Sunday, November 12, 2017

Tonic for terrible days

My brother has been trying to send this to me for about two years, or whenever you gave me copies of Patrick's books to pass along. This was on the transport plane enroute to one of his deployments in Afghanistan.


If you ask me how to get through the tough days of being an agent, writer, editor, or any other person involved in publishing, I'll just show you this picture. A guy on his way to a war zone gets a brief respite with a book I had a part of bringing in to the world.

Honestly, it doesn't get better than this.

21 comments:

CynthiaMc said...

I love this picture.

Department of Defense on Twitter yesterday asked veterans to post pictures of themselves in uniform so they can retweet. It was awesome. They retweet one of my son and I.

Nano-ing at Disney today. Great fun!
Right now we'reat Port Orleans. Next stop the Polynesian then the Grand Floridian. If you're in the neighborhood stop by.

Lennon Faris said...

Thank you, Janet. This morning and weekend were terribly stressful with work and this was such a good reminder that I've got it better than my brain would have me believe.

Glad for this soldier to have a little respite.

Hope everyone is NaNo-ing away, or enjoying their Sunday!

Beth Carpenter said...

*smiling*

Colin Smith said...
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Colin Smith said...
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Colin Smith said...

Cynthia: The last time we were at Disney, we dined at the Polynesian. My family showed their love for me by getting me up on stage with the Polynesian dancers. Needless to say, I do Polynesian dancing like a white Englishman ("No, move your hips!") It was embarrassing. For me, anyway. Thankfully, all photographic evidence of the occasion has been burned. I hope. :)

E.M. Goldsmith said...

All books are magical. :)

Stacy said...

And that's a great one! I mean, all of Patrick Lee's stuff is great, but that one holds a special place for me, since it's the first book of his that I read.

Cecilia Ortiz Luna said...


I'm None-noing today, unfortunately. Will resume the good fight tomorrow.

To my writing buddies here at the Reef, just keep swimming!

Sharyn Ekbergh said...

Yes!
and think of all the teenagers feeling someone understands them when they open a book!
and us kids who really wanted to find a magical door to somewhere else!
and the very old people who spend their days with a book and a cat!

books are important

books will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no books!

Ann said...

This is so great. Thank you!

Ardenwolfe said...

God Bless soldiers and their families. It's a life like no others. Lord keep them safe.

John Davis Frain said...

Fantastic picture.

And a wonderful line delivered by Sharyn.
"Books will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no books!"

Indeed.

Dena Pawling said...



Awesome photo!

My Navy son's last day in active duty is this coming Tuesday November 14. It's technically a medical/disability retirement so he'll continue to draw a monthly salary. He's relocating to Seattle where his aunt will help him find an apartment and enroll in college.

He's coming to visit us in December!! Can you tell that mom is very excited?!

I'm very pro-military, even before my son enlisted. Did you know there's a Books for Soldiers website?

http://booksforsoldiers.com/

I hope everyone had a great Veterans Day weekend. Be sure to thank a veteran for their service.

Joseph S. said...

I actually bought two of Patrick Lee's novels this week ("Runner" and "Signal"). Now I need to find the time to read them.

Joseph S. said...

P.S. - The soldier bears a striking resemblance to my father (when my father was in his early 20's). Threw me for a second.

CynthiaMc said...

Colin - I would have paid good money to see that performance!

Had a blast writing around Disney with the Orlando Nanos. A group from Lakeland came up as well. There were over 50 of us. Our group pic is on my Twitter.

It was exhausting but I got a lot done.

Apparently all I need to write well is a leather club chair, a giant chandelier overhead, and a guy in a tux playing a Steinway concert grand a few feet away.

Apologies for all the typos earlier. Apparently I can't type well while I'm swinging from a hanging strap while Wild Bill Hickok drives a giant bus on a tiny back road.

Good times!

Anonymous said...

What a great pic. Thank you, whoever shared it.

I think this is actually on topic. Have you all read this gorgeous essay in Uncanny Magazine? It's long and I bookmarked it to read when I had time, so maybe everyone has already seen it. It's by Filipino writer Dimas Ilaw:  The Shape of the Darkness As It Overtakes Us. I can't recommend this highly enough.

Like most great writing, you think you know what it's about. Until it quietly reveals itself to be so much more. A powerful message for writers. And readers. It's also a compelling and heartbreaking perspective on what's been happening in the Philippines. Remarkable voice.

If that's not enough to interest you, from a craft standpoint it's a deftly written example of intricate non-linear patchwork storytelling structure (I'm sure there's a more official term for that, but that's how I describe it). Really, make the time to read this.

Unknown said...

This picture reminds me of why I’m writing a middle grade - for the children and spouses separated in times of deployment and war.

Deb said...

The words escape me. Hard for a writer to admit, I guess. What an amazing picture. I write so others don't feel alone - or so they can escape. Thank you for helping bring this book to the world so this brave man has a moment of enjoyment before he's thrust into hell.

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