LIVE from New Zealand, the book launches in Wellington!

Vol. III, No. 8

Signing LIVE from Mongolia for the dream-following juggler

WELLINGTON — Last night, LIVE from Mongolia launched in New Zealand. As many of you know, I moved here recently with my husband (who is "Bunkle" in the book's epilogue) and our little girl. We moved here because it's always been his dream to return home from living in London and New York to live in Wellington, where he grew up. So last night when he introduced me at my own book launch, I wasn't at all prepared for what he would say. I was prepared for him to gently poke fun at me in retribution for my 2010 wedding speech, which outed how romantic he is (he wore a tuxedo to our first long-distance date, which was on Skype). Instead, he spoke about what it meant to him and his family that I'd strayed from my own single-minded path of adventure to share in his adventure here in Wellington, and share in the adventure of family. Let's just say his was a tough act to follow, and not just for what he'd said about me and about us. But for the backdrop of his country, and for the crowd.

My husband, making one helluva speech

Anyone who knows even the tiniest tidbit about New Zealand knows that the country was built on a foundation of adventure. Commercial bungee jumping was invented here. The world's tallest official bungee is here. The world's most famous mountain climber is from here. The deepest sinkhole in the southern hemisphere is here, which means the spelunking is some of Earth's best. And, the weather is occasionally from Antarctica. As in, weather reports say stuff like, "A strong southerly will be coming in today from the Antarctic." Come on, that is cool. (Quite, actually.)

Anyway, to be in New Zealand in The Land of Adventure talking about my adventure to follow my dream was humbling. But to be in a crowd of people introducing themselves to me, saying things like:

"I've been to Mongolia, and my friend and I cycled 1500km from the Mongolian town of Moron in the west to the other Mongolian town of Moron in the east. Here's the book about our adventure; it's our gift to you." -Tama Pugsley

"I'm an anthropologist and linguist from Russia. My first taste of vodka was in Siberia in -42C

Book blurbs from 60 Minutes' Rosen & New York Times' Sipher

weather, and I drank it only to save my life."-Olga Suvorova

"We'd never been to New Zealand before moving here. We just wanted the adventure of living somewhere new." -Lissa Carlino

"I've been to Antarctica. Several times."
-Jane

"My Christmas will be spent in the sub-Antarctic." -Jock Phillips, my father-in-law

I mean, these were the people I was speaking to. Not just about adventure, but about following dreams. And as I said in my speech, never before have I unearthed so many people in such a short space of time pursuing so many incredible dreams as I have in New Zealand. And so it was with last night's book launch.

Celebrating with my co-pilot and her cousin

The launch was held at The Preservatorium, owned and operated by Peter Thomas who spent two years working day and night to realize his vision of the gourmet cafe it would become. The beer was from Parrot Dog, a craft brewery whose owners are passionate about doing their own thing their own way, and they're really passionate about flavor. Best of all though, there was a juggler. Craig McDermott taught himself to juggle when he was twelve years young, and has just realized his dream of joining Circus Aotearoa! Craig the Juggler offered to juggle with fire and knives, but we alerted him to flammable babies, so he juggled with softer things instead.

All this is to say that the crowd at the book launch was full of adventurous dreamers, and I am incredibly honored to live in this place, to be surrounded by dreamers and adventurers, in this land of unrivaled beauty (especially when it's sunny). Thanks to all who came, for sharing your dreams, and for listening to mine. Especially Bunkle.

Photos taken by Lissa Carlino, the dreamer mentioned above who sold everything to move to New Zealand, although she'd never visited!

Patricia Sexton is the author of LIVE from Mongolia, the true story of what can happen when you follow your wildest dream. She's anchored the Mongolian news, worked for CBS News, hosted Sinovision's WE Talk, and authors this weekly blog about dream-followers and adventure. 

LIVE from Cincinnati: Sitting down with The CW's Bob Herzog

Vol. III, No. 7

My first time on live television was about seven years ago. For a full two seconds (I counted; I was very nervous), I asked a fire chief if there were any casualties in a Midtown West fire in Manhattan. The fire chief answered, "No." And with that, my voice and my microphone-holding forearm had made their debut into the world of on-air television. They'd debuted on WCBS, courtesy of Magee Hickey, who had taken me under her wing before I left for Mongolia.

