Jamie Patterson's Blog, page 28
August 4, 2011
Library Thing Giveaway
In addition to the goodreads giveaway, Stephanie tells me there's also a PDF giveaway underway for members of Library Thing through August 8 at this link.
Library Thing is pretty cool, I'm just starting to get into it. Goodreads seems a wee bit more intuitive but both are a terrific place for readers.
Speaking of reading...trying to finish the Harry Potter books before a very exciting, much anticipated visit next week to Wizarding World in Orlando!
Library Thing is pretty cool, I'm just starting to get into it. Goodreads seems a wee bit more intuitive but both are a terrific place for readers.
Speaking of reading...trying to finish the Harry Potter books before a very exciting, much anticipated visit next week to Wizarding World in Orlando!
One Bottle Down: NSFY Update
What's this you see? That's right. An empty bottle. Making my way through all of my regrettable past purchases of ridiculously named, ridiculously scented lotions.
Because I don't trust myself in Target and I'm committed to no shopping until June 20, 2012, I just bought toothpaste, face cream, and mouthwash online. Oh! And a $60 bottle of eye cream because it had nice reviews and it's organic.
I can't help but feel like I might have been better off in Target even if I did walk away with a few three-dollar t-shirts?
Because I don't trust myself in Target and I'm committed to no shopping until June 20, 2012, I just bought toothpaste, face cream, and mouthwash online. Oh! And a $60 bottle of eye cream because it had nice reviews and it's organic.
I can't help but feel like I might have been better off in Target even if I did walk away with a few three-dollar t-shirts?
Smiling Madeleine
Six days old and loving life.
How Cool! Lost Edens Give Away
If I haven't mentioned, I love my publicist, Stephanie Barko. Just discovered that she coordinated a giveaway of Lost Edens on goodreads. If you're reading this post, it's a very high probability that you already own an early copy but if not, join in the fun (or email me, I'll send you an early copy! Books aren't available for sale until August 23).
And if you haven't heard of goodreads, it's fantastic. Highly recommended. (It's like facebook for nerds!)
And if you haven't heard of goodreads, it's fantastic. Highly recommended. (It's like facebook for nerds!)
August 3, 2011
Fear
One last quote from the night:
If I'm not scared I'm not playing a big enough game.
If I'm not scared I'm not playing a big enough game.
Beaver's Pond Press
Tonight was the annual author dinner for Beaver's Pond Press. It was a Hawaiian theme with an open bar and buffet dinner. The people I met tonight were fascinating, fearless, and inspirational. It was quite the group. There was Milt, the founder of Beaver's Pond. A wonderful woman I met tonight, Suzann, chatted with Milt, who told her, "you know why I did this? I want people to love me."
I think there was a room full of people tonight who certainly do. Milt talked a bit and said that he created Beaver's Pond Press out of passion and the desire to help people fulfill their dreams. He noted that in being there, everyone in the room helped to fulfill his. The feeling in the room was of love, gratitude, hope.
There were some other wonderful quotes from the night. In full disclosure, the first 10 minutes were a bit anxiety-inducing. I sat down next to an author who published two years ago and when I asked how his book was doing, the response was: "I didn't have the marketing plan I should have." Gulp. But I quickly forgot the 1,000 copies of Lost Edens I'll have in three weeks because the other people at the table were just a riot.
Another writer, Bob Shaw, said he has plans to talk to a group of 100 Scandinavians about his book and he's determined to make them laugh. He said if he could do that, he could do anything.
He also had this piece of advice: you never really have to listen closely to people. Just smile, nod your head and then at the right time say, "life does that sometimes."
I was really surprised tonight about how very much the overall feeling was just a group of people hoping to do good. Sell a few books, maybe enough to be a full time writer, and leave a mark on others and on the world. I felt among friends and that my motivations for publishing Lost Edens came from the right place. I wasn't expecting to walk away from the bowls of pretzel M&Ms and plastic cups full of wine feeling so darn good, but life does that sometimes.
I think there was a room full of people tonight who certainly do. Milt talked a bit and said that he created Beaver's Pond Press out of passion and the desire to help people fulfill their dreams. He noted that in being there, everyone in the room helped to fulfill his. The feeling in the room was of love, gratitude, hope.
There were some other wonderful quotes from the night. In full disclosure, the first 10 minutes were a bit anxiety-inducing. I sat down next to an author who published two years ago and when I asked how his book was doing, the response was: "I didn't have the marketing plan I should have." Gulp. But I quickly forgot the 1,000 copies of Lost Edens I'll have in three weeks because the other people at the table were just a riot.
Another writer, Bob Shaw, said he has plans to talk to a group of 100 Scandinavians about his book and he's determined to make them laugh. He said if he could do that, he could do anything.
He also had this piece of advice: you never really have to listen closely to people. Just smile, nod your head and then at the right time say, "life does that sometimes."
I was really surprised tonight about how very much the overall feeling was just a group of people hoping to do good. Sell a few books, maybe enough to be a full time writer, and leave a mark on others and on the world. I felt among friends and that my motivations for publishing Lost Edens came from the right place. I wasn't expecting to walk away from the bowls of pretzel M&Ms and plastic cups full of wine feeling so darn good, but life does that sometimes.
Lovely Lake Harriet
I really can't think of a better place to be in the summer than Lake Harriet. Don't ask me for my sources but Lake Harriet was believed to be a place of healing and was sacred to the Native Americans who called the area around the current bandshell home.
