A touching, inspiring Christmas Jars miracle to start your Monday

What a nice way to start Christmas week, eh? Enjoy!

(Name withheld)

I am working my usual double shift tonight, due to the cold weather I just stopped home to let my dog in for the night and on my doorstep was a giftbag with a beautiful jar with $250 worth of gift certificates inside and your book. A tag with my name but no signature had me very confused until I started to read the book.

It has been a hard year for me I am very recently divorced and fighting for child support money everyday. Besides the financial struggles I worry about my kids' emotional state through this all. I do have to admit I felt sort of embarrased when I first opened the jar, I have worked very hard lately to make enough money to buy Christmas presents for my kids and pay the bills and was very proud of myself for that. To whomever was so generous tonight, I apologize that I felt that way, I am truly grateful to you,and though I wish I knew your identity so that I may pay you back personally I promise you that I will "pay it forward". Thank you, God bless and Merry Christmas!

Double feature Sunday: Another Christmas Jars tear-jerker

Just in moments ago. I hope the giver of this family's jar comes back and reads this. You've changed their lives and I know you'll be blessed for it. This, dear readers, is what Christmas is all about.

(Name withheld)

I am still left speechless. I came home from church and was fussing around the house. Got a hard knock at my door but no one was there. When we opened up the door saw a man running from my house to his car that was parked outside in front of my neighbor. I quickly came to the door to see a small bag at the front door. Truly baffeled I brought the bag inside to find a large jar painted with christmas colors and a book. The jar was painted as to not see inside. With no note or anything other than the book I was even more baffeled. When I opened up the jar there was $10 bill on top and was full of silver change. Later came find out was more money inside mixed inside the change. I had to laugh though a little cause the paint on the jar was still wet (LOL). This truly came to my family as a blessing with all we have dealt with this over the last year. My thoughts and prayers go to the anonymous person(s). The truly have blessed me in being able to provide my children a holiday.

PS: This has truly blessed my family in more ways then I could ever begin to describe. As the holidays quickly approach I felt more and more uncertain that would be able to allow my kids a holiday. This blessing has done just what I thought I would not be able to. We have struggled for most of this year with me being able to only work part time due to my one child special needs. I am left hours later still speechless of the gift someone shared with my family. It is more then the aspect of the money but the genorisity and thought shown to my family.

Sunday: A perfect day for a new Christmas Jars miracle

What a lovely problem to have, more Christmas Jar stories than days left to post them! Keep them coming, and enjoy this one from the sweetest woman in Willow Spring, NC:

(Name withheld)

Today was the day to deliver our Christmas Jars. My parents and my kids (ages 6 and 4) and I all went riding around a town about 10 minutes from where we live. This is the first jar we have ever done and given away.

We rode around looking for someone to give this to as we felt when we all saw that special family we would all immediately know that that is who the CJ receiver would be this year. We didn't find anybody and had decided to run to the local Food Lion there and get a few groceries. When we pulled up to the front we saw a group of "carolers" out front...they were wonderful at their singing and my mom and I looked at each other and we just knew that this is who needed to have the jar(mind you that they were not wanting or asking for donations). I went to our van and got the bag that had the jar and the book and brought it back...I handed the bag to my 4 year old and he gave it to the lady there. She was so happy and they all started giving us hugs and blessing us all with thanks. My kids had just given our first jar to a Christian Life center. I was so proud of my kids!

The jar though didn't contain much money this year as we only just started it in October but my family and I have said, it is not the amount that matters, it is the lesson behind the story. The ladies and gentlemen there today all had a blessing because of two wonderful thoughtful loving little boys. They are going to pass the CJ book around and I am hoping and praying that CJ tradition continues in our area!!

A Christmas Jars poem by another miracle worker

This just came in from someone taking the Christmas Jars tradition to a whole new level!

This is the note I left inside the Christmas Jar I am leaving at someone's doorstep in a few days.

Christmas Jar

It isn’t much,
Spare change really;
Coins tossed in a drawer
Or in a jar for later use;
The kind I used to hear
Jingle in my Daddy’s pocket
As he reached in
To buy me a soda pop
On a Saturday afternoon.

These are the things that linger;
Like the smells of
A Thanksgiving dinner,
Long after a prayer;
Through every corner
Of the house,
After the dishes have been put away
And the family settles in for a long night’s slumber;
When you can finally rest your head
From a long day of labor.

Now, as the holidays are upon us,
Let the jingle bring a momentary smile;
Like the sound of tiny reindeer
To a child immersed in a Christmas dream;
Warmth to the heart of a mother,
Knowing another day is spent together,
As it seems the hardships go on forever,
But there is always love no matter
The consequence that life deals out;
Hope when there seems only despair.

And so, from our family to yours;
We wish you a blessed Merry Christmas; a Happy New Year!

I already know the family who will be getting this jar. I know that the mother has several young children at home and a mother she is caring for who has cancer. The one son has had bouts of health problems and is facing surgery. I know it's not much, but I have been blessed with a beautiful family with healthy boys. Letting someone know you care and offering a little hope is worth so much more. Thank you Jason for bringing home this fact through your writing. God Bless!

A Christmas Jars miracle so wonderful I literally couldn't wait to post it

This latest Christmas Jars story was so lovely and well written I simply could not wait until tomorrow to post it. I've read it three times and gotten teary each time. I know, I'm such a softie. (Be sure to read today's other CJ story below this post.)

(Name withheld)

I've often wondered how a person repays kindness. I know now...with a Christmas Jar.

As a young mother with 4 small children I struggled for years to make it from day to day. There were many times when I had to depend on the generous good will of the Salvation Army and other food banks in my area to provide nourishment for my children.

My children are grown now and my life has been blessed in ways I never thought were possible.

A little over a year ago I started my Christmas jar. Everyday I deposited my spare change into the jar. Those deposits became an opportunity for me to concentrate on how thankful I was for all that had been given to me each day.

Tonight as I prepared to hand my jar full of blessings off to someone else I reflected on my year of blessings. Even on the not so good days there was something to be thankful for.

Before leaving home this evening I said a quite prayer asking God to lead me to the person He intended to receive the Christmas Jar.

I drove 6 miles from my home to Harrisburg, PA without a plan or a specific destination in mind. All that was certain to me is that I would know who it was when I saw them.

In the parking lot of Toys R Us I found her. My heart started beating harder than Thumpers foot the second I realized who was getting the jar. The thought of approaching a complete stranger in a parking was both exciting and scary.

With one deep breath and a pull of the door handle and made my move.

"Hi, I would like to give this jar to you for Christmas."

"Are you kidding me," the woman said.

"No, Merry Christmas."

"Wow," she said, "Merry Christmas to you too."

As fast as that it was over.

I returned to my car where my daughter was waiting, and as soon as the door was closed we both began to cry.

As if a year full of blessings wasn't already enough, God blessed me again tonight. And tomorrow? A new jar begins.

One of the most unusual and touching Christmas Jar stories ever

(Name withheld)

I have enjoyed reading your books, your stories always seem to be so personable and have a wonderful message. I'm writing you today to let you know of my Christmas Jar experiences for 2007 and 2008. My family read both Christmas Jars and The Wednesday Letters last year and we decided to start a jar of our own. In 2007 we collected change throughout the year and involved our children. Our children were excited to deposit their extra change and they did understand what the money would go towards. We went through the process of chosing someone to receive the jar and we decided on a friend who was facing tough times as most of us do. We did a drive by late at night, rang the doorbell and got back into the car as fast as we could and drove away. After the drop off, we felt very good about what we were able to accomplish and starting another jar the next day.

Fast forward to 2008 and the month is September. We have had trials arrive into our lives this year but our jar at this point had almost one hundred dollars that consisted of bills and coins. We needed to pay a few bills so we used the Christmas jar and left an IOU inside with the amount. The next day we started filling the jar back up and within a month we had almost fifty dollars collected, we had another bill pop up and we once again "borrowed" the money from the jar and put in another IOU.

