Dear Colleagues and Friends from Around the World,
Thanksgiving greetings to one and all! You can click on the poster above to access the latest Arizona Authors Association Dispatch (AAA), which includes accomplishments and my latest book review, as well as several essays and resources from top authors of the AAA. This month, I’ll focus on the writer’s role in this ever-more violent and complex world.
2024 was a year with unprecedented violence, record immigrant displacement, a growth with human trafficking, growing inequality, greater levels of misinformation, political abuse, and hatred against the “enemy from within,” which includes immigrants as do the levels of books banned and librarians threatened and attacked. So, what’s a writer to do? Especially considering a record number of books being written, while the young are reading less traditional books, the number of conventional publishers shrinks, and the number of digital platforms grows.
The end of the year is always a good time to assess what we’ve done well and if we’ve been able to impact any of these social and cultural problems or help others deal with them. Here’s my list of key indicators to measure our success:
What Have You Written Lately?
Despite the noise and confusion, we need to stay focused on the key task of writing. I’ve hit a good rhythm this year with a dozen editions of the Million Mile Walker Dispatch, six columns in the Arizona Authors Association Digests, and my latest book, The Guatemala Reader: Extraordinary Lives and Amazing Stories, which received a Best Book Award.
Readers View Book Review addressed the impact of the book which is the next consideration:
Regardless, The Guatemala Reader offers not just information, but perspective—a vital tool for understanding our place in the world and the many lives that exist beyond our own. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in expanding their worldview and challenging their assumptions.
Additional feedback from readers included:
I’m reading Guatemala Reader right now and those accolades are richly deserved. And the window is opening — I’m learning so much. Kixx🖤Dr. Kixx Goldman
Psychologist, Coach and Author
Hi Mark -I’ve been meaning to tell you that I’ve read The Guatemala Reader and was truly blown away by it. I’m not much for travel narratives – but I thought that particular work was just a wonderful read. I learned a lot – and thought it was beautifully written. I just thought I’d pass that along to you. Bravo! Brad Graber, author Boca by Moonlight
Mark! You should be very stoked. Congratulations. Your book is a gift to travelers who want to learn and not just be pampered after a day of taking photos of Maya people in their colorful traditional dress. Your dedication to Guatemala and its indigenous people is laudable, especially for the obvious empathy for and understanding of the modern Maya people and the challenges they face…Keep on writing. Earl Vincent de Berge, Poet, Author, Co-founder of SEEDS for a Future.
A storytellers’ tales can produce empathy for immigrants and other groups misunderstood and underappreciated who are constantly vilified. Other stories, like “The Making of the Kingdom of Mescal: An Adult Indian Fairytale,” the first story in my new book, transport readers out of the chaos of the day to enter a different world created by a German author and brought to life by a Maya Guatemalan/German artist, Nan Cuz. A book revered by the ex-pat community around Lake Atitlán and in the 1960’s considered the “Hippie Bible” since it included some stories inspired by psychedelics.
Book Reviews Rule
One of the most effective ways to support an author is to read and review their book. I’ve written over 85 to date and posted many of them on Amazon, Good Books, Midwest Book Review, and my favorite, The Million Mile Walker Review, What We’re Reading and Why, a column in the AAA Dispatch. I get to know the authors through this process and always address the “and why.” Given all the books available, why take the time to read this one? I explore what inspires writers and what else they’ve written to motivate readers to pick up their books. An added benefit is that other writers are willing to take the time to write inspiring testimonials about my latest work.
Strength in Numbers
As a Past President of Scottsdale North Rotary and the Greater Arizona Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, I’m a firm believer in the power of working with other professionals for the common good. I’m active with the Phoenix Writers Club (PWC), Arizona Professional Writers, and an Arizona Authors Association (AAA) board member.
When I learned that the sister association, Southwest Society of Authors, had folded (which reflects the precarious nature of professional associations), I had a few contacts who helped AAA invite them to join our ranks, thus adding over 25 new members. We continue to grow, with a 48-page newsletter and excellent literary contest, holding up the work of many writers.
One PWC and AAA member whom I met when I published my first book in 2017 is Daniele Hampson, the founder of The Authors Show, who was promoting podcasts and book interviews before the term podcast was even used. After I was interviewed on the show, I met Don, who was on The Authors Show as well, he would produce my new Million Mile Walker website. I became a contributor for The Authors Show, writing book reviews and, more recently, judging a book cover competition and reviews for their new digital magazine, “Great Writers You Should Read.”
When I learned that Daniele was returning to Arizona from Austria, I helped organize a joint presentation with members of both organizations. Her presentation was timely and well-received by all members. She also challenged members to donate a book as part of her Give a Book and Get a Smile program, and we took over 70 books to the Andre House of Hospitality, which supports people experiencing homelessness. This was the third time we donated books, but this time, she’d take some of them to Europe to introduce the program there.
I also helped set up a joint meeting with AAA and PEN America, during which my daughter, Nicky, her librarian hubby Ed, and I actively promoted freedom of expression. It’s part of an international group of writers and publishers, which is especially important given the growth of banned books (over 4,000 and growing) in the U.S., attacks on libraries, and violence against writers. PEN attracted community leaders who were dedicated to the freedom of the press. PEN America – The Freedom to Write
The Peace Corps Worldwide Writers Group is another of my preferred associations of writers. With over 250,000 alums, including 3,300 Peace Corps writers and travel writing luminaries such as Paul Theroux, this group produces some of the best memoirs, travel writing, and fiction. It also follows the Peace Corps’ third objective, which is to contribute to the education of Americans and to more intelligent American participation in the world.
