iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

September highlights: 1. Stoked that my book went to other states too. 2 women from Ohio Maria & Leanna bought my book at @Blackberry Festival in Bremerton, WA. Norma from Hawaii - at the Lighthouse Festival in Mukilteo, WA. Alabama is hard to track. But I have faith I'll get my book to AL one day.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

1. Kitsap County Fair is a fun affair every time I go there. Thank you for all my fans who came in person to see me. You're special people. But also check out the people with extraordinary abilities I met there.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Dear friends, I have great news! For Better or For Worse, the sequel of my memoir Mail-Order Family, is finally out. It's been a long time coming but like fine wine it only got better with time. If you are my fan, it's now available both on paper and Kindle on Amazon www.amazon.com/Better.../dp...?

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

July highlights: 1. This is Siobhan from West Seattle. She worked for USAID until Trump admin shut it down. She cried when that happened, it was so devastating. We cried again when I told her that USAID &her by extension, saved my life bc I was the beneficiary of USAID food assistance in Moldova.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

1. My favorite photo from a weekend in Kingston. This is Brian, an IT specialist for World Central Kitchen. This NGO was one of the firsts to set up a kitchen at the beginning of the war in Ukraine to feed the fleeing refugees. They're still working there till this day and now in Gaza, as well.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

1. It was the start of the season on Mother's Day at #KingstonMarkert, WA where good sons bought flowers and good daughters bought books for their mothers. The spring is finally here, folks.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

I interviewed these wonderful quilters from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Seattle who donate quilts for Ukraine! What an amazing group of people. A life well lived with purpose, helping people in need. ukrainedefensesupport.org/uncategorize...

ukrainedefensesupport.org

Quilts For Ukraine – Ukraine Defense Support

~ by Irina VanPatten

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

1. Last weekend I went to two different events in one day. The Ukrainian celebration of Spring- Vesnyanka and Nowruz- the Persian New Year, organized by the Iranian community who is worried about the war in Iran. Check out the photo on the right with me and my UDS cossacks.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Nooooo, nooooo. He can't just start wars to justify getting money for ICE. Stop it, just stop it!

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

The war in Ukraine isn't over, so we gathered at its 4th yr anniversary in Seattle once again. It was pouring rain when we were setting up but then the skies miraculously cleared before the march. We thought in this weather only the diehards will show up, but we met a lot of new wonderful people.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

#Seahawks the mf Champions! I'm still processing it. This Seahawks win feels different, though. We, here in Seattle, felt the support from everywhere in the US and around the world. We had to win it for America in Bad Bunny's interpretation: from South to North America.

media.tenor.com

a button that says go seahawks with a seahawks logo

ALT: a button that says go seahawks with a seahawks logo

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Last weekend at Seattle protest in memory of Renee Good killed by ICE I met the newly elected mayor of Seattle Katie Wilson. Now more than ever we need our elected officials to fight with us for our rights. I asked her to make us all proud, and she said she would try.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

1. I spent last weekend at Kitsap Jingle Fest with these 3 "radicals": Guy Morris, Peter Stockwell & Keith Madsen, my fellow authors & true Christians, outspoken against Christian Nathionalism, who follow the teachings of Jesus to help the poor & marginalized, not worship one person in power.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

1. Today, I'm at Lowell Elementary in Everett, WA with our all girl crew from @AuthorEventNetwork, kicking out the Holiday season on a very rainy, true Pacific Northwest day. As usual, I have stories for you from the "frontlines".

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

I had to work today but I was in spirit with you, all beautiful people in the USA and around the world! #NoKings

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Alert from Kingston, WA! This is Karen from Jerusalim who bakes the most delicious chocolate croissants and sourdough bread in the world. Last weekend I spent all my proceeds on her croissants, and now she's tempting me again. Somebody, save me! Or check out her bakery, and join me in my "misery".

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

I snapped a photo of this adorable, lovely Husky puppy at Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival but somehow he turned out to look like a ferocious little dog. It made me laugh so hard. I hope you laugh too.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

One of my favorite events- the Blackberry Festival in Bremerton, WA. So many beautiful people there. 1. This is Diane. In 2022, she took in an Ukrainan family through, how she calls it, "a series of very fortune events bc it was meant to be". A family of 5: mom, dad with a disability & three kids.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Kitsap County Fair is mostly ab cowboy hats & boots bc it's rodeo time. There are some you'd meet who are all hat, no catlle but not these two who walk the talk. 1. Steve's a supporter of Ukraine since the beginning of the war& put on this t-shirt bc it was August 24th- Ukraine's Independence Day.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

As a Washingtonian, this pisses me off to no end. We are in active fire season, and these goons are detaining the FIREFIGHTERS who risk their lives to save us from fires!

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

1. Whenever we go to author events, we never know what kind of crowd we'd get. But there's always without a fail at least one reader who goes down the line & buys one book from each author. At @LakeCitySummerFest we got two. In the photo on the right, Michele bought 3 bags of books!