We are now on our third jar and fast forward now to the beginning of November. I was talking to my wife on the weekend and we were talking about our financial trials and I expressed to my wife that using the money from the jar to pay the bills was hard because it felt like stealing.

Mr. Wright I quickly realized something, I WAS helping a family, I was helping my OWN family through our tough times. Our family was struggling this year and your wonderful idea, our new tradition helped so much and we as a family learned so much from this experience.

I know that this is not the usual Christmas Jar story that you receive but my wife and I wanted you to know that we again enjoy your stories and the true message of giving and thank you for a new tradition that we have and an opportunity to serve others. We were very humbled this year and our Christmas Jar was able to provide a way for us to make our bills. We hope to have enough money in our new jar so we can deliver to someone in need during the holidays because we know that we have been blessed because we have served others in the past. Merry Christmas and we look forward to any new books or traditions that you may have in the future.

Big thanks to some wonderful ladies in Missouri!

I just stumbled across this video this morning. How amazing are these ladies? I'll make a point to stop in next time I'm in Missouri. Hope the rest of you will too!

Click here to watch this incredible news clip.

A Christmas Jars angel strikes again!

This seriously never gets old, does it? Tick-tock, get those stories in!

(Name withheld)

I read your book last year at Christmas and it became one of my top ten favorites, I read it in one sitting. I passed it around to many women in my Bible study class, as well as at work and to my family. It has been a tough year in many ways this year. My husband hasn't worked much this year and I took a new job that cut my pay slightly, enough to feel a difference. In addition I went back to school, which added to our money strife. We live in a seriously tiny apartment and are newly married, so there are many ingredients to our meager means at times. The end of this year has gotten tighter and tighter and we have found various ways to be more frugal. For instance making the few Christmas gifts we are giving away this year, totaling about $.50 per gift.

But the greatest gift of all was the Christmas jar we were given. We don't know how much is in it yet, but the amount will be very helpful towards groceries and gas none the less. We are so thankful for our jar, and will be starting our own jar no matter what this year. Thank you for your amazing inspirational book and for showing there is love in the hearts of Americans.

My new all-time favorite Christmas Jars story?

This one brought a tear (or seven) to my eye.

(Name withheld)

We had just came home from Ward Christmas Party. I was getting the baby ready for bed and I saw someone run by the window and then I hear the doorbell ring. I saw the same person run by the window again. I wasn't sure I recognized him. After getting the baby settled I went to the door and there was a gallon jar. I wasn't sure what was in it, but it was heavy because it slipped out of my fingers as I lifted it up. Once I got it off the ground, I saw that it was change. I brought it in and attached in a bag with a ribbon to the jar was this book. My wife, oldest son, and I counted out just over 300 dollars in change!

My wife had been involved in a serious car accident where the occupant of the other vehicle died. She was unhurt, but suffers emotional trauma. This compounded with trying to get a business off the ground and 5 kids was making me wonder if I would be able to provide any sort of Christmas to my children.

As we were counting out the change we slowly came to the realization how the family that did this for us must have felt as they were slowly adding money to this jar throughout the year. This was a humbling experience, especially for my son as he shared his feelings with us about this experience. Thank you for such a wonderful idea. I will be sure to read the book.

Epilogue: The next Sunday, I went to church. I was speaking with our Bishop in a meeting before church and I mentioned this to him. As I was telling him about this, I saw a smile come across his face. He said he knew who did it. He also mentioned that they have been doing this for 3 years and had done it with 3 different families. This was the first time in 3 years he has heard anything back on it. I asked him to tell that family that we were grateful for their generosity and thoughts. He also said that gratitiude is something he rarely sees as he helps the needy with assistance the church can give. He told me he would definitely pass my families feelings on to the family that has been doing this for the last 3 years.

Just in! Another Christmas Jar miracle

Wow, so many stories coming in early this year! Have you given away a jar yet?

(Name withheld)

I am a mother of three sons. My faith was given a jolt tonight with a "Christmas Jar". As a single mom, life seems to test my faith more than I sometimes hope for. I was given a gift of hope tonight, which I will never ever forget.

My Angel also gave me the book "Christmas Jars". Inside was this: "It doesn't matter where things come from, what matters is that someone CARES.... Happy Holidays To You and Your Family. -From, People who care."

Thank you for sending this blessing out to me and others. For your writing has made us think of our faith and share with others. I plan to send a blessing to another needy family.

I would like to share this with everyone. I cry every time I read or talk about my unknown Christmas Angel. That moment has changed my family and me in such away, that words are hard to find. Thank you again for writing such a beautiful book.

Sincerely, A mother of three

Another good soul gives a Christmas Jar

With stories like these, it's easy to see how this has become my favorite time of year. Fiction is wonderful, but real life is inspirational!

(Name withheld)

A woman who I worked with for 2 years got diagnosed with Leukemia not too long ago and she past in August of this year. It was very upsetting for me and the people around her. She left behind her 4 daughters (2 are in college, the other two in highschool). She also left behind her very loving husband. Her life insurance covered some, but her husband had to cut back the hours at his job drasticlly due to her sickness. The bills reached at least 1 million dollars or less. This will be the first Christmas without the girls' mother and without his wife. I can't imagine what it will be like this Christmas for them. So this Christmas I will be giving them the "Christmas Jar". This will be the very first time I have ever done this. I know when I give them the jar, there faces will light up and hopefully they will have some spirit left. I know I will feel so glad when I give them that jar. I know it won't be 1 million dollars, but it's some money they can use and they can use it however they wish.

Keep 'em coming! Yet another Christmas Jars story

(Name withheld)

Last year we as an office decided we would collect change and start our own Christmas jar. We are a pediatric office and come across many deserving recipients. This year we chose a little girl who needed a "new" heart.

She was a normal health baby girl at birth, when she was around 10 months old they discovered she had a sever heart condition and needed a heart transplant. She underwent several surgeries and spend many many months in the hospital. The little girl also had 2 big brothers at home. Her sweet devoted parents tried to cover all their bases by caring for the boys at home and this sweet baby at the hospital.

Over the course of several months, we collected a great Christmas jar. All the employees contributed, and we were even able to share this experiance with our own family and children. All who thought of this little girl as their "special baby". We got together as an office and in the third week of December we delivered the jar on the doorsteps and watched the mom pick up the jar with tears in her eyes.

Then the best Christmas gift ever was given... On December 23rd the parents got the call that they had a heart for this sweet baby!

Fresh Christmas Jar Sighting

Another wonderful real-life Christmas Jars miracle. This came in moments ago:

(Name withheld)

Last night my son and I were sitting at home watching t.v. when the doorbell rang. I couldn't imagine who would be outside in the middle of a snowy, windy, very cold night. I opened the door and there was a gift bag on our doorstep with a jar full of coins and the book.

I don't know who did this, but it was a blessing nonetheless.

Most people would look at my life right now and think I should be depressed...my husband and I are getting a divorce and work is stressful to say the least right now, especially given the economy. And just this morning my grandfather passed away.

The funny thing is, I feel so blessed most days! God has given me so much and I just can't imagine why He allowed me to be blessed even more with this Christmas Jar. I am very humbled.

I cannot wait to start this tradition with my teenage son...it's such a fabulous way to teach him to be selfless and giving.

Jason's Cheesy Web Videos - Episode #8

This episode takes you to the annual Woodstock Christmas Parade. It was cold but memorable!

Two Christmas stories to brighten your day

Ready for two stories that will make you smile, but for vastly different reasons?

First, please take a moment to visit my friend Kevin Milne's blog. Read his post about their family Christmas Jar and his darling Emma's incredible gesture. Then come right back. Promise?

http://kevinamilne.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-jars-frozen-oreos-and.html

And now mine:

Today Kason, Koleson and I ran a guys-only errand to Walmart so I could buy some shaving cream. As we approached the door Kason (age 5) asked for change to put in the Salvation Army bucket. How can you resist the magical ding-ding of the bell and the hanging red bucket?

