Here are the contents of this month’s newsletter:

1. Annual Update
2. At First Light to be honored at the National WWII Museum on January 10
3. At First Light featured on the Stephen Ambrose History Happy Hour
4. At First Light nominated or submitted for nine book awards
5. Readers continue to dish out love for At First Light
6. Recent At First Light interviews or reviews

1) Annual Update

I hope each of you and your families had a Christ-centered, warm-memory-creating, family-filled Christmas and I pray you have a most Blessed New Year. Ours was fantastic and included a white Christmas and some holiday time to reflect on 2022. As for me, the last year has been one of refocusing:

• A) Medicine – After nearly 45 years of practice as a family physician, I stopped direct patient care at the end of 2021 but have continued medical work as a Physician Advisor for a large Worker’s Compensation insurance company. The timing was right, and I’m enjoying a time of “refocusing” as opposed to “retiring.”
• B) Writing – I have been blessed to have five books published in the last five years but have no new ones on the horizon.

1. 1. A) August 2019, Fit over 50: Make Simple Choices for a Healthier, Happier You that is an evidence-based book chock full of evidence-based health tips (and the book is useful for adults of ANY AGE!).
   2. B) October 2020, The Best Medicine: Tales of Humor and Hope from a Small-Town Doctor which is a memoir of my early days of practice in Kissimmee, Florida (and a sequel to my three-book Bryson City series).
   3. C) April 2021, Natural Medicines: The Truth about the Most Effective Herbs, Vitamins, and Supplements for Common Conditions which is an evidence-based book about using herbs, vitamins, or supplements for common conditions.
   4. D) November 2021, The Best Gift: Tales of a Small-Town Doctor Learning Life’s Greatest Lessons which is the sequel to The Best Medicine.
   5. E) April 2022, At First Light: A True World War II Story of a Hero, His Bravery, and an Amazing Horse which is aa book I worked on for over 16 years about my father’s heroic exploits and experiences in WWII. I spent most of my “writing time” this year promoting this book, which was a “labor of love” for my dad and his memory.

• C) Blog – I’m still doing daily blogging (Medical News You Can Use) at www.DrWalt.com/blog. But I’m praying about whether it’s time to hang up that hat also.
• D) Marriage Enrichment Ministry – Barb and I have had the privilege of leading this ministry at our church since 2016. It is a real joy for us to minister together as this year we will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.
• E) Kate has been married to Charles Ritz for 9 years. She’s still at the Focus on the Family Bookstore (and loving it) while Charles is in IT and working at night on his MBA.
• F) Scott has been married to Jennifer since 2005. They live in Atlanta. Anna Katherine (2008) and Sarah Elisabeth (2009) make Grandparenting the coolest job of all.

2) At First Light to be honored at the National WWII Museum on Tuesday, January 10

I’m so happy to have learned that my and Mike Yorkey’s book about my father’s exploits in WWII, At First Light: A True World War II Story of a Hero, His Bravery, and an Amazing Horse, will be honored during an evening celebration at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans on Tuesday, January 10. If you know anyone in New Orleans, let them know. Here’s the tentative schedule:

• 4:30 pm — I’ll arrive at the museum, accompanied by my son, Scott, for a reception
• 6:00 pm — Opening Remarks and Author’s Presentation about At First Light
• 6:45 pm — Audience Q&A
• 7:00 pm — Program concludes, book signing
• 8:00 pm — Book signing concludes

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE OR ORDER THE BOOK

3) At First Light featured on the Stephen Ambrose History Happy Hour

I was honored to participate in a one-hour show with the Stephen Ambrose History Happy Hour on Sunday, December 11. If you missed it, you can view it here. They write about themselves, “Each Sunday at 4 PM EDT, host-historians Christopher Anderson in London and Rick Beyer in Chicago each grab a cocktail and go live to talk history (and maybe some smack) during History Happy Hour. They welcome fascinating and knowledgeable guests … for entertaining history discussions.”

