Jacqueline Suskin of Poem Store is releasing her second book, Go Ahead & Like It – a creative non-fiction celebrating the making of lists as a tradition of celebration, a way to name and note the simplicities of life by calling them sacred.

The book is described as "an innovative and inviting work of creative-nonfiction that asks the reader to consider the things that he or she likes in the world. . . . It is yet another way for Suskin to interact with her audience in a personal manner. The book is a how-to guide, an everyday exercise, and a pep talk. It encourages people to understand and engage with their world in a different way. We’re living in a surge of likeability. With the click of a thumbs-up icon we like one another’s lives. But what’s really happening on the other end of the click? Do we know why we like the things that we like? Go Ahead & Like It offers a straightforward outlet for answering these questions in a tactile and offline way. Making lists is a tradition of celebration, a way to name and note the simplicities of life by calling them sacred."

Jacqueline invited us in for a sneak peak of the book:

Dilettante Paper, a new publishing project from the creative collective Dilettante, will release the book. As the founder of Dilettante Paper, Suskin is excited to present the first edition of her book as the premier of the literary publication series to follow. All this beauty is supported by colorful images by LA photographer Shelby Duncan, Suskin’s handwritten artistry and illustrations by Erielle Laniewski.

I asked Jacqueline what prompted her to begin the book:

A friend gave me a list of things that he liked as a note when we were first getting to know each other. It was incredible introduction and I started making lists of my own. Years later I realized the process was incredibly beneficial and that I'd write a list to change my mood, to celebrate my life, as a writing prompt or a memory exercise. After all that goodness I knew I needed to give it to everyone. It's such an accessible method of self-help, a daily act of gratitude, a truly helpful little tool. And with all of this detached digital liking that's going on it felt really appropriate for me to provide an analog version that is more personal.

photographs I snapped of Jacqueline at the book launch at Otherwild for Carly Jo Morgan, Erin Rivera Merriman and Maria Calderon.

Also, I love her video series (above). It's a wonderful way to get to know the many facets that create Poem Store, including stories about her two essentials when traveling: her bike and her typewriter. 

The book launch will be this Thursday at Dilettante in DTLA on September 18th with appreciation stations, lists of likes by local artists, an inspiring talk by Jacqueline and super rad contributing photographer, Shelby Duncan will be exhibiting photographs .x

A West Coast book tour is in the works for October 2014, with Jacqueline visiting various venues such as bookstores, galleries, libraries and classrooms. Lesson plans for school settings use both Poem Store and Go Ahead & Like It to teach students about the written word, as well as positivity and daily appreciation.

A young Suskin