The Peace Corps and Returned Peace Corps writing community at Peacecorpsworldwide is seeking nominations for favorite books published in 2015 written by a PCV, RPCV or Peace Corps Staff. I've compiled a partial list of the books released last year here, and welcome feedback on additional titles, reviews, and links. Paul Cowan Non-Fiction Award First given in … Continue reading Peace Corps Writers 2015
Month: June 2016
“Standard” is Lip Service
Dear Courtyard® by Marriott, My wife won’t stop nagging and haranguing about your towel policy. Please, make her stop. Each time we register for a room, we tell you exactly how many occupants there will be. Each time, it is four. And yet each time we show up in our pre-appointed hotel space, there are … Continue reading “Standard” is Lip Service
Diplomatic Security
This trailer from the film America's Diplomats shows how our diplomatic security personnel train for the worst case scenario---from protests and threats to bombings and outright assaults on our missions overseas. Their storied bureau turned 100 this year. https://youtu.be/-QTzTP9vZRk Learn more about the daily grind of our DS personnel in Two Pumps for the Body … Continue reading Diplomatic Security
Unity Amid Terror
We can look to the barbarians who call for broad, ignorant hatred in response to the specific ignorant hatred behind the tragedies in San Bernardino, Orlando, Portland. Or we can look for unity. While Two Pumps for the Body Man is foremost a satire of the so-called "War on Terror", it's also rich in other themes (the odd sexual proclivities of protagonist Jeff Mutton, for … Continue reading Unity Amid Terror
The Foreign Service
today i celebrated with colleagues who serve this nation by going to places like Peshawar, Islamabad, Beirut, Sana'a, Baghdad. most serve without weapons. their service is overlooked. https://youtu.be/W9AEusWxKvw rather than call them heroes, as with our military cousins, more often they are belittled with terms like "cookie-pushers". But: It is statistically more dangerous to join the Foreign Service … Continue reading The Foreign Service
An ounce of hope, a Fifth of futility
Review: God in Neon by Sam Slaughter Sam Slaughter’s collection of stories features protagonists paddling up a great river of booze. Their strokes are futile, the current strong: with beer, tequila, whiskey, Old Crow, Jack, PBR. They struggle under the blurry burden of constant intoxication, their boozing not an act so much as a reality, … Continue reading An ounce of hope, a Fifth of futility
Free Pumps!
One week left in the Goodreads giveaway of Two Pumps for the Body Man. Follow the link at left to win a copy. Book reviewers can contact me directly for an electronic copy. The Second World War Had Catch-22. The War on Terror Has 2 Pumps. Jeff Mutton walks the diplomatic beat protecting American officials in Saudi Arabia. An expert with guns and … Continue reading Free Pumps!
MFA Program for RPCVs and PCVs
Reposting this opportunity for the Peace Corps community to earn an MFA. Original content from Peace Corps Worldwide: Are you inspired by your Peace Corps service? Do you have an affinity for writing? Looking to write a memoir or book about your Peace Corps experience? John Coyne (RPCV Ethiopia 1962-64), editor of Peace Corps Worldwide, has … Continue reading MFA Program for RPCVs and PCVs
DeWildt’s Brutal Rural Noir
C.S. DeWildt writes a sick rural noir in Kill ‘Em With Kindness, no surprise given the strength of his previous release Love You to a Pulp. The narrative blazes through the rural backwoods of Horton burning down churches and meting out vengeance on more than a few good ol’ boys—some who deserve it, some who don't. And … Continue reading DeWildt’s Brutal Rural Noir
Dark, hilarious, cutting
Exactly the kind of review that makes it all worth the effort. Somebody thought enough of Two Pumps for the Body Man to post this. Mission Accomplished. Came on top of a great plug from killer noir writer C.S. DeWildt (Love You to a Pulp and just last week Kill 'em with Kindness) who said of Two Pumps: "...Full of … Continue reading Dark, hilarious, cutting
Ben East Books 