Dear Colleagues and Fellow Writers from Around the World,
As a travel writer reflecting on some of the highlights of the year, I must share the story of my best trip abroad, the best charities and associations I’m involved with, the best books I’ve reviewed, as well as What Others Are Saying and an updated Calendar.
Chris Wurst of “SoftPower” “FulStories” and his team provided the artwork and music to accompany my interview, which exceeded my expectations and included some stories even my kids hadn’t heard. I appreciated Chris’s patience as he interviewed me twice because he didn’t like the first cut and it was worth the effort.
According to the show notes: “He calls his enterprise “Million Mile Walker,” which is both a pun (his name after all, is Mark Wallker) and a description of a decades-long journey that has taken him all of the world, always searching for ways to improve the lives of people less fortunate than him.” Please leave your comments about the podcast and my review. #19 – Mark D. Walker
This was my second interview relating to “Soft Power,” the first was on Global Connections TV hosted by fellow Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Bill Miller. Bill was the Chair of the United Nations Association, and we always have lots of overseas travel stories to share. This interview focused on the politics behind dismantling USAID. Mark D. Walker — Global Connections Television
A Boston University School of Public Health Study puts the death toll at 340,000 due to US funds cut for overseas health care. Cuts for the US HIV program, PEPFAR resulted in the deaths of 142,679 adults and 15,188 children in less than a year. Estimated deaths by 2030: 14 million. And this doesn’t include the negative impact on our country’s image around the world.
This year my wife and I took our 20-year-old granddaughter, Ali to Guatemala which included more excitement than usual and inspired my latest essay, “Traveling Through the Land of Eternal Earthquakes with a Granddauther!” which was published by “Literary Travel” Magazine. Editor Onkar has encouraged my work over the years and I’m a contributing writer as this is my seventh essay he published. Literary YardTraveling Through the Land of Eternal Earthquakes with a Granddaughter!
Some weeks I have three or four zoom board meetings and I must ask myself, “Is this the best use of my time?” I’ve been fortunate to be recruited to the board of several charities I have a real passion for, starting with Seeds for a Future which provides nutritional training and support for Indigenous women in Chocolá, Guatemala where I met the field staff and visited a number of the participating families .I’d met the founders, Earl and Suzanne de Berge eight years ago based on our shared passion for Guatemala and I included their story among the “Extraordinary Lives” of The Guatemala Reader. Their Executive Director, Leilani Yats stayed with us during her recent visit to Arizona and as the Fundraising Chair I’m pleased to announce that our board raised over $42,000. One of our board members relates to the ARKAY Foundation which supplied a $20,000 matching gift. My story of the visit was included in their end of year Update: Seeds For a Future // 2025 Impact Report
Different Latitudes: My life in the Peace Corps and Beyond was published in 2017 by Peace Corps Worldwide (PCW) and they’ve also posted many of my articles and book reviews since then. The co-founders, John Coyne and Marian Haley Beil chose my second book, My Saddest Pleasures” as the Best Travel Book two years ago, so I was saddened to learn that after some 35 years, they were retiring but was encouraged when I learned that Glenn Blumhorst had been tapped to move the organization forward. I worked with Glenn on a fundraising campaign when he was the President of The National Peace Corps Association and accepted his offer to join their “Advisory Board.” We’ve been meeting several days a month for over a year, assessing the changes in the publishing industry and how to restructure PCW to encourage more Returned Peace Corps Volunteers to publish their stories and provide the resources they’d need to be successful. Last week, we received our 501 (c) (3) status, which allows us to ask for funding to recruit the staff and resources we’ll need for future growth. NEW – Peace Corps Worldwide
The Arizona Authors Association (AAA) is one of the largest literary associations in the state, but passed through a difficult period due to a lapse of accountability. We now have over 325 members, one of the most prestigious literary contests and a 48 page newsletter, the DIGEST where I have my column, “The Million Mile Walker Review: What We’re Reading and Why.” AAD Oct | Nov 2025
Our President Katy Cook resides in Maine but works overtime dealing with all the needs and decisions on managing a professional association—and herding writers, which is no easy task. Toby is a Past President and Jane heads up the literary contest while Kyle edits the newsletter and Daniel manages our events—a solid, committed team.
PEN America is now partnering with the Arizona Authors Association and their mission to promote free expression is more crucial than ever given the growing number of banned books in Arizona and around the country. Michelle Beaver, a talented writer, has worked diligently to establish a viable chapter in Phoenix.
What We’re Reading and Why
One of the joys of reviewing another author’s book is that you get to read and appreciate their work and, in many cases, get to know them. After all, writing and publishing is a team sport.