"Mongolia?" you ask, just the same way my Dad asked when I told him where I was going after I quit Wall Street to pursue my dream.

To which I reply: yes. Yes, yes, yes: Mongolia! It was an incredible adventure, and to read more about why I went to Mongolia, and in particular how my Dad reacted when I did, you're gonna have to read the book, LIVE from Mongolia. It's the true story of what can happen if you pursue your wildest dream.

But back to Cincinnati! Sitting down with Bob Herzog and getting a chance to meet with John Lomax and Tiffany Wilson was pretty cool. I grew up watching John Lomax, and I told him that. To which he replied that I'd made him feel old. Which then made me feel old, too. Nevertheless our glum moment passed, and I sure would love to return to the set of Good Morning Cincinnati to update them on the book when I return here for Christmas.

Patricia Sexton is the author of LIVE from Mongolia, the true story of what can happen when you pursue your wildest dream. She's hosted Sinovision's WE Talk, a talk show about people following their wildest dreams, worked for CBS News, written for Britain's International Life, and been featured in The Daily Beast, Northern Virginia Mag, and several radio stations. She authors her weekly blog, LIVE from Mongolia, and is on Twitter and Facebook - eponymously!

LIVE from Cincinnati! And Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, D.C.!

Vol. III, No. 6

LIVE from Mongolia and I have been touring the Northeast, and now we're in Cincinnati. But let me back up just a few days to Philadelphia. 

Philadelphia is a glorious city. If I didn't live in New Zealand, I'd make a home of Philly. I'd wake up at dawn somewhere near Edgar Allan Poe's house, and write pieces far less scary than Poe penned. Then I'd stroll the block around my tree-lined street and ensconce myself in the history that is so present in this stunning town. I'd breakfast, lunch, and dinner on crepes at L'Etage, and then because I'd have to go to the gym after all those crepes, I'd do just that, walking past Independence Hall, imagining the signing of the Declaration of Independence taking place centuries ago…in my neighborhood.

But alas, it isn't my neighborhood. However, it's my friend Lara Rhame's neighborhood, which makes it almost just as good, because I can visit early and often. Lara and her husband Josh Spivak put me up (and put up with me) last weekend in Philly, and, along with L'Etage, hosted a LIVE from Mongolia signing. 

What was interesting about this signing in particular was that it was more a discussion on the why of following a dream. Why do we choose to pursue a particular path? What are the inherent obstacles? And what about the joyful triumphs? Time and again, this time being no different, I've found that what unites us, from North Korea to Mongolia and Cincinnati and Philadelphia, is our combination of dreams and our obstacles. And this time, in the audience, were people anywhere from teenagers to septuagenarians. And once again, we united on the theme of pursuit. 

After all this dialogue, I had a moment alone. At first, I pondered the nature of pursuit, but then I wondered, 'How is pursuit necessarily possible?' Almost always, it is possible only with the help of others. And so it was in this case. Without the help of Lara and Josh and L'Etage in Philadelphia, Andrea and Loews in Boston, and Ginger and Jamie along with Busboys & Poets in Arlington, I would not have been able to make this incredible journey throughout the Northeast. And I certainly could not have done this without the support of my husband, my in-laws, and my own family and friends.

Speaking of which, I am desperately missing my little girl. It's been a month since I last saw her, and she's saying and doing things that she hadn't done before, like uttering "monkey" for the first time, running instead of walking, and wearing her hair in pigtails. When your daughter's hair has enough time to grow into pigtail-length, you know you've been gone a long time. It's about time…to go home. 

Until then, stay tuned for updates from Cincinnati and Washington, D.C.!

