Gaelynn Lea

@gaelynnlea

she/her 🎻 + 🎙️ + 📕+ ♿ + 🌞 + 💖 ★ Musician ★ Author of IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE PERFECT – Out 4/14 on Algonquin Books ★ Co-Founder of RAMPD.org ★ Disability Culture Enthusiast Learn more: linktr.ee/gaelynnlea

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Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· 5d

So grateful that the fabulous @emilyladau.bsky.social and I got to spend the afternoon chatting about my memoir, our disability identity, and how to choose what kinds of stories we share with the world. 📖✍️❤️🌈♿🎉 Watch the replay (and read the transcript!) here: gaelynnlea.substack.com/p/post-51-re...

A screenshot of a video call between Gaelynn Lea and Emily Ladau, bordered at the top and bottom by a bold decorative pattern in black, orange, and hot pink. In the top panel, Gaelynn Lea, a white woman with dark hair pulled back and a light blue floral hair accessory, looks upward with a slight smile; she wears a necklace and a sleeveless top, with a home interior — vertical blinds, string lights, wooden chairs, and shelving — visible behind her. In the bottom panel, Emily Ladau, a white woman with dark hair braided back and round wire-framed glasses, smiles and appears to be speaking; she wears a dark floral-patterned top against a softly lit neutral background.

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· 7d

Hello, Friends! 🌻 My online book talk with author + disability activist @emilyladau.bsky.social is THIS SUNDAY (August 9) at 2pm Central! We'll be discussing Disability Culture & my new book, IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE PERFECT! FREE EVENT, live on Zoom! Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/it-wasnt-m...

Event poster with a black background and decorative baroque-style floral scroll designs in pink, red, and orange along the top and bottom edges. At the top, "Online Book Talk" appears in pink neon-style script. Below that, "IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE PERFECT" is written in gold italic text, followed by "August 9th @ 2pm CT with Gaelynn Lea & Emily Ladau" in light green. Two headshots are displayed side by side: on the left, Gaelynn Lea, a disabled woman smiling warmly, seated in a power wheelchair and wearing a blue strapless top with a blue and yellow flower in her hair; on the right, Emily Ladau, a woman with curly dark brown hair and glasses, wearing a purple ribbed sweater and smiling at the camera. In the upper right corner is a small image of the memoir cover, showing an ornate colorful design alongside a black-and-white photo of Gaelynn Lea playing violin. At the bottom, yellow text reads: "Get the Link to Join: violinscratches.com/shows"

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· 12d

"The flower cannot be by herself alone. The flower has to inter-be with the sunshine, the cloud and everything in the cosmos. If we understand being in terms of inter-being, then we are much closer to the truth." -Thich Nhat Hanh

A bunch of purple echinesia flowers and black-eyed susans in a summer garden in Duluth. There is a monarch butterfly sitting on one of the purple flowers.

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· 22d

DULUTH YOU SHOULD GO to this AWESOME event at @zeitgeistduluth.bsky.social! If you haven't seen Crip Camp yet, or if you just wanna party for Disability Pride Month + 36th Anniversary of the ADA, this is the place to hang in Duluth this weekend!!! 🎉♿🌈❤️ Tix: tickets.zeitgeistarts.com/websales/pag...

Movie poster for Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution. A vintage photograph shows a young Black man pushing a white teenage wheelchair user along a camp road, both smiling, with cabin buildings and trees in the background. Bold black text at the top reads "CRIP CAMP: A DISABILITY REVOLUTION."

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· 25d

EEEEK and SQUEEEE!!! 🥳 I just discovered that my Substack is currently ranking #98 in Music! Thank you to everyone who subscribes and who has shared my newsletter… Top 100 feels pretty epic, indeed! 🥰 Share it with a friend if you care about Disability Culture + creativity: gaelynnlea.substack.com

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· 25d

Live on Zoom! Join Gaelynn Lea and @emilyladau.bsky.social for a spirited discussion of Gaelynn's new memoir, It Wasn't Meant to Be Perfect! Followed by an audience Q&A. Need ASL? Email press@gaelynnlea.com by July 24, 2026. To get the link, join the mailing list here: gaelynnlea.substack.com

ID: A graphic set against a black background with orange and pink swirls, framing the top and bottom. A small image of the book cover is shown on the upper right side, which shows a black-and-white photo of Gaelynn playing a violin above the title, IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE PERFECT.
In the center, the text reads:’ Online Book Talk - IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE PERFECT - August 9th at 2 pm CT with Gaelynn Lea & Emily Ladau
Below this text are two portraits. On the left is a photo of Gaelynn Lea wearing a blue strap dress. On the right is a photo of Emily Ladau wearing a purple sweater.
Below these portraits, the text reads: Get the Link to Join: gaelynnlea.substack.com

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· 25d

I am excited and honored to announce that I am one of the 2026-2027 @knightfoundation.org Fund Awardees! 😁 I will be doing an event at the Ordway Center this fall with fellow disabled artists Kevin Kling and Gabriel Rodreick... More details coming very soon: www.redlakenationnews.com/story/2026/0...

