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Where realism and idealism meet Tony Brasunas, author of Double Happiness

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  • Aiming at Amazon

    Do you want to know something strange about Amazon.com?

    Yes, I did too, since most of my book sales are happening there.

    The biggest driver of sales at Amazon isn’t in fact advertising or rankings. It might come as a surprise to you, even if you shop frequently at the online megastore, but the truth is that the biggest driver of sales at Amazon is: Customer Reviews.

    I won’t get into what I’ve learned about the powerful ways in which herd mentality still dictates a lot of what we humans deem to be “appropriate,” see as “exciting,” and judge to be “safe.” Suffice it to say, Amazon’s underlying product-display algorithms utilize Customer Reviews, both the quantity and the quality of the reviews. Thus Customer Reviews dictate how often people discover Double Happiness.

    I have eleven reviews right now, all good, and I’m very grateful for them. I would love to increase the reviews.

    Can you help more people discover Double Happiness? If you’ve finished the book, or read far enough to feel comfortable writing a review, please write a review! It will be extremely helpful.

    How to Write an Amazon Review

    If you have already written Amazon reviews, go here, godspeed, and my gratitude: www.DoubleHappy.be/review

    If you haven’t written an Amazon review before, I’m happy to help you learn this new skill. Think of it like voting; you can write reviews every day of the year and materially affect the success or failure of books, ideas, and products. Here are two ways to write your first review:

    Method A: You Like to Write and Type

    1. Go here: www.DoubleHappy.be/review

    2. If you see a log-in screen, log in with your Amazon account. (If you don’t have an Amazon account, create one. It’s easy and free).

    3. You should see the ‘Review Your Purchases’ page. You don’t have to have bought Double Happiness at Amazon to write a review, but it does give your review slightly more weight if you have.

    4. Click the number of stars you would like to rate Double Happiness.

    5. In the text box write 3-4 sentences, like a short email. Or write more if you feel like it. Pick one or two of these questions to guide you:

    • What did you think of the story?
    • Was it exciting? Thought-provoking? Adventurous? Romantic? Inspirational?
    • Did it provoke emotions?
    • Did you care about the main character?
    • Did you like the writing style?
    • Would you recommend it to a friend?

    6. That’s it! Press publish.

    7. Accept my gratitude and know you’ve helped more people find Double Happiness. I’ll also dedicate a facebook post or tweet to you!

    Method B: You Like to Talk and Listen

    1. Let’s chat. You’ll dictate, and I’ll type out your words for you!

    2. Choose your favorite method of communication and contact me:

    3. We’ll say hello.

    4. I’ll ask you 2-5 questions, depending on how much time you have.

    5. I have a thick skin and can take the bad with the good. Don’t worry about it. Tell me the truth.

    6. I’ll take down your answers and then email you your responses and instructions to log in to amazon.

    7. You can edit what I’ve written and sent to you, to put the review in your voice of course.

    8. That’s it! Press publish.

    9. Accept my gratitude and know you’ve helped more people find Double Happiness. I’ll also dedicate a facebook post or tweet to you!

    Voila! So grateful for your help.

    In Other News: The Fabulous Book Tour

    In other news, the book tour has been a whirlwind of inspiration and connection, a sweet ride of unexpected highs and lows. In my next post, I’ll tell you all about what it’s really like to be on a book tour.

    Best wishes, and may your journey always be fruitful,
    Tony

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  • California Bookstore Day

    California Bookstore Day is this Saturday, and I’ll be celebrating the day by reading at two literary institutions in Southern California. On May 3 itself, I’ll be participating in the celebration at the wonderful Granada Books in Santa Barbara. I hope you’ll join me this weekend! More on the holiday:

    California Bookstore Day is a statewide party on May 3, 2014 as big and varied as the state itself. It’s more than 90 stores in more than 80 zip codes putting their bells on and throwing out the welcome mat. Think Record Store Day, but for book nerds.

    Each store will have its own party. The headline attraction are the just-for-us books you cannot get on any other day at any other place (click here to find the celebration closest to you). But there will also be readings, and prizes, and things to eat and drink. In some cases there will be famous authors and artists, and people writing live poetry… more from the California Bookstore Day website

    I’m delighted to be contributing to this celebration of the magical places of ideas, philosophy, recipes, and history, and inspiration we know as bookstores.

