'We Hope You Like This Song' Author Bree Housley Book Signing During VEISHEA

Iowa State University alumna and Walcott Native Bree Housley who spent a year living like the best friend she lost to preeclampsia and wrote about it will hold a book signing Friday at Iowa State University bookstore to celebrate “We Hope You Like This Song: An Overly Honest Story about Friendship, Death, and Mix Tapes.”

The book signing begins at 11 a.m.

Housley's book started as a blog project to honor her college roommate and childhood friend by completing Shelly inspired resolutions.

Ames Patch: Tell me a little bit about yourself and your background. How did you become an author? Why are you coming back to Ames this year?

Bree Housley: I’ll start with the most impressive fact first: I grew up in Walcott, Iowa, the town that prides itself on being home to “The World’s Largest Truckstop.” Even though no one is entirely sure that’s true.

I went to Iowa State and majored in Advertising. I lived in the now defunct Storms Tower for two years with my best friend, Shelly. I graduated in 2001 and then went to Miami Ad School for the Copywriting program. After that, I moved around a bit and then landed an awesome job at a Chicago ad agency and have been living here ever since.

My road to becoming an author was quite “homemade.” When I decided I was ready to write my memoir, I literally went out and bought Getting Your Book Published for Dummies. I had no connections and no idea what I was doing. After some lovely rejections, I landed a literary agent and from there, the process was less daunting. The fact that I can go into a bookstore and find a book that I wrote is proof that if you really want something, you’ll figure out how to get it done.

Ames meant so much to my friendship with Shelly. As roommates for three years, we transformed from clueless freshmen to accomplished (though not mature) adults in that town. I adore Iowa State and am very proud to call it my alma mater. (Does that make me sound smart?)

Ames Patch: What brought you to write a book about your friend's death? Did you mean to become an author?

Bree Housley: After Shelly died so suddenly, I knew I wanted to tell our story, but it was just too sad. I didn’t see any sort of happy ending and it’s not in my nature to try to depress other people. And it’s certainly not true to Shelly’s spirit. She was rarely seen without a crazy-ass smile on her face.

But then after a random bar conversation with my friends on New Year's Day, I decided to do a blog project to honor Shelly. I chose a new resolution each week and tried to complete it in seven days. Most of the resolutions were inspired by Shelly’s spastic way of life. By the end of the year, I had learned so much more about myself and in a way, what it must’ve felt like to be Shelly. Instead of writing a book about her death, I wrote a book about the life behind our friendship.

Becoming an author was always a pipe dream of mine. It’s unfortunate that something so tragic had to happen for me to get my voice out there, but I’m truly honored to be able to introduce Shelly to the world and help raise awareness for preeclampsia.

Ames Patch: Tell me more about Shelly and who she was?

Bree Housley: Shelly was larger than life. I know a lot of people say that about loved ones who have passed away too soon, but instead of being cynical, I choose to believe that it’s these types of people who were only meant to be on this earth for a short time. They burn so much brighter than everyone else so they burn out a little quicker. She lived more in 25 years than some of people live in a lifetime.

Shelly was friendly, goofy, loud, loyal, crazy, sweet, and up for any thing at any time. Everyone felt lucky to know her. I felt lucky to be called her best friend.

Ames Patch: The story is about living like Shelly would have? How are you different from Shelly?

Bree Housley: I’m a proud introvert. I covet alone time and get nervous very easily in social situations. I also have to admit, I’m the more selfish one of the two of us. Shelly would drop everything to help out a friend. Sometimes I won’t even drop the remote. (Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but you get my point.)

Shelly was also much more open with her love than I am. She constantly told everyone how important they were to her. Basically, if I share my nachos with you, that means I love you.

Ames Patch: What was your favorite 'Live Like Shelly'” Experience?

Bree Housley: It’s hard to pick one favorite out of 52 because each one of them taught me something different. One week we decided to do things we hadn’t done since we were children. Trekking out to the suburbs of Chicago to go roller-skating with a bunch of twenty-nine-year-olds was something I’ll never forget. Lots of laughs, lots of bruises. That was definitely a highlight.

Ames Patch: Did anyone join you in your quest to live like Shelly?

Bree Housley: Yes. My older sister, Courtnee, was gracious enough to join me on my dysfunctional journey. I’m not sure if I would’ve been able to stick with it if I did it alone. Some of the riskier resolutions (I’m looking at you, karaoke) required therapeutic/motivational phone calls between the two of us.

Ames Patch: What did you learn from this and what do you hope readers take away from your story?

Bree Housley: The biggest lesson I learned is that for the most part, people are pretty rad. As I mentioned, I’m not very outgoing. The weeks we forced ourselves to interact with others made me feel so much more alive. There’s a lot of power in opening up to other human beings. It’s quite special when you realize that.

I hope the first thing readers do when they finish the book is call a friend. We need to stop taking each other for granted because people really can disappear from your life in an instant. Canceling plans or screening a call because you’re too busy eating cheese is unacceptable. (Um, not that I do that or anything.)

Ames Patch: How did you pick the title of the book?

Bree Housley: Shelly and I first bonded at a chorus concert in fourth grade. After what was probably a hellish performance of Gershwin’s Greatest Hits, my dad and her dad recognized each other as former co-workers. This left the girl with the heart of gold (her) and the girl with the heart of tin foil (me) standing there, awkwardly. Before I knew it, she grabbed my hand and we skipped to the drinking fountain singing a song we’d made up: “We’re going to get a drink, a drink, a drink. We’re going to get a drink and we hope you like this song.”

When I got the call that she only had 48 hours to live, my brain didn’t know how to function. I ran around my tiny apartment and packed a suitcase. I found myself singing, “You’re going to be okay, okay, okay. You’re going to be okay and we hope you like this song.”

It just seemed right.