LINKS

Paulina Springs Bookstore

Pearl (Fine Arts) Publishing

Sun Publishing

Storm over Morocco Compelling Narrative

Storm Over Morocco is a true story about the author who was wrongly accused of being a Zionist spy in 1978 and tried for sabotage, a capital crime, by an extremist Islamic group in Morocco. While searching for a universal religion in Casablanca, Romano was invited to study Islam in a mosque, which turned out to be controlled by a militant Moslem group who promptly imprisoned him.

The author’s questions as to the treatment of women served as a catalyst for one of the Islamic gurus to unjustly charge him with being a Zionist spy and sabotage of the “back to Islam” movement. He was eventually acquitted by an internal inquisitorial tribunal, but remained a prisoner behind the towering walls of the mosque located in the outskirts of Casablanca.

This harrowing ordeal was followed by excruciating suspense built up during attempts to escape the 10-foot high compound. The book is an autobiographical narrative about Romano’s spiritual path and fundamentalist religions and brainwashing techniques.

It also discusses the status of women in orthodox/fundamentalist Islamic communities. Storm Over Morocco, however, does not criticize Islam and often portrays the author as a student who learned a great deal from that religion.

This experience has inspired Romano to organize and participate in interfaith events including but not limited to fundamentalist Muslims, Jews and Christians in Israel and Palestine. Ernest Dempsey of World Audience Publishers says, “Torn between physical and psychological hardships, the book reveals how the author did find his spiritual truth amidst fanatics. Not only is Storm over Morocco an interesting story but is also a deep, thought-provoking work that addresses humanistic concerns like universality, peace, tolerance, and freedom.”

James C. Crowell to be featured at Author Afternoons

Six of the Des Chutes Historical Museum’s series of Author Afternoons remain on this year’s schedule. Next up is Bend author and playwright James L. Crowell who on June 21 will talk about Frontier Publisher: A Romantic Review of George Palmer Putnam’s Career at The Bend Bulletin, 1910-1914, published earlier this year by the Deschutes County Historical Society.

Crowell will take readers behind the scenes in the life of the young Putnam, arguably the most famous and influential person ever to live in Bend. After he played a key role in molding Bend’s and Central Oregon’s destiny—Putnam went on to a career as publisher, publicist, motion picture executive, and husband and promoter of famous aviatrix Amelia Earhart.

On July 12, Les Joslin, who writes and publishes U.S. Forest Service history, will focus on two pioneer forest rangers, John Riis and Walt Perry, who lived in Bend, served on the Deschutes National Forest, and exemplified the culture of the early Forest Service. Les edited and published their books—Riis’s  Ranger Trails in 2008 and Walt Perry: An Early-Day Forest Ranger in New Mexico and Oregon in 1999—and has authored several others. Janice Marschner of Sacramento, California, talks on August 2 about her Oregon sesquicentennial history, Oregon 1958: A Snapshot in Time, just published by Timber Press.

She’s had practice writing such a book. Her first book, California 1850: A Snapshot in Time, commemorated California’s sesquicentennial in 2000. September 20 welcomes William L. Sullivan, well-known Eugene author of the popular 100 Hikes series of Pacific Northwest hiking guides, including 100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades, for an illustrated talk on hiking Oregon’s history based on his aptly entitled 1999 book Hiking Oregon’s History.

Among this prolific writer’s other books are Listening for Coyote: A Walk Across Oregon’s Wilderness (1988) and Cabin Fever: Notes from a Part-time Pioneer (2004). Author, journalist and architectural historian Christine Barnes of Bend will talk on October 18 about her newly-published book, Great Lodges of the National Parks, Volume II, and companion PBS television series. This Part II is the sequel to her first book about great lodges in the national parks published in 2002.

Other books include her Great Lodges of the West (1997), Great Lodges of the Canadian Rockies (1998), and Central Oregon: View from the Middle (1996), published after she moved to Bend. On November 22, former Bend resident and best-selling author Jane Kirkpatrick, will talk about her work including her newest book, A Meeting at the Edge, now on the Pacific Northwest Independent Booksellers’ bestseller list.

The one-time director of Deschutes County’s mental health program, Jane “retired” to rural Moro, Oregon, “to begin a new adventure in writing, working on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, growing watermelons, and attempting to grow grapes and cattle.”

With luck, Jane will impart the secret of blending historical research and fiction writing that has made her famous. Author Afternoons start at 1pm on the Saturdays scheduled at the Des Chutes Historical Museum, 129 N.W. Idaho Avenue, in Bend. This free series, open to all, is made possible by a generous grant to the Deschutes County Historical Society from the Oregon Council for the Humanities. Information: 541/389-1813.

EVENTS

Bend Library
617-7040

Friends of the Bend Library Literary Event 388-4495 or typerit2@uci.net
Each meeting includes objective feedback on works-in-progress, discussing elements of structure & sharing tips & techniques, marketing ideas.

Second Sunday Readings in Bend 419-2389

Redmond Library 312-1050

La Pine Library 312-1090

Sisters Library 312-1072

Sunriver Area Library 312-1081

Jefferson County Public Library 475-3351 www.jcld.org

Central Oregon Writers Guild
Contact: Cindy Prescher 388-0836 wordcrafter1@msn.com
www.centraloregonwriters.blogspot.com

Bend Library Good Chair, Great Reads: Lizzie’s War by Tim Farrington July 7, 12 noon

Second Sunday: Dwight Newton: July 13, 3pm

What the Right Plants Can Do for You and Your Landscape: July 15, 6:30pm

Read! Watch! Discuss!: July 17, 5:30pm and July 24, 6pm

Reverse Mortages: Is One Right for You? July 21, 6:30pm

Earth in the Line of Fire: July 31, 6:30pm 541/312-1032

Farewell Bend Writers Roundtable Second & fourth Tuesdays, 7pm at the Bookmark. 541/617-9271

Jefferson County Library Story time & crafts for preschoolers & families: Every Tues., 10:30am & 6:30pm Story time & crafts in Spanish for preschoolers & families: Every Wed, 1pm 541/475-3351 www.jcld.org

Redmond Public Library Café Libri: July 17, 6:30pm 541/312-1064

Redmond Writers Call for July events 541/923-3499 or aflanning@yahoo.com

Sisters Public Library Sisters Good Chair, Great Books: The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle: July 23, 6:30pm 541/549-6157

Sunriver Public Library Local Singer-Songwriter Steve Neth: July 17, 6:30pm 541/312-1081

Deschutes Library Story Stars Tower Theatre July 19, 2pm 541/317/0700, 541/419-5710 www.towertheatre.org