I emptied my pockets and came up with 85 cents. I placed it in his hand and off he went to drop it in the bucket.

He quickly caught up to us just inside the automatic doors and asked if he could play the toy crane game.

"Bud, I don't have any quarters, you just dropped them all in the bucket outside."

His eyes twinkled. "Not ALL of them," he smiled and opened his hand to reveal a single quarter.

"KASON WRIGHT!"

"But you gave me a lot, Dad."

Now a good father would have marched his son back out there and watched closely as he dropped the quarter where it belonged.

I am not a good father.

I laughed, called him sneaky, and bought my shaving cream.

On the way out Kason once again asked if he could play the toy crane game. "I want to win that stuffed monkey dressed like an elf!"

"With your DIRTY quarter?" I asked.

Important aside: Kason has never won anything in the toy crane machine on his own. He always has me or one of his sisters help line up the metals claw and give him the best shot at success.

"So can I?"

"Fine. It will be a good lesson. I'm not helping."

So he put in his stolen quarter, eyeballed the target, moved the claw carefully over it, and pressed the button.

Hours later I'm telling this story and Kason is upstairs fast asleep, snuggling with a monkey dressed like an elf.

And there goes my Father of the Year Award!

Yet another amazing Christmas Jars miracle

This email just came in. I bet there are many more of these to come between now and Christmas!

(Name withheld)

I have just received a Christmas jar and the book at my door step. I have no clue who could have sent it. Hearing the story of what it means bought tears to my eyes and gave me goose bumps. I was touch to know someone put a lot of thought in this and who they chose. I'm looking forward to trying to find out who it is but at the same time I don't want to know because it's such beautiful secret.

Another wonderful true-life Christmas Jars miracle

I've heard many of these stories since Christmas Jars first hit stores in 2005, but they never get old. The latest story, just sent to me today, is one of my all-time favorites. It's a timely reminder that the world is full of good people, no matter what you hear on the news.

(Name withheld)

I'm excited today! I'm giving my Christmas jar and book to a young man at Starbucks. Divorced with 2 little boys, living with his parents and dividing custody. He's attending Tech school working on computers to help his future. I saved all year and am so blessed to be able to do this. The book touched me when I read it. It brought back many memories of hard times when I was younger not gifts of cash but how neighbors helped my mom with 4 kids and Dad passing away when I was 10. I just hought "what a great way to pay it forward". I pray that he will see that he is loved and will do the same when he has his life together. Will I do it again? Without a doubt!! Thank you so much for allowing me to reopen my heart.

A video that will put a smile on your face, guaranteed

The Christmas Sweater is #1!

One of the greatest privileges of my writing career was working on Glenn Beck's new novel, The Christmas Sweater. As you've probably heard, it's based closely on an experience he had as a child and it's a deeply personal book.

The New York Times has just released their list for last week and we're #1! So big time congrats to Glenn and to my other co-writer, Kevin Balfe. Way to go!

Jason's Cheesy Web Videos - Episode #7

I had the true pleasure today of meeting two of the coolest ladies on earth. Ann and her chum Joyce are on a trip from PA to NC. They took a detour through Woodstock today to see some of the sights mentioned in The Wednesday Letters. I arranged to meet them at Ben Franklin for hot chocolate and a few good laughs. And we had plenty!

Check out this very special episode of Jason's Cheesy Web Videos.

And to Ann and Joyce, in case you're reading this from some hotel somewhere, thanks for the most fun I've had in ages. You're fantastic! (FYI Ann, I still have your lips marks on my cheek!)

Win an all-expenses paid trip to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia!

If you're on my email list then you've already heard about this. If not, get a load of the cool prize in my latest and greatest contest.

Win an all-expenses paid trip to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia!

Click here for all the info and get entered!

We have winners in the "Free Books for Life" drawing!

Congrats to our three winners! Our next contest will be announced soon and you will not be disappointed. It's easily our best prize ever--by a long shot!

Home

Doesn't that one word say it all?

It's so nice after an incredibly hectic two months to finally sleep in my own bed and tuck my kids in. I returned home early yesterday morning (2:30) and I'm still walking around in a state of disbelief. Where are the wake up calls? The chocolate on pillows? The beds making themselves magically? The little soaps in boxes?

I'll have much more to say very soon, but for now I wanted to draw your attention to a contest I'm running over at PoliticalDerby.com to celebrate a friend's new book.

Click here to win a copy of The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Milne.

Also thought you might enjoy this clip my publisher produced a few weeks ago for the Barnes & Noble web site.



More soon!

Kudos to Wil for a brilliant episode of Jason's Cheesy Web Videos

The good news is I'm home for a couple days. The bad news is I'm home because I'm sick. I picked up a nasty flu bug on tour last week and had to head home from Nashville before my Portland events. Sorry Portland! We're already working hard to get another event scheduled before Christmas. And I assure you that you did not, repeat did not want to see me Friday and Saturday. It wasn't purty.

Hopefully by tomorrow (Monday) I'll be back in tip top shape, because I'm off on a road trip to Boise, ID. Can't wait!

So... I often get asked what signings are like. Thanks to my nephew Wil (aka Wilma, the Wilster, the Wilmanator) we have footage from a recent event in my old stomping grounds of Charlottesville, Virginia. It's not exactly a typical signing because I knew quite a few of the folks already, but it sure was fun.

Since Wil did such a fabulous job producing, directing and editing this, we decided it was worthy to be called Episode 5 of Jason's Cheesy Web Videos. Way to go, Wil!

Catch a fun podcast with PsychJourney

I did a podcast with Jamie Mason for PsychJourney.com. Jamie was a real pro, better than most of the radio interviews I've ever done!

Click here to hear our discussion about Recovering Charles.

The incredible world of your local bookstore

I'll have more to say about life and the state of the tour soon, but for now I thought I'd pass along this incredible note I got from a dear friend in the bookstore business. I'll let it speak for itself.

If you ever are without a story I highly recommend you sit in a large book store for a couple of months to observe....

Perhaps you will notice the lady running into the store as fast as she can to the women's restroom and locking herself in a stall. The Best Buy managers are not far behind chasing her through the store. Police follow however they are all men so they can't retrieve her and it's possibly too dangerous for us to go in and get her. A female police officer is called and she goes in and brings her out in handcuffs for credit card fraud.

One week later at 2:30 in the afternoon you would notice the lady entering the store absolutely falling down drunk screaming through the store for her children who we have paged but who are not in the store because they are in school! After falling down several times she purchases The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, leaves the store and attempts to enter 5 or 6 cars because she can't remember where hers is. She sits down to smoke a cigarette and we wonder what has happened in her life to cause her to be in this shape. We call 911. She finds her car and rolls down the window screaming for her kids as she drives by the store. Police arrive, and she voluntarily lays across the police car opening her mouth to allow the breathalizer to take place, and then is placed in handcuffs and taken away.

You might notice the nicely dressed gentleman who sits at the front of the store reading and sleeping all day long. Sometimes he arrives at 9 am and sometimes he arrives later in the day and we have to wake him up at closing. He has become homeless in the last 3 to 4 months. He is friendly but guarded. Nice gentleman, doesn't bother anyone or anything....just needs a place to rest his body....the recipient of my Christmas Jar this year.

Another gentleman is so excited to find the CD's his wife has wanted for a long time.....he is in the store waiting for his son to finish his Lasik surgery across the parking lot. He purchases his CD's, walks to the history department and drops dead of a massive heart attack despite attempts to revive him.

There is a younger gentleman who is walking around the store with his cell phone...as he approaches women wearing skirts he slips his camera under their skirt (without them knowing) and takes a picture. One woman reports him, we chase him out of the store and call police. One employee is able to bring him back but he gets in his car to drive away. The woman's husband stands in front of his car to keep him from leaving but he leaves anyway attempting to run over the husband.

