Barb and I have just returned from a 10-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land. After long flights there (10 hours from Denver to Frankfurt and 4 hours to Tel Aviv), we were off and running during 14- to 15-hour days. We went with a group from our church and one of our teaching pastors, Dave Erickson. We caught a bad bug on the way home and are just recovering from that, so maybe next month I’ll share a brief travel log with you. But suffice it to say, we’ll never read Bible passages about the Holy Land or the life of Christ the same way again.

2) Worldwide Webinar to Healthcare Professionals on “Recognizing Religious Struggle”

I had the honor and privilege of presenting a worldwide webinar to healthcare professionals on the topic of “Using a spiritual history to uncover religious struggle.” I was blown away to learn that people from 58 countries attended the International Christian Medical and Dental Associations (ICMDA) webinar. You can view a video of the presentation hereand find other resources that were offered ICMDA here.

3) Bryson City Tales coming out in an audiobook

I was delighted to hear from Webster Younce, the VP and publisher or Zondervan books, that my very best-selling book ever (nearly 150,000 sold), Bryson City Tales: Stories of a doctor’s first year of practice in the Smoky Mountains, is scheduled to be released as an audiobook sometime this summer. I’ll let you know more as I learn more. You can learn more about the book here.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOOK OR ORDER HERE

4) Recent PR for At First Light interviews or reviews

PR: Here’s what happened in January and February:

1. Talk Radio Europe (01/04/22 – A really nice live radio interview)
2. Meet the Author of At First Light (01/10/23 – A live interview at the museum in New Orleans)
3. An inspiring true story that reads like historical fiction (01/13/23 – The Epoch Times – A half-page review and perhaps the best book review I’ve ever received. After this printed, the book sold more copies in 4 weeks that in had in 8 months. Wow.)

4. Warfare History Network (2/01/23 – Book Review)

5. Moments with Marianne Radio Show (02-10-23 – a delightful Live radio interview on KMET that you might enjoy).

READER REVIEWS: I’m delighted that the book has received ~96% (361 of 378 reviews) 5-star ratings on:

• Amazon (139 ratings [131 are 5-star]),
• Barnes & Noble (59 [58 5-star]),
• GoodReads (90 ratings [83 are 5-star]),
• Walmart (49 ratings [48 are 5-star]), and
• Target (41 ratings [all 5-star]).

If you’ve read the book, and have not yet submitted a rating on at least the top three sites above, please do. It would be a great favor to me and to others considering the book.

5) Excerpts from At First Light

The Horse Talk website in New Zealand has published three excerpts from my WWII book, At First Light: A True World War II Story of a Hero, His Bravery, and an Amazing Horse. The chapters they chose were about Dad’s secret mission to save the Lipizzans. If you’ve not read the book, you might enjoy reading these three short chapters. I hope you enjoy them.

1. Soldier’s covert role in wartime Lipizzaner horse rescue revealed (Part 1 – Horse Talk – 01/22/23)
2. “Operation Lipizzaner”: Former Nazi vet paves way for horse rescue (Part 2 – Horse Talk – 01/29/23)
3. Young WW2 soldier’s ride of a lifetime in “Operation Lipizzaner” (Part 3 – Horse Talk – 02/27/23)

LEARN MORE/ORDER HERE

6) Last Month’s Happenings

• Feb 13-22, Barb and I made our first trip and pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It was a delightful and deeply spiritual time for us. More details in next month’s newsletter.

7) Upcoming Events

• Mar 6, I’ll have the privilege of speaking at a Men’s Steak and Ribs Dinner at my church, Academy Christian Church (ACC) about my WWII book. I’ve titled the talk, “At First Light: The Resilience of a Teenager Who Became a World War II Hero.”
• Of course, we’ll be continuing our ReEngage Marriage Ministry at ACC all semester.

8) Past Editions

February 2023

• At First Light honored at the National WWII Museum
• The Best Book Review Ever
• 12 Steps to Spiritual Training and Nutrition — “Ask Dr. Walt” in Today’s Christian Living
• “Vaccine News You Can Use” from Colorado Family Physician
• Recent PR for At First Light interviews or reviews

January 2023

• Annual Update
• At First Light to be honored at the National WWII Museum
• At First Light featured on the Stephen Ambrose History Happy Hour
• At First Light nominated or submitted for nine book awards
• Readers continue to dish out love for At First Light
• Recent At First Light interviews or reviews

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

———

© Copyright WLL, INC. 2023.