Random thoughts post-book release - and my upcoming stops

**nctomatoman** · March 3, 2015

Since the day that the first copy of my book arrived on the front steps - December 4 - it's been a fascinating, sometimes stressful, largely enjoyable, often exciting - but surprising, and surprisingly busy, time. On Christmas, my wife bought me a journal - and since that day, I've jotted things down - kind of a diary of the whole book writing, photographing, editing, and now promoting, experience. I thought that, being two months in and about to head off on another busy trip, it would be a time to share a few impressions.

Before I get to some thoughts, I am going to be speaking in Richmond (March 5), Philadelphia (March 7), Boyce (VA) (March 8), and Baltimore (March 9) in upcoming days - I've already run into Tomatovillians here and there, and hope to continue to do so. My schedule is always updated, and found at nctomatoman.com (scroll down to my events).

The parts of the adventure that I've enjoyed: Writing the book, planning the photography, working with my editor, photographers, art director and publicist, getting help from my daughter on social networking, preparing for and carrying out the events, meeting so many wonderful gardeners - the events on the Seattle trip were just wonderful throughout - the humbling experience of people's reactions to the book, doing various podcasts and radio spots.

The parts that have been more challenging: Editing the book, living through all of the tightly scheduled photography - which meant having to ship tomatoes to the publisher and canvass local friends and growers for varieties, working through more edits, and editing some more (get the theme here?), long travel to the more distant events, going through the emotional roller coaster of being prepared for the event, the high of the event, then coming down the other side, completely shattered - and, more recently, dealing with the complex expense reporting that comes from the trips, and now the taxes. And, of course, having to cut some things out (the Dwarf project seed distribution for this season) and reduce other things (the size of my garden, and numbers of seedlings and varieties I start and projects that I will undertake)..and, oh yes, the social networking part of it all - twitter, facebook, blogs, instagram - I am so thankful for my daughter's help - self promotion is nothing I enjoy, and the social networking tools all seem to egotistical to me. I am doing just what I am being advised to do and no more. Oh - one more thing that is challenging is the various conversations and compromises on speaking fees. Talking money is never easy, and never gets easy. Like Sue with her quilts, I have to realize that this is my career now, and my wish to always give stuff away has to be tempered with the reality of needing money so we can exist.

But - if I was to rate the experience on a 100 point scale, it has been a 98 or better. It is often baffling, often overwhelming, supremely humbling, an opportunity to express great gratitude to those who purchase the book or attend events. It has reenergized me (as if I need reenergization!), made me realize that the various little flame wars and drama that pops up here and there on various discussion sites is so, so minor, isolated and apart from the general public. I am at a place in my life where I seek to avoid drama at all costs - try to have fun, try to share what I know, and learn from others, and just enjoy life....and I get to do travelling with my best friend - my wife of nearly 35 years.

Thanks to all of you for playing whatever parts you play in what is a most fascinating journey for me - one that I could not have predicted, but one that I will cherish forever.

Sun City Linda · March 3, 2015

oops double post

**nctomatoman** · March 3, 2015

Book on Straw Bale gardening (a little thing - Storey Basics series) will be out in December! Written, edited once, drawings in progress.

What I am most curious about is what book 3 will be!

sjamesNorway · March 5, 2015

Hi Craig. Maybe I'm being presumtuous, but book number three: a history of the dwarf project, and characteristics of the varieties?

Just love Epic Tomatoes. Great inspiration!

Steve

bughunter99 · March 5, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by nctomatoman

Book on Straw Bale gardening (a little thing - Storey Basics series) will be out in December! Written, edited once, drawings in progress.

What I am most curious about is what book 3 will be!

Ah I can give you some of my tips on this!

1. Never kick a straw bale to see if it is still wet, the hornets that have made a home inside will not be pleased.

2. Straw bales bring your edibles up the mouth height for lazy deer. Therefore things they have never touched before, will be consumed with glee.

3. If you bring strawbales home in the back of the brand new SUV, know that you will NEVER get all the little bits out of your carpet and your spousal unit will be angsty about it for weeks.

4. Gabby the snotty neighbor that never weeds but loves to comment on others digs, "does not appreciate the farmstead look".

5. They make GREAT backyard hockey rink seats.

6. If you shape them in a circle and throw all your sticks and debris in there with some compost and some dirt and some seed potatoes, you can grow great potatoes.

7. If you dig your shovel in the above potato patch to recover your away potatoes, the hornets will yet again be miffed and this time they will come out not as a few angry warning stings but as a large cloud of misery. All remaining potatoes will then sit until you remember them again in November at which time there will still be one angry hornet deep in the pile.

Stacy

Sun City Linda · March 3, 2015

You write well Craig, maybe you should write a(nother) book!

Dewayne mater · March 3, 2015

Craig - can you remind us all of the title and where to buy your book?

Dewayne Mater

**nctomatoman** · March 3, 2015

Sure - Epic Tomatoes - my daughter set up a separate website - epictomatoes.com - available at all etailers and many local bookstores.

birdermom · March 3, 2015

Are you doing a workshop in Richmond?

gregory · March 3, 2015

Also available at our local libraries. Very enjoyable and as it was said well written.