As I walk past the restrooms one evening a genlteman comes out of the woman's restroom!! I'm a little stunned but don't think much more about it. A week later I'm at customer service looking down at something and when I look up there is the gentleman who walked out of the woman's restroom but he is now dressed as a woman! Reddish hair, large hands but manicured nails, knit top and a skirt....He/She asks for an application and applies as Angel!

Yes these events have all taken place at my store....in a nice, very well to do area, one of the fastest growing counties in the US!! I could go on and on and on!! Until I worked there I always assumed the book store was a nice quiet place to sit and read a book while drinking a hot coffee and enjoying a warm cookie!! My eyes have been opened!! So....if you are ever without a topic just sit yourself down in the book store....there are many stories and a ton of characters and they are not on the shelf!!!

KUTV appearance and episode 4 of Jason's Cheesy Web Videos

I'm home! After another week on the road I'm home for a few days. Then it's off to events in Fairfax and Charlottesville.

Last week we had a great interview in Salt Lake on Channel 2. (see below) And I'm tickled peach to present Episode 4 of Jason's Cheesy Web Videos starring Cherie Call.

New Orleans and a "Second Verse"

Well that was fast... I only had about 15 hours in New Orleans and I'm posting this from my next stop, Phoenix. I was in the Big Easy just long enough to check-in to my hotel, change, take a cab to my event at the wonderful Octavia Books, take the same cab back, eat dinner nearby, sleep, and take a tour on the way to the airport in the morning.

But it was the cab ride I'll most remember. I was so fortunate to meet Walter the night before and keep him for all my rides. He's a NOLA native and he gave me an hour long tour of the Lower Ninth Ward. He was so gracious and accommodating.

I couldn't include everything we saw, and I apologize that the quality in places isn't the greatest, but I hope it reminds us all how much work is left to be done. If anyone or anything has ever deserved a "Second Verse" - it's New Orleans.

Greetings from New Orleans

I know, where the heck have you been, Jason? So much has happened in the last two weeks and I promise on a stack of empty Snicker Bar wrappers that I'll give a full update shortly.

Tomorrow I'm planning our best edition ever of Jason's Cheesy Web Videos, filmed right here in NOLA. Then it's off to Arizona, Utah, and home!

Another fun interview with Glenn Beck

Our fourth interview with Glenn was such fun. We were in the makeup room together beforehand and had an fascinating discussion about Hurricane Katrina and how it was used against him in the media. Glenn is as personable and kind off-screen as he is on-screen. So did you miss it? Watch below!

Free Books for Life Contest Update

My agent will probably accuse me of not getting enough sleep on tour, but I've come up with a fun idea for a new contest. I've decided to give away signed copies of my first four books plus a free copy of every book I write for the rest of my career!

Three winners will be chosen at random on November 1st and all three will receive a signed and personalized copy of The James Miracle, Christmas Jars, The Wednesday Letters and Recovering Charles.

But wait! As Billy Mays says, "That's not all!" All three winners will also receive a free copy of every book I ever write in both hardcover and paperback.

How do you enter?

STEP 1: Send your friends and family an email referring them to RecoveringCharles.com.

STEP 2: In that email, invite your friends and family to join our list on the front page so they can learn more about the novels, win prizes, and hear Cherie Call's new song "Love Me If You Can". All for free!

STEP 3: Instruct your friends to enter YOUR name as their "referrer" in the field at the very bottom. (picture of sign-up form as shown above)

For every person who joins our list and enters YOUR name, you'll receive one entry in the drawing. Simple enough?

Refer 5 people to the list who join; receive 5 entries in the drawing. Refer 100 people who join and you'll be entered 100 times in the drawing. It's as simple as that. The more people who accept your invitation to join our community, the more chances you have to win.

Remember, the deadline is November 1st to refer those friends. And of course once your friends are on the list, they can enter too!

Did you miss our last drawing of this kind? Click here to watch it here.

WANT TO SEE A SAMPLE EMAIL TO SEND YOUR FRIENDS?

Hi friends! I'm participating in a contest to win free books for life. An author named Jason Wright has a new book in stores with a beautiful theme song by songwriter Cherie Call. It's about second verses in your life and I know you'll love it!

You can hear it for free right now at http://www.recoveringcharles.com

I hope you'll visit the site and join his email list. He won't SPAM you (I promise!) and you'll be the first to hear about events, contests, and even get sneak peeks at his manuscripts.

And be sure to check out his latest contest and enter MY name as your referrer when you sign up! That's how I hope to win his books for life :)

Greetings from New York and a Glenn Beck update

What a crazy 24 hours! I'm so tired I actually fell asleep this afternoon in the back of the car that drove me from Manhattan to my hotel in Long Island. I haven't done since I rode in a car seat! Wow, I am getting way too old for this...

Last night's signing was great fun. There was a moment I looked around the bookstore (Borders in the Time Warner Building) and couldn't believe I was actually there. I remember once going into that store during a visit to CNN. It was long before my books were available nationally and I wondered if I'd ever be able to buy my book there. Then last night I was reading from my books and signing them. Surreal.



You might have watched Glenn Beck last night and noticed I wasn't on. Sorry! I meant to post a note that we only taped yesterday, the actual interview will air Thursday at 7PM and 9PM EST. With all the financial news dominating the landscape they thought it was best to hold the segment a day or two. So tune in tomorrow!

Finally, I am pleased to present Episode 2 of Jason's Cheesy Web Diary. Live from New York, it's Jason on Times Square!

Is it really September 16th already?

Seems like just last week I was locked up in a Holiday Inn Express cranking through Recovering Charles as my deadline barreled down on me. Now here we are just 5 short months later on release day.

Can you say, stressed?

I often get asked what it feels like on the day a new book hits store shelves. I usually say it feels like giving birth. Then my wife, if she's standing nearby, elbows me sharply in the ribs and says "You have no clue what you're talking about..." And, as usual, she's probably right.

Maybe it's like dating a woman for a long time and facing the moment of truth: The proposal. There you are on one knee in Central Park, or on the beach, or in a hot air balloon, or in a department store (that was me, true story). You've waited for this big moment. It's a huge commitment. You know she likes you, but will she love you? You're about to put it all on the line, to open yourself up more than you ever have to acceptance or rejection. Will she say yes? If she does it's bliss. If she doesn't, well, it stinks.

Or maybe it's nothing like that at all.

Maybe it's more like opening a restaurant. On opening night you know you'll have a big crowd. But will they like your entrees? Will the chocolate lava cake be lava-ey enough? You've worked so hard for this big day. If they like it, you know they'll tell their friends and come back. If not, well, you'll never cook in this town again.

Or maybe it's nothing like that at all.

Maybe it's like giving birth...

In any case, pick your analogy and then pick up a copy of Recovering Charles online at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or your local bookstore. And most importantly, come back and tell me what you think. Good, bad or indifferent.

Now excuse me while I get my gown on. Contractions are just two minutes apart...

Wednesday is definitely my favorite day

We just learned that The Wednesday Letters has landed at #16 on the NYT Paperback Bestseller list. Wow! I'm so thankful to all of you that bought an extra case :)

Thank you thank you thank you! (Did I mention how thankful I am?)

The NYT list for the coming week is always released on Wednesday afternoons. How appropriate, eh?

Overstock.com promotion

As you know, I'm normally shamelessly promoting my own stuff here at everyone's favorite blog. But today I'm shamelessly promoting someone else promoting my own stuff!

Overstock.com is doing a special Wednesday Letters promotion and giving away 25 signed copies of the new paperback. It's free and easy! Click here to enter.

Just about the most fun I've ever had on stage

I have always wanted to thank my wife for being such a trooper about my ridiculous travel schedule. I finally had a chance in Sacramento yesterday at a Time Out for Women event. Everyone was such a good sport about it! Watch the short clip below:



Thanks to everyone for making that such a fantastic day!

Watch Episode #1 of Jason's Cheesy Web Diary

My publisher, publicist and agent have been encouraging me to do short web videos for quite a while. I wonder if they'll still feel that way after watching Episode #1?

The Wednesday Letters is out in paperback!

