YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND

11 am and 82 degrees. I had a request to put the flap copy on my blog so here it is.
This "hook" evolved over the course of five months primarily from my editor along with my input. It was tweaked and groomed until we all felt it gave readers an idea of what they would be reading but not giving anything away.
My one sentence pitch has remained the same:
"Forrest Gump wins Powerball"
I use Forrest Gump not because my novel parallels that book -- but because the characters are both termed "Slow." It gives someone an immediate "picture" of what my novel is like.
When you can create that short pitch that is vivid and visceral -- you have what is termed a "high concept" novel.
This is why writers should spend as much time perfecting their hook or synopsis as they do writing their novel. I go back to my one page synopsis and revisit it as I am writing or editing.
Many times it is useful to have individuals who have not read your novel to read your "flap copy" or "hook."
They can give feedback whether you are clear or not.
(I am still open for contest ideas -- read previous post)

AND IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH...

BOX O' BOOKS
9:30 am and 80 degrees.
Friday.

And more to be soon delivered along with the audio CD!
Sounds like time for a contest!
OK bloggers. Ya wanna win an autographed REAL LIVE COPY of LOTTERY?
You all must think of a suitable activity.
It will include friendship.
It MUST include friendship.
And support.
And helping other writers.
Commenters come out of the cudzo (sorry I know it is Kudzo or something like that).
Lurkers Limit your Languishing and um...comment too...
Give me your ideas and suggestions.
Oh and if I do not have your email for sending you the exciting news about LOTTERY -- then email me at
Patwoodauthor@gmail.com
How does that sound?
NOTE:
Just finished a wonderful book -- watch out JK Rowling -- Here comes ADRIENNE KRESS and ALEX AND THE IRONIC GENTLEMAN!!!!

SOMETHING IN THE MAIL FOR YOU...

6 am and 79 degrees.
An email from my editor. Innocuous.
"You should be getting something in the mail..."
I knew the finished book would be out soon but I had no idea. The package came yesterday.
I thought I would cry.
Instead I drank a margarita at 2:30 in the afternoon.
Then champagne at 7 pm.

Full Circle.
That's what I was thinking.
Full Circle.
My life this past year has been like the plot of a novel. Not thriller. Not fantasy. Maybe romance.
The dull parts, the angst - reminiscent of literary fiction.
Last year at this time I had agents requesting and reading the full manuscript of LOTTERY.
This time last year Dorian had my query and asked for the full.
This time last year I was unrepresented.
Unpublished.
This time last year.
And now?
A year later?

A real live honest to goodness book.
So here's to dragonflies.
Perseverance.
And hope.
Most of all to hope.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME...THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME...THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE...

The only thing better than being back on ORION...

Is being back on ORION with a cup of coffee close by. Notice the logo on the cup.


7 am and 78 degrees.
God I needed that!
I have lots to say but will make this short and do more tomorrow.
WHAT A GREAT BOOK DEAL WILL GET YOU:
Do I get fancy clothes?
No.
Jewels?
No.
Exotic car?
No.
What I got:
Notice the rail on ORION.
For the first time in 3 years I did NOT have to sand and varnish my own teak rail. Gord and I actually PAID an expert to do it!
Ah the satisfaction...
Now that is pure unadulterated happiness.
What about you?
What makes you happy.
(besides coffee that is...)

OUR WORK HERE IS DONE

The ultimate in New York cheese cake has been found.

This particular selection was located at Mickey Mantles next to Central Park.
As we concluded our trip more mystery guests were collected.
The first one we met in the morning at the Algonquin Hotel.

Good fun was had by all.
So then I had to channel Dorothy Parker and sit at the Algonquin round table.
How cool was that?

And then...
More mystery guests.
Well.
More like a mystery club.
At least it's mysterious to us.
It is called the-supportive-newly-represented-almost-debut-sucessful-author-club.
SNRADSAC for short.
The membership drive will start soon.
We are working on a secret handshake and figuring out the initiation process.
All our bags are packed.
We're ready to do.
The taxi's waiting --he's blowin' his horn...
Bye bye New York.
Bye Bye.

