Travel and Chocolate: When Books Inspire

May 24, 2018 | Coleen Patrick

Lately I’ve been devouring travel memoirs. And they’re fueling my wanderlust.

From a trip to Scotland last year. A very rare bird in Loch Lomond.

I love that about books. The ability to influence and inspire.

I was around eleven when I read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The chocolate river. The candy (side note: twenty years later a made up story about a candy store would be my kids most requested bedtime story).

The story hooked me. Oh, and the chocolate bar that you could grab right out of your tv?

Magical. And I wanted some of that magic.

At the time we lived on a Coast Guard base in New Orleans and there was a tiny convenience store on the corner. They had candy bars.

I scraped together some money (sorry dad, I dipped into that change jar in your armoire).

And then, naturally, I sent my nine year old sister to get me the candy bar. I had a book to finish. (Thank you, B!)

I love that I can immerse in another world via a book, but it really does feel like magic when you nurture the opportunity to bring some of that story world into your real life.

And then those new memories inspire your own creative work…

And so on. Ad infinitum.

Bird is waving hello (there is a chocolate bar behind that other wing, I’m sure of it.

If you like travel memoirs, I enjoyed these:

At Home in the World, by Tsh Oxenreider

My Part-Time Paris Life by Lisa Anselmo

The Worrier’s Guide to the End of the World by Torre DeRoche

Where I’m off to next:

A cabin in the woods. For real. I’m doing a short–solo– writing, hiking trip. I’ll keep you posted! Follow me on Instagram for real(er) time updates.

Then this summer, we’re off to ALASKA. We’ll be stopping in all the usual places so if you have a favorite coffee shop, hike or food must eat, let me know!

Also, if you have a must read, perhaps one that inspired you to action, I’d love to hear about it!

Happy Spring (and reading) friends!!

Illustration Friday Challenge: Wisdom (a Book Made Me Do It)

March 29, 2016 | Coleen Patrick

Sometimes a book inspires me to action

Wisdom as prompted by Illustration Friday‘s weekly art challenge.

This challenge got me thinking about those books that I read

that inspired me to fill my fridge with enough produce to make a five-pound bowl of parsley salad. Or buy running shoes. Or a tent. Or art supplies. Or the sequel to the book. Or follow the author or illustrator on every social media platform (it’s not stalking if they put the icons on their website).

All in an effort to stay in the zone

of inspiration

and

discovery

(which a lot of times is pretty cool and rewarding)

but occasionally means

gaining the wisdom to know that I will never be a champion of parsley salad.

What are you reading? What book inspired you to take action?

Right now I’m reading Running Like a Girl, but Alexandra Heminsley. I have no plans to sign up for a marathon, but I may have researched running gear. Just a tad.

Winter Fun: A Truffle and a Snow Day

February 26, 2015 | Coleen Patrick

Honestly, I hesitated over the word fun in my blog title. Like lots of people (who aren’t kids) I’m kind of done with winter.

But we’ve got another snow day here in central Virginia.

And just as nature teased us with some thaw.

I decided not to wear my boots this day. Soaked my sneakers and socks. I was just a tad too optimistic.

But I have been finding some fun (I am, a kid at heart, I suppose).

A winter scene by Cold Fingers (aka me)

A walk at the mall. The frozen fountain was kind of awesome.

Finding a sunny spot to read.

I wish. This was me reading at the beach in 2013. #ThrowbackThursday

(I like to keep my fiction skills simmering.)

This cookie truffle has nothing to do with winter. I just like how it turned out.

And it’s kind of snowball-ish.

No caption necessary.

Me sledding last week.

In my own backyard.

What happens when a writer and an engineer are home for a snow day?

Check out the video!

What’s your favorite thing to do on a snow day? And if it’s summer where you are, tell me something warm. 🙂

Happy Thursday!

Summer at a Snail’s Pace

June 20, 2014 | Coleen Patrick

Meet my new guru!

We met last weekend at Crabtree Falls in George Washington National Forest.

Just in time, because tomorrow marks the summer solstice here in the Northern hemisphere.

For me, June has always meant it’s time to slow down a bit. Maybe because the majority of my years have been defined by school and summer break. I realized today, that there’s only been a handful of summers that were not sandwiched between school years (either for me or my kids).

Anyway, it’s summer, and I’m back in snail mode.