Whew! Finally! After many months of working with the fantabulous peeps at Penguin, specifically their Berkley imprint, TWL is available nationwide in a gorgeous paperback edition. I just couldn't be happier with the way it turned out.

Equally exciting is today's ad in USAToday! It's a first for me to have an ad in a national publication and I owe the folks at Penguin a big thanks (and some free pizza) for rolling the dice and running this. (It will run again next week. And a different version featuring Recovering Charles more prominently will run in mid-September.)

So if you don't yet have your copy of TWL in paperback, might I suggest your local Wal-Mart, Target or online at Amazon :-)

New and improved fall schedule is live!

We just updated the fall schedule with all sorts of craziness. Check it out here:

http://www.jasonfwright.com/events.php

Please let me know if you're near an event and plan to say hello!

What will your second verse sound like?

I've been thinking a lot about my dad lately. Specifically, I've been wondering what he'd think of my life and career if he were still alive.

When I was young my dream was to be an author who wrote books that both my parents would enjoy and be proud of. Of course my mom is my number one fan, and I love her for it, but I also wonder what dad would say about the craziness that's become my life.

As I was writing Recovering Charles I began to realize that too often life's tragedies sing a tune we choose not to hear. It is the sweet, comforting sound of a second verse.

Many of you may know that when I was 16-years-old my father was taken by cancer. In the weeks and months after I heard only sorrow, grief, self-pity and loneliness. But in time I learned to hear something more.

My life had a second verse.

Not only do I now think of my life's greatest tragedy with a set of more mature emotions, I have learned to value it. I have been blessed in the years since with a deeper understanding of who I am and what my dad's legacy was.

So far my life's second verse is trying to be less selfish, more charitable, and more kind each and every day.

I have a long, long way to go, but at least I can hear my second verse playing faintly in the background.

I believe we all can have a second verse, if we choose. And it's not just individuals, it's couples, angry neighbors, families and yes, even an entire community.

A few years ago I was gripped by Hurricane Katrina. The coverage was numbing and the suffering so intense and real I found myself aching for complete strangers.

It was something I hadn't felt since 9/11 and it was, perhaps, even stronger.

It was during those days following this national tragedy in the Crescent City that I began to believe that even a city deserves a second verse, not just the people on planes and buses aimed for new lives. It deserves to be rebuilt stronger and smarter and safer.

Yes, New Orleans deserves a second verse. So too does the entire Gulf.

And the drunk driver, the widow, the widower, the neighbor, the wayward child, and you.

But only you can write it.

So what will yours sound like?

Latest greatest schedule for fall tour

OK, this is hot off the presses. I'd love to know who lives near any of these cities so I can be on the lookout for you!

Sept. 6 - Sacramento, CA – Speaking engagement
Sept. 13 - Springfield, MO
Sept. 16 - New York – Borders, Columbus Circle
Sept. 17 – New York – B&N, Long Island
Sept. 19 – Springfield, MA
Sept. 20 – Springfield, MA – Speaking engagement
Sept. 23 – Harrisburg, PA
Sept. 24 – Pittsburg, PA
Sept. 25 – Akron, OH
Sept. 26 – Woodstock, VA
Sept. 27 – Winchester, VA
Sept. 30 – New Orleans, LA
Oct. 2 – Phoenix, AZ
Oct. 3 – Salt Lake City, UT
Oct. 4 – Salt Lake City, UT
Oct. 14 – Indianapolis, IN
Oct. 15 – Lexington, KY
Oct. 16 – Nashville, TN
Oct. 18 – Portland, OR – Speaking Engagement
Oct. 20-24 Dallas & Tulsa
Oct. 25 – San Antonio, TX – Speaking Engagement

No dates yet: Richmond, VA; Charlottesville, VA; Fairfax, VA

Nice mention for Recovering Charles in Publishers Weekly

It's starting to get exciting! Seeing this article in PW today really opened my eyes to just how close we are to the street date. Not to mention it reminded me how crazy my schedule is about to become.

I've had lots of interesting experiences lately and I promise I'll share them asap!

My first visit to CNN's American Morning

We've been talking about trying a segment here for about a year. Finally happened on Wednesday morning. How'd we do?

We have our winners in the "Win Jason's Hannah Montana Tickets" Sweepstakes!

Well it never goes exactly as planned, does it? Despite our wild ending, we finally have a grand prize winner! He/She will receive my tickets to the Stadium of Fire extravaganza on July 4th featuring Glenn Beck, Hannah Montana and the Blue Man Group.

We also have five runners up. Are you a winner? Watch the video to find out! And if so, please drop me an email pronto. Congrats!

Check out my famous nephew!

One of my sister's 42 kids was featured in this newspaper article today. He made tote bags to haul around his Fablehaven books after author Brandon Mull paid a visit to his school. What a great kid! If you like, drop him a nice comment here and I'll be sure my Sis reads them to him. You'll make his day!

Warning: Only watch these clips if you literally have NOTHING else to accomplish in this life

Jason wears an unnatural amount of makeup on Friday's FoxNews interview

Never have they caked me up so thick with makeup. My face gained 11 pounds with all this gunk!

See Jason's grey hair on BYU-TV tonight

If you’re interested, or bored-to-death, I’ll be on BYU-TV tonight at 6:30, EST. The interview was taped so long ago I have no clue what I said. Hopefully nothing as crazy as giving out my cell phone number!

Lyrics to Love Me if You Can

Quite a few have asked why I posted the song, Love Me if You Can, but not the lyrics. The only easy answer is that I'm a dope :)

“Love Me if You Can”
by Cherie Call

Tonight I tried to write the perfect song of love
But all the words I sang were blue
Because I’ve tried and I’ve tried to win you over
And I’ve done the best I can do
So we may never be together
But my heart is in your hands
And if you ever think about me in your long-lost dreams
Love me if you can

I know that you’ve moved on, it’s what you had to do
I never had the chance to say good-bye
It’s on my list of all the things I never said
It goes on for pages and it keeps me up at night
And my heart is missing pieces
That only you could understand

So if you ever think about it in your long-lost dreams
Love me if you can
So this song I sing is a little sad
And it’s unrehearsed
I just hope you hear that this broken life
Has had a second verse

’Cause in those days gone by, I tried to build you castles
And maybe they just turned to sand
But if you can only love who you wished I could have been
I wish you knew it’s finally who I am
I remember how you needed me
And I know yesterday will never come again
But if you feel me reaching for you in your long- lost dreams
Love me if you can

We have a winner in the Amazon.com review contest!

We have a winner in the Amazon.com Wednesday Letters review contest!

Congrats to P. Brown Wagner (Pennsylvania). Drop us a note with your full contact info and we'll rush out your advance copy of Recovering Charles.

Have an idea for how we could away another copy? Tell us!

Recovering Charles theme song released

I've hinted at this before, but it's finally time for the official release of the theme song for Recovering Charles. It's called, "Love Me if You Can."

The music and lyrics are by my ridiculously talented good friend, Cherie Call. The vocals are by newcomer Paul Jacobsen. The song fits the book's central theme so perfectly! Truly, I'm so blessed to have partnered with them on this project.

Ready to hear it? Click here!

Can't wait to hear what you think...

L.A., B.E.A., and T.I.R.E.D.

Well that was a nice break at home! Kodi and I returned Wednesday evening, recovered Thursday, and Friday morning I got up at 4:00 to head back to the airport for a flight to L.A. for the annual Book Expo America show. It's the Super Bowl of book conventions with authors, publishers, movie reps, agents, etc.

Quite a few awards are given out dring the week, and we just learned that The Wednesday Letters won the Ben Franklin Award for Audio Book of the Year in the fiction category. Congrats to Art Allen! He's the actor who did the audio performance.

Yesterday I met with folks from Penguin about their paperback plans for The Wednesday Letters. They've got big plans for the August 26th release and it will be interesting to see how they differ in distribution and PR from my hardcover publisher. It's all such a fantastic learning experience.

