tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59464589376046080092024-02-18T18:40:20.027-08:00Clear Heart BlogThe Heart of a CarpenterJoe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.comBlogger601125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-84982932515650479192015-07-10T11:49:00.000-07:002015-07-10T11:52:08.664-07:00there is magic in concretethere is magic in concrete<br />
if you believe<br />
<br />
trenching, <br />
building forms<br />
at some point it’s inevitable:<br />
you are on your knees in mud<br />
your eye to the earth, your butt<br />
to the air<br />
for meticulous muscle-work<br />
<br />
chop rebar in a shower of sparks<br />
weaving steel rod, suspended<br />
by wires, twist pliers<br />
learn the names:<br />
doughboy, waler<br />
pier cage, stirrup<br />
<br />
the mix, the pour<br />
no second chances now<br />
spread and level<br />
wading in boots<br />
shake the gray depths, vibrate<br />
voids not welcome<br />
<br />
then you work the surface <br />
flat, in circles, <br />
with the tool called a ‘float’<br />
(because that’s what it does)<br />
buoyant on a gray puddle <br />
and here’s the enchantment<br />
or else I’m just weird but<br />
with fingertips on the handle you can<br />
sense the wet concrete, the mojo<br />
like a sleeping wet bear<br />
solid in mass yet grudgingly liquid<br />
sort of bouncy <br />
as you stroke<br />
<br />
hold the leading edge<br />
at a slight upward angle<br />
avoid plowing<br />
pebbles disappear, embedded<br />
the tool is sucking cement <br />
a final thin film, a pretty coat<br />
over guts of gravel and sand<br />
<br />
for a finish, swipe smooth <br />
or brush<br />
or groove,<br />
edging, an art<br />
now hose the mixer, shovels, tools, <br />
hose your hands and boots<br />
as the water disappears, so shall you<br />
unless you scratch a name<br />
<br />
honor the skilled arms, <br />
the corded legs and vertebral backs<br />
the labor that shaped<br />
this odd stone<br />
sculpted, engineered<br />
implanted with bolts<br />
forgotten<br />
half-buried in dirt<br />
bearing our lives<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
©copyright 2015 by Joe Cottonwood. All rights reserved.<br />
Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-42327524914481345822014-10-22T10:13:00.000-07:002014-10-22T13:43:34.097-07:00The Joe and Terry Show: Pas de Deux<style>
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</style> <span style="font-family: Courier; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I'll be giving a poetry reading this
Thursday, October 23, with my good friend Terry Adams at the Peninsula Ballet
Theatre in San Mateo (California). Being at the ballet theatre, we'll be the "Pas de deux."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Terry and I have become a rather popular
duo. They call us the "Joe and Terry Show." We trade poems, each
trying to harmonize or counterpoint or somehow riff on what the other has just
read. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We open with a few stretches and calisthenics because one should always
loosen up before a poetry workout. It's fun. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCi6xRP7vNVzx_BeGu_N5yihLgA_Uipp67hAA7bEIubeRYQJRi3mqahQGiScnzQIMyF50d8l4A2SUU2Z4R_HvUytx-NVSfZZmaLph_z_cL4Y5WCUNqor9OUjoFeLem5wwWCs5vd1U3aM/s1600/SullivansMay2010-Terry-Joe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCi6xRP7vNVzx_BeGu_N5yihLgA_Uipp67hAA7bEIubeRYQJRi3mqahQGiScnzQIMyF50d8l4A2SUU2Z4R_HvUytx-NVSfZZmaLph_z_cL4Y5WCUNqor9OUjoFeLem5wwWCs5vd1U3aM/s1600/SullivansMay2010-Terry-Joe.jpg" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Terry and I both have spent our
lives in the construction trades, so we take a non-academic and somewhat
irreverent approach to poetry and if nobody stops me I have a tendency to break
into song at some point while Terry might break into bombastic psychedelic preaching
(briefly, both of us).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAu2jxvLHk9y-beVrOFKkY5wQAqCAyvLwW4QkvGP4vnVgDukJTQTosAKi91bhA8JCeP0IvEPu-oPU5OlGWLLydfi-pR8Jq6iTg3p-sdWz0aEiDrkcu7WuUisinEy21G9ps1oE31G1TI_c/s1600/TerryAdams-e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAu2jxvLHk9y-beVrOFKkY5wQAqCAyvLwW4QkvGP4vnVgDukJTQTosAKi91bhA8JCeP0IvEPu-oPU5OlGWLLydfi-pR8Jq6iTg3p-sdWz0aEiDrkcu7WuUisinEy21G9ps1oE31G1TI_c/s1600/TerryAdams-e.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The theater
(they call it "theatre") apparently is plush and large, which will be
a new experience for us as we normally read to small audiences in the backrooms
of bookstores and our local pub. We'll be preceded by an art show reception and
followed by an open mic. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghY_rOZMKb032Q-T8Z6dKj0HJxQ8iU-99fJXPrnmHzEqbuYW4xMGOwUZSvfDWKhFf-yEPdPe7si6jZolagIhd6h5HaXmpuP7xyhwMkSVYAqtSmbNm9k8BJclD8zIxwelRiEhyTZihvxLI/s1600/JoeSingsItalian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghY_rOZMKb032Q-T8Z6dKj0HJxQ8iU-99fJXPrnmHzEqbuYW4xMGOwUZSvfDWKhFf-yEPdPe7si6jZolagIhd6h5HaXmpuP7xyhwMkSVYAqtSmbNm9k8BJclD8zIxwelRiEhyTZihvxLI/s1600/JoeSingsItalian.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Actually we have no idea what sort of audience we'll
gather, if any. What works in a small room might seem utterly asinine in a
larger venue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I'm a little
nervous, which is probably a good thing. If anybody can make it to San Mateo on
a Thursday night, I'd love your support. The Peninsula Ballet Theatre is at
1880 South Grant Street, San Mateo (just off Highways 101 and 92). The art
reception is at 6:30 pm, the reading starts at 7:00. Hey, bring a poem and read
at the open mic.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span>
Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-80435167109869785972014-09-27T18:44:00.000-07:002014-09-27T18:44:10.921-07:00Free Audiobook of 99 Jobs to the first responder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7umj64QST1q-kXiYuWh9_p7o_GlbpTw4JZy2G4ib2hDS-89ja09DrBHqvSlOFofVRP64UZ343GA5FGHNJIPdJOEMeQ-M8YewoPF8fYEDnCQC6M5gMk0v8izCfDieBpnI8zEojY2dRmvw/s1600/99JobsAudibleDisplay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7umj64QST1q-kXiYuWh9_p7o_GlbpTw4JZy2G4ib2hDS-89ja09DrBHqvSlOFofVRP64UZ343GA5FGHNJIPdJOEMeQ-M8YewoPF8fYEDnCQC6M5gMk0v8izCfDieBpnI8zEojY2dRmvw/s1600/99JobsAudibleDisplay.jpg" height="148" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>99 Jobs: Blood, Sweat, and Houses</b> is now available as an audiobook at the iTunes store or at Audible.com. I've got a free coupon I'll give to the first person to send me an email (joecottonwood at gmail). But, hey, it's worth buying. I read it in my own lovable raspy voice, so it's an authentic experience.<br />
<br />
