week. 515 00:30:49,841 --> 00:30:51,929 I'm going to be gone for quite a bit. 516 00:30:51,929 --> 00:30:56,229 And the gals will be busy reading all kinds of things while I'm gone so that we 517 00:30:56,229 --> 00:30:59,609 can come back with great episodes for you when I return. 518 00:30:59,629 --> 00:31:06,189 So we hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend and we will be back the first 519 00:31:06,189 --> 00:31:07,549 week of June. 520 00:31:07,549 --> 00:31:11,829 And in the meantime, we will still be sharing all kinds of goodness on our 521 00:31:11,829 --> 00:31:14,139 Instagram account at PlansAreBooked. 522 00:31:14,139 --> 00:31:17,889 You can write to us anytime, plansarebooked at gmail .com to share 523 00:31:17,889 --> 00:31:20,057 ideas for future books we should read. 524 00:31:20,057 --> 00:31:21,667 or episode ideas that you have. 525 00:31:21,667 --> 00:31:23,153 We love hearing from you. 526 00:31:24,110 --> 00:31:27,490 And until next time, our plans are booked.