Back in 2017 I contacted Jennifer Finch about collaborating on her memoir. We had been friends for years and I knew her story was an incredible one. I wasn't as good at writing proposals back then, and the idea withered on the vine while we both busied ourselves with other projects. When I re-approached her about it in 2023 she laughed and said, "You must be desperate."
We put together a much better proposal, linked up with Peter McGuigan at Ultra Literary to represent us, and by early 2026 we were proudly handing in the final draft of Jennifer's memoir to our wonderful editor Ben Schafer at Da Capo.
Around that same time, Jennifer was diagnosed with an ugly and aggressive form of brain cancer. She passed away just a few months later.
The outpouring of love, respect, and support for Jennifer in the wake of her death has been overwhelming. And today, Rolling Stone published a beautiful tribute to her, which also serves as the official announcement of the memoir we worked so hard on: SHOOTING UP AND MAKING OUT: A Memoir of My Life in LA and L7.
It's a bittersweet moment, seeing all the initial press and excitement for Jennifer's book, while sadly reflecting on the fact that she won't get to see it in print.
The overriding emotion, though, is a sense of pride and gratitude for getting to take part in sharing Jennifer's official story with the world. I hope people will read her book and keep her awe-inspiring legacy alive forever.
