The Good Soil Tour

I'm hitting the road in March and April to bring the book to you. Here's where you'll be able to find me, along with some special friends

Sunday, February 2
Cary, N.C.

Good morning from a glamorous airport hotel room in North Carolina where, all through the night, I never did manage to get the temperature quite right. I’m here to preach at my beloved Crosspointe today, but since I’m still jet-lagged—this aging body does not handle time zones like it used to—and woke way too early, I thought I’d send you a quick note.

In less than two months, Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand comes out. Which means that, in less than two months, I’ll be heading out on tour.

Here’s the plan for March and April. All times are local, and most events are free. Click on the links to register or to get more details:

Berkeley, Calif.: Sunday, March 23, 11:30 a.m.
The luminous, wise Barbara Brown Taylor will be preaching at worship at the First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley at 10 a.m. Then, afterward, we’ll sit down for a little chat. A livestream will be available for this one. A Great Good Place for Books will be on hand with books. Tickets

Atlanta, Ga.: Tuesday, March 25, 6:30 p.m.
For launch day itself, I knew I wouldn’t get to be at home. Still, I wanted to be someplace that felt a bit like home. A couple years ago, I got to lead the parish retreat for St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where my friend Winnie Varghese serves as rector. I always want to be with Winnie—and for this event, I also get to be in conversation with my brilliant friend Amena Brown, poet and storyteller. With Charis Books and More. Tickets

New York, N.Y.: Thursday, March 27, 7 p.m.
With Austin Channing Brown, the powerhouse NYT best-selling author of I’m Still Here, at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, with Posman Books. Info

Grand Rapids, Mich.: Saturday, March 29, 2:30 p.m.
With the eminent philosopher James K.A. Smith and the phenomenal singer-songwriter Spencer LaJoye, at Westminster Presbyterian Church and Schuler Books. Tickets

Nashville, Tenn.: Monday, March 31, 6:30 p.m.
I’m so lucky that author Margaret Renkl, who writes such beautiful essays in the New York Times, has agreed to join me for this event at the legendary Parnassus Books. Tickets

Memphis, Tenn.: Wednesday, April 2, 6:15 p.m., and Thursday, April 3, noon
For over a century, Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis has done a Lenten lunchtime preaching series. This year, I honored to be a part of it. On Wednesday evening, Barbara Brown Taylor and I will sit down for a chat. And on Thursday, I’ll be preaching. Info

Little Rock, Ark.: Thursday, April 3, 7 p.m.
One commitment I made when I started building this tour is that I’d visit some cities and towns that don’t often get first priority when out-of-town authors are making plans. Last fall, Kandi Knod West, the co-owner of a Little Rock bookstore, sent me a message and asked if there was any chance I might consider her city. Well, ask and you shall receive. I’ll drive straight from Memphis to Little Rock to speak at Second Baptist Church, and WordsWorth Books, the shop Kandi co-owns, will be there to support. Info

Houston, Tex.: Saturday, April 5, 3 p.m.
My dear, dear friend Sarah Bessey graciously agreed to fly down to Texas to join me for a couple of stops. And the folks at Blue Willow Books actually showed up in person when I was preaching in Houston last September to ask about doing something together. Done! We’ll be gathering at St. Thomas Presbyterian Church. Tickets

Austin, Tex.: Sunday, April 6, 2 p.m.
From Houston, Sarah and I will head up to Austin. I’ll preach at First Baptist Church downtown at 11 a.m., and then we’ll do a book thingy in the afternoon. With Book People. Tickets

Waco, Tex.: Tuesday, April 8, 7 p.m.
With the inimitable, funny, and big-hearted Jen Hatmaker. When I visited Waco for Travel+Leisure last year, I met the owners of the loveliest bookstore, Fabled, who have such a heart for seeing their city flourish. There’s even a mural on the side of their building that says Love Your City & Neighbor. Those are my people. Tickets

Cary, N.C.: Sunday, April 13, 3 p.m.
It felt right to do something particularly special at Crosspointe. I’ll be preaching on Palm Sunday, and then, in the afternoon, NYT best-selling author and wise soul Emily P. Freeman, who has been described as “a gentle badass,” will join me in conversation. And John Lucas, the singer-songwriter who wrote “Time,” which was on my writing playlist for this book, will bring us some music. With Quail Ridge Books. Tickets

Princeton, N.J.: April 25, 7 p.m.
Back where this all began—at the Farminary! And I’ll be joined there by the one and only Krista Tippett, host of On Being and author of Becoming Wise. With Labyrinth Books. Tickets

I write at length in Good Soil about this stream and this pond. Can’t wait to be back at the Farminary

We’re still working on May and June—more soon. But if you’re in or around any of the above towns and cities, I’d love to be able to greet you in person.

A reminder: Pre-orders are tremendously helpful to authors, because they tell both bookshops and publishers that there is a real appetite for a book. I’d be delighted for you to pre-order wherever you like to buy books. But if you want to pre-order a signed, personalized copy of Good Soil, they’re available from Schuler Books.

Questions? Comments? You can always reach me at makebelievefarmer@gmail.com or please leave a comment below.

Thanks, as ever, for cheering me on. As I typed all this out, I felt such gratitude that, lonely as the writing process can feel sometimes, I’m actually not alone. I’ve got all these folks who will be joining me, all these bookstores that are lending their support, and all of you who faithfully read these letters too.

Yours,
Jeff