Today's my official signing of the advance reader copies of Recovering Charles. (1:00-2:00 PM, if you're at BEA) I look forward to hearing reactions from folks; it's always a bit nerve wracking! You can count on about 8 fingers the number of people who've read the book thus far, but that will change in a hurry after today and it's pins and needles waiting to hear feedback.

Finally, I have to post two pictures from Peru. Kodi took these and they might be my favorite from the whole trip. The first was taken as we approached Machu Picchu, the second from just inside the ruins. I love the tree in the second photo. Looks like the tree of life, eh?

I'll be posting many more on my Facebook page if you're interested.

More soon!

Winding down from Peru

Terribly sorry I haven't been able to post more during our trip. Internet access was actually OK most of the time, but I simply didn't have much time to sit and breathe, much less write!

Right now I am sitting in the amazing lobby of the Libertador Hotel in Cusco. It's a fantastic hotel by any standards. I'll try to post video later.

We leave in an hour for the airport to return to Lima. We'll spend the day seeing the sights before heading for the airport this evening and flying home at about midnight. I'll be home in VA in time to greet my kids as they get off the bus tomorrow. Can't wait! I've missed them terribly.

So many unforgettable memories from this trip. People and images I will never forget. I promise to post more - including photos - when I'm home.

Quick not about the panda. I take him everywhere I travel and always send back pictures of his adventures to my wife and kids. In this case, of course, just the kids. This panda has seen his share of excitement, that's for sure! In this pic, Panda is sitting atop the west side of the ruins at Macchu Picchu overlooking the river.

More soon.

Greetings from Peru!

Hola! Kodi and I are safely in Cusco and having a grand old time. Today we see a few more sites near the city and then take a train to Aquas Calientes, the "base camp" - for lack of a better term - for Machu Picchu. Aguas Calientes is probably my favorite little city on the trip. It's tucked tightly between two huge mountain ranges and the houses and hostels are built literally right against the sheer mountain faces.



Here's a photo from yesterday. If possible we'll post again tomorrow after our adventure to Machu Picchu. It's truly one of the most magnificent things I've ever seen, and I can't wait to share it with my wife and a whole new group of travelers.

Adios!

Thanks San Diego!

What a week! I'm frantically trying to get packed and ready to leave for Peru on Wednesday morning. I'll try to check in from the road; we'll see how well I'm able to connect.

My wife Kodi is coming along this year. Thank goodness for grandmothers! Kodi's mom has flown in to watch our four little vandals while we're gone.

Also, I'm embarrassed it's taken me so long to say this, but thanks, thanks, thanks to the many wonderful women who attended the Time Out for Women conference in San Diego last weekend. We had such a great time and I fell in love with your fantastic city.

Most of all I'm so glad I able to see my Aunt Annabelle and crazy Cousin Cheryl. (pictured) Thanks for coming! It's always nice to look out at a crowd of 1,000 faces and see one or two you actually recognize :)

San Diego was my last event of the TOFW spring schedule. This fall I look forward to meeting thousands more wonderful folks in Nashville, Sacramento, Portland, San Antonio, Springfield, and St. Louis.

Sneak peek of Recovering Charles is FINALLY online

Moments ago I posted the long-awaited, much-teased sneak peek of the new novel, Recovering Charles. My fabulous editor is frantically editing so they can go to press with a few thousand ARC's tomorrow. (ARC's are Advance Reading Copies. These are sent to reviewers, book store buyers, managers, newspapers, VIP's etc. They're paperback and are produced quick and cheap.)

So without further ado, click here to read the Prologue, Chapter 1, and a snippet of Chapter 2. I hope it whets yer whistle!

I'm off to a Time Out for Women Event in San Diego. I can't wait to leave my Virginia allergies at the airport...

Win Jason's Hannah Montana tickets

So here's the scoop. Have you heard about the sold out Stadium of Fire event in Provo, Utah on July 4th? This is a huge annual extravaganza, even without Miley Cyrus. Throw in the fact that Glenn Beck is emceeing and you have one of this summer's hottest tickets.

And I have four of them! (and they're great, great seats)

Guess what? I'm going to give them away. No strings, no purchase necessary, no see stores for details, and no some restrictions apply must be 18 to enter nonsense.

The question is, how?

Traditional drawing? A video drawing like I did last time with my kids? A letter writing contest?

I'm open to suggestions. Let's hear them!

Recovering Charles already on Amazon?

What a hoot. A book that I'm still editing is already available for pre-order on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Recovering-Charles-Jason-Wright/dp/1590389646/

The cover isn't up yet, but you can still get your copy ordered today! (hint hint) ;-)

Also, be sure to check back soon for a sneak peak of the Prologue and Chapter One. They should be up by the end of the week.

A rare Sunday at home and the rise of self-publishing

It seems I'm hardly home anymore on Sundays to attend church in my own branch (congregation). So despite some very unfortunate drama between primary and relief society today (don't you love church drama?), it was nice to be among friends and wake up this morning in my own bed.

I often get asked about self-publishing. In fact, it's one of the most common questions I get at signings, speeches, etc. What are the pros? Cons? Have I had any experience with it?

I've never self-published myself, but I know quite a bit about the process from my previous life when I worked in politics and my former think-tank published a couple of books with iUniverse, a very popular print-on-demand publisher.

Today I stumbled across this article in the NYT and I thought it might be worth passing along. It answers a lot of common questions about the process and offers some fascinating numbers on the growth of the industry.

Click here to read.

Wow, who knew I loved Oklahoma?

I've just returned from another terrific Time Out for Women event, this one in Oklahoma City. What a great crowd! They were so receptive and kind. They even put up with me calling my wife, Kodi, on stage at the beginning of my presentation. She said a friendly "hello" to them as I held the mic up to the phone. They shouted back so enthusiastically, Kodi said her ears rang for an hour!

I can't say enough how much I loved meeting these incredible, inspiring women. It seemed every single one had a story to share with me of how a letter, or series of letters, impacted their lives.

On my way to the airport on Saturday we swung by the site of the Oklahoma City bombing. Yesterday was coincidentally the 13th anniversary of that tragic day. I saw people milling about, arms around one another, some with a personal connection, others with no connection other than memories from new coverage. The sights were powerful, but the spirit and resilience I felt from that amazing city will stick me longer than anything I saw with my eyes.

Sincere thanks, again, to the wonderful women who attended for making me (and the other presenters, I'm sure!) feel so welcome. Can't wait to come back!

Thanks to the SVMFG

I just returned from speaking to the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival Guild. Great lunch, great people! Most of all, it was held at the Holiday Inn Express where I lived last week. Now that's good karma.

Many thanks to Melissa Price for twisting my arm and getting me there. For more information about the Festival and the fabulous show they put on each summer, click here.

Thanks to Harpers Ferry!

Last night I drove to Harpers Ferry, WV to speak to the fabulous women (and a few brave men) of the Harpers Ferry Ward and Charles Town Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I've done more events like this than I can count over the last four years, but this was honestly one of my very favorite. They were so kind, so welcoming, so funny, so smart!

We talked about Christmas Jars, Wednesday Letters, where the books came from, and this crazy journey I've been on. They even got a sneak peek at the new novel, Recovering Charles, and asked some great questions.

So a big thanks to the gang that put it together, especially Amy and Heidi. It was worth every mile of the drive!

And yes, I'm the plumpish one in the middle between Amy (my right) and her twin sister, April (my left), who just happened to be visiting blustery Rexburg, ID. Thanks for coming all the way out to see me, April! ;-)

And yes, I found a few pounds during the last couple months that I intend to lose again, pronto!

We made it!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Have not slept since Wednesday night and I'm zonked.

My very favorite line of any book is the very last. It's a total thrill to write. What's the very last line of Recovering Charles?

"Alone."

See you when I wake up from hibernation.

8 hours? Can I get a recount?

Wow, so that's what an all-nighter feels like. A few quick notes on my last night at the HIE, Woodstock.