Snail mode is not really a physical pace (although it can be). Here it’s more of a mind-set.

I’m going to be less concerned with the overwhelming, the never-ending measuring stick, and more in tune with

family

nature

road trips

reading

summer book crush Collage

The Art of Chasing Normal and dozens of great reads are only .99 this weekend! Just click on the image to get to the Summer Book Crush site.

doodling

joy

intuition

Oh and forget perfectionism. I’ve got more important passengers.

So ~~yummy~~ pretty.

And I’m taking a deep breath of gratitude for where I am right now.

What does summer (or the change of seasons) mean to you?

Happy Weekend!

Reading Gives You Wings

March 26, 2014 | Coleen Patrick

I’m spreading my wings!

This weekend I will be participating in a local authors fair at Cascades library in Potomac Falls, Virginia.

There will be bunches of SUPER cool author peeps.

Super cool author peep, Kathryn Erskine.

And books and book stuff.

And coffee, I’m sure. Although, I should probably switch to decaf.

Me + Caffeine (and/or nerves) = Doodles

I’m grateful, excited, nervous, but also very CURIOUS. 🙂

Are you spreading your wings? How do you calm your nerves?

Happy Wednesday!

Expectations, Success, & the Sun-streaked Possibility of Summer

June 24, 2013 | Coleen Patrick

I like the idea of summer. It really does feel like a new beginning. Or at least a chance to catch my breath.

Even though I’m not in school anymore, I’ve been anticipating the shift into this new season.

Yeah there may still be work to do (and troubles to deal with) but I’ve been looking forward to longer days, sunnier days…days that somehow seem open for MORE.

Well, more of the things that seem to allow you the space to breathe.

Our days can be packed with obligation. Too many times I’ve ended a day staring up at the high bar of expectation feeling like I just missed it. Again.

There’s a lot of noise when it comes to the definition of success. Not only with work, but health, relationships, and life in general.

Not enough. Do more.

But there’s something about summer that leaves room for the good kind of more.

More color, more fun, more daylight, more possibility.

More space to be you.

What do you love about summer?

🙂

Check out super cool writer, Emily R. King! Emily lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest–and she’s been shark cage diving!

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Unforgettable Books: Dreams Wrapped in Words

August 20, 2012 | Coleen Patrick

I am not even going to begin to pretend I understand MEMORY. That awesome, fickle power that likes to ditch me as I step into another room (or as Billy Collins says in his poem Forgetfulness, retires “to a little fishing village where there are no phones”).

I don’t know why some things stick, like the thirty plus year old memories of being a kid trying to fry an egg on the summer sidewalk or dig a hole to China, as opposed to what happened in oh I don’t know, the entire year of 2009 (there had to be something significant, but right now I can’t think of anything).

Some memories stay locked up tight, while others eventually slip out of one of those dusty, creaky memory doors.

Nowadays when something does stay with me, I’m thinking there’s magic involved (or dessert–dessert can be quite memorable).

And I especially LOVE when I read a book with that kind of magic, that special something that manages to capture prime real estate in my brain.

Ever read an unforgettable story?

We wrapped our dreams in words and patterned the words so that they would live forever, unforgettable.”

― Neil Gaiman, Fragile Things

Happy Monday!

Teen Interview: It Ain’t Over Until the Perfect Troll Face Sings

July 30, 2012 | Coleen Patrick

It’s summer–schools are empty, teens are scarce–on vacation, at camp, or ~~watching YouTube videos~~ working summer jobs . . .

but Reader Paparazzi ~ my Q & A series featuring teen readers ~ must go on. I spend a lot of time inside the mind of fictional teens–writing and reading, so it’s great to get a little real YA world perspective to help with character inspiration or simply if you want to see what holds a teen’s interest.

what teens read interview

It’s research, not stalking.

If you missed any previous interviews, click here or on the tab in the header above.

For this interview, I’ve cornered a teen close to home.

Meet Gavin, or as I have a habit of calling him, “G.”

G is sixteen. He runs cross-country and track, sings in his school’s chorus and a capella club and is famous on the internet.

Well, sort of.

Have you heard of trolling, or better yet seen this face before?

G is the number one image on Google for the perfect troll face.

perfect troll face boy

A face only a mother could love . . .

but it’s hard to catch him NOT making faces:

I’m partial to this one:

A big hello to G!

So G, what makes you want to pick up a book to read?

