Hi Mark,

One of the first things I did was talk to a publisher who was a friend of the family and he explained to me that basically my book regarding earthquake prediction fell into two categories and thus finding a publisher was going to be difficult. So I sent some query letters and he was right. I received declinations, but I learned a lot from what they said. Thus I decided to change the way I wanted to write the material so it would end up as saleable material.

Repeatedly I was told to work on getting stories published in magazines so that I had some kind of bio to show to a publisher. That seemed unattractive, so now I've decided on self publishing as I maintain the rights, no one will change what I'm saying and I can get as many copies printed as I want, which keeps the costs down. I already know my marketing strategy so when I get there in the not so distant future, who I sell to and how I make those sales has already been decided.

The following article is one I had published in the news section of the Seismological Society of America. To say it nicely getting it published required more than a little finesse. However, due to my divorce and car accident my efforts to take this project and get it done were pre-empted, but when I'm ready, I think I can get it done.

Petra (previously known as Pat Thompson)

Educators for Seismic Safety
4 February 2000

You have probably heard more than once in your lifetime, "It only takes one person to make a difference." While that may be true, usually it takes one person with an idea and many who support that idea to give the idea form, substance, and life. During President Bush's administration, he created a volunteer force he called his "Thousand Points of Light." Today there is another need for volunteers; however, the purpose in this effort has a quality unmatched by President Bush's group. These volunteers in service are those who know education is desperately needed in seismic risk areas of our country. With the absence of moderate to large earthquake activity in the United States for the past six years, complacency has crept in and the silence in earthquake preparedness is deafening. Today there is a tremendous need to replace that silence with voices that say "you can survive a 7.0 magnitude earthquake" if you know what to do before, during, and after one of these events. Clearly, education is the answer.

Today I'd like to invite those in the science community or others who have an interest to join me by putting a light into a dark place called "unenlightened, uneducated, and not ready for the next seismic event", to replace complacency with education. This is your opportunity to become "Educators for Seismic Safety", working together to bring seismic risk education to those who have forgotten, or don't know, survival is possible under the most uncertain circumstances.

In visiting classrooms or corporate offices, people often welcome the change of pace, and in a campus auditorium a group presentation highlighting several topics regarding earthquake safety could allow an interesting evening, not only for the audience but the presenters as well. By volunteering, you can shed the light of education, replacing chaos with calm and reinforcing the positive side of an event that can be very frightening to both children and adults. You can make a difference, not just as one person but as part of a team: the team that knows the risk but teaches preparedness with a smile and an interesting list of informative facts. More importantly, if, after teaching a class or providing a presentation, an earthquake occurred, how would you feel? I'd want to think that I gave them an education that made the difference in their lives. That's the benefit. What you share today you may reap in personal reward tomorrow, in knowing that you made an important difference in the life of someone else.

It's a challenge no doubt, but one I hope many of us will take, as those who live in seismic risk areas need us today more than ever. If you are interested in taking the challenge, I am inviting you to send me an e-mail with your address and hope you will sign up for an adventure in education you never expected to take. Your voices filling the silence will be the ones that fill the void with education for preparedness, awareness, and hope for a safer tomorrow.

Patricia Thompson, Petaluma, CA, pkthompson@iscweb.com