Jessica Dotta's Blog
November 3, 2016
E-BOOK SALE
In the mood for a new read? All November the e-book of Born of Persuasion is on sale for $1.99!
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October 17, 2015
Fixer Upper Style – Here I Come
After five years of apartment living, my daughter and I are getting the opportunity to start fresh anew. When we started this adventure we had to leave a 3800 sq foot house and narrow down our lives to a 500 sq foot apartment.
To say the least, we were crowded. It’s hard to know what to keep and what to let go, when you don’t know where you’re going.
Then came along the fantastic book called The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up – The Japanese Art of De-cluttering and Organizing, by Marie Kondo. Through this book I discovered I was hanging onto things that used to spark joy – in my old house, in my old life. I also discovered how much past emotion is tied into our current possessions. I donated everything I could but kept my best pieces.
Now, with the help of a new coalition in town, my daughter and I are the first candidates to be matched to a house that is being renovated, adding beauty to the town while helping people become homeowners. The house is 1000 sq feet.
For this, I am thankful for the hours spent in tight quarters that is teaching me what is and isn’t clutter. I am thankful for the money high and lows that all artist’s experience for the sake of their art, because it’s given me an even sharper perspective than I had before. Had I moved right from my former house into my new house, I would have missed the joy and the treasure of its unique situation. He has new plans for me, and I am willing to walk in them.
I am also thankful for a show that came out recently on Netflix called Fixer Upper. I am two seasons late to join the show – but the timing was perfect.
Joanna Gaine’s mixture of antiques with new, her color palette and her de-cluttered spaces meets my heart’s cry. For the first time since knowing I’m moving, I have a picture of what sparks joy for me. It’s so much easier now to go to the next level of konmari, seeing the style I’ve always loved executed in an amazing way.
Below is the picture of my new dining table in the store where I found it. I am so excited to see it in context.
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October 13, 2015
Goodwill Find
I love our local Goodwill. You never know what you’ll find or whether it will be worth the trip. Yesterday, as I was driving by the store I decided to take a quick breeze through and just see.
I was thrilled to find this candy dish. My grandmother, who passed away several years ago, had one identical to it! My friend who was with me said I didn’t hesitate, I just swooped it up. It was $5!
Even though I know this wasn’t the one my grandmother filled with her Christmas ribbon candy, I feel as though I inherited it. 
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August 3, 2015
Working My Way Through Tidying – Konmari Style
I am so excited about this wonderful book I’m reading called The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up – the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing, by Marie Kondo.
This is one of the best books I have ever encountered that transform the way one views their belongings. Since childhood Marie Kondo has known her purpose and she is master at helping people release emotional attachment to their belongings and to recognize when something has served its purpose.
Those who have followed her system, she claims, never revert back to a cluttered life-styled and I’m believing it. “You start by discarding. Then organize your space, thoroughly, completely, in one go.” It’s the perfect time to do this now, as I’m purchasing a house soon.
Instead of organizing by rooms, you tidy by categories. Before you start to look for places for things to go, you have to discard all the items that no longer belong in your life. You only keep the things that spark joy. To make certain it sparks joy, you have to physically hold each item and make a decision about it. You purge through things systematically, following her order of categories. You start with your clothing and then move onto your books. You go down the list category by category.
I’m almost through the second category–books! And what a journey. For an author, books are nearly as difficult to sort through as personal mementos. Marie writes: In the end, you are going to read very few of your books again. As with our clothing, we need to stop and think about what purpose these books serve. She also writes: The moment you first encounter a particular book is the right time to read it. To avoid missing that moment, I recommend that you keep your collection small. While that might be true for the general population, it isn’t so for writers (though she does make note that our book collection will vary because of our art form.) Nevertheless, I tackled my bookshelves with an attempt to be even more honest. I had to ask myself over and over, will I truly re-read this or will I need to revisit how they laid out this plot. When it came to my books on craft, I had to ask myself which ones I’ll need to revisit and which ones can I release?
I took me three days to sort through my books, (and in all honesty, i still need to sort through my cookbooks.) Three long days of having to step over and around books piled over the floor. With her method, the first step is to pile everything in that category on the floor–every book–and realize the sheer volume you own. It was a lot, and I’ve had four massive discarding of books over the past five years, easily halving my collection. I wasn’t certain I’d find much, but oh, did I!
Here’s a photo of my five bags clothing (which only took a few hours to sort through) and the books that I’ve weeded out of my life. You can’t see behind the bags of clothing, but trust me, there are piles of stacked books.
Look how much real estate I’m getting back in just two categories! I cannot wait to finish to this purge.
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July 14, 2015
E-Book Promotion of Born of Persuasion
Born of Persuasion is 99 cents via e-book for a special promotion period!
KINDLE: http://www.amazon.com/Born-Persuasion-Price-Pr…/…/B00CH7INR6
NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/born-of-persuas…/1115473719…
CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/…/je…/9781414388441/pd/39398EB…
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November 6, 2014
Letter from 1872
I have in my possession some correspondences from the 1800’s but haven’t had time to read them yet. I finally took some time to read this letter. It was so fun, I decided to share it here.
New Germantown, May 31st 1872
Dear Sister,
I suppose you are anxious to hear from home. We are all well as usual, and finished cleaning house yesterday. We had an awful hard shower yesterday morning, we thought it struck the house. It is the only rain have had to do any good, in about six weeks. Trude has been home once since she moved, a week ago today. She drove herself, and took Rob back with her to stay till Sunday.
Mag & I want advice about our summer hats. What are the girls up there wearing? I think white straw is nicer than anything. We will have to get our hats and then our dresses to correspond with them. They say around here the black and White stripped Japanese silks are worn a great deal, something like O’Clask’s was last summer, only not quite so dark. If we get that, I will have my hat trimmed with black lace. I think I will any way. Tell me all about what they wear up there, shape etc and what you would have if you were us. (I want to come up as rigged.)
Trude had a bonnet made. We did think of going to S— after our hats, but don’t think it will pay. Mrs. M. has a very full shop now, and people come there for their hats, from a great distance. She is going to New York the first of the week, she says she will get us any kind of hat we want her to. Do they wear short of long flowers & be sure and answer this letter tomorrow–and let us know all about the hats. H. wants his coat very badly. Send it down with F. tomorrow if he comes or as soon as possible.
Yours in haste,
Mary
I hope the dress makers will not disappoint us the first week in July or sooner if possible. If we don’t get her we can’t get anyone. Miss Gullek is so very busy at S—-
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October 27, 2014
Contest for Advanced Reading Copy of Price of Privilege!
Are you guys ready for a chance to win an Advanced Reading Copy of the final book in the series?
Help me get the word out about this series and be entered for a chance to win! There’s no better time. Right now your friends can read the first book Born of Persuasion free via e-book.
Each day from October 26- Nov 15th, I’ll post a scene from Born of Persuasion on my Facebook Page
. For a chance to win:
LIKE and COMMENT for 1 entry to win!
SHARE and COMMENT (that you did so) for 10!!!! entries to win!
On November 16th, I’ll calculate the winner using Random.org. The winner will have one week to send me their snail mail address or a new winner will be selected.
Make sure you “like” my page so you can see the winner announced.
Thank you so much for helping me spread the word!
Good Luck!
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October 19, 2014
Chance to Win a Copy of Mark of Distinction
Check out my Author Page on Facebook for a chance to win Mark of Distinction. The winner will be announced 10/18/14!
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October 14, 2014
October 13, 2014
Born of Persuasion: Sewing Scene
If you’re a fan of the series, help spread the word by pinning, tweeting or facebooking any of these scenes. Book Three releases soon!!
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