If you want it on CDs (and the sound quality is better that way) I can send you a set of ten CDs, which includes the entire audiobook. For that I'll have to charge $40 to cover the expenses. <br />
<br />
The link to the iTunes store is <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/99-jobs-blood-sweat-houses/id908495773?uo=4" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
The link to the Audible store is <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Bios-Memoirs/99-Jobs-Audiobook/B00MJ1MT66/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srImg?qid=1411867353&sr=1-1" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
For CDs, shoot me an email.<br />
<br />
<br />Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-17420181326375590962014-09-22T14:46:00.000-07:002014-09-22T14:48:12.007-07:00I am utterly embarrassed to be a member of the Authors GuildI am utterly embarrassed to be a member of the Authors Guild.<br />
<br />
I joined the Guild about 30 years ago when I was first published by a mainstream publishing house. The Authors Guild back then seemed to be fighting for my rights as an author against the big bad publishing industry. The Authors Guild fought for me while I published six books with the big guys.<br />
<br />
Times change. Now, like so many not-exactly-bestselling writers, I'm indie.<br />
<br />
As an indie writer, it's painfully clear that the Authors Guild is fighting FOR the big bad publishing industry. They are puppets of Hachette. And they are clueless about the needs and issues confronting indie writers. What the hell happened?<br />
<br />
My Authors Guild membership is up for renewal on September 30. After three decades, I am not renewing. I'm not angry, just sad. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, you can still buy my books from Amazon. The big bad publishing industry won't sell my books, but Amazon will. Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-2681187625090470312014-08-26T16:55:00.000-07:002014-08-26T16:55:54.427-07:00For Labor Day: 99 Jobs at a penny a job!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXEZmSZ0vZ_xkTPnpiqPMkkfvBC5yU-yeM254KUpiqiDwOuY2kl8VRHbO-7qEYa_rhUwwYwBNq_nNQGShkXzjFLYg7Mdq-dOYtBww_PWW8K4g2ebIm1lKXOdGMux-ddqrI0pNEUGW3yg/s1600/Labor-Day-Picnic-Clip-Art-Pictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXEZmSZ0vZ_xkTPnpiqPMkkfvBC5yU-yeM254KUpiqiDwOuY2kl8VRHbO-7qEYa_rhUwwYwBNq_nNQGShkXzjFLYg7Mdq-dOYtBww_PWW8K4g2ebIm1lKXOdGMux-ddqrI0pNEUGW3yg/s1600/Labor-Day-Picnic-Clip-Art-Pictures.jpg" height="302" width="320" /></a></div>
To celebrate Labor Day USA, I'm doing a one-week price reduction of <i><b>99 Jobs</b></i> to 99 cents in the e-book editions. That's a penny a job!<br />
<br />
Here are the links for<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/99-Jobs-Blood-Sweat-Houses-ebook/dp/B00GMR6RGG/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407795915&sr=1-1&keywords=99+jobs" target="_blank">Kindle</a>,<br />
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/nz/book/99-jobs-blood-sweat-and-houses/id757679724?mt=11" target="_blank">iBook</a>, <br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/99-jobs-joe-cottonwood/1117474523?ean=9780615909448" target="_blank">Nook</a>, <br />
<a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/99-jobs-blood-sweat-and-houses" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <br />
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/377835" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>.<br />
Any edition of the e-book will be priced at 99 cents through Labor Day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNOZSiPipfvaNdkSfCdnyPKaRKd8H7UdV7WX8ZfIP2m134qRmbds89KtPb7San4ZLnvnM2JnKOUb6Sf6fKlekzOPCSxalGGQmc0TNCFqI9y3_mYbFsSV55_GuO1dVoMAIfip5zDa2Snw/s1600/99Indie-72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNOZSiPipfvaNdkSfCdnyPKaRKd8H7UdV7WX8ZfIP2m134qRmbds89KtPb7San4ZLnvnM2JnKOUb6Sf6fKlekzOPCSxalGGQmc0TNCFqI9y3_mYbFsSV55_GuO1dVoMAIfip5zDa2Snw/s1600/99Indie-72.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
If you're in the United Kingdom, you can celebrate Labor Day, too. You'll get the same price reduction at <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/99-Jobs-Blood-Sweat-Houses-ebook/dp/B00GMR6RGG/" target="_blank">UK Kindle</a> or <a href="http://www.nook.com/gb/ebooks/99-jobs-blood-sweat-and-houses-by-joe-cottonwood/2940045438582" target="_blank">Nook UK</a> (it may take a few hours -- or days -- for the price reduction to trickle out to all the worldwide servers).<br />
<br />
Happy Labor Day everybody. <br />
<br />Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-87341071679221194202014-07-28T11:50:00.000-07:002014-07-28T11:54:32.338-07:00Another honor -- Kirkus Starred Review!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoulSv4w-lhUd9DslJBeqZndgZQ8iuLjSm8JM1P1RDmJnDLjTkGfPWQ-jazcPbsT80krh0PoUZZgWXYABaZ2Pwh9HefQgvBgkWhZ_HJhzqr7Xy_OSkzwMINn5vrxcCPc4tgtys9K6j9s/s1600/Kirkus-99Jobs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoulSv4w-lhUd9DslJBeqZndgZQ8iuLjSm8JM1P1RDmJnDLjTkGfPWQ-jazcPbsT80krh0PoUZZgWXYABaZ2Pwh9HefQgvBgkWhZ_HJhzqr7Xy_OSkzwMINn5vrxcCPc4tgtys9K6j9s/s1600/Kirkus-99Jobs.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was reluctant to submit <i><b>99 Jobs</b></i> to the Kirkus review service because they are reputed to be the grumpy curmudgeons of the book review biz. On the other hand, a good review from them would be an honest honor. And lo and behold, they not only gave it a great review but also a Star! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">For an indie writer, a starred review from Kirkus is a rare and lovely accolade.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's what they said:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">A general contractor and author looks back on a 35-year career contending with a variety of houses and people—most in
disrepair. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beginning when the author was just starting out as a novice handyman in the 1970s, this collection of short essays
roughly progresses through to the present day, when, despite numerous tumbles off ladders and at least one impaling,
Cottonwood is still plying his trade. The many blue-collar jobs that Cottonwood (<span style="font-style: italic;">Clear Heart</span>, 2009, etc.) wonderfully
describes in his latest offering may involve worm-gear saws, ladders, lighting fixtures and the like, but they’re really all
about people. Some are wealthy, some poor, but all are frail in some way and in need of some proper shoring—that
includes the ace carpenter himself. Each vignette confidently stands on its own, whether several pages long or only a few
paragraphs. The robust snapshots of the carpenter’s working life toiling in crawl spaces and basements around Southern
California over the last four decades consistently play on important themes of mortality, class and personal fulfillment.
