PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — What started as a lighthearted gift for her wine buddy and sister-in-law has become a community-wide conversation about perimenopause, thanks to local business owner and newly minted author Erin Kimbro. Her book, “Perimenopause and Prosecco,” has resonated with readers, earning a 2025 Indie Discovery Spotlight by IngramSpark and a spot in the top 100 Amazon doctor and medicine humor and midlife self-help books. It is set for its first book signing at Brick Wood Fired Bistro on April 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
When her sister-in-law turned 40, she wrote her a guidebook, popping jokes like champagne and celebrating their new stage and age. Her sister-in-law laughed immediately upon opening it.
“I really wasn’t expecting actually to sell this,” Kimbro, 44, said. “Once I saw her reaction, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to have this printed out to be like a real book and see how it turns out.’”
Kimbro’s book is an interactive guide, blending humor, personal anecdotes, symptom trackers, and wellness tips to help women navigate the often-overlooked stage of perimenopause. It’s part survival guide, part journal, and all about reminding women that they’re not alone in their experience.
“Cheers to Change”
Kimbro first noticed her own perimenopausal symptoms about a year ago. For the first time in her life, she felt twinges of anxiety. “What if I left the curling iron on and the neighborhood burns?” Hot flashes. Insomnia. Like many women, she initially attributed them to stress. But as she researched, she found that perimenopause was a puberty-like period few openly discussed.
“I’m in my 40s, you would think, ‘Okay, you have an established job, family,’ but then you realize that, you know, life is hard,” she said. “When you’re in perimenopause, those hormones affect you, anxiety, depression, your moods, and that’s really, really tough.”
Determined to make the experience less isolating for others, Kimbro wrote a book that offers both practical guidance and comic relief. Her “survival tips” include advice like, “Surround yourself with people who know when to hug you… and when to run,” and “Day drinking is the key to perimenopause. You can be tipsy by 3 p.m. and fully recovered and in bed by 9 p.m. No regrets and no hangover.” The book also features health-boosting recipes, such as pairing prosecco with blueberries.
From Accidental Publication to Bestseller
After printing a personal copy at Office Depot, Kimbro used a self-publishing service, not realizing that clicking “publish” would make her book immediately available for sale. Two weeks later, she learned it had been selling well on Amazon.
Local women shared the book with friends. Kimbro tells every customer at her shop, 231 Farm & Outdoor Sports, about it. One reviewer, Melissa Hall, wrote, “I bought this to support a friend, but after reading it, I was able to unexpectedly diagnose myself. I had no idea that all of the things I had been experiencing were actually symptoms of perimenopause.”
Kimbro expects a strong turnout to her signing event on April 27 at Brick Wood Fired Bistro. She welcomes anyone interested to stop by, join the conversation, and toast to this shared journey.
“When we put it out there,… I immediately, literally got hundreds of messages on Facebook, text messages,” she said. “It just made me feel so loved, and I just can’t wait to have fun with all the women.”
She encourages all attendees’ plus-ones to be designated drivers because they will drink mimosas.
Despite her success, Kimbro remains grounded in her mission: to offer support, laughter, and reassurance. “The biggest thing is it’s okay to ask for help,” she said. “You’re not alone, and it’s okay. Everyone has these struggles.”
You can find “Perimenopause & Prosecco” on Amazon here.
Author Erin Kimbro is set to host a book signing for Perimenopause and Prosecco at Brick Wood Fired Bistro in Prince Frederick, Md., on April 27. The event is expected to draw a lively crowd eager to discuss perimenopause and celebrate the book’s success. (Photo courtesy of Erin Kimbro)
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