    Below are my upcoming appearances. I hope to see you.

    California

    Saturday, May 3 (SANTA BARBARA)
    6pm : Reading & Signing
    Granada Books
    1224 State Street, Santa Barbara

    Sunday, May 4 (LOS ANGELES)
    3pm : Reading & Signing
    Beyond Baroque
    681 North Venice Blvd., Venice

    Monday, May 5 (LOS ANGELES)
    7pm : Reading & Signing
    Home of MJ Park
    Silverlake

    Pacific Northwest


    I’m delighted to announce my tour dates for the Pacific Northwest, the second week of June:

    Thursday, June 12 (PORTLAND)
    7pm : Reading & Signing
    Broadway Books
    1714 NE Broadway Street, Portland

    Friday, June 13 (SEATTLE)
    6:30pm : Reading & Signing
    Third Place Books
    17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park

    As always, best of luck on your journey friends!
    Tony

  • The Spicy and Sweet of the Double Happiness Tour

    The adventure continues. I feel grateful that I get to do this — tour with my story and share it with others. It is a delight.

    The east coast tour was a whirlwind of ups and downs, of places and faces, and if you saw me out there, I might have been in any of a number of emotional and physical states. Thank you for meeting me where I was.

    The truth is, connecting with people about Double Happiness is immensely fulfilling and I thoroughly enjoy it, more even than I had guessed.

    Now Double Happiness continues to take me around this country, asking me and letting me personify all over again the young soul within me who experienced China and set out to write about it. In addition to the written words, this is how I get to share the story with others. I’m not always that person anymore, and it is this tour and connecting with you and experiencing again the serendipity of the road that kindles in me again the fires of the dragon’s breath I describe in the book’s prologue. It’s spicy and sweet to taste this, and also to know it’s the taste of the beginning of the end of this this second life-changing journey, publishing the book.

    Thank you for spreading the word about Double Happiness. For those of you who can, please do come out and see me and Double Happiness on the tour.

    I will be in southern California in two weeks:

    Saturday, May 3 (SANTA BARBARA)
    6pm : Reading & Signing
    Granada Books
    1224 State Street, Santa Barbara

    Sunday, May 4 (LOS ANGELES)
    3pm : Reading & Signing
    Beyond Baroque
    681 North Venice Blvd., Venice

    Monday, May 5 (LOS ANGELES)
    7pm : Reading & Signing
    Home of MJ Park
    Silverlake

    And then I will be in the Pacific Northwest the second week of June.

    June 11-13 (PORTLAND, OR)
    Events TBA

    June 14-16 (SEATTLE, WA)
    Events TBA

    Check back here very soon for more on the Oregon and Washington Double Happiness events.

    For now, have fun, take chances, and enjoy the journey,
    Tony

  • Does Traveling Make You Happy?

    Friends, I think it does. At least the kind of traveling that creates new experiences.

    Travel inspires creativity, fresh perspectives, and an open enjoyment of something you haven’t enjoyed before. There are two kinds of happiness — as those of you reading Double Happiness know — a joy in our desires fulfilled and a delight in awareness of what already exists. Travel often brings me both.

    The book tour, this trans-American journey of words, has been a whirlwind of wonderful places and faces, new and old. Every day seems to fulfill a desire and bring me closer to an awareness that what already exists is good. My desire was for this tour to be all booked in advance by the publicist I hired. What already exists are: a large network of people and places throughout this country who are already interested in Double Happiness; and a range of experiences ready to flow organically around the book. This trip is reminding me of all of this — that my desires are important and that what already exists is good. It is the union of these that creates double happiness. This book may be touring me more than I am touring this book.

    What else can I say? Every event so far has been a sweet experience, from a bookstore in St Louis to a library in Charles Town, from a restaurant in Princeton to a comfortable home in New York (a few photos are at right), and so much more. After working on this book alone for many years, connecting now about Double Happiness with other people is a desire fulfilled.

    Today I have two events — one here at my alma mater, Amherst College, and one this evening at a gallery in Rosendale, NY. If you’re in upstate NY, please come out tonight! If Boston is home, or not too far away, come out and see me Monday evening! All are welcome. If you have to travel a bit to get there, make it the kind of travel that brings happiness.

    Have fun, take chances, enjoy the journey,
    Tony

  • The East Coast Book Tour!