Elegant entries like “A Working-Class Hippie” and “The Airplane Room” touch on the often ephemeral nature of close
human relationships. A vague sense of melancholy pervades much of Cottonwood’s work, even in the midst of relative
triumph, such as when Cottonwood receives a check for a job well-done: “This simple act always fascinates me: the
transfer of wealth. So casual. So vital. A rich man of immense power, a tradesman with none. What if he refused?” </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Expertly crafted narrative nonfiction that reveals the framework of people’s lives. </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">They got it wrong about "Southern California," but I guess from Manhattan anything west of the Hudson River is southern Cal. For the record, it's mostly about the San Francisco Bay Area with stops in upstate New York and St. Louis and Colorado and a bit of Maryland.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can see the official review at <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/joe-cottonwood/99-jobs/">https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/joe-cottonwood/99-jobs/</a>.</span></span></div>
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Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-51573410886660922082014-06-03T15:33:00.000-07:002014-06-03T15:36:58.207-07:0099 Jobs -- Best Non-Fiction Book of 2014!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuouh97w3U_rxdy73d_FlafyLcimUcPhLIUFUAIBJdubBX4d1art3dO4jMsA0KfYXu_xqG0bSCR9D2zGx3nc6rSat_HUnsKBW1i3p3yi_eHSykLu3sCNCX0BLrDJ8qf6AP0A6j_ImQPmY/s1600/99Jobs-FirstPlace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuouh97w3U_rxdy73d_FlafyLcimUcPhLIUFUAIBJdubBX4d1art3dO4jMsA0KfYXu_xqG0bSCR9D2zGx3nc6rSat_HUnsKBW1i3p3yi_eHSykLu3sCNCX0BLrDJ8qf6AP0A6j_ImQPmY/s1600/99Jobs-FirstPlace.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a>Just announced at the Book Expo America in New York: My book <i>99 Jobs: Blood, Sweat, and Houses</i> has won the 2014 IRDA First Place as the "Best Non-Fiction of the Year." (IRDA is<a href="http://indiereader.com/2014/05/meet-2014-irda-winners-buy-books/" target="_blank"> IndieReader Discovery Award</a>, sponsored by IndieReader.com.) Not "among the best." Not "one of the top five." They called it "THE BEST." First place. The best non-fiction indie book of 2014.<br />
<br />
I'm feeling a little proud.<br />
<br />
In addition to the honor, the prize includes a free Kindle Paperwhite 3G. I've never had an e-reader, so this will be a new experience for me. <br />
<br />
But -- wow. "The best." If you see me smiling, now you know why.<br />
<br />
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<br />Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-47468876723789344442014-03-12T11:36:00.000-07:002014-03-12T11:36:31.325-07:00Peter Korn, Why We Make Things and Why It Matters: The Education of a Craftsman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm a craftsman in two worlds, as a writer and as a construction worker. I don't write the kind of novels that win highfalutin awards, and I don't build the kind of houses that win architectural honors, but I'm pretty good at what I do. I craft. I make a living. So I'm always interested in how other people integrate their values, their families, their simple need to earn a living into their passion for craft.<br />
<br />
Peter Korn is a writer, an educator, a furniture maker. As a craftsman he discovered that he couldn't make a living -- or sustain a marriage -- chiseling mortise and tenon joints one by one, chair by chair. He could teach, though. And he could write. In this book, he's a philosopher as he tries to come to grips with what it means to be a craft worker. <br /><br />We view books through our own personal filters, so here's mine: what interested me was not the philosophy but the memoir aspect, the people Korn met and his own growth as a person and as a furniture maker. He started like me as a carpenter on a construction crew. He had some advantages I never had -- a private school education, Ivy League college, a father who continually bailed him out of business failures and personal setbacks. I envy that. He had Hodgkin's disease and chemotherapy -- twice. I don't envy that. He developed his own furniture style and then really found his calling as an educator, founding and running the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine. I applaud that. <br /><br />Korn traces the history of how society has changed its appreciation of craft -- first as work, then as skill, and finally as art. Eventually Korn realizes that by embracing a life of craft he was seeking self-fulfillment, seeking "a good life." He also realizes that craft alone is not salvation. He witnesses one man who is a great craftsman but fails in most other aspects of life. <br /><br />Craft itself can be an attempt at redemption. To create something good, one must know something good:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Every man-made thing, be it a chair, a text, or a school, is thought made substance. It is the expression of someone's ... ideas and beliefs.</blockquote>
This book, along with the furniture he made and the school he created, are the expressions of Peter Korn's beliefs. He found his good life.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
My father sang a song to me, and then we would sing it together: <i>The bear went over the mountain</i> (repeated three times). <i>And what do you think he saw? He saw another mountain</i> (repeated three times). <i>And what do you think he did? The bear went over the mountain...</i><br />And on we'd sing. And so it is. As a maker you put one foot in front of the other and you own the journey. Finding creative passion that governs your life may be a curse as well as a blessing, but I would not trade it for anything else I know.</blockquote>
Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-81465601303758995592014-03-08T17:18:00.000-08:002014-05-07T09:43:37.104-07:00Self-publishing Before It Was Cool: A Tale from the Old Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In 1855 an obscure poet named Walt Whitman self-published his first volume, <i>Leaves of Grass</i>. A classic was launched.<br /><br />A hundred and nineteen years later, in 1974 an obscure writer named Joe Cottonwood self-published his first novel, <i>The Naked Computer</i>. Different outcome.<br /><br />Well, okay, semi-self-published. At a San Francisco book fair I met a bearded, bespectacled young man (let's call him Manny) who was hoping to become a small publisher. Manny had just bought a used letterpress and was anxious to try it out. He would set the type himself at no cost. I would pay the other expenses: ink, paper, glue. He'd get half the books and try to sell them; I'd do the same. <br />
<br />
By the 1970s most books were printed by offset printing, with letterpress reserved for artisanal, high quality, limited editions by small publishers. Here was an offer to produce my novel in a letterpress edition with a small publisher imprint at a very low cost. I was delighted.<br />
<br />
So Manny went to work. Badly. With difficulties. The letterpress, in a damp corner of a garage in San Francisco, required hot metal typesetting. A flaw in the Linotype machine allowed hot metal to drip onto the feet of Manny as he was sitting at it, composing type. <br />
<br />
Until he could repair the machine, Manny told me the book would be indefinitely delayed. Meanwhile, he showed me a few already-composed pages which contained numerous typos. When I pointed out all the transposed letters, he couldn't see them. He was simply blind to them. In retrospect, I think he was dyslexic. (At the time, I'd never heard of dyslexia.) Reluctantly he agreed to fix the errors.<br />
<br />
Months passed. Manny could not repair the Linotype. I gave up on the book and was busy writing another. And then one day Manny called to say that his mother had flown out from Brooklyn, bringing chicken soup, and she had repaired the machine. He printed 400 copies of <i>The Naked Computer</i>. I paid him, as I recall, something like $450. <br />
<br />
In classical bookbinding, several pages are printed onto one large sheet of paper, called a signature. When properly folded and combined, these signatures become the leaves of the book. Manny, I learned, was signature-challenged. Due to faulty folding, about half the copies had their pages in the wrong order or else some pages were simply missing. The remaining 200 copies were smudged and off-center. Typos everywhere. It was embarrassing. <br />
<br />
A few copies sold at City Lights Bookstore and other shops. I even got a few fan letters. It was my first novel, and it was crappy but had (I believe) flashes of brilliance. The plot, by the way, is about a man who falls in love with his computer, which has been programmed as a female personality. Bear in mind that this was 1974!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BGI3ddPtjZJ4cTNRyy7ayO_xcjINZld6G3RGuJMsCWPsOT0VFsJyJ6bVOX8BfcoDmsClq0R7CPhOvvZqN88aT7VXZsiBipHQH8iJv61Ajuerji8dSRu3xq90uptt3X9yx2nMd1AIMXo/s1600/Her2013Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BGI3ddPtjZJ4cTNRyy7ayO_xcjINZld6G3RGuJMsCWPsOT0VFsJyJ6bVOX8BfcoDmsClq0R7CPhOvvZqN88aT7VXZsiBipHQH8iJv61Ajuerji8dSRu3xq90uptt3X9yx2nMd1AIMXo/s1600/Her2013Poster.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
My plot preceded <i>Her</i>, the Spike Jonze movie about a man who falls in love with his computer, by forty years. In fact, Spike Jonze was four years old when my book came out. Scarlett Johansson, who is the computer's voice, would not even be born for another ten years. And oh the irony—the script won the Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay.<br />
<br />
I'm not accusing Spike of stealing my idea. I'm sure he's never heard of <i>The Naked Computer</i>. I'm sure many writers have had the same idea of a seductive siren-computer. But I may have been the first.<br />
<br />
Some lessons learned. If you write a novel that is forty years ahead of its time, write it <i>better</i>. Avoid dyslexic typesetters. Wear shoes while operating a Linotype. Bless all handy mothers from Brooklyn.<br />
<br />
There's one copy of <i>The Naked Computer</i> for sale on the Internet. The price is $131.50. Maybe I should put my two remaining copies out there. Who knows—I might yet break even.Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-23227176219703546042014-02-18T09:51:00.001-08:002014-02-18T09:51:34.542-08:00Stamp of Approval from the Industry Giant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthuE4wXASguuLExfjrmgD8kT6qEfUuwFKgnQZbKiXOWj_xL8w18SMx6WW2D7b-lEK4nfBSjdS9fJmGW22sWIBJPPQmgTXzAI9fM0BV29L_MYbO5vztiPb0nRFFfCREDFqykJs4dKl9pw/s1600/PW+cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthuE4wXASguuLExfjrmgD8kT6qEfUuwFKgnQZbKiXOWj_xL8w18SMx6WW2D7b-lEK4nfBSjdS9fJmGW22sWIBJPPQmgTXzAI9fM0BV29L_MYbO5vztiPb0nRFFfCREDFqykJs4dKl9pw/s1600/PW+cover.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
The current issue of <i>Publishers Weekly</i> has a review of <i>99 Jobs</i>. The words they use are:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"a gritty and entertaining memoir"</b><br />
<b>"colorful characters and situations"</b><br />
<b>"Cottonwood's
prose is lively and his stories often charming. Readers will find it
easy to relate to the author and his experiences, which are likely to
appeal to anyone who has worked a less-than-perfect job."</b></blockquote>
I'm delighted. In the main trade magazine of the big publishing industry, a good review by <i>Publishers Weekly</i> is an important stamp of approval for a small indie publisher such as myself.<br />
<br />
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<br />Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-31683700032005902732014-01-17T19:40:00.002-08:002014-01-17T19:40:53.595-08:00Mike Rose!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1l7LkNaOjcXWsCU47cpywZ__Vy6bRZ67CaPOgi9cthyphenhyphenlY2m9SRJioUmtv58WFJFzfEbbgF-hBII6InTTL4Cej-PnmCl2DEOohStpASHmMIlXM0Q0MYirGN_B9roWKLSGAQd4peRLvFo/s1600/MikeRoseTheMindAtWork.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mike Rose is one of my heroes. He is a guru of blue collar values and the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143035576/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143035576&linkCode=as2&tag=joecott-20" target="_blank"><i>The Mind at Work</i></a>,
a book that lives up to its description as he "demolishes the long-held
notion that people who work with their hands make up a less intelligent
class. He shows us waitresses making lightning-fast calculations,
carpenters handling complex spatial mathematics, and hairdressers,
plumbers, and electricians with their aesthetic and diagnostic acumen." I
totally recommend the book. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">So I sent a copy of <i>99 Jobs</i>
to Mike Rose. He responded, and posted this review on Amazon: "This is a
delightful book, full of engaging stories about work and working life.
