Before settling down in Catawba County, Patty Thompson lived in New York City, Hawaii, Florida and Washington, D.C.
She’s been in a Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She’s stood on massive glaciers in Antarctica. She’s traveled to Australia, Kuwait, Italy, Egypt and dozens of other countries.
After all the travel, which Thompson describes as, “a good hobby, but bad, expensive habit,” what she said she appreciates now is the peace of living on a 15-acre farm in Catawba County.
“Hearing roosters crow, birds chirp and seeing cows play around is beautiful, it’s peaceful,” Thompson said.
Thompson, 63, grew up in New Jersey but has lived in Catawba County for 17 years. She moved here after meeting her husband, Catawba County native Steve Sigmon, on a trip to Toronto in the early 2000s. The couple live on his family’s farm in the St. Stephens area.
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She works as the acquisitions editor for Redhawk Publications, which is a part of Catawba Valley Community College. She is also the president-elect for the United Arts Council of Catawba County and will become president this summer.
When describing Thompson, Ingrid Keller thought for a moment before responding: “She’s vibrant. She’s a boss,” Keller said, laughing.
“She has energy dedicated in all the right ways to many positive things in the community,” Keller, executive director for the arts council, said. “She’s a woman I look up to a lot.”
One of Thompson’s duties on the arts council is to be the co-chair of the group’s strategic plan committee. The strategic plan, assembled in part by reviewing questionnaires from residents and visitors, will guide the arts council in its mission to get people educated and excited about the arts.
“We’re trying to figure out what this community needs that will bring everyone together and make it richer and, maybe, more marketable,” Thompson said. “There’s a lot of arts in this community. It surprises me what’s here.”
This interview was edited for clarity and length.
How did you get into publishing?
Before working for Redhawk Publications I was in the travel and tourism industry. When I was living in Hawaii, I worked with the University of Hawaii and was teaching at a community college.
So I had a background in higher education. I worked some jobs recruiting for universities in different places. After I moved here, I started working in workforce development and it put all the pieces together. I was helping people get degrees and get jobs.
This job (with Redhawk Publications) opened up after I left the job with North Carolina Workforce Development. When Richard Eller (director of Redhawk Publications) asked me if I’d be interested I said, “I know nothing about publishing.” He said, “Yeah, but you’re personable and you can learn publishing. We need someone who’s a good public speaker and could be presentable to the community for helping us get more books.” So now I read manuscripts, help with deciding which books are a good fit for us and get contracts to authors.
My other job was ending and this one was closer to home, so I held my nose and jumped in. I figured I could fake it till I make it and there’s been a steep learning curve. I’m still learning, but it’s been really fun and fascinating. What I like about it is that I can discover voices in our community that otherwise would not see the light of day as an author.
What are some books we should look for from Redhawk Publications?
There’s one I’m really looking forward to coming out. It’s going to be a collection of short stories. This one, from the very first line, it got me. It’s called “Down to the Roots.” The author, David Dickson, has been writing his entire life. Author Ron Rash is providing a blurb for the book. He was very impressed with this. It’ll be out in the next six to eight weeks.
Many of the stories are an indictment on the human spirit living in Appalachia. It’s not necessarily all good. There’s a little bit of addiction, a little bit of drugs, a little bit of alcohol, a little bit of theft. It’s a little bit of everything. But there are compelling characters. They’re flawed, but you see the humanity in it.
Another book coming out this fall is from a scientist in Switzerland. He’s followed the rat trails of how conspiracy theories get created, specifically the COVID conspiracy theories. He’s traveled to Thailand and China and other places. He breaks down all these crazy theories. I’m hoping that this will be one that, whether you dislike it or like it, people will buy it. It’s a scary book. I nearly threw it against the wall when I first started reading it.
What are some of your hobbies?
I’ve always been interested in arts, musical arts. I’ve always been the behind-the-scenes person, producing events, working film festivals, working on fringe festivals, stage managing. That’s always been something I’ve done on the side. Moving here, it’s allowed me to have more of a footprint on some of the arts in the community, being an active member of the United Arts Council.
I’m also active with ACAP community (Adult Children of Aging Parents community). The ACAP community helps adult children learn how to take care of their parents. I began volunteering with them when my mom and stepdad were alive. There are a lot of resources. There’s so many things for people in their 40s and 50s as you try to figure out what you need to do for your parents. Are they getting the right Medicare programs? Have they handled their estate? All of a sudden you’re thrust into having to figure that out quickly.
What makes you happy?
In addition to the travel that has always compelled me, I’ve been attached to the arts. In a way, looking at the literary arts, and working with a lot of artists, this has fulfilled me because I am doing something that’s very artistic. It’s been fun. It shows a creative part of me that’s been kind of exciting.
Where are your favorite places to visit?
I have a few. There are a few I would not go back to, but Namibia is, by far, one of the most impressive places I’ve been. Beautiful beaches, really nice sand dunes and national animal reserve and really good beer, which is one of the only good things about colonists.
Myanmar is another. I like temples and that was a very impressive and peaceful place.
If I were to choose another place, I’d always go back to Rio de Janeiro. People were nice, there’s a lot of activity all the time. It’s pretty, relatively inexpensive, pretty people and there’s good food. I was there during Carnival and was in a parade.
We lined up at 10 p.m. at night to go down the parade route. We didn’t go on until 3 or 4 in the morning. Between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. the instructors in the samba school were trying to teach me the dance we had to do for half-a-mile. It was not easy but I learned it.
When our school got announced, we got to march. We did our dance for half-a-mile and so many times I almost bailed. I wanted to catch a cab! We danced the entire time, it was hysterical.
What is your greatest achievement?
I recently went to my seventh and final continent Antarctica. That to me is my most recent accomplishment. I’ve been to 50-plus countries. Getting to Antarctica was a big checkoff on that list. My goal is to hit 100 before I die. Probably won’t happen but I’ll die trying.
Antarctica was really pretty. I didn’t expect to be as impressed with the visual aspects of it. You’ve seen penguins before, and I lived in Hawaii, so I’ve seen whales. I didn’t think I’d be impressed with the icebergs. They’re freaking huge! There’s one we saw that’s 30 miles long.
What advice do you have for others?
I have some advice I got from my sister that has served me well: Is it a battle worth fighting? And, if it is, is it on a hill that’s worth dying on? Ask yourself both of those. There are very few battles worth fighting, and I haven’t met a hill worth dying on yet. That kind of brings you down, not as frustrated or anxiety-ridden as one could be today.