Hello! Welcome to the first issue of the pre-launch/author newsletter for Reality TV for Snobs: Everything You Need to Know About the Shows You're Too Intellectual to Watch by Ali Barthwell. It’s Reality TV for Snobs by Ali Barthwell: The Newsletter by Ali Barthwell.
Since this is my first book and my first newsletter, I figured the easiest way to tackle this whole promotional thing is to take it slow and do it simply. So let’s get the basics out of the way.
Who am I?
Everyone should own a Universal Standard Geneva dress. A classic. image: Nick DiMaso
In the words of an iconic Love Island USA contestant: “First of all, you a little girl. You can pipe down. I'm Titi Ali!”
I’m a TV writer, improv/sketch teacher, and author of the book Reality TV for Snobs. I’m from River Forest; IL, I went to Wellesley College and I’m a middle child, only daughter, Capricorn. I’ve been like this forever.
What’s my book about?
The cover of Reality TV for Snobs by meeeeee!!! image: Quirk Books
Reality TV for Snobs: Everything You Need to Know About the Shows You're Too Intellectual to Watch is part guidebook, part cultural criticism, all reality tv fun. The book is 20 essays about some of the most influential and discourse driving reality TV shows in history: from The Real World to The Traitors. Each essay walks you through the key players, format, and the whole deal of each show. It’s made for the reality TV curious who want to learn more and learn not just what to watch but how to start watching and why fans love it so much. And if you know absolutely nothing about reality TV, there’s something there for you too. My parents read it and liked it. (Yes, they are legally required to enjoy my work but they are not legally required to have an interest in Love is Blind.)
Hey Ali - what are you thinking about?
Today, I’m thinking about everything that goes into putting a book out into the world that isn’t writing the book and how long it all takes! I was first contacted by an editor at Quirk Books through the email account that’s in my twitter bio. It’s mostly for signing up for discounts at coffee shops and occasionally a very lucrative business deal. Oh! And for people to send me emails about things “you should write about on your show” (don’t do that).
I got that first email in August of 2023. That was a loooong time ago. I was just beginning to feel like I had recovered enough from my stem cell transplant to think about working again. It was also in the middle of the WGA writers strike. It’s been a full contract cycle for the entire WGA for this book to come to being. The final drafts of the book were finished in the spring of this year.
And the book is about to be in all of your hands in just a couple weeks! The passage of time!!!!
What are you going to be doing?
I’m deep in the trenches for the release of the book AND the Emmys. August and September are always a busy time and the addition of my book being released on August 25th is really adding to the hustle and bustle of the end of summer.
So for the next two months - I’m going to be working with marketing and publicity to schedule book events. I’m going to be getting a gown made for the Creative Arts Ceremony. I’m going to be trying to soak up the last little bit of summer.
What are you watching?
House of Stassi, streaming now on Hulu or Freeform or whatever media conglomerate the overlords allow. image: Hulu
I’m attempting to get into House of Stassi. It’s getting a bit of buzz and I figured I’d tune into Hulu to check it out. For the uninitiated, Stassi Schroeder is a former Vanderpump Rules cast member. She was “cancelled” for filing a false police report against a minor Vanderpump Rules cast member who is a Black woman…during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests. Also, her entire brand was “being a basic bitch.” I hope it’s clear why Stassi was never my favorite reality TV star.
But lots of people loooove her and House of Stassi is her attempt at a rebrand and a relaunch. She’s also incredibly self-aware and self-referential and the show is constantly breaking the fourth wall of reality TV. At one point when watching the first episode, my boyfriend, dear Philip, turned to me and went “Is this show about reality TV?” I’m withholding judgement about if this is worth the watch for the Stassi-ambivalent but I am enjoying seeing some of the OG VPR crew on my TV again.
What are you reading?
Does anything say “millennial icon” like mary janes and opaque tights? image: wikipedia
It’s been quite the year for messy as hell memoirs. image: Amazon
I’ve spent much of my summer fighting on Libby for the hottest memoirs. I’m reading Famesick by Lena Dunham and still waiting on Strangers by Belle Burden. Can you tell I’m a memoir girlie?
What are you buying?
Anything and everything at Costco. Philip and I got a membership this summer and we’re currently working through a bushel of chocolate coated s’mores bites and an industrial tub of kettle chips. Also Costco has some great deals on k-beauty, a necessity for Emmy skin prep.
What’s next for you? And for me, the reader?
It’s all about the book launch on August 25th! Get your pre-orders in! Attend a book event! Wish me luck!