Peri R. Finkelstein publishes debut memoir The Velvet Bow

Peri R. Finkelstein, founder and CEO of the Team Peri Foundation, has released her debut memoir The Velvet Bow, now available through major retailers and Amazon. The book pairs a disability-centered coming-of-age story with advance praise from David Simon, Alex Borstein and Mayim Bialik, and it extends the advocacy work behind Finkelstein’s foundation, podcast and public speaking.

Why it matters: - The Velvet Bow adds a high-profile disability memoir to a public conversation that often reduces disabled people to inspiration narratives. - The book extends Peri R. Finkelstein’s platform as a nonprofit founder, speaker and media personality. - The release also ties together Finkelstein’s writing, advocacy and public-facing work around ableism and representation.

What happened: - Peri R. Finkelstein published her debut memoir, The Velvet Bow, through Lucky Book Publishing. - The book is available now on Amazon and other major retailers. - Finkelstein is the founder and CEO of the Team Peri Foundation. - The memoir is described as a funny, unsparing account of building a career, a company and a public voice while living with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. - The book opens by rejecting the inspirational framing Finkelstein says she has been handed throughout her life.

The details: - Finkelstein holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Adelphi University. - Finkelstein has raised more than $1 million for charity. - Forbes featured Finkelstein in 2022. - Finkelstein’s TEDx talk, “Always Wanting More & Stepping Out of Line,” was narrated by Mayim Bialik. - Finkelstein uses AI voice technology from ElevenLabs for prepared remarks. - Finkelstein has completed twelve half marathons. - Finkelstein produces and co-hosts the Team Peri Step Out of Line podcast with her mother, Lori Finkelstein. - The podcast has run for more than 125 episodes. - David Simon gave advance praise for the memoir. - Simon’s credits include Homicide, The Corner, The Wire and Treme. - Simon described the memoir as “as much a manifesto as a memoir” and said it argues for disabled people to be seen as they are. - Alex Borstein and Mayim Bialik also provided advance praise that appears on the book’s cover. - The recurring phrase in the book comes from Borstein’s 2019 Emmy acceptance speech, where she urged women to “step out of line.” - Finkelstein named her podcast after the phrase. - Finkelstein later used the phrase for foundation programming. - Fox 5 New York used the phrase in a segment about Finkelstein that won a 2025 New York Emmy Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in News. - Finkelstein writes in the book: “I may not have control over what my body does, but I do have control over how I show up.” - An audiobook edition is planned. - Danielle Monaro will narrate the audiobook. - Monaro co-hosts Elvis Duran and the Morning Show. - The Team Peri Foundation is a 501(c)(3) founded in 2022. - The foundation’s mission is to amplify marginalized voices, challenge societal norms and combat ableism. - Its programming includes the Step Out of Line podcast, speaking engagements and partnerships with Runway of Dreams and child life programs across Long Island and New York City. - More information is available at the Team Peri Foundation website. - The book is also listed at Amazon.

Between the lines: - The memoir’s marketing leans into confrontation, not pity, which matches the book’s stated rejection of conventional disability “inspiration” narratives. - The praise from Simon, Borstein and Bialik signals an effort to position the book as both literary and cultural commentary. - The repeated “step out of line” theme links Finkelstein’s memoir to her podcast, foundation work and television exposure, creating a consistent personal brand.

What's next: - An audiobook edition will follow the print release. - Finkelstein is likely to keep using the memoir as part of her speaking and advocacy platform. - The Team Peri Foundation’s podcast, events and partnerships appear positioned to continue alongside the book launch.

The bottom line: - The Velvet Bow is being launched as both a memoir and a statement about disability, agency and self-definition.