My friend Marybeth Whalen interviewed a gal on her blog today who raised her own funds to go to a conference, just as I suggested yesterday for those of you seeking a She Speaks scholarship - check it out. Also, props to my friend Marybeth as Publishers Weekly just gave her debut novel, The Mailbox, a favorable review. I read an advanced copy a couple months ago and really enjoyed it. It will make for good summer reading when it releases in June. Great for reading poolside or at the beach, and if you can’t get to the beach, the book will supply it - it's setting is a beach just a ways south of me.
I'm busy today making edits on my own book, It's No Secret, which releases in September. I'm thinking I'll lead an online Bible study with it here in October -you're invited.
Speaking of books, my to-read pile keeps growing. I have a stack of 8 books on the floor to the left of my desk awaiting my attention. I think I need to buy one of these plastic book-holders for my treadmill. But I suspect reading will slow down my pace. So much of life is a trade-off.
Had a most interesting dinner this weekend - was entertaining life-long journalist Jonathan Broder who'd come to the university to give a lecture Thursday night and then went out to eat with us on Friday evening. Broder is currently the editor for foreign policy and defense with Congressional Quarterly in D.C. But he's worked as a foreign correspondent in the Middle East, South Asia, and the Far East for the Associated Press, NBC News, and the Chicago Tribune. Oh the stories this man can tell! Having been to journalism school myself, his tales of the trade thrilled me. Plus, he's got a great sense of humor.
I'll share one of the stories he told us - you may need to be over 30 to appreciate this. A couple decades ago Broder was traveling with a few other U.S. foreign correspondents (I believe he may have said Thomas Friedman was one of them) when they were stopped on the road at a military check-point. Broder explained to us how important it was to show the right ID depending on who was running the checkpoint. In other words, you didn't want to show the Palestinian guards your Jewish-favorable ID and vice versa.
They weren't sure who was running this particular checkpoint.
"What is your religion?" an armed guard asked them.
"We don't have religion; we're journalists."
"Who do you work for?" the guard demanded.
"One of us is with the New York Times, one is with the Dallas Morning News, and one is with the Chicago Tribune," one of them answered.
"Which one of you is from Dallas?"
"I am," the reporter reluctantly offered.
"Come over here."
They all felt the tension ratcheting up.
Broder watched as the guard held an AK-47 to his friend's head.
Then the guard asked, "Who shot J.R.?"
It took a moment before the belly-laughing began.
It was through your last internet Bible Study that I started blogging. I look forward to your next bible study. I really enjoyed the one about the women of the Bible. Who knows what I might do after the next study. (lol)
ReplyDeleteAE
I love the story you relayed that Broder shared- it made me laugh in the midst of a difficult day. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMy to-read list is out of this world! I have at least 7 books in a pile for "read now", and 10 in another pile for "read next". Yet, I bought another book today! :(
ReplyDeleteI would love to join your on-line bible study on your new book "Its No Secret" only one problem - we have just moved to London UK, therefore would it be possible to be notified immediately once the book is published? It would have to be mailed to a Dallas address, and from there someone will mail it to me here before October.
ReplyDeleteHi Rokhshie,
ReplyDeleteIt's very likely my book will be available in the U.K. The release date is the first of September.
I'll be talking more about it here as that date draws closer, so if you pop over to my blog every now and then, you'll be able to join us in time.
Would love to have you do the study with me!