Patti Digh

In 2003, Patti Digh's stepfather was diagnosed with lung cancer and died just 37 days later. She woke up on day 38 and asked her a question that she has asked every morning since: "What would I be doing today if I only had 37 days to live?" Her award-winning blog, 37days.com, emerged from the lessons she learned by asking that question. And her most recent book, LIFE IS A VERB: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally, emerged from that writing when Globe Pequot Press approached her about shaping essays from 37days into a book. The project took on the feel of a "literary and artistic barn raising" when readers from around the world contributed original works of art to illustrate the 37 essays chosen for the book--and when readers from over 40 cities in the U.S. arranged for Patti to visit their communities for readings from the book. LIFE IS A VERB was one of five finalists for the prestigious "Books for a Better Life" award and nominated for the "Book of the Year" award by the Southern Independent Booksellers Association. Patti is a writer, keynote speaker, and social justice activist. And as important as those jobs are to her, the most important job she has is being a mom to two daughters, Emma and Tess. She and her husband, book seller and writer John Ptak, live with their family in the beautiful mountain town of Asheville, NC. In addition to being 7th grade ping pong champ way back when, Patti is a fan of novelist Richard Powers, poet Billy Collins, and a little known movie star named Johnny Depp. Her new book, CREATIVE IS A VERB, is due out from Globe Pequot Press in Summer 2010 and will also be illustrated by readers.