**nctomatoman** · March 3, 2015

Yes - I will be at Camdens Dogtown Market for a tomato talk and dinner on the evening of March 5 - I believe it is a reservation event.

birdermom · March 3, 2015

Ok...unfortunately I live too far away to go at night...how about Charlottesville on the 20th?

**nctomatoman** · March 3, 2015

Yes, I am at The Happy Cook for the Festival of the Book - in the morning, I believe.

birdermom · March 3, 2015

Ok..will check it out on their site...thanks

tivia · March 5, 2015

I hope that this weather doesn't hamper your trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show! I'm sure there will be many people wanting to hear what you say and taste a little bit of Spring.

Marie

March 3, 2015	#1
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Random thoughts post-book release - and my upcoming stops Since the day that the first copy of my book arrived on the front steps - December 4 - it's been a fascinating, sometimes stressful, largely enjoyable, often exciting - but surprising, and surprisingly busy, time. On Christmas, my wife bought me a journal - and since that day, I've jotted things down - kind of a diary of the whole book writing, photographing, editing, and now promoting, experience. I thought that, being two months in and about to head off on another busy trip, it would be a time to share a few impressions. Before I get to some thoughts, I am going to be speaking in Richmond (March 5), Philadelphia (March 7), Boyce (VA) (March 8), and Baltimore (March 9) in upcoming days - I've already run into Tomatovillians here and there, and hope to continue to do so. My schedule is always updated, and found at nctomatoman.com (scroll down to my events). The parts of the adventure that I've enjoyed: Writing the book, planning the photography, working with my editor, photographers, art director and publicist, getting help from my daughter on social networking, preparing for and carrying out the events, meeting so many wonderful gardeners - the events on the Seattle trip were just wonderful throughout - the humbling experience of people's reactions to the book, doing various podcasts and radio spots. The parts that have been more challenging: Editing the book, living through all of the tightly scheduled photography - which meant having to ship tomatoes to the publisher and canvass local friends and growers for varieties, working through more edits, and editing some more (get the theme here?), long travel to the more distant events, going through the emotional roller coaster of being prepared for the event, the high of the event, then coming down the other side, completely shattered - and, more recently, dealing with the complex expense reporting that comes from the trips, and now the taxes. And, of course, having to cut some things out (the Dwarf project seed distribution for this season) and reduce other things (the size of my garden, and numbers of seedlings and varieties I start and projects that I will undertake)..and, oh yes, the social networking part of it all - twitter, facebook, blogs, instagram - I am so thankful for my daughter's help - self promotion is nothing I enjoy, and the social networking tools all seem to egotistical to me. I am doing just what I am being advised to do and no more. Oh - one more thing that is challenging is the various conversations and compromises on speaking fees. Talking money is never easy, and never gets easy. Like Sue with her quilts, I have to realize that this is my career now, and my wish to always give stuff away has to be tempered with the reality of needing money so we can exist. But - if I was to rate the experience on a 100 point scale, it has been a 98 or better. It is often baffling, often overwhelming, supremely humbling, an opportunity to express great gratitude to those who purchase the book or attend events. It has reenergized me (as if I need reenergization!), made me realize that the various little flame wars and drama that pops up here and there on various discussion sites is so, so minor, isolated and apart from the general public. I am at a place in my life where I seek to avoid drama at all costs - try to have fun, try to share what I know, and learn from others, and just enjoy life....and I get to do travelling with my best friend - my wife of nearly 35 years. Thanks to all of you for playing whatever parts you play in what is a most fascinating journey for me - one that I could not have predicted, but one that I will cherish forever. __________________ Craig

March 3, 2015	#2
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	oops double post Last edited by Sun City Linda; March 3, 2015 at 04:40 PM. Reason: double post

March 3, 2015	#3
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Book on Straw Bale gardening (a little thing - Storey Basics series) will be out in December! Written, edited once, drawings in progress. What I am most curious about is what book 3 will be! __________________ Craig

March 3, 2015	#8
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Sure - Epic Tomatoes - my daughter set up a separate website - epictomatoes.com - available at all etailers and many local bookstores. __________________ Craig

March 3, 2015	#10
gregory Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: mobile zone 8 Posts: 83	Also available at our local libraries. Very enjoyable and as it was said well written. __________________ Zone 8 Mobile AL

March 5, 2015	#4
sjamesNorway Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Norway Posts: 1,049	Hi Craig. Maybe I'm being presumtuous, but book number three: a history of the dwarf project, and characteristics of the varieties? Just love Epic Tomatoes. Great inspiration! Steve

March 3, 2015	#7
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	Craig - can you remind us all of the title and where to buy your book? Dewayne Mater

March 3, 2015	#9
birdermom Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 116	Are you doing a workshop in Richmond?

March 5, 2015	#15
tivia Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 24	I hope that this weather doesn't hamper your trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show! I'm sure there will be many people wanting to hear what you say and taste a little bit of Spring. Marie