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jul 13

Thank you to Rochelle Smith for reviewing my new book on the River Boise! “It Wasn’t Meant To Be Perfect is an inspiring book. Gaelynn Lea addresses fears and challenges like a warrior, and encourages you to do the same.” —Rochelle’s Session Chatter on 94.9 The River Read here: riverboise.com

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jul 11

Join Creative Living Coaching for Seed to Sprout, which starts August 1st! 🌱 Plant your creative project's seed, water it with support, root it in a plan, and watch it sprout into real momentum — learn more here: creativelivingcoaching.mn.co/users/onboar...

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jul 11

Creativity, wellness + personal development spaces are often steeped in ableist language and negative stereotypes about disability. At Creative Living Coaching, I want disabled creatives to feel encouraged, supported, planned for and celebrated from Day One! 🎨♿🎵🌈💖 Info: violinscratches.com/coaching

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jul 11

Hello! 😁 I am VERY pumped to announce my new endeavor: Creative Living Coaching! This an online platform for disabled creatives and other artists who have felt sidelined by mainstream creative culture. Join our first cohort: Seed to Sprout starts August 1st! Info here: creativelivingcoaching.mn.co

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jul 8

I was a guest on That Show With That Midwestern Mom with the fabulous Amber Estenson! It was so much fun… They interviewed me about music, my new memoir, 😂 Learn more and watch the show here: www.startribune.com/that-show-wi... 📸 P.S. Photo by Elizabeth Flores of The Minnesota Star Tribune.

ID:
A picture of Amber Estenon with a surprised look on her face. Her hair is curled in retro hair rollers and covered with a blue-patterned headband. She’s wearing a light pink floral housecoat and a pearl necklace. She is talking on a black rotary telephone while sitting next to a nightstand.

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jul 4

Happy Summer, Friends! Not sure what to read while relaxing? @mprnews.org has got you covered with their Summer List! I was excited that my new memoir, IT WASN’T MEANT TO BE PERFECT, made it onto the list TWICE! Check out their full list of books & get a copy of my memoir here: linktr.ee/gaelynnlea

ID: A graphic with a black background. Across the top reads: MPR News –Summer reading list. Below are four books as an intro to their list. Each is shown with its cover. Books are as follows: top left, Our Perfect Storm; top right, Empire of Shadows; bottom left, The Jilted Countess; bottom right, This Story Might Save Your Life.

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jul 2

Two humans I really adore are featured in the latest episode of Access For All on Pasadena Media - check out the beautiful conversation between @andreajenningstv.bsky.social and Danelle Perez – I love seeing more disability representation in the media! Watch it here: youtu.be/c6vUH_1xj8s

Alt-Text for Pic: A TV series poster featuring a Black woman with shoulder length honey blonde and brown hair styled in curls flipped back, wearing a black bouclé jacket with pearl buttons. The title of the show reads “Access for All: Integrating Accessibility with Andrea Jennings.” The guest name reads “Danielle Perez, Afro-Latina comedian, actor, and writer.” An inset photo shows Danielle Perez, an Afro-Latina woman with long dark brown hair styled in feathered curls going back, wearing a black jacket and a purple and black scarf, smiling in front of a neutral background.

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 30

Michigan Friends! I’m doing an event for Disability Pride Month on July 18th with disAbility Connections in Jackson, Michigan! ❤️♿️❤️ There will be a book talk and live performance (via Zoom) by Yours Truly. Come celebrate with the disability community! Details here: violinscratches.com/shows

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 26

Summer is officially here in Duluth, MN! 🌞⛵🌊 Lots of book talks coming up towards the end of the summer! See the full schedule of events & get a copy of my book here: violinscratches.com

Sunset on lake superior, orange sky reflected against the calm water.

Several sailboats parked in the Bay side of Lake Superior and one on the water.

