“The winner of Master Chef is… Luca. - Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole!”
I ran to my office and finally got onto twitter (something I had been avoiding so that I could watch the show and learn the outcome that way.) I typed that after meeting Luca Manfe only one time, I still somehow felt vested in his win. It was true. As a general rule, I really, really dislike reality shows. I find the personal interactions, at best, distracting and contrived and at worst, harmful examples of conflict resolution. But in this case, after meeting the tall, good looking chef in person I was hooked. Authors often talk nowadays about the changing world of publishing and what it means to our interactions with readers. With so many books being sold electronically, it takes away the ability to create events based on book signings. For some this may seem unimportant, even a blessing. But my interaction with Luca shows why this is so very harmful to building our readership. It is not that I personally know Mr. Manfe in any meaningful way. During my brief interaction with him I found him to be humble (he did not come right out and tell us he was on Master Chef), kind (he took the time to sign an autograph for and take a picture with my daughter) and generous (he gave me his twitter handle and told me he would follow me back.) But most importantly, he captured my attention and my curiosity, and had a specific call to action – watch Master Chef that night – which was easily managed. In what ways, I now ask myself, can I take the lesson I learned from him and apply it to my own life? Granted, my books have a much smaller platform than a prime time t.v. show. But still… the lesson is just as valuable. Find ways to meet my readers. Be willing, although it is difficult, to let people know about my work. And offer an easy way to learn more about me and my writing. And, while the first and last items may seem like the difficult ones, it is actually the middle one, being willing to share my news, that is most difficult for me. Everyone has important things they have done or are doing. No one has time to look up my website, or read my book. But what if Luca had thought this way? (Or, perhaps he did, but he forced himself out of his comfort zone.) It is true that I too was proud of my work, was in fact going the very next day to pick up the print version of my book. As well, it was our first night in NY. We were hot, tired, and distracted by the sights and sounds. On the surface we should not have had time to chat about his life event, or to watch his show when it came on. But we did. And now I feel as if, not only was I in some small way part of an amazing event, but also through it, made a new friend… And this, ultimately, is why personal interaction is so very important- Because life is fundamentally personal. Here’s to you Luca! I can’t wait to someday eat in your new restaurant. Ole, Ole, Ole Ole! Did you watch Master Chef? Who were you rooting for? Or, do you have a favorite chef in general? You know I am on a campaign to interact personally here… And to prove it I’m giving away a copy of my book BETTING JESSICA to one lucky commenter during the month of September. Leave a comment for any of my blog posts and at the end of each month I will randomly select one visitor/commenter to receive a free download of my book. (Note: winner will be notified by a reply linked to their original comment…. Check back at the end of the month for directions on how to claim your prize!)
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“…through dedication and love…”
The wind whipped the white cloth hung from the makeshift marquee, obscuring and then revealing the bride and groom who stood underneath it. Over the roar of the ocean we could just barely make out some of the words the minister was saying. But, in any case, the iconic scene did not require words for interpretation. It matters not whether the wedding takes place in a church, on a beach or in a town hall. Anymore, it is possible to see all sorts of colors in the wedding dress. And the cliché wedding topper of the bride and groom has been replaced by all sorts of cake decorations (not to mention the possibility of two grooms or two brides). So what is it then that in an instant captures the essence of the moment so purely that anyone observing knows a union is taking place? Somewhere in the forests of southern Oregon, known as OR-7, wanders far from the spot where he was born (in Eastern Oregon). Romantics like to think he is searching for a mate, something wolves are known to do. But it is a long trek for a wolf, west of the Cascades, where there has not been a confirmed sighting of a wolf since 1937. (Find more at OPB here.) Mating, by definition, is a social endeavor. Weddings were created to reflect this. It might be sacred vows repeated in front of 400 people, or hand-written vows said in front of those most loved by the couple. Either way, we know a wedding when we see two people, standing up in front of a group, sharing their love in a public way. In four weeks my husband and I celebrate our 15 year anniversary. For our fifth we repeated our vows. For our tenth we re-visited the church where we were wed. And this time we plan to get away to Las Vegas for some couple time. We decided that since we would be there we would, tongue in cheek, renew our vows at a drive-thru wedding chapel. While this started as a funny thing to do, there is something about celebrating our 15 years in the wedding capitol of the world that feels meaningful in a new way. If the wedding celebrates the promises at the beginning, then the renewal surely pays homage to the love and dedication it takes to make them last along the way. And what better message could there be to share with all of those just starting off on their journey? Have you done anything fun to celebrate a special anniversary? I love hearing from my readers. And to prove it I’m giving away a copy of my book BETTING JESSICA to one lucky commenter during the month of September. Leave a comment for any of my blog posts and at the end of each month I will randomly select one visitor/commenter to receive a free download of my book. (Note: winner will be notified by a reply linked to their original comment…. Check back at the end of the month for directions on how to claim your prize!) |
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June 2020
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