It is humane and warmly funny." He used a pseudonym to post the review,
but he enthusiastically encouraged me to identify him and use the quote.
Then he bought another copy and sent it to a craftsman-friend, who
wrote back: "I've only read five paragraphs coming back from the mailbox
and I'm already laughing out loud."</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>". . . a delightful book, full of engaging stories about work and working life. . . humane and warmly funny."</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>—Mike Rose, author of <i>The Mind at Work.</i></b></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Word
of mouth, plus a couple of Amazon reviews, are my only publicity. A
self-published book isn't going to get any help from the big media. You
won't see <i>99 Jobs</i> reviewed in the <i>New York Times</i>. Oprah won't be plugging it (though she might like it).</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you've read <i>99 Jobs</i> and happen to like it, please tell a friend. Maybe even post a review on Goodreads or Amazon. Help people find it.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
few days ago, the UPS driver delivered a package to my house and said,
"Hey! I'm reading your book!" Somebody on the route had bought a copy
for him. Made my day. I hope you all have a good one, too.</span></span>Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-26966874019345455102013-12-14T17:12:00.001-08:002013-12-14T17:12:11.090-08:00I'm giving away 9 copies of 99 Jobs<div id="goodreadsGiveawayWidget73627"><!-- Show static html as a placeholder in case js is not enabled -->
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<h2 style="margin: 0 0 10px !important; padding: 0 !important; font-style: italic; font-size: 20px; line-height: 20px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center; color: #555;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com" target="_new">Goodreads</a> Book Giveaway
</h2>
<div style="float: left;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18953056"><img alt="99 Jobs by Joe Cottonwood" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1385430457l/18953056.jpg" title="99 Jobs by Joe Cottonwood" width="100" /></a>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0 0 0 110px !important; padding: 0 0 0 0 !important;">
<h3 style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18953056">99 Jobs</a>
</h3>
<h4 style="margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/511557.Joe_Cottonwood" style="text-decoration: none;">Joe Cottonwood</a>
</h4>
<div class="giveaway_details">
<p>
Giveaway ends December 26, 2013.
</p>
<p>
See the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/73627" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a>
at Goodreads.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;"></div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/73627" class="goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink">Enter to win</a>
</div>
</div><script src="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/73627" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script>Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-18334669963313263742013-12-08T13:00:00.000-08:002013-12-08T13:00:10.706-08:00Potato Karma
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back
in the 1970s I published a vagabonding novel called <i>Famous Potatoes</i>. I used to get letters
and still get email now and then
that all say the same thing: somebody handed me this beat-up copy of <i>Famous
Potatoes</i>, or I found it on a bookshelf in a commune in Nicaragua, or somebody
in the Peace Corps left this in my hut in Africa, and so on… I think I
must've sold about a dozen copies total which somehow have circulated all over
the planet to be read by thousands of people. Not a profitable way to make a
living, but great karma which will profit me someday.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last
week I got another of those emails. This time, It was from a man named Gene who
had borrowed a copy of <i>Famous Potatoes</i> from his college friend in 1979, and
then loaned his borrowed copy to, Gene writes, "a sixties holdover
character who lived out of his car and in his lingering drugged out fog, at
some point this guy vanishing and the friend's copy of <i>Famous Potatoes</i>
disappearing with him. This struck me as a karmically fitting fate for <i>Famous
Potatoes</i> but it struck my more literal-minded friend as me just having
lost his copy of the book."</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ever
since, apparently, Gene's friend has been giving him good-natured hell about
losing the book in one of those tropes that run through a long friendship.
After all these years, Gene found me on Facebook and wrote to me asking if there were a way to get
another copy, so he could finally give it back to his friend. So I mailed an
old beat-up copy of mine directly to the friend in New Jersey with the
inscription: "Now stop giving Gene a hard time about this." </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last week,
34 years after loaning the book, it arrived in the mailbox of the unsuspecting
friend. He immediately called Gene and said, "Holy shit. You are a man of your word.
I’m sorry I ever doubted you. This is absolutely awesome. This is
just unreal. Thank you.” Followed by: “How did you manage to copy
Joe’s handwriting and make it look so real and get it sent out from California?”</span></span></div>
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Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-64202069443786016452013-11-27T08:48:00.000-08:002013-11-27T08:48:09.549-08:00On the airI'm on the radio today, KQED San Francisco, the Perspective show. It
will be repeated on Sunday. If you're out of radio range, as most of you
are, you can hear me at:<br />
<a href="http://www.kqed.org/a/perspectives/R201311270735" target="_blank">http://www.kqed.org/a/perspectives/R201311270735</a><br />
<br />
It's a two-minute reading of "The Secret Value of Junk," one of the stories in <i><b>99 Jobs</b></i>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iBHk17vgwina7ghssaiDOK0qW-IVtCBxBS7-R_mhN9a-n0KSf1HVPYi0ntBmxjrwaqx2PwuF48xdTDvBAuKHV1jv66DmRpHUQSuBFbd9Q5qT1Us7kkB3TRwAg2M54_IapmwoHiX_fy4/s1600/joecottonwood450.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iBHk17vgwina7ghssaiDOK0qW-IVtCBxBS7-R_mhN9a-n0KSf1HVPYi0ntBmxjrwaqx2PwuF48xdTDvBAuKHV1jv66DmRpHUQSuBFbd9Q5qT1Us7kkB3TRwAg2M54_IapmwoHiX_fy4/s320/joecottonwood450.jpg" width="320" /></a>They snapped this photo of me, looking like I just stepped off a construction site.<br />
<br />
Oh well. We can't all be glamorous. <br />
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<br /></div>
Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-64998358479037609782013-11-20T10:26:00.003-08:002013-11-20T10:26:37.137-08:00Bookmarks, bookmarks, bookmarks...Maybe all that sawdust from the Kesey lumber went to my brain. I underestimated how much work the bookmarks would require. If
you're a carpenter, you're probably familiar with that sinking sensation
when you've put in a whole day and accomplished one-fifth of what you
expected.<br />
<br />
About those Kesey bookmarks: I invited <a href="http://clearheartblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/terry-adams.html" target="_blank">Terry Adams</a> to join me and <a href="http://clearheartblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/james-adams-local-salvage.html" target="_blank">James Adams</a>
(no relation) in the production. Terry is a natural for the job. Terry
is the man who rescued Ken Kesey's house from collapse and rebuilt it
after a flood. Terry donated the floorboards and water tank lumber.
Here's Terry routing "99 Jobs" into some bookmarks:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfXwbcvTwltlcntaJTTg_dlO1xH8MSHhyjbu-YYXB70TDL2-ngHy5HH030odujCpEgjjGZztI1knckscVVSWP4iWQd-myArHZOGLjk7WUi1PfGNcqaW5qflb8asL3eKo0_x50gpuQJIM/s1600/Terry+routing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfXwbcvTwltlcntaJTTg_dlO1xH8MSHhyjbu-YYXB70TDL2-ngHy5HH030odujCpEgjjGZztI1knckscVVSWP4iWQd-myArHZOGLjk7WUi1PfGNcqaW5qflb8asL3eKo0_x50gpuQJIM/s400/Terry+routing.jpg" width="321" /></a></div>
Terry could only work for a short while because it was his 70th
birthday and he was about to spend the day motorcycling, which is
more important than anything.<br />
<br />
About that routing. It's hard.