I’ve reviewed many Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) books and articles about my overseas experience on this site. Peace Corps Writers published my first book, Different Latitudes, and the co-founder, John Coyne, introduced me to my editors. He recently decided to retire and hand the leadership to Glenn Blumhorst, a fellow RPCV/Guatemala who I’d worked with on a fundraising campaign for the National Peace Corps Association when he was the President. So, I jumped at the opportunity to help him establish an Advisory Board and refocus the association on the needs of writers. We have five Advisory Board members, and the new action plan is underway. About – Peace Corps Worldwide
The Power of Philanthropy
After 35 years as an executive fundraiser, I’ve seen the power of philanthropy many times, and that’s why, at the end of The Guatemala Reader, I ask, How can I make a difference? I will present the backstory of four charities I’ve worked with over the years that support work in Guatemala, including SEEDS for a Future. I met the co-founders 7 years ago and we have shared our love for the Southwest and Guatemala ever since. As a bonus, one of them, Earl, is a prolific writer and poet, and I’ve reviewed several of his books.
I highlighted the work of Earl and Suzanne de Berge in The Guatemala Reader,” “Allegro to Guatemala: An Expatriate Journey Through the Land of Eternal Spring.” SEEDS provides nutritional and micro-enterprise development support to Indigenous women in Chocolá, among other places in rural Guatemala. Although they’ve existed for 17 years, their fundraising program is not meeting all the potential needs, so they asked me to join their Board. This year, a generous long-time supporter made a seven-figure gift, which has elevated our capacity to grow and expand.
Don’t Hide Your Light (Best Work) Under a Basket
Although most writers prefer the writing process more than the selling/marketing process, it’s increasingly difficult to delegate this to someone else, especially if you’re self-publishing, which makes YOU the marketer-in-chief. As a former fundraiser, I got that part of the publishing process. Including Facebook, where I have a Million Mile Walker page, LinkedIn, and for several years with Twitter until Elon Musk turned it into a site rife with misinformation and hate talk, so I moved over to Blue Sky. I send out my newsletter via Mail Chimp, and recently opened an account with Substack.
After a book review, interviews are key to getting the word out about your work as an author. Fellow RPCV Bill Miller has been hosting Global Connections TV for over twenty years, and his program is shown on UN TV and in universities worldwide. He interviewed me about making each of my three books, including The Guatemala Reader. His questions relate to my book, why I wrote it, and the values I hold dear. https://www.globalconnectionstelevision.com/video-gallery/2024/9/8/mark-d-walker
More recently, Voyage Phoenix Magazine interviewed me for their digital program. They used graphics well and asked solid questions, and since it’s digital, it’s easy to share. Life & Work with Mark Walker of Scottsdale – VoyagePhoenix – Phoenix
Never Be Afraid to Try Something New
Kickstarter is a program designed to promote a direct connection and sales to your best readers by networking with them to reach readers with similar values and interests. I recruited several advisors to help me develop my campaign, which forces you to build your story, graphics, budget, and a series of incentives (like the bookmark above) to convince people to follow and support your work. This goes beyond publishing a book; it relates to why you write with a focus on future projects.
Once you articulate the underlying values and reasons that you’re a writer, people often become enthusiastic and want to help you. In my case, I shared this idea with a fellow RPCV/business owner, and he sent me $1,100 before I even got started. Although only 22 people participated, most sent me funds without requesting special copies of my book, which was among the incentives I developed. Follow the link below to learn more. It was a trying experience, with lots of details and things that I never considered, but it was worth the effort and covered most of my publishing and marketing expenses.
The Guatemala Reader by Mark D. Walker — Kickstarter
All in the Family
Writing and publishing a book is a team sport. The Beta Readers, editors, graphic artists, reviewers, and fellow writers are all key, but family support is crucial to spending the lonely hours writing. As I grow older and have more grandkids, my attention was turned to taking them on a journey of learning new languages and cross-cultural experiences. With that in mind, my wife and I took my son, his wife, and a 9-year-old granddaughter together with the 22-year-old from my oldest daughter to Guatemala for three weeks.
Out of that memorable experience emerged my latest essay, “Traveling Through Guatemala With Granddaughters,” published by Literary Yard and The Wanderlust Journal, where I’m a contributing writer. This trip would include introducing our granddaughters to the Guatemalan side of their family and instilling an appreciation of the country’s complex history and culture, as well as such exotic places as Lake Atitlán in hopes that they’d return. The trip also produced a “List for Traveling Abroad with Grandchildren.” Here’s my story—enjoy. Traveling Through Guatemala with Granddaughters – Wanderlust
I’m spending a growing amount of my time on Board activities for AAA, PCWW, and SEEDS for the Future, but I plan to get to work next year with a new book, The Moritz Thomsen Reader, and continue to educate, inspire, support, and fund the groups, and ideas which make for a more inclusive, just society.
You can find my 85 book reviews and 28 articles, plus several videos and photos, on my website, including a reduced price for my new book if you read it and pass it along to your local library: http://millionmilewalker.com. “Follow” me on Blue Sky—at (2) @millionmilewalker.bsky.social — Bluesky, Substack- Mark D Walker | Substack – and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/millionmilewalker/ for the latest international affairs and literature. And please share the link to the sign-up page to 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