    Friends, Adventurers, Teachers, Travelers, Sages, and Heroes:

    The book tour journeys east! Please come out, support the places that are hosting me and Double Happiness, and let me read to you, answer your questions, and thank you in person!

    I depart San Francisco this Wednesday, March 26, and land in St. Louis that afternoon.

    Here’s the latest full list, with dates and places:

    March 26 (ST LOUIS, MO)
    6pm : Reading and Signing
    Subterranean Books
    6275 Delmar, in the U. City Loop

    March 28 (WASHINGTON DC)
    9:30pm : Song Performance and Book Reading
    Politics & Prose Bookstore
    Downstairs Cafe
    5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC

    March 29 (WASHINGTON DC)
    6pm : Open House, Reading, and Signing
    1021 North Garfield Street, #303, Arlington
    (If you find the front door closed, dial
    415-647-8587 and we’ll let you in.)

    March 30 (CHARLES TOWN, WV)
    1-4pm : Open House, Reading, and Signing
    Home of Barbara June Appelgren
    415 E. Academy St., Charles Town

    March 31 (CHARLES TOWN, WV)
    12:30pm : Book Reading & Signing
    Old Charles Town Library
    200 E Washington St, Charles Town

    March 31 (PRINCETON, NJ)
    6:30pm : Dinner Reception and Book Reading
    Hosted by Princeton-in-Asia
    Princeton University

    April 2 (NEW YORK, NY)
    7:30pm : Open House, Reading and Signing
    Home of Nick & Wendy Heilbut
    490 West End Avenue, Apt 10D, Manhattan

    April 3 (NEW YORK, NY)
    Event tba.

    April 4 (AMHERST, MA)
    12:15pm : Conversation On Living Abroad After College
    Hosted by Amherst Career Center
    Valentine Hall, Terrace Room B, Amherst College

    April 4 (ROSENDALE, NY)
    6:30pm : Book Reading & Signing
    With Tanya Robie and Dorothy Albertini
    Roos Arts Gallery
    449 Main St, Rosendale

    April 7 (BOSTON, MA)
    6:30pm : Open House, Reading, and Signing
    467 Columbus Avenue, Boston
    (If you find the front door closed, dial
    415-647-8587 and we’ll let you in.)

    Help Me Add a Date or Two To The Tour

    Do you know a cafe, bookstore, library, high school, or university department that might enjoy a Double Happiness event. Can you help book an event in the cities where nothing is booked yet? Let me know! If you need materials, please download the miniature media kit [ZIP].

  • The Final Online Reading is Tonight

    If you have already finished the book, or if you are simply interested in China and discovery, join us tonight as we complete the journey together and discuss happiness. Details on how to connect and join the online event are below.

    I returned home Monday from a fascinating trip to China. With my wife Pamela, I visited the freezing north, the capital city of Beijing, and the tropical south. I walked the halls of Peizheng High School in Guangzhou, where I taught English over a decade ago. I discovered that while many Chinese are pleased with their country’s rapid development, on a personal level there are widespread worries that it’s all happening too fast. I will be sufficiently over jetlag tonight to explain this.

    This will be the final reading event, so we’ll go a little longer — 45 minutes instead of the normal 30 minutes. Please join us for this Double Happiness reading and discussion!

    Consider this question in advance of our discussion:

    When did you find a new understanding of happiness?

    Tonight: Completing the Journey – “South of the Clouds”

    =======<<>>==========
    COMPLETE THE JOURNEY: GO “SOUTH OF THE CLOUDS”
    Online Reading from Chapter 37 & Discussion of Happiness
    Wednesday, March 12, 6:30pm PST / 9:30pm EST

    Option 1: Join via the internet:
    global.gotomeeting.com/join/646380061
    If you haven’t downloaded it yet, you’ll download a nifty app to your computer. Use your microphone and speakers – a headset is recommended.

    Option 2: Call in using your telephone.
    United States : (773) 945-1031
    Access Code / Meeting ID: 646-380-061
    (Use *6 when you want to mute/unmute your line)
    =======<<>>==========

    I hope you’ll join us tonight!

  • Tonight Double Happiness Comes to you from China

    It’s been a wild return to the Middle Kingdom, full of snow and trains and friendly taxi drivers. But I’m delighted to be here.