You're holding a five-pound, vibrating router in one hand while trying
to write on a thin piece of wood. Wood grain and worm holes try to
redirect the router. And handwriting was always my worst skill in grade
school. Here are some that I had to reject:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQ3qcopMvwLSa0EYvMxDE_iTMgahcf8-S96H4RaPgHBXJtx3xFSeQdxWsOxZmiqkRoHrGLGJTJ3No232tpc6S6Gv4BGLFF6p7r5d5MkixvagQvRBQPFFmxGBx8y0kp4fcaJcGtQtR1Dg/s1600/kesey+bookmarks+lo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQ3qcopMvwLSa0EYvMxDE_iTMgahcf8-S96H4RaPgHBXJtx3xFSeQdxWsOxZmiqkRoHrGLGJTJ3No232tpc6S6Gv4BGLFF6p7r5d5MkixvagQvRBQPFFmxGBx8y0kp4fcaJcGtQtR1Dg/s400/kesey+bookmarks+lo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The top bookmark, which seems to say "99 Jabs," is a fir floorboard
from the Kesey house. As you can see, worms found those floors to be
quite tasty. Maybe it was the chemicals spilled in the kitchen. The
bottom bookmark is redwood from the Kesey water tank. My hand simply
wandered on that one. I blame the sawdust fumes.<br />
<br />
Anyway, we're
having fun. I'm sorry about the delay, but hey, that's construction. I
should have everything out in the mail by next Monday.<br />
<br />
And here's a comment from somebody who saw the wormy bookmarks:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Joe, your wormy floorboards reminded me of an Ogden Nash poem (which I may accidentally misquote):<br />
<br />
The Termite
<br />
-------------------
<br />
Some primal termite knocked on wood,
<br />
And tasted it, and found it good.
<br />
And that is why your cousin May
<br />
Fell through the parlor floor today.</blockquote>
<br />Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-765310178119592832013-11-04T11:03:00.002-08:002013-11-04T11:03:53.887-08:00(Quickly) Opinions, pleaseIn less than 24 hours I need to make a final decision on the book cover. Here are two versions:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGmuxCw2qAKSfUNctOKhCj6BwnsohnBA64Chu4sUnTo_xqHPJzTTpqhnUTqpOLcK0cMHqY-iBin0S4i7XW4rtS6W7r2HWru8ofcuj8ftKsr7aSqcWbmCXIUwGZKUoxvzotyW6tDEabEI/s1600/99+Jobs+plain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGmuxCw2qAKSfUNctOKhCj6BwnsohnBA64Chu4sUnTo_xqHPJzTTpqhnUTqpOLcK0cMHqY-iBin0S4i7XW4rtS6W7r2HWru8ofcuj8ftKsr7aSqcWbmCXIUwGZKUoxvzotyW6tDEabEI/s400/99+Jobs+plain.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6136cwDzvULyslz_JuAMV-ypeQ2KTf5TTdgyo-dmvHuoVqqWVgH1Si3dzR7IKzh35ulVIgBWBL9gUi45_Jww1bBzNrV8Ib89Nm23yPFTDB75VpuZNOllYobt7FQrmrLP3Iay3iqsNTI/s1600/99+Jobs+stencil.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6136cwDzvULyslz_JuAMV-ypeQ2KTf5TTdgyo-dmvHuoVqqWVgH1Si3dzR7IKzh35ulVIgBWBL9gUi45_Jww1bBzNrV8Ib89Nm23yPFTDB75VpuZNOllYobt7FQrmrLP3Iay3iqsNTI/s400/99+Jobs+stencil.jpg" width="265" /> </a></div>
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<br /></div>
Which do you prefer? Or a combo of the two?<br />
<br />
Here's the back cover. I think it's pretty well nailed down, but if you have comments, please let me know. Time's a-wastin'!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNX-IUdruHHVX5EKa4V0iLsY2Sjcq82yfpHpiRxXqzc-mgt81ErJNMztp4a-04OPyTyG5NH1xBykcPYQnUtqc-Ei1q4PDqWaFh8CYLJthfhk51FD2yseohlDBVzBNB6TZRfJSKVhE9tqY/s1600/99+Jobs+BackCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNX-IUdruHHVX5EKa4V0iLsY2Sjcq82yfpHpiRxXqzc-mgt81ErJNMztp4a-04OPyTyG5NH1xBykcPYQnUtqc-Ei1q4PDqWaFh8CYLJthfhk51FD2yseohlDBVzBNB6TZRfJSKVhE9tqY/s400/99+Jobs+BackCover.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<br />
Later today I'll join <a href="http://clearheartblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/james-adams-local-salvage.html" target="_blank">James Adams</a>
at his workshop to make more bookmarks. Over the weekend I saw him
sharpening knives on a whetstone, and I can testify that he has no fear
of cutting edges. To demonstrate how his thumb was healing, he whacked
on the bandage with the back of a knife, apparently feeling no pain. At
least, no blood spurted out. James is a character. A good one. A
pleasure to work with.Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-48796034697381435262013-10-29T16:22:00.000-07:002013-10-29T16:22:03.602-07:00Cutting bookmarksToday we began cutting bookmarks. On a table saw <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1263925267/99-jobs-blood-sweat-and-houses" target="_blank">James Adams</a>
ripped slivers from a redwood 2x6 that used to be part of Ken Kesey's
water tank. The wood is clear heart, vertical grain with mineralization
stains (of heaven knows what chemicals). I took some photos as he began.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iAlxbx2ltz6wJ5474EVWcgj6hiu8yUKtr54V8niaagF4A4C3k7l6WCRm6a3erytmsC7q_Wz9hC_YhAOuQRRmV3jD3CQnW1nTf0e_pOIX5V2N6ZdQgG9hgaOcvZ3UQT65aw3z1Ss88W4/s1600/JamesAdamsTableSaw1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iAlxbx2ltz6wJ5474EVWcgj6hiu8yUKtr54V8niaagF4A4C3k7l6WCRm6a3erytmsC7q_Wz9hC_YhAOuQRRmV3jD3CQnW1nTf0e_pOIX5V2N6ZdQgG9hgaOcvZ3UQT65aw3z1Ss88W4/s400/JamesAdamsTableSaw1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZFA6Cl4ldE1Bk1mndj_W7UmE7GEYrBB0eU0UFvMmHkZ0ZZcbYhEtw6P9makLhZR-zkzaGqt_PF7G-ONkQoXW_cqQDIWC5X4ktCMtlxZhd3uwUUunr9Ffxd-UOuh1ctovWG5Ja76I4DQ/s1600/JamesAdamsTableSaw2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZFA6Cl4ldE1Bk1mndj_W7UmE7GEYrBB0eU0UFvMmHkZ0ZZcbYhEtw6P9makLhZR-zkzaGqt_PF7G-ONkQoXW_cqQDIWC5X4ktCMtlxZhd3uwUUunr9Ffxd-UOuh1ctovWG5Ja76I4DQ/s400/JamesAdamsTableSaw2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJpsPaai9Pxmud-ZvvQ_oI4PJ8QDHOLUaKPFXZNdON6DXJsgqfDxOjzdgGFnottph3dUwFACHuqOJ_qkVMG9UBqBcikGoRpTyYWcTwUFYDx6CnM8X-nGajwO6WTNQIrGF468jaTM0v0Q/s1600/JamesAdamsTableSaw3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJpsPaai9Pxmud-ZvvQ_oI4PJ8QDHOLUaKPFXZNdON6DXJsgqfDxOjzdgGFnottph3dUwFACHuqOJ_qkVMG9UBqBcikGoRpTyYWcTwUFYDx6CnM8X-nGajwO6WTNQIrGF468jaTM0v0Q/s400/JamesAdamsTableSaw3.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>
After
cutting the long slivers into 8" pieces, I sanded their edges and then
commenced engraving "99 Jobs" into the individual bookmarks. James,
meanwhile, began cutting slivers from other pieces of lumber. I was
hunched over the trim router, engraving "99 Jobs" freehand over and
over, when James suddenly cursed and put his thumb into his mouth.
