Postcards from the Road by Benjamin Pratt …

Healing our divisions through jazz and Zen

ONE OF THE JOYS OF FALL, since the first days of school in our childhoods, has been the question: “What did you do this summer?” Well, this summer, the answers from our community of writers have been quite inspiring! So, this week, we are featuring what we might describe as colorful postcards and notes sent to us by Benjamin Pratt as he and his wife Judith traveled in the hills of Tuscany through a unique pilgrimage program called JazZen. Please, if you enjoy this story, share it with friends—and consider sending us your own inspiring letter from the road.

.

.

Holidays & Festivals

 

Labor Day

STEPHANIE FENTON writes about some of the religious history connected with this major American holiday.

The Equinox is coming (and for some Mabon)

STEPHANIE ALSO WRITES, this week, about the change-of-season milestone coming later in September.

.

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

.

.

From Suzy Farbman

Sarah discovers that 12 Steps are part of a life-long journey

IN HER GOD SIGNS COLUMNS, Suzy Farbman introduces us to remarkable people who face challenges in trying to make our world a better place. Our readers learn that spending a few minutes with one of Suzy’s stories makes their day a little better, as well. That’s certainly true this week as Suzy shares the story of a lifelong friend, Sarah, who wound up turning to two 12-Step programs in her long journey toward wellbeing.

..

.

From Howard Brown

Want be part of Shining Brightly?

Watch the movie version.
(It’s less than 2 minutes!)

WE’RE EAGERLY SHARING THE GOOD NEWS about the upcoming launch of Howard Brown’s Shining Brightly—and, this week, we’re adding the book trailer. Don’t worry. It’s less than 2 minutes long!

.

.

From Susan Stitt

What is a hybrid publisher?
We are joining with colleagues in strengthening our commitments.

SINCE THE FOUNDING OF A NATIONAL PLEDGE of “best practices” among hybrid publishers, the Independent Book Publishers Association has been monitoring our segment of the industry. Now, the IBPA and co-signers of the pledge are strengthening our commitment to helping authors produce timely, professional and successful books. Please read Susan Stitt’s new column about the latest list of principles we share with other top publishing houses across the nation.

.

.

.

.

Faith & Film

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:

• EXTRAORDINARY ATTORNEY WOO—”27-year-old attorney Woo Young Woo is indeed extraordinary in that she is Korea’s first lawyer with autism spectrum disorder.”
• A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN—Ed asks, “How do you dare remake a film like A League of Their Own that is considered a classic by millions of fans?” In his review, he points out a list of enjoyments this series provides.
• BREAKING—”Director Abi Damaris Corbin’s tragic, heart-rending film is based upon a true story about a tragedy in Marietta, Georgia that unfolded on July 7, 2017.”
• HALLELUJAH—LEONARD COHEN, A JOURNEY, A SONG—”Daniel Geller and Dayna Goldfine’s documentary approaches the life of the Canadian poet/songwriter through one song, a mystical one that has captured the hearts of millions of people, some of whom believe in some form of God, as well as many who do not.”
• A LOVE SONG—”Actress Dale Dickey shines in this Western romance written and directed by first-timer Max Walker-Silverman.”
• PEACE BY CHOCOLATE—”First-time feature writer/director Jonathan Keijser’s refugee story is as sweet as its title indicates.”
• EMILY THE CRIMINAL—”Writer/director John Patton Ford’s debut film combines the crime thriller genre with a scathing social commentary on the exploitive nature of our corporate dominated society.”
• MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS—”The story of a lowly British cleaning woman fulfilling her dream of owning a Christian Dior dress is a wonderful Cinderella story that will leave you feeling very good about the world and (most) of its inhabitants, even if a cynic might write it off as PR for the House of Dior.”.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

.