Jamie Patterson's Blog, page 31
July 18, 2011
Why so sad?
I did get the question today of what prompted me to share such a sad part of my life with the book, Lost Edens. I'd be lying if I said I didn't still question the wisdom of the decision, but there were two things that initially made me feel like publishing was the right idea:
1. I read the manuscript after not having laid eyes on it for two or three years and didn't recognize myself, my thoughts, or my feelings in the pages. I knew there was no way I could ever recreate that voice. There was a story in the pages that came from a place I'll never be again and I thought there was some value in the raw honesty in the book.
2. This one is tougher. I remember thinking that maybe there would be some way to raise awareness around the sometimes subtle symptoms of animal abuse. I know the book doesn't really focus on the issue but it could open the door to conversation--at least that was my hope.
Like I said, I'm not sure if I made the right decision to publish. Time will tell. Either way, it's bound to be an interesting fall!
1. I read the manuscript after not having laid eyes on it for two or three years and didn't recognize myself, my thoughts, or my feelings in the pages. I knew there was no way I could ever recreate that voice. There was a story in the pages that came from a place I'll never be again and I thought there was some value in the raw honesty in the book.
2. This one is tougher. I remember thinking that maybe there would be some way to raise awareness around the sometimes subtle symptoms of animal abuse. I know the book doesn't really focus on the issue but it could open the door to conversation--at least that was my hope.
Like I said, I'm not sure if I made the right decision to publish. Time will tell. Either way, it's bound to be an interesting fall!
Truly Regretting Past Purchases
And no, I'm not talking about the car I bought last month. Yet.
For now, I'm truly regretting a trip two years ago to the Thymes Warehouse Sale (happens every October in Minneapolis. It's craziness!). In keeping with my no shopping for a year and use-what-you-got new take on life, once the spring lilly scent I'm on now runs out I'll have to move to Thymes Limon (body wash, lotion, and body spray. A complete set.).
At least it's not a complete set of Cool Water for Women. I only have a single perfume bottle of that. Oh God. I don't know if I can extend the use-what-you've-got for perfume as well. A shudder to think what's lurking in that part of my closet!
For now, I'm truly regretting a trip two years ago to the Thymes Warehouse Sale (happens every October in Minneapolis. It's craziness!). In keeping with my no shopping for a year and use-what-you-got new take on life, once the spring lilly scent I'm on now runs out I'll have to move to Thymes Limon (body wash, lotion, and body spray. A complete set.).
At least it's not a complete set of Cool Water for Women. I only have a single perfume bottle of that. Oh God. I don't know if I can extend the use-what-you've-got for perfume as well. A shudder to think what's lurking in that part of my closet!
July 17, 2011
Party!
Thank you to everyone who came to the party and bought a P&J Edition of Lost Edens. The book launches August 23 so we're slowly starting to build toward release and today's gathering was the perfect way to kick things off.
I learned a lot today. First, it turned out to be rather emotional to read an excerpt. Would not have guessed that! I had to stop and catch my breath. I suppose I ought to prepare myself a bit better for facing some of these old skeletons.
Second, I learned (after signing about 10 books) that really all I needed to do was sign my name and add the date. Instead of doing something so fabulously simple such as this I was like a 5-year-old using ink for the first time and (at the same time) was stunned like I had just been asked to sign a birthday card last after everyone else took the obvious well wishes.
Third, a guest asked me to write in her copy what I learned about myself while writing the book. The answer came so quickly it startled me: I am stronger than I think I am.
Fourth, a family friend asked me to write a message to her sister who was going through a divorce. I wrote the one thing that comforted me the most and then instantly regretted writing it: Things happen as they should. What I would rather say to someone in that painful, awkward position is this: some good will come of this.
I'm sending her a new copy with the much improved message.
Lessons learned.
Thanks, again, to everyone for being part of the project and part of the day.
And how cool was the cake?! Thanks so much to Jay and Pixie for thinking of absolutely everything.
I learned a lot today. First, it turned out to be rather emotional to read an excerpt. Would not have guessed that! I had to stop and catch my breath. I suppose I ought to prepare myself a bit better for facing some of these old skeletons.
Second, I learned (after signing about 10 books) that really all I needed to do was sign my name and add the date. Instead of doing something so fabulously simple such as this I was like a 5-year-old using ink for the first time and (at the same time) was stunned like I had just been asked to sign a birthday card last after everyone else took the obvious well wishes.
Third, a guest asked me to write in her copy what I learned about myself while writing the book. The answer came so quickly it startled me: I am stronger than I think I am.