Guiding a piece of wood, he'd run the pad of his thumb over the saw
blade. The blade was set to protrude about 1/4" above the top of the
piece he was cutting, so he sliced a 1/4" gash into his thumb.<br />
<br />
Immediately
I helped wrap it in gauze and tape. His wife drove him to the Palo Alto
Clinic, where he is right now as I write this (the accident happened
about an hour ago).<br />
<br />
James is one of the best
woodworkers I know. He says this is the worst accident he's ever had in
his shop. He's careful, and he has a lifetime of experience. Yet it
happened.<br />
<br />
There are spatters of blood on the table saw.
Red stains in the partially sawed wood. No, I won't be including that
lumber among the bookmarks—to which we will return in a few days, I
hope.<br />
<br />
Be careful out there.Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-49009608003869585952013-10-07T18:47:00.000-07:002013-10-07T18:47:36.263-07:00Progress ReportThe editing is nearly complete. We're down to the teeny-weeny style
issues such as discussing whether "a blond woman" or "a blonde woman" is
better usage (both are allowed). (And if you're wondering, we're going
with "blonde.")<br />
<br />
I'm aiming for an official publication date of
November 15 but hope to be sending out Kickstarter reward copies earlier
than that. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I obsess over the book cover. Thank you
everybody for all the feedback. What became apparent is that nobody
liked the white background. Many people liked the black background
because, as they say, it makes the tool belt "pop out," and people seem
to have a fondness for old tool belts. It reminds them of their
boyfriend or their grandfather or of their own hardscrabble days. The
great thing about the black background is that it still works as a
thumbnail, which is important when you're selling books on the internet.
As a full size 6x9" book, though, the solid black is not so good – it
needs texture.<br />
<br />
The most votes, however, went for the siding as
background. I've been struggling with that. The siding tends to diminish
the impact of the tool belt. Then today it occurred to me that instead
of lightening the siding, I'd try darkening it. Wow! Now I've got
siding, plus the tool belt pops out. Here's how it looks at this stage:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAd3dFQ7U0HEBEeVy1bQdvDHBaSup1rKHMWAtDritTu3MGB3xW6EKQmVdrXoGEqUS5ozNB0CBJBME97Jy-oCjLOLJ0uWaT9blQsAtoQTRskl8ty-0RKMSDCVVhkshhSOcrchNY7T7Li4/s1600/sidingDarkfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAd3dFQ7U0HEBEeVy1bQdvDHBaSup1rKHMWAtDritTu3MGB3xW6EKQmVdrXoGEqUS5ozNB0CBJBME97Jy-oCjLOLJ0uWaT9blQsAtoQTRskl8ty-0RKMSDCVVhkshhSOcrchNY7T7Li4/s640/sidingDarkfront.jpg" width="420" /></a></div>
And as a thumbnail:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNwWWt0XbWwYzOCWDj7pip4sPd7oGUJOiM7UvHCUo9S2oYTU1IyEdg726Dt3Q4HTHE6qm4ea70fLFavOI7OfiiLPoEhd2_Rz1eNEJrV-n9y_x4DXC1ZjmuHXZ-hu44yzKd1o1Ibs7_48/s1600/sidingDarkthumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNwWWt0XbWwYzOCWDj7pip4sPd7oGUJOiM7UvHCUo9S2oYTU1IyEdg726Dt3Q4HTHE6qm4ea70fLFavOI7OfiiLPoEhd2_Rz1eNEJrV-n9y_x4DXC1ZjmuHXZ-hu44yzKd1o1Ibs7_48/s200/sidingDarkthumbnail.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
I'm on the radio again. Mostly it's about one of the
biggest and saddest jobs in my life (which will be in the book), taking
care of my older brother as his health and his house are collapsing
around him – and as I am investigated for elder abuse. For the rest of
this week, you can hear it here:<br />
<a href="http://www.neighborhoodradio.info/shows/porch-talk" target="_blank">http://www.neighborhoodradio.info/shows/porch-talk</a>
<br />
Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-6404883163708884642013-09-25T08:49:00.000-07:002013-09-25T08:49:15.793-07:00My 28 minutes of fameThe editing is nearly complete. My editor, Susan Walker, combines a
sympathetic attitude with a persnickety eye for detail. We have the same
goal: we want every word in <b>99 Jobs</b> to be absolutely right.<br />
<br />
I was interviewed by a radio show called <b>Porch Talk</b> about <b>99 Jobs</b> and other topics including a few of my songs. It's a 28 minute show: <a href="http://www.neighborhoodradio.info/archived-broadcasts?af=porchtalk130915.mp3">http://www.neighborhoodradio.info/archived-broadcasts?af=porchtalk130915.mp3</a><br />
<br />
Meanwhile I've been working on the cover design. Any opinions? Let me know.<br />
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Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-67467166677489979132013-09-09T20:47:00.000-07:002013-09-09T20:47:05.802-07:00The Terry and Joe Show<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvo7Zz7bQp_FS0ncits8VSDrhyphenhyphenjbGNrwuJx5pU1TQwlbHgzlh_Djak1CDDb73qvu15PsPCi0wAssVFgN7MAd70NFsSEfPJRzf1YrvDfjoPEdVddov0px-dYQuLkXXIACV7o_8UF8JiZQ/s1600/MainGallery.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvo7Zz7bQp_FS0ncits8VSDrhyphenhyphenjbGNrwuJx5pU1TQwlbHgzlh_Djak1CDDb73qvu15PsPCi0wAssVFgN7MAd70NFsSEfPJRzf1YrvDfjoPEdVddov0px-dYQuLkXXIACV7o_8UF8JiZQ/s1600/MainGallery.jpg" /></a>I'll be the featured reader, along with <a href="http://clearheartblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/terry-adams.html" target="_blank">Terry Adams</a>, at the Not Yet Dead Poets this Wednesday, Sept 11 at 7 pm. It'll be all poetry all the time. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvo7Zz7bQp_FS0ncits8VSDrhyphenhyphenjbGNrwuJx5pU1TQwlbHgzlh_Djak1CDDb73qvu15PsPCi0wAssVFgN7MAd70NFsSEfPJRzf1YrvDfjoPEdVddov0px-dYQuLkXXIACV7o_8UF8JiZQ/s1600/MainGallery.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>The Not Yet Dead Poets are an open meeting at an art gallery in Redwood City: <a href="http://themaingallery.org/" target="_blank">The Main Gallery</a>, 1018 Main Street in Redwood City, near the NW corner of Middlefield and Main Streets. There's parking in the back.<br /><br />Terry and I are planning to trade poems, each responding to the other, back and forth, like tennis except we'll be lobbing poems. Should be lively.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvo7Zz7bQp_FS0ncits8VSDrhyphenhyphenjbGNrwuJx5pU1TQwlbHgzlh_Djak1CDDb73qvu15PsPCi0wAssVFgN7MAd70NFsSEfPJRzf1YrvDfjoPEdVddov0px-dYQuLkXXIACV7o_8UF8JiZQ/s1600/MainGallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKO2wGN6HMQpIm-YaBJzfrvsHn619TVYunCvJybEylzSErlF0JL2KOlEzbRVC54eDXvOi85RbS9czGjOOwUYm9Oj2F0quWwEGKeIHG_fC0PSUm-ncr1rJvrHLlCNsMixIHIzIKgI6iVGs/s1600/Terry+Adams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKO2wGN6HMQpIm-YaBJzfrvsHn619TVYunCvJybEylzSErlF0JL2KOlEzbRVC54eDXvOi85RbS9czGjOOwUYm9Oj2F0quWwEGKeIHG_fC0PSUm-ncr1rJvrHLlCNsMixIHIzIKgI6iVGs/s320/Terry+Adams.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terry Adams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bw1hunzSc_ey-SJf5AnXoeG7Sw6IBc_4Wf7w14DOyCs92igZO6Z8FGVe4J2YH9uTgj1kArOwzuuq8gYUhxhCHTVopULierphcsqN-OyaJn_LcqPVXaLraSqYm7N0FwE-pcYIPpl-bSw/s1600/JoeLitNightFP3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bw1hunzSc_ey-SJf5AnXoeG7Sw6IBc_4Wf7w14DOyCs92igZO6Z8FGVe4J2YH9uTgj1kArOwzuuq8gYUhxhCHTVopULierphcsqN-OyaJn_LcqPVXaLraSqYm7N0FwE-pcYIPpl-bSw/s320/JoeLitNightFP3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe Cottonwood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-87543903410305447472013-09-06T10:13:00.002-07:002013-09-06T10:13:38.643-07:00Kickstarter: the Grand Finale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDckpX5eNksMybyVp8IpFOGOMroHaJ_qDGDNPJZL-eBp5CuUNJINr5lPdo2clL7dSbJmTl2giVMr7juZ2ZmtBWUJnGPPXiQ_dnJxx3881vUfBiqKnLUBj1qe9rWcEP7ZntGZGLP4NWOFw/s1600/kickstartCongrats.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDckpX5eNksMybyVp8IpFOGOMroHaJ_qDGDNPJZL-eBp5CuUNJINr5lPdo2clL7dSbJmTl2giVMr7juZ2ZmtBWUJnGPPXiQ_dnJxx3881vUfBiqKnLUBj1qe9rWcEP7ZntGZGLP4NWOFw/s320/kickstartCongrats.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Wow. Kickstarter is more than funds. It's a community. <br />
<br />
From the messages I've received, and the pledges that have followed, I
feel a community gathering around this book — from all over the planet.
