These mysteries prove that ordinary folks can make a difference!

COVER STORY: After years of encouraging authors to consider the cozy mystery genre, our publishing house is planning to launch our first book in this genre in 2023. So, we thought we would open up the invitation to the entire readership of our online magazine. Yes, even you—you reading these words right now—could plan and write such a tale. In our Cover Story this week, we explain the Cozy Mystery genre and offer some tips for first-time mystery writers just like—you. Please, enjoy this story and share it with friends via social media and email. Who knows which friend just might have a vocation to spin such a yarn?

From Our Authors—

Suzy Farbman

An entire community contributes to producing a golf pioneer’s story

SOON, the movie Playing Though will begin making its way through theaters across the U.S.—telling the inspiring story of ground-breaking athlete Ann Gregory’s remarkable success in the privileged world of golf. Suzy Farbman’s tells us the story about how an entire community found ways to contribute to making this feature film possible.

Howard Brown

Visit his website and get a pair of sunglasses!

COMING SOON TO AMAZON is our newest book: Howard Brown’s hope-filled memoir of resilience and community-building called Shining Brightly. Stay tuned for the start of the “pre-sale” ordering period for that remarkable book. MEANWHILE, Howard already is part of many national conversations about the core themes in his new book. For a sample of his message: Visit YouTube to see his talk at the national Kindness and Gratitude conference through June 25. Even more importantly, if you have not yet visited Howard’s new online home—ShiningBrightly.com—please visit that website right now. Howard just posted a special greeting to newcomers, offering to send you a pair of his trademark Shining Brightly sunglasses if you’ll sign up for his free email updates. They’re fun to wear! Go on! Get your glasses.

Bill Tammeus

And for another word of hope …

After a traumatic week of news events, we can count on veteran religion journalist Bill Tammeus to offer helpful context and constructive ideas. And that’s precisely what Bill has written in two columns we highly recommend. Here are his headlines:

Thank you Bill for your wisdom and thoughtful reporting! (Want a true “gift” from Bill as well? Jump over to Amazon, buy a copy of his Love, Loss and Endurance—and you’ll find that his thoughtful storytelling in that memoir is also an inspiring “gift” to us all.)

Larry Buxton

Leading with Spirit also involves—Following

FAR TOO OFTEN, we’re so eager to have our voices heard and our preferences dominate that our quest for authentic “leadership” becomes a selfish desire, leadership expert Larry Buxton warns us in this week’s short Leading with Spirit video. Please, go enjoy this short message from Larry and you may find you want to share this particularly thought-provoking message with friends.

Holidays & Festivals

Fourth of July

The crowds are back!

HOLIDAYS and FESTIVALS COLUMNIST Stephanie Fenton reports: “After two years of socially distanced Independence Day celebrations, festivities appear to be ramping up this year, with crowds expected to line streets for parades; the scent of barbecue drawing family and friends; and, finally, fireworks lighting up the night sky.” Read her entire column, which includes links to recipes, DIY holiday party tips and even some recommended movies.

The Hajj

And speaking of crowds …

THE ANNUAL MUSLIM PILGRIMAGE is coming soon. Stephanie writes, “Arriving via every mode of transportation available and from countries that span the globe, this annual Islamic pilgrimage is widely considered the largest annual gathering in the world.”

WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS?—It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

Click this image from the movie to read Ed McNulty’s review of Lightyear.

Faith & Film

Click on this cover image to learn more about the June 2022 issue of Visual Parables Journal.

ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with discussion guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.

Here are some of Ed’s most recent free reviews and columns:

LIGHTYEAR—Ed writes, “Our children’s favorite space man gets his own origin story, helmed by Angus MacLane, a veteran Pixar director, animator and actor.”
THE DUKE—“The late British veteran director Roger Michell makes the most of the script by Richard Bean and Clive Coleman, ‘based on a true story’ that took place in 1961. Jim Broadbent’s 60-year-old self-educated Kempton Bunton is one of those sign-caring protestors often seen in public parks and such.”
JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION—“Although I agree with the observation of some critics that this film is like an amusement park thrill ride, both the title and remarks in the film by Ian Malcolm, the scientist who consistently plays the role of a Cassandra, bear out my observation that the film returns to its original role of a cautionary parable.”
THE BOOK KEEPERS—“This documentary by a father and son team is a different kind of road trip film in that it deals with sorrow and healing that ends in a surprising way—not only to us viewers, but to the two book keepers as well.”
ON GUN VIOLENCE—Ed also recommends viewing three films about gun violence in America. First, he reaches back and points out that the 1989 documentary Bowling for Columbine is as relevant today as it was when originally released. More recent is the documentary 91%, which features interviews with a wide cross section of Americans and makes the point that there is nearly unanimous consensus on the need for more effective background checks on gun buyers. Finally, he recommends Behind the Bullet, a documentary that explores the impact of guns from the perspective of people who have fired them.
SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE—Netflix now is streaming two dozen episodes of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 2015-19 TV series, Servant of the People. Ed McNulty writes about the “life-imitates-art” experience of watching this series in the midst of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. There are two parts: Here is Part 1: Ed’s commentary on the opening episodes. Then, here is Part 2: Ed’s follow up, focusing on later episodes.