Fay is the sharp-tongued protagonist in my book The Net Present Value of Life.
If you’d like to know what Fay’s all about, and if you’re a fan of short, thoughtful bon-mots, take a look at my tumblr site.
What Fay Said
April 25, 2011
Fay’s back
June 4, 2010
Buy now and save
I love goodreads.com, the site of all things bookish.
You might like it too.
Why?
Well, one reason is that goodreads is hosting a giveaway for two copies of my book. It ends on June 7, so there’s time to sign-up and enter.
As of this morning, there are 500+ plus goodreads members entered (and counting) and, given only two will win, I thought I’d offer a discount to those left without a freebie.
And so, if you visit my website between now and June 30, you can buy the book for 30% off the listed price.
But first, go ahead and enter the giveaway. You might be the lucky winner.
Good luck!
Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.
June 1, 2010
A novel in kingston
Woohoo!
The book’s in stock, at Novel Idea in Kingston.
Woohoo!
Lookit, I know I sound like a kid on Christmas morning.
I also know my excitement might be frowned upon—might be conceived as the mark of an unprofessional writer—all this carrying on, just because another bookstore is stocking my novel.
But, you know what?
It is exciting news—to me.
It’s exciting to know that bookstores like Novel Idea are dedicating a slice of much-coveted shelf space to this new author (even if he doesn’t sound professional).
(Attention! Rant advisory in effect! Proceed with Caution)
Besides, aren’t you, like me, a bit jaded with that “P” word—Professional?
Don’t you find, in business, there’s too much of a near-robotic, unimaginative preponderance for professionalism? As though all one has to do get your business is to play up their credentials?
Do you, like me, sometime wish business owners would soften their focus on professionalism and, instead, tap into another “P” word?
Passion.
Do you get what I mean?
Announce your credentials, yes.
Establish them early in the game—early in the relationship.
But don’t dwell on them. Don’t make that your competitive advantage.
You’re supposed to be a professional!
Whatever your métier—whatever service you offer your “buying public”—it’s a given, one would think, that you’re skilled at it. That you’re knowledgeable and expert at it.
That you’re a professional.
Think about it, would see your dentist, your financial advisor, your mechanic if they weren’t pros?
I say, eighty-six your fix on professionalism—tone it down (it’s right there, on your business card anyway, isn’t it?).
And give me passion!
Give me joie de vivre!
Show me you love what you do.
Inspire me. Move me. Excite me.
Make me want to do business with you.
(Attention! End of rant advisory. Proceed normally)
As I want you to do business with me.
Which you now can, by the way,
In Kingston.
At Novel Idea.
They’ve got my book.
You can walk in, right now, buy a copy.
And I’m thrilled over it.
Woohoo!
Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.
May 6, 2010
A chat with Jonathan Chevreau – Part II
Remember?
Writing an exam. Or prepping for the big job interview. Or working on your super-duper presentation.
Remember being ready for it?
Knowing—just knowing—you were going to ace it?
Then, when the moment comes, the wheels suddenly fall off?
Your mind goes blank.
You fumble for words.
Clever quotes, creative concepts, catchy phrases.
All gone.
Leaving you fumbling for words.
Then…
When you finally get back on track.
Start building up a head of steam.
You run out of time.
Well.
That’s kind of how I felt during the second of my interviews with the Financial Post’s Jonathan Chevreau.
Complete brain-fade.
Near-total collapse.
Jeez, I must have said “fascinated” about a dozen times.
Oh well…
These things happen.
Luckily, toward the end, things start clicking again.
Then, like I said, we ran out of time.
So go ahead, watch the interview.
It’s worth a chuckle.
Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.