It's a community that cares about physical work in all its human
aspects, from touching a life to nailing your thumb: what's funny,
what's hard, what's uplifting, what's sad. <br />
<br />
A warm and hearty thank you to everybody who pledged. Beyond giving me the funds, you've given me the spirit to create <b>99 Jobs</b>.
Now I must dive into the final bookmaking process: the assembly, the
last edits, the design, the printing and distribution.<br />
<br />
My
bookmark-making partner, <a href="http://clearheartblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/james-adams-local-salvage.html" target="_blank">James Adams</a>,
just got married on September 4 and will be away for a few days of
well-deserved play. When he returns, we will create several hundred
bookmarks to give out as rewards.
We just might create a few extra bookmarks, if anybody missed the
deadline. <br />
<br />
It looks like the special edition of <b>More Jobs </b>will
be limited to 21 copies unless another order mysteriously appears in my
inbox — sometimes my email takes a slow and circuitous route.<br />
<br />
As for <b>99 Jobs</b>, I hope to print hundreds of copies for the first run. And if the gods keep smiling, I'll print more.<br />
<br />
I'll keep you posted.Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-80743520389545407732013-09-02T08:47:00.002-07:002013-09-02T08:47:30.311-07:00Kickstarter, Week Four: Labor Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE8N3cu5gRkjD8puWQkreesnpGGKGASozF5TgKz5Boj24Pd6BSkBCaYb-JSINjhjHq68OARnfzNdHZuREJK-y8N-0046qymd8cQ32kPthPUGAJYG0Ge1CYyaSAFy-R2Qpd2VEE65PUQc/s1600/toolbelt+close.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE8N3cu5gRkjD8puWQkreesnpGGKGASozF5TgKz5Boj24Pd6BSkBCaYb-JSINjhjHq68OARnfzNdHZuREJK-y8N-0046qymd8cQ32kPthPUGAJYG0Ge1CYyaSAFy-R2Qpd2VEE65PUQc/s400/toolbelt+close.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Happy
Labor Day, folks. My Kickstarter fundraiser has reached its minimum
goal of $3999 and is still climbing, with four more days to run. I
wanted the project to wrap around Labor Day for obvious reasons. <b>99 Jobs</b> is <i>about</i> labor. <br />
<br />
You all are wonderful. You've given me the backing — and the confidence — to launch <b>99 Jobs</b>.
I'm gratified that many of you remember my previous books and are eager
for a new one. I'm delighted that some of you are discovering me for
the first time. I'm thrilled at your world-wide distribution. You have
pledged from Romania, China, Italy, England, Netherlands, Canada, Maine,
New Jersey, Georgia, Montana, Kansas, Arizona, Hawaii, and of course
from La Honda, the center of my world. <br />
<br />
I'll continue to take pre-orders for <b>99 Jobs</b> via Kickstarter
through September 5. Each pre-ordered book will be personally signed by
me — and inscribed any way that you wish. Your name (or a name of your
choice — spouse, grandparent, lover) will be included on the
Construction Crew List at the end of the book, if you have chosen that
reward level. And each pre-ordered book will include one or more
bookmarks made of vintage lumber, if you have chosen that reward level.<br />
<br />
So far (morning, Sept 2), twenty people have reached the <b>More Jobs</b>
reward level (besides the seventeen shown on the web page, three more
have pledged at that level but couldn't make the reward button work —
some kind of Kickstarter glitch). In the next five days, perhaps a few
more will arrive. It will be a very limited, very special edition. An
edition I'll be proud of.<br />
<br />
But there's a problem. I was planning the <b>More Jobs</b>
reward to be a small supplement of about a dozen stories. Now I find
that there are simply too many I'd like to include — like, about a
hundred. In addition to the ones I've already mentioned in the previous
update, I could choose: <br />
<ul>
<li>
The drug dealer in condo #2. </li>
<li>A boy who was never born, now almost eighteen years old. </li>
<li>Hillbillies in a mansion. </li>
<li>An angel of death. </li>
<li>Delivering babies … and a stove. </li>
<li>A psychologist who tries to psyche me out of a payment. </li>
<li>A decorator who has radioactive sex. </li>
<li>More, more, more. </li>
</ul>
I don't know how many will make the final cut. With the help
you've provided I can hire my crackerjack editor, who won't allow any
substandard material, to help winnow the list to maybe twenty of the
highest quality. The rest will have to wait for a sequel. <br />
<br />
As for the <b>99 Jobs</b>, they are already the very best. I'm buffing and polishing, nearly ready to launch. It's a product of labor. And love. <br />
<br />
Thanks, everybody, for your warm and enthusiastic support.<br />
<br />
<i>Note: about the photo. Why does it look like I'll be hammering screws? Well, it happens sometimes. It's in the book...</i> Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-50913092823787678222013-08-27T09:08:00.000-07:002013-08-27T09:08:36.360-07:00Kickstarter, Week Three: More Jobs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb66Fc-4R9WDuygdS_iN4c-LhnruVClQNVQhPa3fVLhhUQ-sTeieDNcPjDxKPPusSiYYdTUvEcSEGS6SOTXseKD8tzSrPCWZZJeCBquqZ1QD93zpfBKTGCtJvCmlE0VVhEpfR32WPVgE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-08-27+at+8.48.06+AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb66Fc-4R9WDuygdS_iN4c-LhnruVClQNVQhPa3fVLhhUQ-sTeieDNcPjDxKPPusSiYYdTUvEcSEGS6SOTXseKD8tzSrPCWZZJeCBquqZ1QD93zpfBKTGCtJvCmlE0VVhEpfR32WPVgE/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-08-27+at+8.48.06+AM.png" width="184" /></a>Nine days to go, and I'm at 85%. Thank you, everybody. We just might make it. If you haven't already pledged, you can help <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1263925267/99-jobs-blood-sweat-and-houses" target="_blank">here</a>. Please?<br />
<br />
Of the 89 backers (so far) of this project, 46 are first-timers on <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1263925267/99-jobs-blood-sweat-and-houses" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a>.
