To and From Afar

Today, I’m running around like crazy. Tomorrow I fly off to SE Asia for two months! Right now, it feels like two months is too long to be away. There is so much I’ll be missing when I’m gone. But I know that once I get there, the time will fly by and it won’t seem like long enough.
Each year, each trip brings something new, and this year is no exception. This year, I will be expanding my Writing Workshop to include an additional shelter run by an additional NGO. For the first time I will be teaching not only at Anjali House, but also at an educational shelter run by the French organisation, Enfants du Mekong. Whereas Anjali House is in a city, Siem Reap, this other shelter is out in the country, in a small town called Banteay Chhmar. Both are surrounded by ruins of a more glorious past. But I think the similarities are likely to end there. I’ll be blogging about all of it, so do check back as the weeks go by.
 
The other change this year is that I will also be promoting my new novel, Out of the Ruins. Besides holding readings and events in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, I will be traveling to Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur where I have arranged to speak at universities, book clubs, libraries, arts centres and bookshops. It’s almost impossible to ship books over there economically, so I’ll be carrying a case of books with me. It’s funny — my grandfather was a traveling salesman half a century ago, and I feel like I’ll be channeling him as I travel along, pulling my wares behind me. Much has changed, but much hasn’t.
 
While I’m on the road, I hope sales of the book will continue wherever you might be. And thanks to my friend, the rather amazing artist, Carol Burns, I can sign my books for you no matter what. Carol has designed this book plate for me to sign and send to any one who would like a signed copy, though can’t get within a foot of me. So if you’d like me to sign one of these lovely items and then send it to you so you can stick it into the inside cover of your book, just let me know. Leave a comment and then we can exchange emails so you can send me your postal address in a more private fashion.

So, bye for now. Stay well everyone, and wish me luck!