A Guinness Zero float - ice cream and non-alcoholic Guinness in a cute glass

Lilacs and buttercups in a small glass on the mantle of Gaelynn's fake fireplace

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 26

I absolutely loved being a guest on the delightful Keris Jän Myrick’s Unapologetically Black Unicorns Podcast. I shared my journey as a musician and, now, as an author of the memoir “It Wasn't Meant to Be Perfect.” Listen here: linktr.ee/UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns

ID: This image is a graphic with a purple background framed by a thick black border. Framed within is the silhouette of a person from behind, with a focus on a large black afro hairstyle. Inside the Afro are the bold letters "U.B.U." written. Each letter and period has a distinct color: red "U", yellow period, green "B", yellow period, green "U", and a green period. Below the head, the person is wearing a black shirt. Written on the back of the shirt is the phrase "UNAPOLOGETICALLY BLACK UNICORNS" stacked vertically. Each word has its own color: "UNAPOLOGETICALLY" is in red, "BLACK" is in green, and "UNICORNS" is in yellow.

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 21

Happy Father's Day to my amazing Dad, whose humor, wisdom, curiosity, hard work, love of learning, dedication, and steadfast care are foundational to our family. My siblings and I are so grateful to have him in our lives! He is also a wonderful grandfather to grandkids, and one lucky grand-bun. 😁💖🐇

a man with dark hair and a beard (Gaelynn's Dad) is feeding a treat to a fluffy grey rabbit, Gaelynn and Paul's bunny Merlyn

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 20

I always have a blast cheering on the racers at Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, but this year I couldn't resist jumping into the fray! 😁🎉 Congrats to my pals Leah, Robin & Anna on their successful Half-Marathon runs!! 💖

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 17

Thanks to Eric Plumb at Amazing Alonzo Bookstore for featuring my memoir on MPR News' Ask a Bookseller! Grateful for the mention of the audiobook. Thank you to all the amazing Minnesota bookstores supporting my book! 📚❤️ Read/listen: www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0... Order: violinscratches.com/book

ID: a graphic looking down on the pages and bindings of books standing upright. In front of this image are the words: "Ask a bookseller, MPR News."

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 12

I am so proud of my friend @andreajenningstv.bsky.social for her great work as host of Pasadena Media’s Access for All: Integrating Accessibility! Her most recent episode is with the trailblazing artist, activist, and entrepreneur, @dasoultoucha.bsky.social! Watch it here: youtu.be/GLO7ejNj1O8?...

ID: A promotional graphic for the show titled "ACCESS FOR ALL: Integrating Accessibility with ANDREA JENNINGS." On the left is a close-up portrait of Andrea Jennings. She is a black woman with long, dark, wavy hair, smiling at the camera. The top-right reads "with Guest Keith Jones". Below the line, his title is listed as "Activist & Entrepreneur". Beneath the text is a small circular photo of Keith Jones. He is a black man wearing glasses and a light-colored shirt, looking toward the camera. A thick black banner covers the entire bottom. It reads "ACCESS FOR ALL" in large, white, capital letters for the background of a soft, blurred Image of yellow flowers. Below the main title, smaller text reads "Integrating Accessibility" on the left and "with ANDREA JENNINGS" on the right.

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 10

Happy Wednesday, Friends! 🫶 This Zoom event is just starting - join us! I will be discussing my new memoir, "It Wasn't Meant To Be Perfect," disability culture, and life as a disabled artist and advocate. Register at bit.ly/RegisterDevva

Image description: light blue background with white sections with contrasting text. The text "Devva’s Room," a QR code, and a photo of Devva holding a wand and wearing wings.

"Grover Hogan and Rick Berry are going to discuss a medley of topics: Lois Curtis and the Olmstead Act; outsider art, including Lois’s; and the long road to a National Disability Museum.

"Gaelynn Lea just published her first book, which is about her touring adventures and disability advocacy. Her memoir, It Wasn’t Meant To Be Perfect, is a love-letter to everybody - a warm, funny and deeply-felt exploration of disability, music, and the messy creativity of an artist’s life. Gaelynn Lea joins us to discuss her new memoir, disability, culture, and life as a disabled artist and advocate.”

Info on future and past events, registration, playlist and donation opportunity is available: BIT.LY/DEVVASROOM

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 7

Thanks so much to @claireinduluth.bsky.social for writing this important article about accessibility and book tours! 🙏🏻 She came to a couple of my book launch events in April, and I'm so glad she left feeling that this was an important issue to cover! www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

ID: Gaelynn Lea (c.) with conversation partners Nikki Villavicencio (l.) and Matthew Sanford (r.) at an event at the Open Eye Theatre in Minneapolis.

