My life and work—I’m not quite sure where one begins and the other ends—is interesting and fulfilling in the aggregate, but many (ok, definitely most) tasks are monotonous and repetitive. Perhaps you can relate. Hours are spent weeding, processing greens, washing trays, sanitizing those same trays, sifting dirt, planting 30,000 individual pea seeds each week, … More Listen to my audiobook for free!
60 degrees below zero. February 2, 1996. The temperature zoomed all the way up to -36° by afternoon. What a day! On this very memorable day I scaled Eagle Mountain, the highest point in Minnesota. To mark the occasion, and also to lend a little support to a letter I recently sent, I’m sharing a … More 20th anniversary of a great day
I recently received my first truly negative review out on Amazon. What a punch to the gut! I know it comes with the territory, but I’ve proven myself to be more fragile than I’d care to admit. The anonymous reviewer was polite and appears to have choked down the entire contents of the book—like cod liver … More Dealing with negative criticism
In just about the craziest turn of events ever, I’m organizing an event that will feature two mayors (one present and the other future), four well-known bands/musicians/musical savants, and a freaking tap dancer. It all started when the current Mayor nonchalantly mentioned, “Hey, we should do a book event.” Since this is much like Cinderella … More CORNUCOPIA 2015, A Lavish Feast of Local Talent
Highs and lows and everything in between. Getting the axe from a comfortable job, navigating a crisis located smack dab in the middle of life, publishing a book, working to gain traction on a second, farming, painting houses, fathering, husbanding (animals, wife, children), book marketing, being the proud spouse/booster of an artist, and striving each and … More Living as an Author Teetering Among Many Roles
By 9:33 (three minutes in) I was already glancing at my wristwatch, realizing this was going to be a dues-paying experience. I was slotted for a 90-minute “book-signing,” but failed to deface a single copy with my autograph. The event was completely unadvertised, and the gracious coffee-ninja running the place had no idea I was … More When things don’t go as planned or hoped
Life happens, even when we’re not looking. I’m learning to roll with it and enjoy the ride. Here are two rather epic examples that came with the worst timing imaginable. They impacted two of the most important events of my young career as a writer/author/weirdo. Two hours before my book launching party at a local … More Dog, Ducks, Chicks, EVISCERATION, and Making a MESS of Myself on Television!
The view from the mountaintop is stunning, but the hard slog of getting there is what allows us to really appreciate it. So much hard work is required, the path can seem to drag on interminably, eventually we catch glimpses of the landscape which build anticipation, and finally the panorama opens up in all directions. … More Teachers are the salt of the earth, secret messages from arachnids, and gratitude for every layer of life.
Every single trip spent delivering books by bike is meaningful. Powerful even. Well, in this case I was delivering a thank you note to the Mayor’s office. He purchased my book and carved out 15 minutes of his day to visit with me recently. The hourlong round-trip required to personally deliver a handwritten note to … More Tales From the Pedaling Book Peddler, Part 3 – Unearthing Gold of Immeasurable Value
One week ago I tore into my first box of books, and immediately began delivering them by bike to individual readers across the city and countryside. This here was one of my last deliveries that evening, after seven hours of haphazardly criss-crossing the area. I reached home just before it became too dark. Close call! … More Tales From the Pedaling Book Peddler, Part 2
Ed's Big Adventure 