    I’ll tell you about it all during tonight’s live online Reading and Discussion. I’ll do an update from Beijing, a reading from Chapter 32 “White Rabbit, Black Rabbit,” and a discussion based on your responses to the question, “When did you realize you were not immortal?” Details on how to connect are below.

    The Ice Festival in Harbin was stunning, absolutely freezing, and magical. I signed copies of Double Happiness over “rare American Whiskey” (turned out to be Jack Daniels) in a cafe called Sweet Station. Now we’re down in Beijing, taking in the massive changes this city has undergone since I was last here over a decade ago.

    Tonight: A Return to China – “White Rabbit, Black Rabbit”

    =======<<>>==========

    DOUBLE HAPPINESS READING EVENT: “LIVE FROM CHINA”
    Free Webcast Reading & Discussion
    Thursday, Feb 27, 6:30pm PST / 9:30pm EST

    Option 1: Join via the internet:
    global.gotomeeting.com/join/646380061
    If you haven’t downloaded it yet, you’ll download a nifty app to your computer. Use your microphone and speakers – a headset is recommended.

    Option 2: Call in using your telephone.
    United States : (773) 945-1031
    Access Code / Meeting ID: 646-380-061
    (Use *6 when you want to mute/unmute your line)

    =======<<>>==========

    I hope you’ll join us tonight!

    Meanwhile, the Year of the Horse gallops on.

    Have fun and take chances,
    Tony

  • The 3rd & 4th Online Community Events (Recorded)

    Thank you for joining us on the journey thus far. We’ve had some great discussions. I love hearing your thoughts and questions.

    If you weren’t able to join us in real time, here are recordings of the previous two events. (Event #2 is here.)

    Event #3 – Chinese New Year

    A reading from Chapter 18, “The New Light Party.”
    An introduction to Chinese Astrology and the Year of the Horse.
    If you don’t see the above audio player, you can hear the file here.

    Event #4 – Walking to Heaven

    A reading from Chapter 26, “Walking to Heaven.”
    A discussion of why the book is called Double Happiness.
    If you don’t see the above audio player, you can hear the file here.

    Future Readings

    Our next reading will be from China! Thursday, February 27, I’ll read from Chapter 32, “White Rabbit, Black Rabbit.,” and we’ll discuss the crossroads we face in our early twenties.

    Date Section Questions
    Thu. Feb 27
    6:30p
    (Live from China!)    		 Ch. 32
    pp 263-266    		 What is, or was, the most important crossroads of your early twenties?
    Wed. Mar 12
    6:30p
    (Finish together!)

    		 Ch. 37
    pp 323-325     		[Open Discussion on Happiness]

    The Year of the Horse has begun!

    Take heart, take chances, take adventures,
    Tony

  • ‘Walking to Heaven’ Tonight

    Experience reading the book in community tonight at 6:30pm Pacific Time, 9:30pm Eastern Time. I’ll read from “Walking to Heaven,” Chapter 26, beginning on page 194, and then we’ll open it up for this question:

        Why do you think the book is entitled “Double Happiness”?

    I’ll also comment briefly on yesterday’s event: Taiwan and China having their first state-to-state talks.

    I truly love to hear your voices and your questions. Join us by phone or via the internet. Instructions on connecting are below.

    DOUBLE HAPPINESS READING EVENT: “WALKING TO HEAVEN”

    Free Webcast Reading & Discussion
    Wednesday, Feb 12, 6:30pm PST / 9:30pm EST

    Option 1: Join via the internet:
    global.gotomeeting.com/join/646380061
    If you didn’t download it before, you’ll download a small app to your computer. Use your microphone and speakers – a headset is recommended.

    Option 2: Call in using your telephone.
    United States : (773) 945-1031
    Access Code / Meeting ID: 646-380-061

  • The Year of the Green Wood Horse begins

    Thanks everyone for joining the call tonight and sharing all your interesting thoughts. Here’s a link to the Chinese Astrologer that was mentioned, and her reading on what’s in store for the Year of the Horse 2014.

    www.susanlevitt.com/astrology/horse-year-2014

    It’s a year for adventure and fun. Go for it, take chances, reach for the stars, become the being you’ve always been and have always longed to be.

    HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

    Our next reading will be on Wed., Feb 12, and we’ll journey to the Tibetan city of Xiahe as I read from Chapter 26, “Walking to Heaven.”