Comments on: Clear Heart

By: Joe Cottonwood

Joe Cottonwood — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:42:38 +0000

Hey, the book is out! http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Heart-Joe-Cottonwood/dp/1439211027/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227724466&sr=8-1

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:12:39 +0000

Nice work on the podcast, Joe and Susan. Very enjoyable. All the best.

By: Lancy

Lancy — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:54:09 +0000

Huh, thank you so much for your brilliant books. As for the wood work, i also find some useful information about calipers here. I think you can also learn a lot from it. Cheers!

By: Joe Cottonwood

Joe Cottonwood — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:04:38 +0000

Thanks, Mandarine - and a belated thanks to Goran, as well. As for the Paypal issue, never mind a donation - just buy the book, and then you’ll have something to keep. The publishing process is slow agony, but pretty soon it will be available for orders from amazon or an autographed copy directly from me. But then I’ve been saying that for a month now, and the book still isn’t out yet…

Anyway, you have no idea how much these comments mean to me. Thank you from the bottom of my (sometimes clear) heart.

On the news front, an Italian publisher is going to reissue my novel Famous Potatoes - in Italian - 30 years after its original appearance, and they’ve invited me to do a book tour in Italy during a Blues Festival there next May. I guess I have to pay my own way, but still, how cool is that? Springtime in Italy, and a blues festival, and a book tour. I’ve never even been to Europe. Time to fix that. So come to Italy next May, and we can say howdy.

By: mandarine

mandarine — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:34:54 +0000

I have just finished listening to the book and I must say it had been some time since I last had smiled that much while commuting. You (and Susan, and all your fascinating characters) made those last three weeks of cycling between home, train station, and work, pure bliss.

It was my first encounter with podiobooks (I have been a fan of LibriVox for some time), and I will certainly post a review on my blog to share my enthusiasm. English is not my first language, so I am not a very good judge of language sheen, but as far as story-telling and humour goes, I pictured you somewhere between P.G. Wodehouse and Mark Twain.

P.S. I have been working on the restoration of my old French farmhouse for six years now, and I have found the house construction backdrop totally gripping. And I was immensely flattered when you mentioned my Milwaukee Sawzall among the tools that count - it was the first expensive tool I invested in when I started working on my house.

P.P.S. I guess I will have to figure out how to revive my Paypal account soon. Or maybe I should order the book…

By: Goran

Goran — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:00:33 +0000

One of the better traditional fiction books I have read/listened to in recent memory. What it lacks in world ending disasters it more than makes up for in strong character development, a solid plot and most defiantly humor.

Very glad to have listened to this book.

By: Joe Cottonwood

Joe Cottonwood — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:54:11 +0000

Thanks, Alillia. Another podcast is scheduled for October, more or less. I appreciate the interest - heck, I’m honored - but I’m happily married. Very happily.

By: Alillia

Alillia — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:45:05 +0000

I LOved this BOOk!! I loved the characters and good romance from a man’s point of view. I thought the title was wonderful too I love the idea of “Clear Heart” awesome book Joe are there going to be anymore soon? oh and are you single by any chance?

By: Joe Cottonwood

Joe Cottonwood — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:54:05 +0000

(Taking deep breath) Mmmmmm… (Sigh)

You’ve made this a better day. Thanks, Jessica.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:39:02 +0000

Great book. All the characters had their own personality which was portrayed nicely by the voices. I especially liked the relationship Wally had with Ronnie. It was sweet and completely different than any of his other relationships. I hope to see more podiobooks from this author in the furture. Thanks!

By: Gail

Gail — Wed, 28 May 2008 23:58:44 +0000

Joe does some really great voices in this podcast, and it makes the whole experience more enjoyable.

I have to day, though, that the voice that really makes the story come alive is from Susan Walker, who does the women’s voices. I never remembered that Opal and Frog were performed by the same person. Offhand, I can’t think of anybody who made voices of different ages. Gruffer, higher pitched, softer, louder - but not younger and older.

Susan is so good she makes it look (sound?) easy. That becomes evident in the extra episode, where she tries out several readings to see what is wanted.

Now. How do we persuade Susan to help Joe out, next time he wants to perform a book?

By: Joe Cottonwood

Joe Cottonwood — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:03:53 +0000

If anybody wants updates on what I’m doing, I’ve started a blog at http://clearheartblog.blogspot.com/

By: Joe Cottonwood

Joe Cottonwood — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:48:54 +0000

Thanks, Woody. I’m forkin’ grateful.

By: Woody

Woody — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:13:03 +0000

What a “forking” good read!! Joe really knows how to develop a character, and a story!

By: Joe Cottonwood

Joe Cottonwood — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:11:52 +0000

Thanks, tlh. Rest assured, more books are coming…

By: tlh

tlh — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:19:34 +0000

I know nothing about carpentry and building but I took this book on the strength of the reviews and am enjoying it immensely. It reminds me of Nathan Lowells style of writing (although with some strong language) in that it is primarily a story about the everyday life of a group of builders, but so well written and such well rounded out characters that even with no knowledge of the trade you get caught up in their lives. I look forward to more from Joe as this is a wonderful book.

By: Joe Cottonwood

Joe Cottonwood — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:59:14 +0000

In a shameless act of self-promotion, I’ve been redesigning my web site to try to interest people in my podcast of Clear Heart. The comments posted in this discussion - right here - are just about the best praise I’ve ever seen, so I’ve quoted them on my web site as one would quote good reviews.

I haven’t identified anybody. If you object to having your words quoted, please tell me. Send a private email (joecot@coastside.net) and I’ll remove your words immediately. (And if on the other hand you want your name attached to your words, please tell me and I’ll put your name out there for the whole wide world to see!)

You all are great. Thank you so much for your kind messages. You make all this work worthwhile.

By: Joe Cottonwood

Joe Cottonwood — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:38:16 +0000

Hiya, Stef! Different tools? At least you folk measure in feet and inches. As for getting in the right mood, you might not want to touch a tool after certain forthcoming chapters… Thanks for the encouragement.

By: Stef

Stef — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:41:15 +0000

I’ve just started listening to Clear Heart and want to thank you for an excellent story. I’m renovating a house over in England and though the tools I use are different the sentiments are the same and I’ve been chuckling along to the story. Clear Heart make me feel good about my day! Listening to an episode or two while walking the dog at 6 in the morning sets my mind in the right frame for laying some deck. I’ll be listening to the end and if you do some more I’ll be listening too. Thanks.

By: Joe Cottonwood

Joe Cottonwood — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:44:46 +0000

I just want people to know that I’ve rerecorded the first two episodes of Clear Heart, and they are now posted on Podiobooks. I learned so much in the process of making the podcast that I found myself wincing when I listened to the early episodes. In particular, I didn’t have Juke’s voice nailed down yet (so to speak). I’ll be rerecording a few more episodes, too, as time permits.

And Gail, I appreciate your comments. I get such a lift from these responses. They keep me going.