Fourth, a family friend asked me to write a message to her sister who was going through a divorce. I wrote the one thing that comforted me the most and then instantly regretted writing it: Things happen as they should. What I would rather say to someone in that painful, awkward position is this: some good will come of this.
I'm sending her a new copy with the much improved message.
Lessons learned.
Thanks, again, to everyone for being part of the project and part of the day.
And how cool was the cake?! Thanks so much to Jay and Pixie for thinking of absolutely everything.
P&J Edition of Lost Edens
We decided that it would be really terrific to formally identify this small printing as the P&J Edition to honor the hosts of today's party. Not only did they host what had to have been one of the best book parties ever, they've been incredibly supportive and kind throughout the publishing process.
Not a minute too soon did we decide this, as my sister and I started stamping three hours before the party. If you happen to have a P&J Edition in your hands you can admire Jeni's handiwork (she did the numbers!). We got every book stamped with seconds to spare.
Not a minute too soon did we decide this, as my sister and I started stamping three hours before the party. If you happen to have a P&J Edition in your hands you can admire Jeni's handiwork (she did the numbers!). We got every book stamped with seconds to spare.
July 16, 2011
Excess Everything
I've made a few more decisions related to NSFY.
Decision #1: Target is not safe for me. I will have to do all my Target shopping online because I just am not strong enough to walk into Target with a list of things and walk out with only items on the list.
Decision #2: No more products! I'm going to use up all the hundreds of different-scented lotions, body washes, and shampoos that are taking up an insane amount of space in my bathroom. If you've been around me in the last few days you might have noticed I smell like a spring lilly. That would be because I'm trying to use up all the horrible scents I thought, at one point, I needed. Starting with a spring lilly scent I bought last summer because it was on sale.
"Why not just throw them away?" My dad asked today at lunch.
Because! Because! That's the whole point: excess consumption brought me to this place where I had enough clothing items to fill entire houses and an unbelievable array of perfumes and lotions. It's like this is the only way to make that craziness a bit more sane: the crazy act of sanely using all that I bought. Or maybe it's a small punishment that will force me to rethink the next time I'm faced with a bottle of marked-down "Japanese Cherry Blossom." Maybe, just maybe, my thoughts would return to this time when I smell of all kinds of horrible high school scents and I'll be inspired to put the bottle down. Walk away from the bottle. Go buy Johnson & Johnson.
So I suppose this means my NSFY has crept from the closet to the bathroom. No more new bottles of lotion/body wash/shampoo until the bottles I have are empty. Will be interesting to see how long this will go. Months? The full year?
One thing I refuse to add to the NSFY adventure: books. I'm taking my spring-lilly smelling self on down to Barnes and Noble just so I can visit a cash register.
Decision #1: Target is not safe for me. I will have to do all my Target shopping online because I just am not strong enough to walk into Target with a list of things and walk out with only items on the list.
Decision #2: No more products! I'm going to use up all the hundreds of different-scented lotions, body washes, and shampoos that are taking up an insane amount of space in my bathroom. If you've been around me in the last few days you might have noticed I smell like a spring lilly. That would be because I'm trying to use up all the horrible scents I thought, at one point, I needed. Starting with a spring lilly scent I bought last summer because it was on sale.
"Why not just throw them away?" My dad asked today at lunch.
Because! Because! That's the whole point: excess consumption brought me to this place where I had enough clothing items to fill entire houses and an unbelievable array of perfumes and lotions. It's like this is the only way to make that craziness a bit more sane: the crazy act of sanely using all that I bought. Or maybe it's a small punishment that will force me to rethink the next time I'm faced with a bottle of marked-down "Japanese Cherry Blossom." Maybe, just maybe, my thoughts would return to this time when I smell of all kinds of horrible high school scents and I'll be inspired to put the bottle down. Walk away from the bottle. Go buy Johnson & Johnson.
So I suppose this means my NSFY has crept from the closet to the bathroom. No more new bottles of lotion/body wash/shampoo until the bottles I have are empty. Will be interesting to see how long this will go. Months? The full year?
One thing I refuse to add to the NSFY adventure: books. I'm taking my spring-lilly smelling self on down to Barnes and Noble just so I can visit a cash register.
July 14, 2011
What to do, What to do
We're about 5 days from a final, final draft and one week from sending the final manuscript to the big, bad printer that will take a month to spit out the first run of 1,000 books.
Today, we got delivery of the nearly-finished books with two (at least two!) hiccups. Hiccup number one: the galley cover printed, not the final cover. Hiccup two: There was some debated text to add and instead of being added, remained a footnote. Hm. Weird.
Really weird. So what to do with a nearly final draft that has this weird footnote? More specifically, what to do with 100 copies of this nearly final draft that so nicely and strangely documents a work in progress via a random footnote?
