Hi. Help. I'm FREAKING OUT about tomorrow

It's my book's birth date! I'm losing my mind!

Writing Prompt:

Okay, I don’t know why YouTube served me this video of a young bedroom singer’s acoustic cover of that new Ariana Grande song “We Can’t Be Friends,” but it is fucking BEAUTIFUL, and I cannot stop listening to it. Identify a song that you can’t get out of your head, and use the first two lines of it as the catalyst for a journal entry, poem, or beginning of a short story.

The Age of Magical Overthinking is an Amazon pick of the month, an Audible Editors’ Selection, and an Apple audiobook must-listen :)

Welp, I guess this means these tech companies aren’t that mad at me for calling them a cult for all these years :) Yippee! If any part of you desires to read to this book with your ears, I graciously bed that you preorder the audio :)

Here’s what one of Audible’s editors, Kat, had to say about it: “Drawing you in with personal stories, expert insights, and several cocktail parties’ worth of fun facts, Montell gradually reveals how the cognitive biases behind popular delusions spare no one, including her, me, and, yes, you. An infectious and engaging reader of her own work, Montell infuses The Age of Magical Overthinking with humor and passion, ensuring both die-hard skeptics and woo-woo acolytes will find something to love and learn within.”

Book tour starts tomorrow 😮

It’s finally here!!!!!! I’ve worked so hard to make this tour extra special (which is why I’m so fknggggggg nervous about it and want desperately for it to go as well as can be). Do you have your tickets yet??

April 9: Los Angeles, CA — Barnes & Noble at The Grove, in conversation with Pauline Chalamet (tickets here) *few tickets left*

April 11: NYC, NY — The Strand (tickets here) *sold out*

April 12: Brooklyn, NY — Littlefield with Books Are Magic, “The Big Magical Cult Show” feat. Ceara & Griff from Petty Crimes (tickets here) DISCOUNT CODE: CULT MAGIC

April 13: Boston, MA — wbur cityspace, “The Big Magical Cult Show” feat. Sasha Sagan (tickets here) $5+ *sold out*

April 15: Washington DC — Solid State Books (tickets here) *few tickets left*

April 16: Philadelphia, PA — Underground Arts with Uncle Bobbie’s, “The Big Magical Cult Show” feat. Kelsey McKinney from Normal Gossip (tickets here) $15+ NEW PROMO PRICE

April 17: Portland, OR — Powell’s Books, in conversation with Chelsea Bieker (free, no ticket needed)

May 1: Atlanta, GA — Wild Heaven – West End with A Cappella Books (tickets here)

An exclusive excerpt from Chapter 2 airs on Sounds Like A Cult tomorrow :)

It’s from a chapter titled “I Swear I Manifested This: A Note on Proportionality Bias” and explores how radical conspiracy theories and New Age ideas of manifestation are actually both motivated by the same psychological quirk… all the while telling the story of a scammy online manifestation guru. Turns out, we all have a pinch of conspiracy theorist in us! Find out how when the episode drops on all major podcast platforms tomorrow at 2am PST.

The Boston Globe wrote up this nifty profile of the book!

It’s both exciting and terrifying to see these fancy pieces of press start to come in. Deep breaths.

This might be my favorite podcast interview I’ve ever done:

Reese Witherspoon’s production company Hello Sunshine recently launched a new daily podcast called The Bright Side. Hosted by my pal Danielle Robay and Simone Boyce, the show is all about good news and is SUCH a delightful listen. Last week, I got to come on the show and break down some concepts in my book, then host a hilarious internet slang quiz. I LOVE how the interview turned out. Do consider subscribing to The Bright Side!

Some magazines named TAOMO a most anticipated title of the season.

I’m always paranoid that ~mainstream media~ won’t take my books seriously, like the popular girls not showing up to your birthday party. But so far I’ve gotten some nice write-ups in Nylon, Sunset, Alta, The Skimm, Brit+Co, and Culture Mag! Hooray! I absolutely love what Margo Ghertner said in The Skimm:

I’ll be skipping my Wednesday & Friday posts here on the newsletter for the next couple weeks while I’m on book tour…

Will be back with all kinds of fun BTS once I’m back, so stay tuned. And thank you all for being here. xo

FILM: The Holdovers

I’ve never met a nostalgic campus movie I didn’t like. After Da'Vine Joy Randolph won the best supporting actress Oscar for this, I decided to give it a watch and enjoyed it very much! It’s too long, but such are most movies these days. Make yourself a cozy beverage, and give this one a go on a rainy night.

BOOK: Splinters

I so admire Leslie Jamison’s ability to weave cultural observations and reporting with personal narrative, all with such a vibrant and elegant prose style. This memoir of divorce and rebuilding is her most strictly personal, intimate book yet. I know y’all will love it. 

PODCAST: Overthink

This pod’s hosts are two brilliant young philosophers, who apply their scholarship to everyday life in a way that is nuanced, thought-provoking, and unique in the podcast landscape. Dr. Ellie is a Simone de Beauvoir scholar, who will be appearing on an episode of my forthcoming Magical Overthinkers pod titled “Overthinking About Monogamy,” so be sure to keep your ears peeled for that!

MERCH: Magical Overthinking tees, posters, and stickers!

I’m debuting my first *real* merch line next week at The Big Magical Cult Show in Brooklyn, Boston, and Philly!!! Give me a shout in the comments if you’ll be there :) I’ll be signing books and posters! Can’t wait.