Soupfest

What a wonderful event I attended today. In Hamilton, Ontario, Living Rock (a charity assisting youth in trouble) hosted a Soupfest which offers an opportunity to taste different types of soup from various restaurants in the Hamilton area. The Convention Centre, where it was held, was packed. You couldn't find a parking spot. (Luckily we passed someone leaving so grabbed their spot. We were lucky.)

Twenty-five restaurants participated from a variety of backgrounds. A Greek soup was featured at one stand, another was Jamaican and they offered Jerk Chicken soup. One booth boosted two trophies and gave out a delicious lobster soup. There were Vietnamese and Thai soups which were equally delicious. I can't describe every soup but they were all wonderful especially on such a cold day which we suffered today.

The enormous room in the Convention Centre offered little room for movement. It was impossible to  manoeuver yourself quickly through the crowd but, at least, everyone was generous knowing that you and they were holding little bowls of soup which we wouldn't want to drop or spill. It is so wonderful to see such an outpouring of support from the community for such an affair.

The event only cost $12.00 for which you received four tickets for soups. My mother and I shared a few so we were able to taste a great variety. One kind man offered me two extra free tickets and so my mother and I were able to try ten different soups. It was a terrific treat.

I can't believe Groundhog Day is already upon us. I'm a little superstitious so looking forward to the groundhog's report. I love the excitement it causes and, of course, love the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Andie McDowell.

Hope you are enjoying the cold!

have fun,
patty
www.pattylesser.com
@PattyLesser

Success at First Signing

Yesterday, Saturday, January 25, I held my first signing for Locker Rooms. It was a grand success. I sold all the 30 books I brought. The staff at the Chapters store couldn't have been nicer. It was a wonderful experience which I hope will be repeated.

I feel invigorated from the signing experience. It is so wonderful watching people buy my work, my novel, my thoughts. But don't remember any of them. The day is a blur with people coming in and out of my focus. Luckily, I was set up by the front doors so I would attack every person who walked through Chapters' doors. Most were interested though, of course, a few were not. But usually, if I was able to get them to read the back cover and hear my spiel, they bought it. What a great feeling!

If you haven't bought Locker Rooms yet, you still can. You can buy it through Amazon.ca or Amazon.com

Hopefully, you will check out my new novel, The Nuts. The first three chapters have been posted there. Please have a look and then vote and comment. Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Check out the photo below taken from my signing.

have fun,
www.pattylesser.com
@PattyLesser

Harper in Israel

Do you realize the importance of Harper in Israel? Israelis have always felt alone in the world without any country on their side. I lived in Israel for five years where I absorbed the culture, language and way of life. Israelis call themselves Sabras (which means someone born in Israel). The Sabra is that small, round fruit on cactus trees. It is prickly on outside. Soft and sweet on the inside which is the way you would describe an Israeli. They are difficult to get to know but, once you are friends with an Israeli, you are for life.

Having Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, state so eloquently his strong ties to Israel is fantastic and wonderful for Israel. Being surrounded by Arabic countries causes the people in Israel to feel small and isolated. But, it also makes them strong and powerful. To have Harper openly acknowledge Israel is great for the country and it allows Israelis to feel just a bit more secure.

Most Arabic countries do not recognize Israel. Long standing anger and hatred remains with Arabs against Jews and Israelis. When I was in Australia and working in a factory in Sydney, one very good friend I had was from Jordan. We would often take smoke breaks together and we enjoyed each other's company. For the first month we worked together, we couldn't have been better friends. However, the next month, he found out that I was a Jew and Israeli. He never spoke to me again. Our friendship couldn't break his longstanding prejudice. A real pity.

Are you buying Locker Rooms? Check out this review: Red City Review

Don't forget my signing for Locker Rooms and Shall We Chat? takes place on Saturday, January 25, 2014, after 1:00 p.m. at the Chapters bookstore, Meadowlands, Ancaster, Ontario.

have fun,
patty
www.pattylesser.com
@PattyLesser

JukePop Serials: The Nuts

I have discovered a wonderful site called JukePop Serials. This is a site which allows authors to publish their books one chapter at a time and, therefore, a serial ensues. My serial is my novel, The Nuts which is about five poker buddies who uncover a deadly conspiracy within the USA.