CARS...GUSH LUNCH...AND THE HUNT FOR THE ELUSIVE AND INCOMPARABLE NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

New York cars are fast. The town car picked me up and dropped me off.
Zoom. Zoom

My Luncheon included a piano. I did not offer to play and sing but I did answer questions about writing my book and Dorian talked about the auction and sale.

What was very cool was that it was video conferenced to the Miami office of William Morris Agency.
I had way too much fun and the food was yummy.
Then it was photo op time.
Top quality assistant Adam who will someday be an UBER agent like Dorian.

AND
THE EXTRAORDINARILY WONDERFUL UBER UBER AGENT DORIAN KARCHMAR.
Notice something?

She introduced me to her boss UBER UBER UBER AGENT Suzanne Gluck.
AND
I do need to point out that while her pedicure made her toes look QUITE outstanding she was AMAZINGLY jealous (I could tell) of my sparkly toes. Hawaii is far far ahead of New York when it comes to sparkly toes.

And then...And then?
Then I got presents. COFFEE!!!! Yeah!!!!!

And then the coolest of the cool.
Holly and I went to Strand books and met JOHN ROBISON.
Author of LOOK ME IN THE EYE.
WOOF!

Who is that very sophisticated author-to-be next to him?
I think that's the author of LOTTERY.
Do you think?
Yeah I think so.
She looks much older in person.
Oops do you think she heard us?
Oh man that was really rude of her to smack you up side of the head. You want ice on that?
The night finished up with dinner at the very famous Algonquin Round Table Restaurant with my UK publisher Jason Arthur.
Thank you for a fabulous time.
Now one quick glass of wine with Holly.
Well yeah, I'll have one more.
You?
Don't mind if I do.
Just a splash.
yesh a bit mor.
Yuo to?
wha?
urp.
What happens in New York.
Stays in New York

SUBWAY. IT'S NOT JUST A SANDWICH

Note: Thank you SARAH MILLER BOOKS for your kind words about
LOTTERY.

MYSTERY GUEST!!!!
Another writer/author who has many facets to her/his personality/psychosis met/invaded our domain to visit/entertain/annoy Holly and I.
This writer/exconvict will soon be agented/back in jail.
Congratulations/condolenses in order.

Then ANOTHER ADVENTURE!
The cheapest carnival ride not at a fair.
FIRST YOU pay and go through this VERY COOL turnstile:

You kind of feel like a race horse.
Then you go into your choice of a small metal box.
Ours was red.

This is where you feel like a sardine.
I went with mystery guest.

Thanks mystery guest.
You ROCK!

NEW YORK'S FINEST...

Trust Pat to find a horse anywhere.

80 degrees YES!!!!!!! 1 am WHAT????!!!! You're KIDDING!
(Can you go to your OWN room now Pat?)
((Please?))
(((I'm REALLY tired!)))
OK Holly...I'm going...
Pat is warm, happy, and narry a palm tree in sight. She has a lunch date with her editor and brought FUN SURPRISES from Hawaii. I want to take the opportunity to say that Peternelle's restaurant selection is impeccable as always. I had gazpacho with humongous shrimp and lobster and a plate of haricot verts which I cannot say without laughing...I mean really...
AND THEN.
The excellent adventure continued.
CENTRAL PARK

Self portraits of Pat and Holly in the Park. We strolled along trying to look as if we did this everyday. The tip off was that we were taking pictures of rocks and trees and...
OMG!!!!Is this one of those police things? Did someone get murdered here?????

Our over-active writerly imaginations got the better of us.
Insert eye rolling response here.
"No, ladies. That indicates a walking path."
"Oh."
Suffice it to say that Pat was VERY disappointed.
She proceeded to take photos of every place she suspected "Law and Order" found bodies.

For instance wasn't one found here?
And this photo is for Perry L. Crandall.

And this?

This is for Holly's boys...
So we are finding much fodder for novels. We make up stories about the grizzled old man leaning at the curb palsied hand outstretched and the excessively blond woman who elbows her way to the front of the elevator as the doors open. She smells of jasmine and peevishness.
Final note.
This message is for Lisa R.
We ate dinner at Pigalle and it was everything you said it was.
And the rest of you.
We ask again.
Where would you go?
What would you do.

HERE I AM IN THE BIG APPLE AGAIN...

ROOM WITH A MUCH BETTER VIEW.