- Patricia Sexton is the author of LIVE from Mongolia, the true story of what can happen when you follow your wildest dream. LIVE from Mongolia is available on Amazon.com and in various bookstores in the U.S. It's been featured in The Daily Beast, on WKRC TV the CW, several radio programs, and is Cornell University Mag's Top 5 book for the quarter. 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Live from Mongolia

by Patricia Sexton

Giveaway ends December 01, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Happy Holidays from…Mongolia! Well, sorta. I'm currently in New York, talking about my time in Mongolia. But anyway, Goodreads and I are offering another book giveaway! Our last giveaway went really well, and two books went out to Indonesia and Nevada. So, we're doing another giveaway, open this time to U.S. residents. Two signed hardcovers will be sent out to you…wherever in America you are. Click above to enter! And Happy Holidays all you dreamers!

- Patricia Sexton is the author of LIVE from Mongolia, available on Amazon.com. Her story and her book have been featured on The Daily Beast, and will feature this weekend on Sinovision's WE Talk! Stay tuned! 

LIVE from Boston: Book Tour!

Vol. III, No. 5

It's been a big week for LIVE from Mongolia. For the first time, the book and I went on tour together. We travel well together, just like we did when "book" was just "manuscript," way back in the

Available in St Marks Bookshop, East Village NYC

Mongolian steppe.

Before I left for Boston, I stopped in St Marks Bookshop in the East Village. Right before my eyes, I watched another part of my dream come true - one of the staff members at the bookstore was placing my books on the shelf. Watching that process take place, for this new author, was pretty incredible. And it didn't hurt to be placed in between a book called "Salinger" and a book written by none other than Sonia Sotomayor. (There are three signed copies of LIVE from Mongolia on the shelf at St Marks. Get 'em while the ink is still wet!)

And then I hit the road. It's been a long time since I've been alone on a road trip. On one hand, I was desperately missing my little girl and my guy, but on the other, I was able put my headphones on and crank up the volume on Buddy Holly, opera arias, and The National. Outside my window, New England was busy putting on a beautiful fall show. The leaves were peaking, and the colors explosive. I wished I could remark on all of it to my husband. Alas, the conundrum of traveling alone.

In Boston, I met up with my old college friend Andrea. Back in college, Andrea was one of those

With Andrea Foster at Loews Boston Hotel

Women Who Gets Sh*t Done, and the only difference between Andrea back then and Andrea now is that she is a Woman Who Gets More Sh*t Done. In the space of about four days, she'd suggested a book signing in Boston, planned it, and gotten glamorous hotel space to boot. So Saturday night at Loews Boston Hotel, I spoke to a small but intimate crowd about some things I was a little uncomfortable talking about, but things that people had been asking me about ever since the book was released. But the best part? The best part was getting to hear about other people's dreams.

Thank you to everyone who came, bought books, and shared their dreams with me. And thank you to Andrea for being a "WWGSD," and to John Maibach, Hailey Guzman, and Becca Pavao of Loews Hotel for their generous donation of beautiful space and absolutely unforgettably tasty refreshments and dinner!

LIVE from Mongolia is now available, signed with a special inscription, at Brookline Booksmith.

- Patricia Sexton is the author of LIVE from Mongolia, available on Amazon.com. Follow her on Twitter @PatriciaSexton and on Facebook @LIVEfromMongolia.

LIVE from New York: Following a Dream at The Opera Gallery in Soho

Vol. III, No. 4

If you've ever wondered 'What if?', what might happen if you follow a long-lost dream, click the YouTube link below. For a long time, I wondered 'What if,' but I don't wonder anymore. What happened during those years of wondering, and what happened after, are the subject of my book launch speech—and my book! LIVE from Mongolia was released this past week. I hope you enjoy it, and I'd love to hear about your dream. Especially if your dream requires me to interview you in Siberia while we sip salt-milk lattes.

- LIVE from Mongolia, the true story of what can happen if you follow your wildest dream, is now available on Amazon.com. Patricia Sexton has hosted Sinovision's WE Talk, a talk show about otherwise-ordinary people pursuing extraordinary dreams. She's worked for CBS News, Britain's International Life, and on Wall Street in Foreign Exchange Sales. @PatriciaSexton on Twitter, @LIVEfromMongolia on Facebook.