My review of John Thorndike’s book was one of seventeen this year. He’s a fellow Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV El Salvador), who lived in Guatemala. I’ve reviewed several of his books including this one received Best Indie Book designation from the Kirkus Review. John reviewed my latest book as well and always provides insightful recommendations when I send him my latest review or essay. The Passionate Sister: A Son’s Novel by John Thorndike, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker for the Great Writers Magazine – Million Mile Walker
Nancy Marshall is one of my favorite local authors. Dry Hate tells the story of the infamous Sheriff Arpaio, “America’s Toughest Sheriff.” .The book won an award from this year’s AAA literary contest. Nancy was the Director of the state office of ACLU and reviewed my latest book. A Dry Hate: Power Versus The People by Nancy Hicks Marshall, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker June 2025 – Million Mile Walker
Among the authors whose books I’ve reviewed and work with at Peace Corps Worldwide include fellow travel writer, Steve Kaffen, My Twin Cities My Twin Cities: Rio and Buenos Aires by Steve Kaffen, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker – Million Mile Walker and Evelyn de la Torre a fellow RPCV Latin America who wrote Between Inca Walls Book Review – Latin America: Between Inca Walls: A Peace Corps Memoir – Million Mile Walker
Other authors who have helped me this year include fellow travel writer, RPCV Craig Storti, who wrote The Hunt for Mount Everest among other books and John Timm an author who taught Spanish Communications at Arizona Christian University. He helped me through my Kickstarter campaign for my latest book and does an initial edit on almost everything I write.
I post all my reviews (over eighty-five) on five or six platforms starting with my own website, The Million Mile Walker, my Substack, the AAA newsletter the DIGEST, the Author Shows’ digital magazine, “The Greatest Writers You Should be Reading,” the Midwest Review, Good Reads and Amazon. The more places the merrier.
One of my favorite reviews was of Barbara Kingsolver’s, Demion Copperhead. She graduated from the University of Arizona and lived in Tucson for two decades and she is a member of the Arizona Authors Association. The Poisonwood Bible was translated into eight languages and almost 20,000 comments and reviews. Since she was born in Appalachia, I had to write a comparative review of this book and J.D. Vance’s, Hillbilly Elegy which reveals something about what and how we write as well as one’s politics.. Appalachia: A Tale Of Two Novels, The Million Mile Walker Dispatch, October Edition – Million Mile Walker
And then we have the encouragers who send a positive message upon receiving my newsletter or reading a review or essay. Fellow RPCV and cinematographer Hal Rifken is such a guy. We worked together for three years on a documentary, “Trouble in the Highlands” which never saw the light of day due to the COVID outbreak. Writing is a solitary profession, so we need all help and encouragement we can get and we must reciprocate when possible.
What Are They Saying and Why?
Sharma Onkar, the Editor of Literary Yard on my latest essay, “Traveling Through the Land of Eternal Earthquakes with a Granddaughter,”
Dear Mark,
Sorry for the delayed response. I was really caught up with some urgent stuff. However, I loved this one as well. Your travel stories are a fresh gust of air that help readers experience the true essence of the place.
Fellow travel writer Steve Kaffen on my latest book, The Guatemala Reader:
The Guatemala Reader artfully blends history, culture, politics, and the author’s reflections as he confronts the country’s turbulent past while steering us to the hope, resolve, and resilience of its people including the populous Mayan community …This powerful, insightful, and beautifully written book will, if it affects other readers as it did me, educate, challenge, and inspire us to look beyond the country’s complexities toward an exciting future of transformation and growth.
Fellow author John Thorndike on my review of The Passionate Sister,
Mark–
You are so on top of it! Of everything you touch. Thanks for this and all your efforts. –John
I try to start each day with a “Buenos Dias” message and photo and a “Buenas Tardes”
on Facebook and this is one of my favorite sunset shots.
Calendar
- February 21st: My Zoom Workshop “The Power of the Pen: The Impact of Book Reviews” will reveal the challenges and inspiration for a good book review as well as explain how to avoid scams, which are all too frequent. It’s hosted by the Arizona Authors Association, where I’m a board member and columnist. It’s free for my friends so join us: Meeting Registration – Zoom
You can find my 85 book reviews and 28 articles, as well as several videos and photos, on my website, which also offers a reduced price for my new book if you read it and pass it along to your local library:
. “Follow” me on Blue Sky—at (2) @millionmilewalker.bsky.social — Bluesky, Substack- Mark D Walker| Substack – and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/millionmilewalker/ for the latest international affairs and literature. And please share the link to the sign-up page with the Dispatch for any friends you think will enjoy it. Million Mile Walker Newsletter – Million Mile Walker.
And, as always, if you’ve read Different Latitudes: My Life in the Peace Corps and Beyond, My Saddest Pleasures: 50 Years on the Road, the Best Travel Book according to the Peace Corps Writers, and, of course, my most recent book, The Guatemala Reader, please review and rate them on Amazon and Goodreads.
Shalom!
Mark D. Walker