Late o'clock and air conditioning off degrees.
I love the hotel. It is in the middle of Times Square.
But.
I have this neighbor. You'll NEVER guess who.
A CANADIAN AUTHOR!!!! In the NEXT ROOM!! Can you believe it?
With internet access that WORKS.
How cool is that?
This is us after eating dinner at an amazingly good Italian restaurant.

We opted not to show our waistbands.

NEW YORK! NEW YORK! I'M ON MY WAY

This is NOT New York.
How do I know this? Well there are no tall buildings and there is a mountain where Central Park should be.

Too cold and too late.
The photo is Gig Harbor where I spent the weekend. I took a short detour to spend the weekend with my sister and take my dad out to dinner for Father's Day. I am now packed and ready to catch an airplane in the morning.

This is not New York either.
Although these are very large insects they are not found on the streets of New York. They live in California. You can tell this by their tans and the trendy metrosexual shine to their anntenas.
As for me?
I will be in New York tomorrow.
So will Holly.
So what will we do? We are open to suggestions.
Restaurants?
Sights?
Sounds?
Places of significance?
What would you do?
Let us know.
And in the meantime.
You will hear all about our adventures.
Just like last time.
New York will never be the same.
And neither will we.
(Oh and the REAL photos of New York will start Tuesday...see if you can tell the difference.)

AND THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS...

SO WHERE WAS OUR MYSTERY PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN?
This is Pat, you say, so it HAD to be on the ocean.
And you would be right.

The middle of the Pacific Ocean at night.
The moon was large and yellow. It glowed. It glistened. We had never seen anything like it.
We rushed below to get our cameras.
With utter intensity we played with settings and exposures...
Silently we worked.
uh...
well...
hmmmm

What the heck?

Well THAT didn't work!
"Uh guys...
guys?" the captain said.
"The boats moving."
Oh.
Yeah.
That's right.
The moral of the story?
Sometimes you DO have to turn the room to straighten the picture...

NEW CONTEST: WTF

IS IT A BIRD?
A PLANE?
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT SUPERMAN...
BUT IT COULD BE EBAY!

82 degrees and 9 pm.
A modest contest for your amusement.
What is this photograph of and what has happened? Your conjecture is as good as mine.
Actually.
It isn't.
I KNOW what it is cuz I took the picture.
It is my opinion that writers need a talent for prevarication. I know mine has always come in handy -- especially when I was younger. So what is it and more importantly can you tell a good story.
The topic is authenticity.
Soooooo...
Bloggers start your guesses or rather your tales of excellence.
Bonus points to those with imagination and creativity.
Oh and extra points to those who entertain us.
Much extra points.

THE PLACE THAT I BELONG

8:30 PM and 81 degrees. Looking at the world from between my feet. The beach was crowded and noisy. School is out for the summer.
That's OK.
The water was warm and the breeze full of flowery scent.
I can share.
After four weeks absence I see my home with new eyes. With an appreciation. I also realize there are perfectly wonderful places to live in other parts of the world.
Habitat compromise.
Warmth in exchange for Mountains. But I have my photographs.
Today I did an interview. It was liberating and gave me pause for thought.
What WAS my intention? Why DID I write my book? What DO I want my readers to understand and take away from my story?
I have another interview tomorrow. I tell myself to think carefully and remember the rules:

Have a clear idea of how you want to be perceived. Rocks are everywhere so tread carefully.
Sometimes waves come unexpectedly so be prepare for the question that catches you off guard.
Some risk is good but leaping into the unknown can be tricky.
See?
Rules are there for our safety.
BUT.
Know when they ought to be broken.
Just like those pesky writing rules:
No adverbs. Third person POV. No head hopping. Avoid present tense.
You know the ones I mean.
They are just begging to be challenged.
Just begging.
I for one plan to break one or two tomorrow.
On purpose.
How about you?
Are you a rule breaker?
Are you a risk taker?

PICTURES...THEY GOT PICTURES...

CHECK OUT WRITERLY PAUSE.
I have to say I am quite impressed.
How about you?

