Another great review!!

I am so grateful for the review of Finding Moosewood, Finding God just released by Examiner.com. Like all the others I have seen it is positive and enthusiastic, urging readers to get it for their own libraries. 

The reviewer in this case really "Gets it."  

Enjoy. I sure do.  

http://www.examiner.com/list/finding-moosewood-finding-god-by-jack-perkins?cid=db_articles

Doing Book Readings Is Not Always Predictable

Have been doing a lot of radio and TV interviews for the book, and some personal appearances as well -- book readings / signings. 

Of the latter, there was a special one last week, a fundraising event for a library organization and literacy fund. It was a warmly welcoming crowd and I spoke (with their apparent approval) for almost an hour, telling some of the stories from the book and reading excerpts as well. I had no plan as I began but tried to be sensitive to what the people were wanting. How intent and solemn should I get, when break the mood with humor. It was a fascinating exercise. Ups and downs, laughter and, a couple of times a few brimming tears. 

For example, I had no idea how I was going to conclude the presentation. Hadn’t planned that at all. But it planned itself. 

I was reading a story from the Vietnam writings in the book, a tale that -- just recalling it again, so burned it is in my mind -- I found myself losing composure a bit. It was a remembrance of a village of Vietnamese who had taken refuge underground as the largest battle of the war to that point was waged directly above them -- the bombs and mortars and gunshots for days after days. And the innocent villagers hid in their tunnels and caves underground not daring to emerge as long as the battle went on. And it sent on and went on. The people below had not brought much with them. And so there was first hunger and then worse. And that by the time the warring had subsided overhead and the villagers of Van Truong were sure it was safe to emerge from hiding, only a few us Americans were still there to witness their return. 

There was one man clutching his precious baby daughter, climbing up out of a hole, blinking into the blinding light of a free day and, clearly he was very hungry. A GI opened cans from his own rations and fed the man. It was sadly apparent that it was much too late for his baby. All a GI could offer for her was his own poncho to serve as the child’s burial shroud. Another GI used his entrenching tool to scratch out a shallow grave for the daughter and helped the father lay her to rest. Just one more casualty of the war but one I will never forget. Nor will I allow myself to forget the moment one of the marines, completing the burial, brought himself to attention, saluted over the grave, and then, bowing his head, said a prayer. He said a prayer.

I just stood there.

To this day, I hate that I just stood there. 

                      ###

That was the end of my speech.  

A New Video

....and the pleasant job of promoting the book goes on. As do the most gracious comments about it.

I guess, in the week and a half since the official release of the book, I've done a couple dozen interviews about it on radio stations all across the country. 

I got a kick that the very first one was with a station in Bangor, Maine. How appropriate that that first telephone interview was with the station owned by none other than Stephen King, who, in a way he never intended, got our whole Maine adventure started those many years ago. Mary Jo and I owe him a great debt -- the debt of gratitude for introducing us to new lives we did not expect to seek let alone accomplish. 

There've been interviews with Christian stations and secular ones. At first, I am ashamed to confess, I treated them differently -- muting my message of Belief on the secular stations; highlighting it for the Christian stations. Mistake. 

It was a matter of feeling comfortable "preaching to the choir" but uneasy speaking to someone who might not agree. That is not the way to evangelize and all Christians are called to be evangelical.

How pleasant, then, when I found, speaking to secular stations, kindred company and no disdainful belittling. 

------

By the way, a chain of Florida newspapers, in a feature for their "Diversions" section, has just put together a brief written feature and linked to it a video interview they made at their studio. Very nice job, they did and I'm happy to share it with you. 

http://youtu.be/a1-xa-_qE3U

The Perils of a Newly Released Book

Now I start getting first reactions to my book. It’s nervous time. 

Now that FINDING MOOSEWOOD, FINDING GOD has been released and people have started getting their pre-ordered copies via Amazon or B&N or whatever, or are heading to bookstores for copies there’s a danger lurking. 

I got a foretaste today. A person who got an early copy dashed off a note to report: “Got it, read it, loved it. It’s a great read.”

I should be pleased. And, yes, I am, BUT ....

But I hate to have this work I labored on so long, so carefully, so thoughtfully, to be devoured like a hot dog gulped at a ball game. I much prefer the sort of email I got today from a man, a stranger who reached out to tell me he just his copy and glanced it quickly and it looked great but he looks forward to reading it slowly and really absorbing it. I’m sure it has a lot to offer. 

Well, from the reviews it’s received so far, it does and I love that he chooses not to gulp.

The other thing -- and I really am being picky and prickly -- I do in this, the most important work I have ever undertaken, aspire for something more lofty and I hope inspiring than simply “Great read.”

Maybe I still think of the endorsement the great American preacher, Fred B. Craddock wrote for the book, saying:  You will want to pass this book along to your friends.

But before you do, you may want to read it again yourself. Jack is on to something; you can sense it. He moves past the apparent to the Truth, to God.

Love that endorsement and love his suggestion to read it again ... Though I’m not too hot on the idea of your passing your copy along to friends. Why deny them the joy of buying their own?