Author Q&A: Jenny True, Author of You Look Tired
How a viral blog post led to a book and something to make you scream laugh.
This month I talked (and by talked I mean conversed via email) with Jenny True, author of the hilarious book for new parents called You Look Tired. Jenny's book mixes personal stories, humor, and advice in a guide any new parent will appreciate.
What is your book's origin story?
When I was 39, I started blogging about my OKCupid dates, wherein I'd try to enmesh various men into getting me pregnant. After a couple of months, I met my partner, and six months later, I got pregnant. In July of 2017, I had our son.
When my son was three months old, I wrote a post that went viral. Romper reached out, and I pitched them an advice column. A year and a half later, I began working on a book proposal — through Romper, I had a larger platform and wanted to capitalize on that before they came to their senses and fired me! I wanted to write an advice book for pregnant people and new parents who don't want any more advice -- who just want to laugh and be seen for the struggle, to feel represented by a diversity of voices: single-parent, adoptive-parent, queer, disabled, BIPOC. I had connected with an agent a few years earlier, and by the time I sent her my proposal she'd had a baby. Boom. My proposal made her laugh, so she took me on. That was in November or December of 2019. In April of 2020, I signed with Running Press/Hachette.
What role does humor play in your life and/or writing?
It plays a huge part. My parents love to laugh, and they both sort of fall apart when they're laughing really hard. I found a partner who laughs easily, so people feel special in his presence. It's really the only thing that keeps us together, I think.
What is something you can recommend to readers that makes you laugh?
Samantha Irby. Her books made me laugh so hard I would wake up my kid. Also The 40-Year-Old Version on Netflix. You have be a forty-something creative person to get it, but you will scream laughing if so.
Thanks, Jenny! Go out (or just stay home) and get her book.