LIFE AFTER NORWAY AND BEFORE PUBLICATION

Night dives can be scary. This file fish was snoozing. Just minding his own business and FLASH! He was so startled by my strobe he ran right into the coral. I felt kind of bad. There is a beauty in the silence but it is eerie. You feel like someone is watching in the dark just behind. You spin around.
Nothing.
But you feel eyes on you.
Not unlike 55 days until a book is out.
Watching.
Eyes everywhere.

11:16 PM and 81 degrees.
NOTE! For a real cool CONTEST having to do with ARCs check Adrienne's blog!
Well...
Back in the saddle again. Literally. Baby horse has had a holiday but he will be ridden soon. Vacation's over.
So what is happening now with Lottery and with Pat? I hear you ask.
Well, reviews are coming in. At BEA lots of ARCs were handed out. Much buzz was generated.
What is buzz you ask?
Buzz is important. It is an undercurrent of attention.
"There's this book coming out..."
"I think it might be good..."
"What's it about?"
"The premise is a guy who is mentally challenged and wins the Lottery..."
"Wow maybe we better order it..."
"Huh I think I'll look for it in the bookstore..."
"Hey you've GOT to read this book...It's GREAT!"
That's all a part of buzz.
Word of mouth.
It's what makes people read a book.
A friend of a friend passes on a book.
"It's really good," they say. "You've got to read it."
I have several phone interviews scheduled for various publications. I go back to New York soon and have more meetings. My fall is filling up with readings, signings and receptions.
I feel like eyes are on me. I am being watched. Not uncomfortably so but it makes me guarded.
People want to know about me. About my book.
The counter on my blog gets shorter and shorter.
The time approaches.
And I wait.

ADIEU FAREWELL GOODBYE HA DET BRA ALOHA AND...SKRIK

"The review said WHAT?????"

7:20 am and 59 degrees. Tuesday Morning on departure day.
OK that's my entry.
While I am in the air on my way back home the rest of you please retitle Scream (or Skrik in Norwegian). This is a study of the famous painting by Edvard Munch -- the original is still under restoration-- however Edvard did create several versions.
I am depending on your creativity and humor to amuse me on my Blackberry between Copenhagen and Seattle and Seattle and Honolulu.
Ready Bloggers?.
Aim your Adverbs.
Adjust your Adjectives.
Nudge your Nouns.
GO!

MONDAY MONDAY

BYE BYE BEA BYE BYE...Until next year and thanks to the intrepid Jennifer, Vickie, and Heidi of Penguin Group and thanks to John Robison for sharing his photo with me.

Last full day in Norway and I am only cold at night and when I take off my sweater during the day.
From Bergen we took the train to Voss and I saw the farm where my grandmother lived. It is still owned by my cousin.

This is what it looked like as she went to school each day. I am told it was a six mile trudge.

And then another train ride -- this time half way across Norway back to Oslo through the mountains.

One trip to the Viking Ship Museum with artifacts over a thousand years old and recovered ships deeply buried in the clay soil of Norway.

I think I have enough scenery in my mind now to enhance a hundred novels.

So after looking to the past at my family and the rich history of Norway I look to the future with LOTTERY.
My first review is out in Publisher's Weekly and I am thrilled. I hope it bodes well for my book.
In the June 4 issue:
"Lottery
Patricia Wood. Putnam, $24.95 (320p) ISBN 978-0-399-15449-2
Perry Crandall has an IQ of 76, but is not retarded, as he'll have you know: his IQ would need to be less than 75 for that, and he knows the difference even if others may not. Perry, the 32-year-old narrator of Wood's warm-fuzzy debut, has worked at the same marine supply store for half his life and lives with his wisecracking grandmother Gram, whose gems of folk wisdom help him along. But when Gram dies, Perry's selfish, money-grubbing family members swoop in and swindle him out of the proceeds from the sale of her house-and then come a-knocking again when Perry wins $12 million in the Washington State Lottery. Suddenly everyone is paying attention to Perry, but who can he trust? Even his friends from the marine supply store behave differently, and on top of everything else, Perry finds himself falling for convenience store clerk Cherry, who has problems of her own. Despite his family's shenanigans and sinister maneuverings, Perry holds his own and discovers abilities he didn't know he had. The wisdoms here run more cute than deep, but Wood's light humor and likable narrator should have mass appeal. (Aug.)"
Hope.
Not expectation still.
But hope.
For the future and rooted in the past.