I'm delighted to have brought so many newcomers. I hope you stick
around and find more undertakings to support. I'm a newbie myself, but
in the first month I've already made donations (mostly very small) to
eight other kickstarts. The web site is dangerously addictive.<br />
<br />
When <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1263925267/99-jobs-blood-sweat-and-houses" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a> suggested that I should include a
premium reward, I decided to include one at the $99 level: a special
limited edition to be called <b>MORE JOBS</b> which will include about a
dozen additional adventures. I have about 300 stories to choose
from—and more that I will write. Right now I'm trying to decide among: <br />
<ul>
<li>A Superior Court judge who lives outside the law. </li>
<li>Falling through the ceiling into a woman's shower—while she is showering. </li>
<li>A bandit who steals a fortune, lives in squalor, and is betrayed by a cat. </li>
<li>"The Mongrel" — a dog who could outwit a Nobel prizewinner. </li>
<li>The poet whose hand was (perhaps) eaten by a tiger. </li>
<li>A Stanford Hospital surgeon smoking marijuana while conducting a
family meeting with his missionary wife and teenage son—all undressed in
a hot tub—while I'm installing lights. </li>
<li>Working for a toxic couple—young woman, older man—shortly before the young woman is murdered. </li>
<li>An illegal immigrant from China who wins the heart of a town—but not quite everybody in town. </li>
<li>Selling shovels to miners in the second great California Gold Rush. </li>
<li>The libidinous woman—a client offering benefits—who happens to own a mortuary. </li>
<li>The policemen who hold me at gunpoint and slam me against my truck—for burglary. </li>
<li>The skinny-dipping Congressman and his skinny-dipping wife. </li>
<li>The rabbi whose new, improved lighting reveals erotic figures in his furniture. </li>
<li>Desperately trying to maintain my demented, dying brother in his dilapidated house—and being investigated for Elder Abuse.
</li>
</ul>
Or I could include the tale of the incompetent blue jay who needs the
help of a carpenter (me) to build his nest—or
the time I was hosed by a less-than-satisfied client—or the sugar daddy
who uses shopping as foreplay…
So many jobs, so little time.Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-19406335888069391122013-08-19T16:44:00.003-07:002013-08-19T16:44:49.060-07:00Kickstarter, Week Two: Birthday edition<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CpGd7pM-EKo_NetttiKuk_yBz4bxQ_OViAHjNQpIerX14o51Ufb4dIJP6uwgtHz7fsDv0e-zDHenMpdMjfvQH_ly1mxpnghGVwEJgg6VDJ0pJ0PO-BNMk2UpEuUPKTQ4U0vX6qIDeg0/s1600/JoeLitNightFP.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXxZq7A3E8hFnkCt5iZSDWU3dGtlyZKn7Y4QmZlMNpmVOmSGqql02WGtRV6XgRJLy2W5MNRIESD2TBFD3haLExe1V5q1Q-g_VqnFuIinbAarxDC1HomQcz7LpbzazaI5-hhEgty40qhI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-08-19+at+4.42.04+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXxZq7A3E8hFnkCt5iZSDWU3dGtlyZKn7Y4QmZlMNpmVOmSGqql02WGtRV6XgRJLy2W5MNRIESD2TBFD3haLExe1V5q1Q-g_VqnFuIinbAarxDC1HomQcz7LpbzazaI5-hhEgty40qhI/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-08-19+at+4.42.04+PM.png" width="164" /></a>Today is my 66th birthday. I'm aiming for 99 years on this planet, so I've got a ways to go.<br />
<br />
Today
also marks two weeks of Kickstarter campaigning. I've raised 63% of my
goal, so there's a ways to go on that project, too. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CpGd7pM-EKo_NetttiKuk_yBz4bxQ_OViAHjNQpIerX14o51Ufb4dIJP6uwgtHz7fsDv0e-zDHenMpdMjfvQH_ly1mxpnghGVwEJgg6VDJ0pJ0PO-BNMk2UpEuUPKTQ4U0vX6qIDeg0/s1600/JoeLitNightFP.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CpGd7pM-EKo_NetttiKuk_yBz4bxQ_OViAHjNQpIerX14o51Ufb4dIJP6uwgtHz7fsDv0e-zDHenMpdMjfvQH_ly1mxpnghGVwEJgg6VDJ0pJ0PO-BNMk2UpEuUPKTQ4U0vX6qIDeg0/s320/JoeLitNightFP.jpg" width="320" /></a>I'm
adding a new reward level. What the heck, it might be fun. For a
pledge of $499 I will give a one hour reading to you and assembled
guests at your house — or restaurant, bar, church, library, football
arena… I've been giving monthly readings, mostly at the bar of our
local restaurant, for the last three years. We call it Lit Night. The
beer and wine make for an appreciative, relaxed audience. Let me bring
the experience to you and your friends. (You must be within a
reasonable distance of La Honda — that is, the San Francisco Bay area or
Santa Cruz or a boat on the Pacific Ocean within a half mile of shore.
There are limits to how far I can drive. Or swim.) <br />
<br />
Musicians give house concerts. Why not writers? A house reading.<br />
<br />
Here's the audience at a recent Lit Night:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtzpPTthWBUN-HK9sZqe7ZG7X03y29gXhMBHqWqLCh-XkvW7Ocbr3qn_wMK73QKwhAO0M95Ak4w6Gk54lvB5wgnW8ctJKEZtwWyG4bNuzPEC0eEP0iOaWBZRByM7Bp7cuYVdRWcGQkpk/s1600/applauseLitNight.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtzpPTthWBUN-HK9sZqe7ZG7X03y29gXhMBHqWqLCh-XkvW7Ocbr3qn_wMK73QKwhAO0M95Ak4w6Gk54lvB5wgnW8ctJKEZtwWyG4bNuzPEC0eEP0iOaWBZRByM7Bp7cuYVdRWcGQkpk/s400/applauseLitNight.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CpGd7pM-EKo_NetttiKuk_yBz4bxQ_OViAHjNQpIerX14o51Ufb4dIJP6uwgtHz7fsDv0e-zDHenMpdMjfvQH_ly1mxpnghGVwEJgg6VDJ0pJ0PO-BNMk2UpEuUPKTQ4U0vX6qIDeg0/s1600/JoeLitNightFP.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1263925267/99-jobs-blood-sweat-and-houses?ref=home_location" target="_blank">Click here for the link to my Kickstarter campaign.</a><br />
<br />
<br />Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946458937604608009.post-22255585523597335682013-08-12T16:29:00.000-07:002013-08-12T16:29:11.532-07:00Kickstarter, Week One: Blue Collar Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVGVfBz-veHmEfR7XBXEuBAz6UiEnFWnGlw-SC4lc3trU_B7jVnfcxKKcHye9GLqizxMfF9Y0ckIhOoTVsArST8y_7nDuVHi8duB3FH0sut5LIYmCWeEnyd5-nM4ckSSJo7NkRdVof5c/s1600/kickstarter+staff+pick.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVGVfBz-veHmEfR7XBXEuBAz6UiEnFWnGlw-SC4lc3trU_B7jVnfcxKKcHye9GLqizxMfF9Y0ckIhOoTVsArST8y_7nDuVHi8duB3FH0sut5LIYmCWeEnyd5-nM4ckSSJo7NkRdVof5c/s400/kickstarter+staff+pick.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>
After one week, the <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1263925267/99-jobs-blood-sweat-and-houses" target="_blank"><b>99 Jobs</b> kickstart</a>
has reached 34% of the goal. Thank you for pledging. If you haven't,
please do. Every little pledge helps. By pledging, you can pre-order a
copy of the book -- and give me the advance funds to pay for the book
production.<br />
<br />
I'm tickled pink that the Kickstarter web site has highlighted <b>99 Jobs</b> as a "Staff Pick," which gives it prominent placement on the display page (and means they personally like it.)<br />
<br />
I'm getting wonderful emails from folks who've seen the <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1263925267/99-jobs-blood-sweat-and-houses" target="_blank"><b>99 Jobs</b> campaign</a>
and are attracted to the idea of "blue collar writing," a term several
people have used. I'd be proud to bear that name. One colorful woman
in Ohio whose father runs a tow truck company sent me a long email
detailing the strange clients she's met, sometimes at the point of a 12
gauge shotgun. I suggested she write a book. She says she will.<br />
<br />
I've
got 3 weeks to raise the remaining $2611 -- or I get nothing. Those
are the Kickstarter rules: you make your fundraising goal, or else all
the pledge money goes back to the donors.<br />
<br />
I've received
pledges from Shanghai, Great Britain, and the Netherlands. Fans of
blue collar writing from all over the planet...Joe Cottonwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282993255868590544noreply@blogger.com0