What to do? What to do?
Update: The added text was at the suggestion of a wonderful woman who is hosting a book party for Lost Edens this weekend. I've decided to name this printing of 100 books after my hosts. Maybe I'll even number the books so they'll be like miniature pieces of art. J&P Edition 1 of 100. J&P Edition 2 of 100. J&P Edition 3 of 100....suddenly glad it was printing of 100 and not 1,000!
Today, we got delivery of the nearly-finished books with two (at least two!) hiccups. Hiccup number one: the galley cover printed, not the final cover. Hiccup two: There was some debated text to add and instead of being added, remained a footnote. Hm. Weird.
Really weird. So what to do with a nearly final draft that has this weird footnote? More specifically, what to do with 100 copies of this nearly final draft that so nicely and strangely documents a work in progress via a random footnote?
What to do? What to do?
Update: The added text was at the suggestion of a wonderful woman who is hosting a book party for Lost Edens this weekend. I've decided to name this printing of 100 books after my hosts. Maybe I'll even number the books so they'll be like miniature pieces of art. J&P Edition 1 of 100. J&P Edition 2 of 100. J&P Edition 3 of 100....suddenly glad it was printing of 100 and not 1,000!
July 13, 2011
No Clothes for a Year Update
So I exaggerated the time a bit--it won't be until July 20 that I reach the first month of No Shopping for a Year (NSFY) but I'm nearly there.
I'm proud to report that I survived the first post-NSFY Target trip without any purchases other than gum. Loads of chewing gum. And breakfast cereal. A trip to the arts-and-crafts store Michael's resulted in a sign (Hippies use the Backdoor. No Exceptions) and a cup with a reusable straw. Really necessary things, right? But they aren't clothing items.
The Target and Michael's visits did make me consider, though, whether I need a complete shopping hiatus. I think the Hippies use Backdoor (their misspelling, not mine) sign is a really good, um, sign that I might need to enforce a necessities-only rule. Don't you think?
I'm proud to report that I survived the first post-NSFY Target trip without any purchases other than gum. Loads of chewing gum. And breakfast cereal. A trip to the arts-and-crafts store Michael's resulted in a sign (Hippies use the Backdoor. No Exceptions) and a cup with a reusable straw. Really necessary things, right? But they aren't clothing items.
The Target and Michael's visits did make me consider, though, whether I need a complete shopping hiatus. I think the Hippies use Backdoor (their misspelling, not mine) sign is a really good, um, sign that I might need to enforce a necessities-only rule. Don't you think?
Sailboat Race on a City Lake
Okay, okay, I've heard you. My videos are boring and I'm really sorry (sort of) but it's like I can't help myself. This was a really exciting sailboat race taking place just outside my front door this evening. (The chase! The wind! The sails!) Yet another reason to love Minneapolis in the summer.
John and Dash: Doesn't this video make you want to move back to Minneapolis? Forget Hawaii! This is where the beaches are!
John and Dash: Doesn't this video make you want to move back to Minneapolis? Forget Hawaii! This is where the beaches are!
July 12, 2011
Twitter say wha'?
I'm still completely new to Twitter and every day I figure something else out. Took me a few months to figure out the RT (retweet) and have since had to control myself from RTing all the awesome posts I see.
Lately, though, I've noticed that I'm getting spam followers. What the? Seriously? There are spam followers? I don't get it. Twitter accounts that follow over 1,000 people, have maybe 125 followers, but have never posted a single tweet. A mystery.
And just as I'm learning twitter, along comes Google . It's okay. I'll try to keep up!
Lately, though, I've noticed that I'm getting spam followers. What the? Seriously? There are spam followers? I don't get it. Twitter accounts that follow over 1,000 people, have maybe 125 followers, but have never posted a single tweet. A mystery.
And just as I'm learning twitter, along comes Google . It's okay. I'll try to keep up!
The Elegance of the Hedgehog
I've been working, reading, working, reading so I could finish The Elegance of the Hedgehog. I absolutely, positively loved it. It's one of those books, though, that had one stars or five stars from readers so I don't think I could recommend it to anyone--it's definitely a let-the-book-find-you type of read.
I did try to talk my brother and one of my friends into reading it, though, so I could get a gauge of whether I'm normal. That, and I woke up in the middle of the night last night incredibly disturbed about the ending. Plenty of books have kept me up but that was the first time a book woke me up!
I did try to talk my brother and one of my friends into reading it, though, so I could get a gauge of whether I'm normal. That, and I woke up in the middle of the night last night incredibly disturbed about the ending. Plenty of books have kept me up but that was the first time a book woke me up!
