Photo: Dan Blank

COVID Self-Care 101 = Read a good book!
A free book to five lucky winners from yours truly. Happy Holidays!

…Nashville is, of course, known for its musical prowess. For several years when I moved back here and answered the “what do you do” question, I’d have to respond: No! Not that kind of writer! As we grew into an “IT city,” we attracted even more artists of every genre. They were always here, it’s just we have more of them. I’d like to fancy, too, that we appreciate a little bit more what artists bring to our lives.

Here’s what I’m gifting five lucky winners:

The Habit Trip, A Fill-in-the-Blank Journey to a Life on Purpose (3 copies)
Author: Sarah Hays Coomer
I knew Sarah was special within seconds of meeting her after she auditioned for Nashville’s second Listen To Your Mother performance. Not only does she have a sense of having her “business” together, she lives it, shares it with the clients of her personal training practice, and she embodies it in her ardent activism. Her second book, Physical Disobedience, An Unruly Guide to Health & Stamina for the Modern Feminist, was all about taking care of oneself for the long haul of making a difference in the world….You know you’ve launched into a good read when you highlight several passages of the first page, which is what I did when I began reading Sarah’s latest. So, *three* of you will each get a copy of Habit Trip, which divides life into areas (time, fitness, food, money, etc….) and helps the reader with actionable micro steps based on cognitive behavioral science. I’m one of a several of Sarah’s reader-fans that practiced mirco-steps for habit change this fall. It was remarkable and empowering. I can’t wait to read more when I slip under the covers tonight!

White Privilege Pop Quiz: Reflecting on Whiteness (1 copy)
Author Molly Secours
Molly is a bad ass racial justice activist, a speaker, writer and a filmmaker. (How cool is that?) White Privilege Pop Quiz was seven years in the making. What more perfect time than during a slapdown of a pandemic to do our shadow work?  Collectively and individually. Molly is straight-talking and funny. Pop Quiz is easy to read, entertaining, and not the least bit brow-beating or condescending. It’s chock full of “coming-to-Jesus” types of A-HA’s. (We need a lot more of those right now, eh?)

I am the Hero of My Own Life (1 copy)
Author Brianna Wiest
This is the sixth book by Brianna Wiest, who’s not yet 30. She’s the non-Nashvillian of these three authors. So, how did this young woman become so wise? I repeatedly asked myself asked myself that as I consume her delicious prose about deep subjects of personal psychology. My current morning read is her latest book, which gifted by a friend. For the two years since finishing it, I’ve recommended to friends and frequently quoted her 101 Essays that Will Change the Way You Think. I am the Hero of my Own Life, like Coomer’s Habit Trip, is fill-in-the-blank. From the website of Wiest’s publisher: “This journal will help you envision your ideal life and then identify the unconscious attachments that are preventing you from living it.”

While I don’t have copies to giveaway, I want to give a shout out to two more recent-ish Nashville authors. Meg Nordmann is a young renaissance woman who no longer calls Nashville home. Instead, she is supermom-ing-plus her way in St. Augustine, Fla., and popping up on impressive podcasts like “The Minimalists,” episode 263, with her first book: Have Yourself a Minimalist Christmas. While Nashville-based Mridu Nagrath-Parikh published her book, Accomplish It: Seven Simple Actions to Getting the Right Things Done and Achieve Your Goals last year, I’ve got to give her a shout out! I read about Parikh last year, (can’t find that link!,) but rediscovered her through a friend during my pandemic, worker shortage-challenged fall. It’s absolutely revolutionizing my days!

Lastly, I’m doing a different type of holiday giveaway over at Shimai Gallery of Contemporary Art. This unique gallery, which features quality, highly curated Middle Tennessee artisans, has carried my daughter, Grace Goad’s art during almost all of their 15 years. Times are tough. You know this. Artists especially need our support. We’re donating 100 percent of Grace’s notecard sales at Shimai—from now until Christmas—back to the gallery. Call them, they will ship. Or, mask up and drop by. They are on the grounds of the world-famous Loveless Cafe, which is still open for indoor feasts of ham biscuits or at picnic tables dispersed in the front parking lot.

Shimai Gallery of Contemporary Craft

Importantly!: Here’s how to get your name in the hat for a chance to win one of these five books:
The Habit Trip (3 copies,) White Privilege Pop Quiz and You are the Hero of Your Own Life.
To enter follow these three (plus, one optional) steps:
1) Subscribe to this blog, LeisaHammett.com
2) Share this or another post that resonates with you
3) Go to my Instagram page and like the post(s) of the book you want and leave a brief comment on why you want the book
Optional—
4) Tag two friends you think will be be interested in the book(s).

I will use Random.org to choose five winners, best attempting to match your book preference.
I will announce the winners in one week on Wednesday, Dec. 16 and do my best to get your book in the mail to you by that weeks’ end. I cannot guarantee before Christmas delivery! Be sure to check back to the Instagram post and your Insta DM  so I can grab your address and not delay!!
*If* you aren’t on Instagram, you may leave your preference as a comment here.

Ready. Set. GO!