1. Someone, and I'm not naming names, dropped a gummy bear on the floor by the jacuzzi tub and I stepped on it early this morning. Not kidding. It frightened me and cost me 30 minutes of quality writing. I want that tacked on to my deadline this afternoon. Still not kidding.

(Yes, that's an actual photo of the room. No, gummi is not pictured. Yes, that's a tub in the kitchenette. Yes, much like you, I find that creepy.)

2. Even 7-11's in very small towns are scary at 1:30 in the morning. I walked to one (there's only one, it's Woodstock, hello) and was surprised to find I wasn't the only loser looking for some late-night action. (And by action I mean snack food and caffeine. Yes, I said it, caffeine. It's coursing through my veins like a testosterone in a 17-year-old version of myself. Just go with me on this.)

I met several people, including two employees, that looked like they could kill me with a stale Chocolate Zinger in one hand and a red coffee stirrer in the the other. Not kidding. It frightened me and cost me 30 minutes of quality writing. I want that tacked on to my deadline this afternoon. Still not kidding.

3. Some of the best writing thus far happened last night/this morning between the hours of 2-6. I laughed, I cried, I reread what I'd written and cried again because I saw how much editing it would need. The entire experience left me feeling very verklempt. Not kidding. It frightened me and cost me 30 minutes of...

Yikes. I've just wasted 12 minutes writing about how much time I lost last night. I've got 8 hours or so to wrap this thing up. It's going to be tight!

Note to my editor, EBS: I know you're reading this. Don't panic. This is going to be the best short story you've ever read!

34 hours to go, but who's counting?

I'm waaaaay behind schedule today. I awoke in my hotel room after a late night of writing with guilt because I had Idol Gives Back on the television in the background. (But not so guilty I didn't hoot and holler for Miley, mind you.)

Yesterday I'd promised my girls I'd sneak them into the hotel for the freebie breakfast and take them to school. So I raced home. (Yeah yeah, I know, that still sounds weird, raced home from a hotel room 1.5 miles from my front door.) They were eagerly awaiting me.

We drove back to the hotel, did a Mission Impossible entrance into the lobby and ate breakfast together. Laughs were had, cinnamon rolls were eaten, milk was spilled. Good times.

Then I dropped them off at school and returned to my home away-from-home for my last full day of writing.

Manuscript is due by email tomorrow by 7:00 PM, EST. And that, my friends, is why I picked a publisher out west. Every hour counts!

3 days to deadline and I seriously need a massage

I've never sat still for so long in my life. My neck, back and fannie are killing me!

Yesterday was productive, but in a different way. I did a fair amount of editing and fine tuning plot elements from Part I of the novel. I wish I'd moved forward more, but it's a better book now than 24 hours ago, and that's always the goal.

This morning at breakfast I was chatting with one of the employees who'd begun to wonder why I'd been in the hotel for three days but hadn't left to sightsee, go to a meeting, etc. I briefly explained why I was there and he said, "You're an author?"

What I actually said next: "Yes."

What I should have said next: No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

4 days to deadline. Where's Waldo?

I am so glad my parents didn't name me Waldo. Nothing against the Waldo's of the world, but I can't imagine the teasing. It was bad enough that my middle name was Fletcher and I hit adolescence during the raging popularity of the two Fletch! movies starring Chevy Chase. (not the bank, the actor)

With 4 days to go I've checked into a hotel about a mile from my house. Strange, I know. My family came and brought me dinner last night and the kids ran around the lobby while I ate a taco salad with my uber-patient wife.

I feel very good about what I've produced in the last 48 hours and I'm anxious to know what you all think. I expect to post a teaser sometime over the weekend.

A funny side note: I needed a snack late yesterday to get me through my last hour of writing at the end of a 16-hour day. So I bought a Snicker's bar (approved as a tasty treat by 4 out of 5 writers) and took it out of the package. Printed on the inside of the wrapper was this terrific quote:

Nougatocity (noun). A heightened yet fleeting state of accomplishment that makes you realize how unbelievably unmotivated you normally are.

Classic :)

Please tell me it's not Friday night!

OK, more like early Saturday morning. I'm taking a short break to check email and let all seven of my loyal fans know I'm still alive.

Only 6 days to go! (Actually 6.5 if you predict that I'll be writing until Friday afternoon when the manuscript must be delivered. I think they call that an "even money" bet.)

Perhaps one day I'll expain the reasons I'm pushing right up to the deadline for Recovering Charles. Suffice it to say, for now, that I've been under a ridiculous amount of stress with another matter. (Not writing related.)

I'm working hard to push those distractions from my mind and concentrate. (Not my strong suit, trust me.) Wait, was I saying something?

So a quick anecdote: I'm staying for a couple days at a hotel in Winchester, VA, about 40 miles from home. Believe it or not it's the only way to ensure peace and quiet. (Love those four kids!) I can really focus for hours-on-end in hotels. Several of my writer-friends do this from time-to-time.

Earlier today I took a quick break to hit the vending machines at the end of my hallway. As I walked back carrying $5 worth of totally healthy snacks, and generally feeling sorry for myself, one of the housekeepers said "hello" and asked me how I was. I said I was "surviving," one of my standard lines, and then returned the courtesy.

"And how are you?"

"Oh, OK, I just had to flip a mattress because someone wet the bed." She said it with the biggest, most sincere smile. I couldn't help but think she really loves her job. She must be grateful for it to have such a positive attitude.

After making a goofy looking face I wished her well and walked on.

"Hope your day gets better," she called out to me.

I returned to my room and felt about as worthless as the empty sugar I was about to ingest from a pack of gummy bears. Am I sufficiently grateful for my job?

Sometimes I forget how much the Lord has blessed me to do what I do. At every opportunity I've tried to submarine my own success and He has stepped in and said, "Not so fast, my friend, I am with you."

I have no idea why the Lord has blessed me in spite of so many shortcomings. But it's probably time I do a better job of recognizing his presence in my life and count my blessings.

One by one.

11 Days Until Deadline

Will I make it? AHHHHHHHH! Only if I learn to get by on less sleep and lock myself in a room. (padded, please)

Realizing how close I am to my "drop dead date" of April 11th, today my noggin (what's left of it) came up with some important questions:

1. Why don't writers have cheerleaders? Football players do, so do basketball, why not us? Think how much more I'd get accomplished, and how much better I'd feel about my career, if I had people cheering from the sidelines?

2. Why does a manuscript have to be turned in so stinkin' early? My deadline is FIVE months before it hits bookstores. Heavens to Betsy, in five months I could hire monks to handwrite the thing one-by-one on scrolls!

3. How did anyone ever write a book before computers and spell check? When I think of writing Recovering Charles on an old-fashioned typewriter and loading 400 sheets of paper, I get hives. (and not the good honey-producing kind)

All this begs the question, why aren't I writing right now?

Off I go! (shhh, don't tell my Editor or Agent you saw me here...)

Forgive me?

No, I haven't been hidden in a bunker under the White House. I've been traveling, writing, traveling, and traveling. Fortunately the traveling is now on hold for almost six weeks. Yahoo!

I'm crashing on a deadline for the new novel. I finally feel like I've rounded a corner and it's coming into picture. The last week or so has seen me writing 6-8 hours a day and tomorrow I'm headed off to a friend's cabin in WV to write non-stop for a couple days. Let's hope I don't get eaten by the bear I saw up there last fall...

And now for the best news of the last couple weeks. We have a cover for the new book! My agent, editor and I all love it. Most importantly, my wife approves :)

If you're interested in catching a future event, click here for my updated schedule.

And I'd love to hear what YOU think of the cover. Comment below!

Checking in from the road

And I thought the first part of 2008 would be LESS busy! So far this year I've been in nine airports: Dulles, San Francisco, Oakland, Atlanta, Reno, Phoenix, Salt Lake, Charlotte and New Orleans. And it's only February 11th! Oh, and we'll add one more this week, Indianapolis.

There's not much new to report. The events thus far have been fantastic. I've met the most amazing people! It's by far the most rewarding aspect of my life as a writer. Writing is just gravy, it's meeting and getting to know readers that really jazzes me.