4) At First Light nominated or submitted for nine book awards

I’m delighted that At First Light has already received two book awards:

• 2022 Silver Medal for Memoire/Biography by the Military Writers Association of America
• 2022 Finalist (shortlist) for the Non-Fiction Book Award by the International Page Turners Association in London

I’m also excited to announce that the book is being considered for a number of other state, regional, or national book awards:

• 2022 Kemper and Leila Williams Prize in Louisiana History
• 2022 Society for Military History, Distinguished Book Awards
• 2023 Military History Matters Books of the Year
• 2023 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Awards
• 2023 Gilder Lehrman Prize for Military History
• 2023 U.S. Military History Group Awards
• 2023 Louisiana Readers’ Choice Awards
• 2023 Louisiana Book Festival
• 2023 Colorado Book Awards

5) A Unique View of my Dad’s Leadership Style revealed in At First Light

Here’s a review of the book and some comments about my father’s leadership style by Richard Conroy, PhD

I have been a longtime fan of anything written by Walt Larimore, MD. He and Mike Yorkey have written a thorough and collaboratively researched historical non-fiction account of Phillip Larimore, Jr.’s service to our country in World War II. As recounted by others, this is a story that needed to be told and is a compelling and inspirational account of bravery and service—I believe it is much more. It is about leadership at its best, more specifically the emotional intelligence aspect of leadership effectiveness. Research suggests the emotional intelligence competencies of a group’s leader improve organizational effectiveness, whether in the military or elsewhere. Emotional intelligence is also related to transformational leadership. I cannot say enough about my view of Phillip Larimore Jr.’s story as one of emotionally intelligent and transformational leadership.

6) Readers Continue to Dish Out Love for At First Light

In addition, I’m delighted that the book has received 331 reviews, of which 318 (96%) are 5-star ratings on a number of online review sites, including:

• Amazon (111 ratings [105 are 5-star]),
• Barnes & Noble (54 ratings [53 are 5-star]),
• GoodReads (79 ratings [74 are 5-star]),
• Walmart (46 ratings [45 are 5-star]), and
• Target (41 ratings [all are 5-star]).

Several reviewers comment that it’s the best or one of the best WWII books that they’ve ever read, and quite a few say they think it should be made into a movie. From their lips to God’s ears, as the old saying goes. If you haven’t read it, I hope you will. And if you have, I hope you’ll leave a 5-star review on Amazon, B&N, and GoodReads. Thanks.

7) Recent At First Light interviews or reviews

Ascot Media had a successful PR campaign for my WWII book, At First Light. Here’s what happened in December:

• A hero, his horse, and the secret story of the Lipizzan rescue (12/04/22 — Article at HorseTalk.co.nz)
• The Stephen Ambrose History Happy Hour (12-11-22)
• Midwest Book Review (12/20/22)

8) Last Month’s Happenings

• December 14, we finished last semester’s ReEngage Marriage Ministry at Academy Christian Church with a joyous celebration and recommitment of 19 couples. What a blessing! This brings us to almost 270 couples that we’ve been privileged to work with in the ACC Marriage Ministry over the last few years.
• Otherwise, we were at home for the rest month enjoying the fireplace and our Christmas season together. Barb’s sister, Sue, traveled from Baton Rouge to spend Christmas with us. Her visits are always a treat for us both. We enjoyed a cold by “white” Christmas, which was a joy.

9) Upcoming Events

• January 7, Barb and I will direct a Leader’s Training Seminar for this semester’s ReEngage Marriage Ministry at Academy Christian Church.
• After the training, we’ll leave for a weekend in Denver to celebrate Barb’s birthday.
• January 10, I’m really excited to have been invited to fly to New Orleans to do a book signing and make a presentation about my and Mike Yorkey’s WWII book, At First Light, at the National WWII Museum. Details above.
• January 18, we begin the weekly ReEngage classes that will continue until May 3.

10) Past Editions

December 2022

• Order signed and personalized copies of my books
• Mark your calendar: At First Light to be featured on the Stephen Ambrose History Happy Hour
• Mark your calendar: At First Light to be honored at the National WWII Museum
• At First Light wins an international book award
• Readers continue to dish out love for At First Light
• The successful public relations campaign for At First Light continues
• “Ask Dr. Walt” in Today’s Christian Living

November 2022

• Public Relations Campaign for Veteran’s Day
• Readers Love At First Light

October 2022

• A physician writes a sweet note
• My Father was featured in a nice article

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