Anthony Bourdain’s untimely death at the age of 61 shocked me and many of his fans, as he’d become an ambassador for the U.S. when we most needed one and used his platform to remind his audience how our lives are intertwined with those in the most remote parts of the world. No matter where he was in the world, his allegiances were clear; he gravitated to people who had been victimized by unjust political or economic systems. Read the newsletter . . .  

First off I’ll be sharing my new video on “The Making of Different Latitudes” as well as a number of special book reviews of two premier travel writers and, at the end, I’ll introduce my “Word of the Day.” “The Making of Different Latitudes” video is brief but powerful. My son, John, was the cameraman and a fellow Returned Peace Corps friend and award winning documentary director, Hal Rifken, directed it while a local video guru, Donald Griffith, edited it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZmJhe-E9rc&feature=youtu.be. Read the newsletter . . .  

I’d like to introduce you to a special book, Dream Hoarders: How the American Upper Middle Class Is Leaving Everyone Else in the Dust, and my favorite part of the book, Why That Is a Problem and What To Do About it, by Richard Reeves, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. I’ll also have an update on the Rotary/Peace Corps partnership, an overview of an article on the power of philanthropy worldwide and several new book reviews. Read the newsletter . . .  

So far, the highlight for this New Year was an hour-long interview on “Off the Record” here in Phoenix, with Judy Shriener, which included stories from “Different Latitudes” on why/how I joined the Peace Corps, what I learned and also why I joined the board of Partnering for Peace. Judy asks questions which induce her guests to reveal something about their personal lives and motivations. https://starworldwidenetworks.com/episodes/author-mark-d-walker We’ve identified a childhood literacy program in South Africa, which could become the first Rotary/Peace Corps highlighted by a Partnering for Peace video. The Rotary staff I’ve talked with consider it one of the […]

I want to wish all my friends and cohorts a Happy New Year for what should be a very challenging year in many ways. A special thanks to all who voted for me in the Authors Show, “Great Writers You Should be Reading”—my book is now in the Authors Library—just type in “Different Latitudes” as the keyword: https://wnbnetworkwest.com/BookClub.php. Read the newsletter . . .    

I’m pleased to say that “Different Latitudes” received an “Honorable Mention” out of 72 entries at the Arizona Literary Award competition last week. The event was hosted by the Arizona Authors, which is one of the longest established non-profit writers’ organizations in the Southwest. Internationally renowned, the Association sponsors this annual Literary Contest, which includes the publication of the Arizona Literary Magazine, which carries a two-page spread on my book. My wife Ligia, and middle daughter, Nicolle joined some 60 authors celebrating some of the best writing from Arizona and around the country—quite a heady event. I felt the authors […]

I need your vote! I am part of the “50 Great Writers You Need to be Reading” competition hosted by the group that interviewed me several months ago, The Authors Show. Please vote and vote often (no limit on how many times you vote–so start each day with a vote!). Results are made official November 5th. Click here to vote for Mark: http://50greatwriters-2018-phase1.questionpro.com/ Click here to read my submission essay on why I became a writer: https://wnbnetworkwest.com/50greatwriters-c…/MarkDWalker.pdf. Read the newsletter . . .

I’ve just been informed that “Different Latitudes” is a finalist for the Arizona Literary Award competition! The Arizona Authors Association will host the awards ceremony at the Changing Hands Bookstore in Phoenix on November 4th. Hopefully this recognition will confirm the words of one of the three returned Peace Corps volunteers who I’ve stayed in touch with over the last 40 plus years. Alex was my supervisor in Guatemala and also pursued a career abroad, although he tried to change the world through USAID and the State Department: Read the newsletter . . .  

Nothing motivates me more than a realization that “Different Latitudes” provided useful information or inspiration to my friends and collaborators as reflected in this recent message from the founder and President of the Namaste Foundation, Bob Graham: Hi Mark, I enjoyed your book on Kindle and found that it had so many good ideas about fundraising that I also ordered a hard copy to give to our development person. Cheers, Bob In order to help more of my friends to promote and kick start the charitable groups you represent, I’m offering another “freebie”—the “Philanthropic Quest Tool Kit”. The Quest is […]