The new book is coming along slowly but surely. I've conned my way into a later deadline (April) and I'm confident I can make it. Of course I said that last time and had to extend three times :)

Are you an eBayer? I've got a watch for sale right now that you might enjoy bidding on. Or at least reading the description.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170193203738

Two recent FoxNews appearances

So much for that New Year's resolution to post more frequently! I'm up to my eyeballs running PoliticalDerby.com and getting serious about my new book. (which, by the way, is due to my agent and editor on March 1, waahahahahahaha!)

In case you're interested, here are my two most recent FoxNews appearances:

Happy New Year and Annual Holiday Beards

Let's be honest, I'm sick as a dog on a cruise ship, so it could be a much happier holiday. But I'm heavily medicated and crossing my fingers I make it to midnight for the big smooch from my wife, if she'll give it to me that is...

Which leads me to the picture. Many of you have seen The Today Show video and asked about the new beard. There's a story here... (isn't there always?)

About 10 years ago Kodi and I had a summit. A meeting of the minds. A fierce negotiation. We agreed that I would remain clean shaven throughout the year. Not that I have to shave every day, but as a general rule from Jan-Nov I keep myself presentable.

But sometime around Thanksgiving, depending on my public commitments, I begin to grow what we affectionately refer to as the Annual Holiday Beard. This year I wasn't able to turn the facial follicles loose until the 10th or 11th of December. So it's not as
Grizzly Adams-ish as it could be.

There you have it. Sometime in the next day or two we'll bid farewell again for another year. But we'll always have pictures :)

Bring on your Jar Stories

Some fantastic stories are coming in from folks blessed by the Christmas Jars tradition. Did you give away a jar? Did you receive one? Please drop me a note so we can share your inspirational story. Here are a few of my favorites so far:

After a run of bad luck (water heater exploding, muffler puncturing a hole, and a loss of a job) it seemed like anything that financially could go wrong in the last month did. We knew we would be okay, but it would be tight to make it to the end of the month.

On the morning of Christmas Eve, my dad who was sick, was sleeping on the couch, our son was asleep and my mom, husband and I were sitting talking about future dreams for our home. When my dad woke up, we all went into the living room. He let the dog out and commented about a bag sitting by the door. He picked it up and gave it to my husband saying it felt like rocks.

My husband and I opened the bag and inside was the book Christmas Jars and a jar full of money. We were in disbelief. Who would set money outside of our door and why? Yes, things are tight right now, but we knew we could make it.

We counted the money and there was 83 dollars and some change. What a surprise. We immediately put a sign outside our door saying THANK YOU! The gift will go on!

We plan on putting some money aside each month after we get things settled, so next Christmas we can pass on the gift. It reassured us that people really do care and do not necessarily want recognition for their good deeds. Thank you to our Christmas Angel!!!

-Heidi in SD

_____

This year I pulled into my driveway and my manager pulled up behind me and she said that somebody left us this gift at the office and that she was to see that we recieve it. She told me she peeked in the bag and there was a book in there. She said she has read the book before that it was a wonderful story and I should read it.

So I took the bag and went inside. I opened it and the book christmas jars was in there with a starbucks frappicino jar full of money, and an envelope. Inside the envelope was a $50 certificate for our local grocery store. In the jar was just under $20.

We are so touched that somebody did this for us. It was such a thoughtful gift from a secret santa. Although it remains annoymous who did this for our family, it is greatly appreciated and was very much needed. We have had such a tough year. Besides the things that our kids made for us in school this is our only gift, and by far one of the greatest I have ever recieved. So just in case you get a chance to read this....

Thank you with all of our heart!

Next year we will find a family in need and pass on the tradition!

-Steve and Teresa in CA

Merry Christmas!

What a terrific Christmas! We awoke early (of course!) and celebrated our first Christmas in Woodstock. The kids were giddy (of course!) and enjoyed opening presents and eating an unhealthy amount of sugar. Mom and Dad ate our share too (of course!). One sad note: Jadi developed a fever mid-morning and spent much of the day on the couch under the blanket, but fortunately she's been a trooper and her mood is as cheery as ever.

Today was enjoyable, but the real fun happened yesterday afternoon when we gave away our second Christmas Jar of the year. We split ours into two this year and had a friend deliver the first a few days ago. We decided to give away our second jar to a stranger in person. We know others that have done it this way (including Hope Jensen in the book) but we'd never tried it ourselves. It was a wonderful experience!

We drove to a nearby truck stop and slowly drove around the parking lot looking for a solo trucker. We spotted a middle-aged man fueling his rig and all six of us unloaded from our car and walked toward him. The kids were so nervous! Oakli carried the jar and Jadi carried a gift bag containing Christmas Jars on CD.

The exchange was simple: We told him we had something to share with him, explained we'd been filling it all year, and wished him a very Merry Christmas. He took the jar and bag without hesitation, but there was definitely a stunned looked on his face. He smiled and we all fought tears. We knew immediately we'd been led to the right recipient.

We shook his hand and walked away. He called out a grateful "Merry Christmas!" and off we went, back home and feeling so incredibly grateful for the miracle of the Christmas jar tradition.

Another year, another unforgettable experience. We'll probably never see that man again, but neither Kodi nor I, nor the kids, will ever forget his face and the look of gratitude. That's the magical power of the jar.

Merry Christmas from the Wrights!

We have our first jar sighting of the year!

I just stumbled across this post on someone's blog:

http://big-dogdaddy.blogspot.com/2007/12/good-news.html

There is nothing I love more than real life stories of folks giving and receiving jars. Congrats to this family for receiving a jar, and special thanks to whatever family saw a need and acted. I'm sure all will be blessed for this early Christmas miracle.

EXCERPT FROM THEIR BLOG:

So the Lord does work in mysterious ways. We were sitting here this morning and we got a knock on the door. There ways a lady their that Laura didn't know holding a jar and a book. The book is Christmas Jars, and in the jar a houndred dollar bill and a bunch of change, in all it adds up to about 180.00. Now Damians parents will have a christmas too, and Damians will be even nicer. And will have gas money to drive to logan and springvill for the holidays. This whole exprience this week has been very humbling.

We have a winner in the Wednesday Letters drawing (at last!)

After some technical glitches we finally have conducted the Wednesday Letters drawing. We had thousands of entries and one grand prize winner will have dinner with a guest and yours truly in their hometown. (I really hope they live in Hawaii!)

Watch the drawing as it happened in this fun clip:

Lesson Learned

I received this email and, after feeling like I'd been punched in the stomach, decided I'd share it. So many of you have had wonderful things to say about Christmas Jars that I thought it might be fun to see that there's always another opinion. And no matter how hard I try, I'll never be able to please everyone. I think there's a valuable lesson to be learned here.

I've offered Karen her money back. No word on whether she'll accept, but I hope she does. I hate the thought that she feels cheated.

So for all you aspiring writers out there, thicken that skin! You'll need it.

Name: 'Karen Kimball'
E-mail: 'XXXXX'
WhoContact: 'author'
Comments: 'The neighborhood book club, started four years ago, read this for our November book, to be discussed in December - the unspoken rule is that a short book be chosen during the holidays as every one is so busy. The book will do well, as demonstrated by the NYTimes list - particularly in these times when there is a desperate desire to fuel the capitalist fire - if Mr. Wright really believed in the premise of the story, he would not be concerned with his placement on the NYTimes list. He would not be contributing to the Hollywood money factory by turning it into a movie. He would not be blogging, have multiple websites, etc. He would be giving away the book for free.

Finally - Mr. Wright would do well to find a different editor. The book is riddled with editing mistakes - simple misuse of the plural possessive, references in the book which contradict previously described situations, improper use of subordinate clauses, etc.

I did appreciate that the book was short - the sooner to be free of the trite message.

Does Mr. Wright believe in Chrismas Jars? He should live a more simple lifestyle and really change the world with his actions - above and beyond books that read like made-for-television movies.'