Not only does the lake just have a great, peaceful, lively vibe, all through the summer there are concerts every night at the bandshell. Everything from the Minnesota Orchestra to great local acts. Tonight there was a really lovely local singer/songwriter Brianna Lane . If you're really looking to kill time, I caught the scene and one of her songs on video (sideways, sadly, and below).
Not only does the lake just have a great, peaceful, lively vibe, all through the summer there are concerts every night at the bandshell. Everything from the Minnesota Orchestra to great local acts. Tonight there was a really lovely local singer/songwriter Brianna Lane . If you're really looking to kill time, I caught the scene and one of her songs on video (sideways, sadly, and below).
August 2, 2011
Shopping Local
Part of my morning was running out to find a birthday present for my dad. Ever since his bike crash he's been looking for a hat so he can easily keep the brand-new skin on his face from the sun. We had gone to REI to find one, with no luck. This morning I was wondering where the heck I'd find a brown felt hat and decided to shop local. Found the perfect hat within 2 seconds of walking into Schatzlein Saddle Shop.
Then I walked down to Tommy T's Cyclery to see what could be done about getting my dad back on a bike. I walked home with a kid's bike seat to put on the back of his bike and a tiny helmet for my niece. The thinking, of course, that he might enjoy getting back on a bike if it's at a slower pace with his granddaughter. (No chance he'd be tempted to race another freight train!)
Score two points for shopping local stores. Maybe this whole NSFY and trying to reduce things in my life is more just being purposeful with even the small decisions. So maybe, if it's just a matter of being more purposeful, I could consider buying a little something nice for myself before June 20, 2012?
Nah, I almost made it two months. What's another 10?
Then I walked down to Tommy T's Cyclery to see what could be done about getting my dad back on a bike. I walked home with a kid's bike seat to put on the back of his bike and a tiny helmet for my niece. The thinking, of course, that he might enjoy getting back on a bike if it's at a slower pace with his granddaughter. (No chance he'd be tempted to race another freight train!)
Score two points for shopping local stores. Maybe this whole NSFY and trying to reduce things in my life is more just being purposeful with even the small decisions. So maybe, if it's just a matter of being more purposeful, I could consider buying a little something nice for myself before June 20, 2012?
Nah, I almost made it two months. What's another 10?
How to say Thank you
One not-so-closely held secret is that I once interviewed to be a flight attendant. Fortunately, they sure didn't want me flying the friendly skies (at least not responding to call buttons). I'm pretty sure I told them in the interview that I wanted the job so I could have more time to read (between flights, of course).
The interview was after returning to Minneapolis and months of being unemployed and I remember that the flight attendant conducting the interview told a story of a passenger handing her a note as he deplaned. The note said something like that in his family they had a tradition of telling people when they've done a job well by leaving a note and that it was clear that today he had seen someone doing a job well and a job they loved.
The interview was also during a time when I was still seeing a really terrific doctor once a week who made a big difference in my life by doing two things: helping me to normalize my experiences (partially chronicled in Lost Edens), and by giving me the tools to cope with pain and uncertainty.
How do you say thank you for something like that?
I got a phone call last night from the doctor to say he received the early reader copy of Lost Edens and that he had no changes to suggest. We had a chance to chat for a bit and I had a chance to tell him I never felt like I thanked him properly. Even so, I still don't feel like I have. But then I thought maybe there are some things that you simply can't properly express the gratitude for? Maybe this giving and helping and lifting up of others is part of each our purposes and we each do it in our own ways. As doctors, as flight attendants, as mothers and fathers...maybe even as dissertation editors.
The interview was after returning to Minneapolis and months of being unemployed and I remember that the flight attendant conducting the interview told a story of a passenger handing her a note as he deplaned. The note said something like that in his family they had a tradition of telling people when they've done a job well by leaving a note and that it was clear that today he had seen someone doing a job well and a job they loved.
The interview was also during a time when I was still seeing a really terrific doctor once a week who made a big difference in my life by doing two things: helping me to normalize my experiences (partially chronicled in Lost Edens), and by giving me the tools to cope with pain and uncertainty.
How do you say thank you for something like that?
I got a phone call last night from the doctor to say he received the early reader copy of Lost Edens and that he had no changes to suggest. We had a chance to chat for a bit and I had a chance to tell him I never felt like I thanked him properly. Even so, I still don't feel like I have. But then I thought maybe there are some things that you simply can't properly express the gratitude for? Maybe this giving and helping and lifting up of others is part of each our purposes and we each do it in our own ways. As doctors, as flight attendants, as mothers and fathers...maybe even as dissertation editors.
One Down, Seven to go
Maui Mike's lip balm hit the dust so now the great lip balm countdown is to seven tubes. Inching my way toward a one tube of lip balm kind of life.
I was trying to find a number of applications to expect per tube of lip balm and there sure wasn't much on the Internet. What I did find, though, were recipes for making your own lip balm. (Eeek! Beeswax? Helichrysum?)
I'm pretty sure as soon as the remaining seven run dry I'll just be buying another tube!
I was trying to find a number of applications to expect per tube of lip balm and there sure wasn't much on the Internet. What I did find, though, were recipes for making your own lip balm. (Eeek! Beeswax? Helichrysum?)
I'm pretty sure as soon as the remaining seven run dry I'll just be buying another tube!
