Hope you’re well. Around here, we are constantly reciting Wendell Berry’s line from his Mad Farmer Liberation Manifesto – “Be joyful though you have considered all the facts.” We are asking ourselves every day what we should be doing to preserve the democracy (flawed or not) that we have lived in our whole lives. More on that in upcoming newsletters. Promise.
But meanwhile (joyfully!) Debbie and I are recently back from over a month in Europe (okay, and Asia, too, since we visited the east side of Istanbul.) I set aside (for this one time, I say) my concern about burning fossil fuel to take a trip we’ve been thinking about for years. We saw whirling dervishes (amazing), the Acropolis (amazing, too), Demeter’s temple on Naxos (yes, that, too), the Prado in Madrid, holy week in Granada and Seville, flamenco in Jerez, fado in Lisbon the night of the anniversary of the overthrow of the dictatorship in Portugal, and the Anne Frank house on the eightieth anniversary of liberation in Amsterdam. We met incredible people, visiting with friends almost everywhere we went. And we ate delicious food every day. I meant to take notes, but was too busy with input to do output.
One thought about traveling, generally. Wherever you go, someone comes with you – and that’s your own self, especially in the form of your mind, which still does its old tricks, even in a new setting. Overthinking, judging, NEVER SHUTTING UP! Hah. Somewhere, though, deep in the trip, I finally recognized my old friend, up to his usual ridiculous antics, and let him do that while I took in what we saw. As my friend Rick reminded me when I got home, “Well, anywhere you go, there you are.” Indeed.
But now, here we are at home. Deeply appreciative of what I got to do, with a better understanding of the world, and what my place in it might be.
Quixote in Seekonk!
On July 16, at 7 pm, we’re hosting our friend and New Hampshire storyteller Andy Davis for a performance in our barn of his piece “Quixotic!”. The performance is part of his 800-mile bike tour throughout New England and one of eighteen performances of his piece that mixes personal memoir, scenes from Don Quixote, and stories about the effect of this great novel on people around the world. Seating is really limited, so if you’re interested, email Debbie@billharley.com right away!
Storytelling Workshop in NC
From June 29 to July 5, I’ll be running a storytelling workshop at Wildacres, a wonderful retreat center in western North Carolina. There are just a few spots left if you’re interested. There will be a wide variety of attendees, seasoned professionals and newbies, so you would fit right in. It’s a beautiful place and I’m looking forward to sharing some of what I’ve learned from over fifty years of telling stories.
Old Friend - New Agent!
After years of being without a formal literary agent (Debbie negotiating, with great skill, the book contracts) I have a new agent. Nicole Geiger, with Full Circle Literary Agency is now representing me. Nicole was an editor for two of my early books – Sarah’s Story and Nothing Happened. There’s a saying that home is where you don’t have to explain yourself, and so, I feel very much at home with Nicole and Full Circle. At the moment, Nicole has a manuscript of ghost stories we’re both excited about. Here’s my page on their website: fullcircleliterary.com/bill-harley
Achilles Returns!
This coming November, I’ll do a reprise of “An Iliad” by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare, at the Burbage Theatre in Pawtucket, RI. Cathy Clasper-Torch will return as “The Muse”. Last year it got rave reviews and now we know what we’re doing! If you know a small theater that would be interested, please let us know: info@billharley.com.
Finally - what we're reading
Debbie loved, as I did, Niall Williams’ new book Time of the Child. She also loves Geraldine Brooks’s book Horse.
I’ve been wading through Tony Judt’s 850 page book Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 about Europe after World War II. It’s really an amazing work, and has changed the way I looked at things. Especially, I was struck by the incredible effect of the Marshall Plan – how it really served to help a new Europe be born – a reminder that “soft power”, not military might and bullying, is a very important thing.
While in Spain, I read Washington Irving’s Tales of the Alhambra – some of it while sitting in that amazing place.
I also, by accident came across an oddly moving book Stoner (no, that’s just his name) by John Williams. It’s the novel of the life of an academic who spent his whole life at one institution, teaching English literature. Doesn’t sound too gripping, but its clear, hard prose and straightforward narrative leave room for the reader to really appreciate the challenges living a life, any life, brings. Very bittersweet. I couldn’t stop reading.
Let us know what you’re reading (Michele@billharley.com) and have a great summer!
Free shipping!
For the month of June, free shipping* on everything from the store! All CDs, all books, all USBs! Everything ships for free. So stock up for summer reading, long drives and rainy days when you don’t know what to do!
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