Off to Nigeria

We are madly getting ready to leave for Nigeria tomorrow where I have been invited to give a book talk in January.  We will only stay in Lagos for a few days and then we will go to Kenya to spend the holidays with good friends.  Except for all the stress of the preparations we are thrilled to be going back to Africa and being able to introduce my book to an African audience.   We haven't been back to Nigeria for almost 12 years...which is much too long.  With a little effort we have started reconnecting with friends there.  Stay tuned as we start our journey!!

Review of my book in the Hattiesburg American

I got my first review of the book, thanks to Ed Kemp at the Hattiesburg American, Thursday August 25.

though i would have preferred another headline, because my book is not about famine in Africa, I can't ignore the tragedy that is ocurring once again in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108250310

Free shipping only for USA orders

Free shipping for book orders for those people who want to pay by check is available through Aug 31. However, it only applies to USA orders. International shipping is just too expensive for me to offer free shipping. Sorry about not making that clear on the purchase page of the website.

Advance copy received.

The advance copies of the book arrived while we were in Sierra Leone and so were sent to Paul Tynes, the book designer. So when Paul brought the book by for me to see it was cause for a little celebration. Paul did a wonderful job with the design and I am so pleased with his work. He made the book look very elegant and special. Now I am waiting for the full shipment from Hong Kong to arrive.

Sierra Leone

Our visit to Sierra Leone has been amazing. I can't say that I have achieved much in terms of my photography because a lot of my time has been spent reconnecting with people and getting involved in their activities. And I have fitted my photography time around those activities. Also being here is rather exhausting especially now that the rainy season has really kicked in. One person that we met said there is always a period in August when it rains for seven days straight. We are now in our fifth day so we shall see if we make seven. Right now as I sit on my hotel balcony the sky has cleared.

Each day here is an adventure and maybe that is why I like being here. And sometimes the adventure turns into a disaster like yesterday when we got so wet that our clothes and shoes had that mildewed smell like they will never be dry again. Then today we did a radio discussion with some human rights activists on Citizens Radio. The station was on a very bad road which was even worse with the rain and the last part we had to walk up the hill. The station is only miminally equipped and so we sat in a very dark sound proofed room responding to calls from the public about different human rights problems. The problems are very real here but also we keep meeting people who are trying in different ways to help make things better.

But one thing we always enjoy is when we get a chance to spend time with the children. Here you see me with some of the children at the opening ceremony for the new school built by Schools For Salone. I had just taken a break from taking some photos and the children gathered around me. When Bob took the picture the children had to take a pose for the camera.

On our way to Sierra Leone

We are looking forward to spending 3 weeks in Sierra Leone. While we are there we will attend an opening of a new school near Bo which was funded by Schools For Salone. When I was there last time I took pictures for SFS and one of those pictures I am using in the book. The proverb with the picture is "Ignorance preceeds knowledge." Though the children are not in the room you know they have just been there, the lesson is on the board, the potential for learning is there and becoming a reality.

The book is going to print.

I just approved the final proofs and the book is going to print.  Of course, it takes a month to print and a month to ship from Hong Kong so I won't see it for awhile.  Still it is a wonderful feeling to know my dream is coming true.  Now I am in promotion mode and hope to start lining up more events, book signings, etc. for the fall.