To read the first chapter of this serial, please go to The Nuts

Suddenly and for some unexplained and unexpected reason, the entire United States collapses into a pitiful nation of anxious, stressed out, and paranoid people. No citizen feels safe or secure because they know that everyone is spying on each other. No one understands this bizarre hold and effect the FSC has on the American people. Who is the FSC? Nobody knows except that the people must send their weekly reports about their spy work to the FSC every week or face dire consequences.

To save the day are five poker buddies who have known each other since their science study group days in university. They are a close knit, intelligent group of men who challenge the FSC for control of the American people. Devoting all their time and energy after going into hiding, the five brilliant, successful men uncover the conspiracy that has endangered the lives of their fellow Americans.

Employing their common background in physics and their love of poker, the five good and decent men devise a brilliant opportunity to infiltrate the secretive FSC and determine who is destroying the very fabric of the USA. With the assistance of a taxi driver from Washington, D.C., and a few of his close buddies in the police force, the five special men repel the FSC and Harold Hartley who, they learn, is at the centre of this devious plot.

The devilish and evil Harold Hartley is a good looking man in his 60s of strong religious and spiritual beliefs; especially the strong conviction that he is a god requiring him to take over control of the people of the USA. He is also very charismatic, arrogant and brilliant which draws people to follow him blindly. However, he truly only cares about himself and his intense desire to rule.

What's exciting is that I have already received my first review and I just posted my first chapter. The gentleman considered most would think my first chapter boring but yet he "genuinely enjoyed" it because he is also a poker player. What a compliment! I have written about five long time friends and poker players yet I am a woman who has never been to a private game like that. Usually, men don't invite women to those games. Therefore, I am very honoured that this man would consider identifying with my characters and their situation. You can read his review at the site.

So, I hope you will check out the site and let me know what you think of my next novel.

have fun,
patty
www.pattylesser.com
@PattyLesser

Plants

Do you have any plants? Do you have a green thumb? I lived with a friend while attending the Tel Aviv University in Israel who definitely had a green thumb and she loved plants. We had hundreds throughout our apartment. Once a plant was strong, she would take a cutting and set up another plant. It must have required an hour to water them all and I have no idea how she kept it organized since some plants needed more water than others. Unfortunately, every summer she would travel to England where she studied during the break from university and leave me to water the plants. She understood that she would return with many dead.

This friend's, Roni, birthday is a month before mine. You know how difficult it is to buy the right present? So we did this: on her birthday, we would go to the plant store and Roni would buy whatever plants she wanted. On my birthday, we would go to the bookstore and she would spend the exact same amount of money on books for me. Perfect right?

I have one plant. No idea what its called but its in a big pot on the floor and rises into the air with a thin, leafless trunk. Bursting out of the top part are long, deep green, soft leaves. This lovely tree stands about five feet or so high. I don't know how it survives. I always forget to water it and, when I do water it, I pour a whole jug of water into the dirt. I do this maybe every two, three weeks. I never remember when I last watered it but its leaves droop without water so then I know to water it.

Are you reading Locker Rooms? Check out this review: Red River Review

Chapters in Meadowlands, Ancaster, Ontario, is hosting a signing for me on Saturday, January 25, 2014, after 1:00 p.m. Come and I'll personally autograph your copy.

have fun,
www.pattylesser.com
@PattyLesser

Hap Hap Happy New Year

Congratulations! You have made it through another year. Look back on your successes and figure out how best to achieve same but with greater accomplishes in 2014. A new year. A new chance to better yourself. More new and exciting adventures are as yet unexplored. Who knows what the year will unfold?

I give much credit and my admiration goes to the numerous people who were without power during last week's ice storm. It makes you realize how dependant we are on electricity. My aunt and uncle in Toronto were unfortunately part of those who lost power for a few days, but they just brought out their old camping equipment and scrabble board and weathered the storm. Luckily, they did have water and were able to use their bathrooms.

The horrific travesty that occurred during that time was those who died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to generators set up indoors as well as barbeques brought inside the homes. How upsetting to die so needlessly. It is terrible that these people made such a crucial mistake. Many warnings were shown on the news while disclosing the latest death by carbon monoxide.

The Hamilton Library is hosting a reading for Locker Rooms at the Terryberry Library, 100 Mohawk Road, Hamilton, Ontario, on Wednesday, February 12, 2014, at 7:00 p.m.

I hope you all are picking up a copy of Locker Rooms. Here are the links for your assistance.

Available at Amazon.ca

Available at Amazon.com

Available at Barnes & Noble


have fun,
patty
www.pattylesser.com
@PattyLesser