In an effort to introduce my readers to other authors and their work, every week I run an Author Spotlight, sharing information about an author, their work, and how they go about writing their books. Mark Walker was a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and spent over 40 years helping disadvantaged people in the developing world with organizations such as Make-A-Wish International, MAP International, and Hagar USA, where he was CEO. Walker’s three books are Different Latitudes: My Life in the Peace Corps and Beyond, My Saddest Pleasures: 50 Years on the Road, and The Guatemala Reader: Extraordinary Lives and Amazing Stories. He’s […]
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Six Who Stopped the Steal by Nancy Hicks Marshall, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
I met the author at a conference of Arizona Professional Writers. Over lunch, we recognized our common interest in immigration politics, but we also have common interests in social justice and democratic institutions—my focus was on Guatemala, and hers was on Arizona. Her latest book, Six Who Stopped the Steal, arrives at a moment when American democracy feels both fragile and fiercely contested. With mid‑term elections looming and public trust in institutions strained, Marshall offers a timely, deeply researched, and morally anchored account of six elected officials—Republicans and Democrats—who refused to bend to pressure, conspiracy, or partisan intimidation during […]
Continue readingFreedom & Justice for Whom? Our 250 Anniversary Reckoning, Special Edition of the Million Mile Walker Dispatch, July 2026
Friends and Colleagues from Around the World, Which books help us celebrate our 250th anniversary as the fireworks go off, so we can see beyond the spectacle to the shadows behind it, which are rarely spoken or acknowledged? I’ve chosen four books that reveal some of the things we’re not taught at school or that we ignore, and yet they offer insights into often-overlooked phenomena that have made our country what it is. “Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong,” by James Loewen, is as good a place to begin thinking about the United States […]
Continue readingThe Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
I became aware of Wilkerson’s work by reading Caste and purchased the audio version of this book, which took 23 hours, but it was worth the effort. Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns is one of the more ambitious works of narrative history I’ve ever read, with a sweeping, intimate chronicle of the Great Migration told through the lives of three ordinary yet emblematic African Americans who left the Jim Crow South in search of dignity, safety, and opportunity. Published in 2010, the book reframes migration not as a demographic shift but as an act of self-liberation. I […]
Continue readingThe Human & Financial Costs of War Today, The Million Mile Walker Dispatch, May Edition 2026
Dear Colleagues and Fellow Writers from Around the World, After a quick update on the cover for my next book, My Saddest Pleasures, I’ll provide my take on the growing cost of war and what we can do about it in Culture Watch. What We’re Reading and Why will be a twofer— with a recent article How Scammers Impact Writers as well as the latest book I reviewed and then What Others Are Saying, plus an updated Calendar. While we wait for the Library of Congress Number for Peace Corps Writers to begin publishing my book, here’s the first draft […]
Continue readingShelter, Service & the Next Chapter in Life, The Million Mile Walker Dispatch, April Edition 2026
Dear Colleagues and Fellow Writers from Around the World, Downsizing from an abode of more than 30 years is a challenge at best, and we’re in the middle of that journey—here’s what we’ve learned so far. It’s also an ideal opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going. In Culture Watch, I’ll tell a story that illustrates housing inequality in Phoenix; then What We’re Reading and Why will highlight the books I’ve donated and why; then What Others Are Saying, plus an updated Calendar. Downsizing from a home of 30-plus years can be a slog. It’s also […]
Continue readingAsian Trail Mix: True Tales from Borneo to Japan by Eric Madeen, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
As a fellow Returned Peace Corps Volunteer author, I’ve read, enjoyed, and reviewed several of Madeen’s books. “True Tales from Borneo to Japan” caught my attention since Borneo was the first site the Peace Corps offered me, although when I applied, all slots were filled, so I followed his trail. Also, I became aware of his appreciation for Joseph Conrad and shared his fascination with “The Heart of Darkness.” I appreciated Madeen’s deliberate retracing of Conrad’s footsteps. In the opening chapter, In Conrad’s Wake, Madeen travels from Singapore to Berau in Kalimantan (Borneo), a reminder of Conrad’s seafaring voyages. He […]
Continue readingSouth American Handbook, Editors Daniel Austin and Ben Box, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
A century-old travel companion is worth celebrating — especially one that shaped my five-month journey through Latin America in 1973. The South American Handbook just released its Centenary Edition (2025), marking over 100 years as the longest-running English‑language travel guide. Few travel books can claim to have shaped the lives of generations of wanderlust trekkers. Fewer still can say they have done so for more than a century. The South American Handbook—first published in 1921 and now celebrating its 100th anniversary edition under the stewardship of Daniel Austin and Ben Box—belongs to that rare lineage of books that are […]
Continue readingSeparation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
John Fugelsang’s Separation of Church and Hate is not just a book—it’s a reckoning. With the wit of a stand-up comic (with swearing), the soul of a preacher’s kid, and the fire of a political dissident, Fugelsang delivers a passionate and personal critique of how far-right ideologues have weaponized Christianity. Timed perfectly for the upcoming No Kings Day—a celebration of democratic humility and spiritual integrity, this book is a rallying cry for reclaiming faith from fear. When I first heard Fugelsang, I was leery of his swearing but impressed with his wit and insights into the changes swirling around […]
Continue readingHustle: The Making of a Freelance Writer by Lawrence Grobel, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
With over 4 million books being published each year, people are reading less; the consolidation of the publishing industry focuses on the bottom line (sales), and now, with the introduction of AI, freelance writing is more challenging than ever. Lawrence Grobel’s book is a sweeping retrospective of a career spanning six decades, 30-plus books, and hundreds of magazine articles. More than a memoir, it is a blueprint for survival in the precarious world of freelancing. Grobel’s reflections are candid, instructive, and deeply human, offering aspiring writers a rare glimpse into the craft and lifestyle of one of journalism’s most accomplished […]
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