Four years ago I started working on a book. That book is out today and I want to pause to explain how wild it is to me that this is happening at all. 1/ 
I didn’t think I was going to be someone who would write a book. I adore editing, never want to stop. And I thought only a certain type of person wrote a history book—certainly not me. 2/
But then I started showing up at libraries and digging into a corner of American history that felt deeply connected to my family. First, at the magnificent Library of Congress. Then the Columbia Rare Books Collection. Then the JFK Library. Then Truman, then LBJ. 3/
Each time, librarians opened their doors and collections to me and made me feel welcome. This was how I spent weekends, vacations, diving into one box after another. That was the research. 4/
Then I had to do the writing. More vacations and weekends. Moved cities, changed jobs. Then the home stretch when I was pregnant. Four days before I went into labor, I turned in the second version of the manuscript. I went through copy edits while nursing a newborn. 5/
And now it’s finally here. To anyone who’s wondered whether they should or could write a book of their own, I’m here with a resounding yes. It’s hard. But you can do it. And your voice matters. 6/
None of this would've been possibly without my incredible husband @zachdcarter, who also has a book out today. It's astonishingly good and everyone should read it. 8/8 penguinrandomhouse.com/books/563378/t…