It’s got to have something I can relate to.

What are you currently reading?

Moby Dick, for school.

Anything you relate to?

I don’t know, but reading this book is becoming AHABit.

I’m not sure if I believe you, but props on the pun.

What was the last book you read that wasn’t for school?

Try Not to Breathe by Jennifer R. Hubbard

Do you ever re-read books?

Yup. I like to flip through the Guinness Book of World Records and the World Atlas.

What was your favorite book when you were younger?

Captain Underpants and Harry Potter

Favorite subject in school?

Spanish

Least favorite?

History

What would you like to learn how to do—that you don’t know how to do?

Learn more languages—like Swedish and German.

Okay, I received some questions from YA writers curious about teen relationships (ie dating). What do you think is the most challenging thing about relationships?

Being yourself.

What was the last movie you saw?

Jeff, Who Lives at Home

Favorite tv show or movie you can watch again and again?

The Invention of Lying

Tell me three songs you’re listening to on your iPod:

The More I See You ~ Michael Buble

The Way You Look Tonight ~ Michael Buble

Flavour ~Bare Noize

What’s your favorite snack?

Veggie straws

What did you eat for breakfast?

Nothing because I’m fasting for the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’ Av, but yesterday for breakfast I ate Frosted Cheerios.

I’m so hungry can we please not talk about food?

Okay, no more food talk. 🙂

Some quick-fire fill in the blanks:

I fear change.

I need clarity.

I hate homework.

I love singing.

So here’s a tiny snippet of G doing what he loves:

Thanks G!

Do you have any questions you want answered by teens in future Q & As? Or a question for Gavin? Let me know in the comments.

If not, how would you answer this quick fire fill in the blank? I need _____. (Seeing as it’s now Monday morning, I NEED COFFEE!)

Thanks! I love it when you comment. 🙂

Have a great week!

It’s Research, Not Stalking: Q & A with a Teenage Writer

June 18, 2012 | Coleen Patrick

I’m excited to bring you another Reader Paparazzi post–my Q & A series featuring teens. (If you missed the others, click here or on the tab in the header above.)

I spend a lot of time inside the mind of fictional teens–writing and reading, so it’s great to get a little real YA world perspective to help with character inspiration or simply if you want to see what holds a teen’s interest (it’s not always sparkly things).

teen read interview

It’s research, not stalking.

This week our real YA is 17, a rising senior and an aspiring writer!

A big HELLO to Niki!

So, NIki, what book are you reading right now?

Right now I’m in a book frenzy! Especially with summer coming up! Right now I’m reading A Song of Ice and Fire and Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin as well as Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark.

what teens are reading

What makes you want to pick up a book to read?

Reading has always been my favorite hobby. I’m a writer too, so any book that will help enhance my writing is a must.

What’s your favorite class in school? What’s your toughest subject?

My favorite class is AP Art History, and my toughest subject is AP Biology.

What is your favorite thing to do after school? What is your least favorite?

My favorite thing to do is read! Especially if I’m in the middle of a really good book. Also, I love talking to my best friend. She lives in Brazil, so I never get to see her. My least favorite thing to do is homework.

If you could Skype with a famous person who would that be?

I would probably want to Skype with Emilia Clarke. She plays my favorite character in Game of Thrones.

Top three songs playing on your iPod?

The Cave- Mumford and Sons
Rainy Zurich- The Fray
Enchanted- Taylor Swift

What was the last movie you saw?

On the Waterfront

What advice would you give your parents?

Probably to trust me more. They’re really great parents, but sometimes I feel that they’re a little overprotective especially my mom.

What is your biggest fear?

To graduate from college and not be able to find a job and pay off the ridiculously expensive student loans!

What are you looking forward to most right now?

Duke Young Writers’ Camp this summer! All of my best friends are there!

What is your favorite comfort food?

Probably a tie between Sweet Frog frozen yogurt and Sour Patch candy.

And lastly, what is something you would like to learn how to do?

Oh gosh! I would probably want to learn how to speak Greek. That’s where my family is from, and it would be nice to learn how to communicate better with them.

Thanks for stopping by Niki! It was great to get to know you better.

Thank you so much for interviewing me!

🙂

Do you have any questions you want answered in future Q & As? Let me know in the comments.

Or answer me this question:

Coleen Patrick

Coleen Patrick children's book author illustrator