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

This quilted coat, a wearable art, was made for a little girl by her mom, whom I met at Kla Ha Ya Days in Snohomish, WA. The girl was worried that I'd keep it & she made her displeasure known. I had to take this photo really quick & give it back to her, so she could be the fashionista of the fair.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

This clunky photo says that at times a story's better than a picture. 1. Terry bought my book @BallardSeafoodFest &immediately began reading it. "I'm not an immigrant,"he said while reading the chapter ab language barriers,"but I can relate bc I have a speech impediment & I'm often misunderstood."

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

My favorite crazy story from Marysville Strawberry Festival. This is Roger Reisman. His grandpa Marty Reisman was one of the greatest American table tennis players. Studio A24 is making a movie called Marty Supreme based on his grandpa's memoir with #TimothéeChalamet playing his grandpa. Wow!

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

1. This weekend I was at an event in a city of contrasts - Maple Valley, WA. On the same corner there were 3 booths: a Hindu and a Christian, and the GOP candidate running for state Senate with an anti homophobic slogan. Yet, a music teacher with a "Protect trans kids" T-shirt walked by proudly.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

I'm working an event today in this gorgeous place, so I can't attend the #NoKings protests in person but I'm with you in spirit!

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

1. Today, I'll talk about people I met at Kingston who aren't my readers but whose accomplishments must be celebrated. This is Daniel & Trudi from a veteran owned business It's My Color Wreaths in Silverdale, WA. Daniel is a smooth booth dancer but check out his wreaths. He never makes duplicates.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

1. This is Glenda who blew me away last weekend in Kingston. She's so outspoken about fighting oligarchy & resisting fascism that she's wearing it on her T-shirt. That's especially heartwarming bc earlier we had another woman arguing with us that there's no fascism in America. Be like Glenda!

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

1. As an author, I go to street fairs & events where I meet tons of fascinating people. Some like to chat, some like to pose for photos, some tell me a heartbreaking story and disappear. It's an endless human story that needs to be told, so I'm gonna use my writing skills to give them the spotlight.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

I was there, volunteering to make it happen. Loving the Washington state spirit in support of Ukraine. #SlavaUkraini

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

I'll never forget the day when I first heard "Russian Warship go f*** yourself". We didn't know his name, we didn't know if he survived but we felt his defiant Ukrainian sprit that united a nation and the world. If you ask what one person can do to change history, remember Roman Hrybov.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Great weather, and an amazing crowd in Seattle today for Hands Off rally to fight American fascism like Ukrainians.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

I admire this man for taking a stand for women. It will take men speaking up to end the cycle of abuse of women and children.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Here it is the medevac Humvee, we affectionally called Gimpy, repaired by many helping hands at @ukrainedefensesupport.org, including my husband. It's now on its way to Ukraine to save lives. If you're still doubting what one person can do, doubt no more, get your hands dirty and just do something!

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

When we forget history, it repeats itself.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

There is light in the time of darkness! Just got news that one of our members' son, an Azovstal defender, who was in Russian captivity for 2.5 yrs, was just released in a prison exchange. We invite you to celebrate with us & also donate to our organization to keep us going: ukrainedefensesupport.org

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Y'all I got a Christmas miracle! Some angel named William took a flyer at one of my author's events and actually bought a book directly from my website instead of Amazon. Folks, be like William! Support the authors directly instead of giving it to Bezos for his vanity projects. irinavanpatten.com

irinavanpatten.com

Home • Irina VanPatten

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Just noticed I'm being followed by an account named Tom Cruise. I assume that's because he wants to make a movie out of my book. Fingers crossed, next year, we're all going to the premier of Mail-Order Family.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

My farmer grandpa had a cardboard copy of the cat thief painting in his kitchen because he thought it was funny. My mom had a copy of the Italian Midday in our kitchen because she thought it was pretty. Neither my grandpa nor my mom were art connoisseurs, yet I got interested in art because of them.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

My favorite quote from a book lover at yesterday's event: "I buy so many books that I'll have to join the Booklovers Anonymous soon." To which I said: "It's a small price to pay. We keep you away from the other Anonymous group." "True," he said, and bought another book. 😍

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

It literally gives me PTSD to read this because I lived through this back home. My grandma taught me to never talk with anyone about anything we discussed in the family. The fear was real. And now the same is happening here. Surreal.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

A fascinating trend on how to solve homelessness in the richest country on Earth. This issue is so complex that we need multiple solutions from different angles. UBI is one of them, but we also need universal access to healthcare and social services.

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

I needed this today! Because it's gonna be a lot of purple ahead, folks. youtube.com/shorts/8jMPg...

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Reposted by Irina VanPatten

MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 25/11/2024

Ukrainian boxing legend (and brother of Kyiv's mayor) Wladimir Klitschko responds to Joe Rogan...

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Irina VanPatten @irina-vanpatten.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

In other news, I got a visit from two racoons today. One was casually hanging on my fence, while the other was checking out my grandkids' playhouse, unafraid and brazen, like they owed my yard. WOW.

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