Bruce here … Thank you, Koro! Wendell Berry has been a beacon for me since I saw him in college. I wrote to him about his influence two years ago, and received a treasured, handwritten response, which begins, “I thank you for your letter, which seems to include me in a kindness extended to all the world.” Such humility and grace.

Something we humans could use in these times of crisis. It seems to me that AI is evolving as fast as the hype around it. Serious people I admire for their considered opinions see it as an unprecedented game-changer. Beyond its known climate impacts, it is already having unpredicted effects on human psychological development, income disparity, and security. Hang on to your hats! More to come.

Writing News

Softcover Crows Calling publishes October 1st, joining the hardcover, eBook, and audiobook. One review says it’s “filled with heart, humor, and a deep sense of connection.”

The second novel, working title Savage Legacy, is more than half written. Once the draft is done, the real work starts! And, next week in Zurich I’ll be hearing about a possible offer to write about, yep, AI and human relations.

See you next month, and thanks for staying tuned!

Bruce

PS: The Goodreads Giveaway was a big success: 3,500 entrants, five winners from across the country (e.g., Heflin AL , pop. 3,431) , mixed ages and genders. Much fun!

Bruce here … Thanks, Koro! I admit, the heat is concerning, and a lot of good work continues. Here, the Ashland Climate Collaborative is building community at the neighborhood level, with special attention to being “Fire Wise,” given the beautiful, flammable forests all around us.

Immediate issues dominate the news. Our democracy is in peril, and the geopolitical landscape is foreboding. Just one example: nothing but gloomy prospects for a Ukraine peace. And, the climate situation reminds me of a substance abuser whose health is deteriorating, but who ignores the addiction’s link to their decline. With climate, we’re hooked on carbon—“I’m trying to cut back … just one more trip, then I’ll quit.”

On the bright side, war-linked energy uncertainty has a positive effect. Half the world’s energy is now provided by solar, wind, and hydropower. That’s progress!

Writing News

We’re bringing out the softcover version of Crows Calling in October. The hardcover, eBook, and audiobook are selling. Readers say it “offers a message of optimism.” Meanwhile, I’ve started a second novel! Set near my home in Southern Oregon from the 1850s to the present day, it follows a family whose men face moral-ethical tests in America's wars, struggling under a curse visited upon the patriarch. Will they resolve it?

See you next month, and thanks in advance for staying tuned!