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 7

Then & Now: Paul & I crashed the Macalester College reunion this week—it's hard to believe it's been 20 years already!! 😲 I'm grateful whenever I get to reconnect with my college pals... Even though we don't get to hang out very often, it still feels like no time has passed when we see each other. ❤️

Gaelynn is posing with the Celtic music ensemble she played in at Macalester. The picture was taken around 2003 or maybe 2004.

Gaelynn is smiling with her College roommates Katie and Lauren in 2026

Macalester friends sitting at a long picnic table at the 2026 reunion. Gaelynn is just out of the shot but there are lots of old pals there

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 5

in time of lilacs who proclaim the aim of waking is to dream, remember so (forgetting seem) in time of roses (who amaze our now and here with paradise) forgetting if, remember yes in time of all sweet things beyond whatever mind may comprehend, remember seek (forgetting find) -ee cummings

A picture of tiny lilac buds on a lilac bush in Duluth Minnesota

Poem by ee cummings that reads:

in time of daffodils (who know
the goal of living is to grow)
forgetting why, remember how

in time of lilacs who proclaim
the aim of waking is to dream,
remember so (forgetting seem)

in time of roses (who amaze
our now and here with paradise)
forgetting if, remember yes

in time of all sweet things beyond
whatever mind may comprehend,
remember seek (forgetting find)

and in a mystery to be
(when time from time shall set us free
forgetting me, remember me

-ee cummings

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 4

I am excited to announce that I will be the keynote speaker for @farmfolkfai.bsky.social 2026 Gathering + Presenter Summit in Minneapolis this October! It’s gonna be a program-packed, music-filled weekend of performances and workshops. Take a look at the conference here: www.farmfolk.org

Image description: a poster announcing an upcoming event. With a dark gray background, the top text reads, "FARM FOLK ALLIANCE MIDWEST REGION”. "Your Midwest Folk, Roots & Acoustic Music Community". "REGISTER NOW" for the "2026 GATHERING + Presenter Summit". Lists the dates as "OCTOBER 22-25, 2026" at "The Royal Sonesta, Minneapolis, MN".
In the center of this poster is Gaelynn Lea. A woman with long dark hair and flowers in her hair, sitting in a motorized wheelchair. She is smiling and holding a violin and bow near her chin in front of a waterfront walkway with a body of water, a stone breakwater, and a distant lighthouse.

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 4

War memorials + ee cummings poetry make me weepy. Let's honor those we have lost, but never glorify the battlefield. War is the greatest tragedy humans have ever inflicted on each other... Love and compassion win over aggression and division every time! ❣️

A patch of red poppies by the "story stones" in St. Paul, Minnesota.

A stanza from a poem by ee cummings that reads: "love is the voice under all silences, the hope which has no opposite in fear; the strength so strong mere force is feebleness: the truth more first than sun more last than star"

A poem by ee cummings that reads: "in time's a noble mercy of proportion with generosities beyond believing (though flesh and blood accuse him of coercion or mind and soul convict him of deceiving)

whose ways are neither reasoned nor unreasoned, his wisdom cancels conflict and agreement -saharas have their centuries; ten thousand of which are smaller than a rose's moment

there's time for laughing and there's time for crying for hoping for despair for peace for longing -a time for growing and a time for dying: a night for silence and a day for singing

but more than all(as all your more than eyes tell me) there is a time for timelessness"

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 2

one of my favorite ways to relax at night is reading a book and taking little breaks to watch a candle burn. 🕯️ this silver candle was in honor of the full moon. 🌕 what's YOUR favorite nighttime relaxation activity?

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 1

Been so enjoying the changing seasons in Duluth! 🪻🌷🌻 Paul & I planted our garden a couple weeks ago — hoping our baby planties start taking off when it warms up more! Are YOU a gardener? If so, what's your favorite thing to grow? I love growing herbs! 🌿🌱🥗 Enjoy the Full Moon tonight, Friends! ✨🌕✨

Gaelynn sits on her patio by her plants wearing a floppy sun hat

A pot of red, orange, yellow and pink flowers with a hummingbird feeder sticking out and a tiny hummingbird statue with a fairy riding on its back

A garden gnome statue with small purple flowers next to it, in a raised garden bed

Chives growing in a raised garden bed, next to a cute little hedgehog statue

Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea· Jun 1

Last weekend my first-ever bandmate, Andy Gabel, came to visit! We got to play at the Dovetail Open Mic, just like old times! 🥰 I wrote a whole chapter about Andy in my memoir; he is still a dear friend! 🎶🪕🎻🎶 You can order my new book, IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE PERFECT, here: violinscratches.com/book