Chief of Pray / Publisher's Blog - Prayables

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All Creatures Great and Small: James Herriot

When you read a great book, it’s like being in the time and place of the story and becoming friends with its characters. That’s where I’ve been the last few weeks: Yorkshire England, in the 1940’s, with country veterinarian James Herriot. All Creatures Great and Small is the first of a series of books; partly memoir, partly fiction, and totally delightful. How does he do it? James Alfred Wight (using the pen name of James Herriot) has turned out five books; each one reads like a prayer.

Let’s start with the titles in the collection of Herriot’s books:
1. All Creatures Great and Small
2. All Things Bright and Beautiful
3. All Things Wise and Wonderful
4. The Lord God Made Them All
5. Every Living Thing

Blogs - Chief of Pray Blog

A Jew Writes a Christmas Letter

Holiday Update 2010

Dear Friends and Family,

Well, we made it through another year and here are some of the highlights. David thought he had another attack of gout, this time in his ankle, but when it didn’t go away after taking the Allopurinol, he finally went to see a podiatrist who diagnosed: Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction! We were both stunned— even though David has suffered from flat feet, for years. The doctor gave him a boot to wear and he clunked around for some of November and the better part of December.

It didn’t stop him from playing golf when he came to Florida for vacation, no siree! The rest of his foursome was a bit worried when he approached the tee with only the one golf shoe, but he still shot an 86 and that shut ‘em up. He is waiting for his custom orthotics to arrive- thankfully the firm had a decent enough year, because those darn things are pricey!

Blogs - Chief of Pray Blog

Sisters by Choice, Sisters in Spirit

I was talking to Barbara Montiero, a super-sharp top New York literary agent. I’m trying to convince her to represent the new Prayables book, Personal Peace: Prayers for Women of All Faiths. She likes it, and we’re talking… so far, so good. Like most business people I meet, I had to get her over the hump, and prove that I’m not a religious nutcase. Somehow the idea of “prayer” has been hi-jacked by crazy people in homespun sack-cloth, speaking in tongues. Inevitably, I find myself having to do damage control.

This time, Barbara just wanted to share her excitement about a multi-talented nun named Sister Karol Jackowski. Sister Karol is an author, and an artist, who has a reputation for being a fun nun! Yes, when you think about Susan Diamond, you immediately want to make introductions to a sister with good habits. I went to check out Sister Karol’s website, but landed instead on Sister Carol’s website.

Blogs - Chief of Pray Blog

Three Ways to be Perfectly Satisfied

Satisfaction comes from three places: your mind, your body and your soul.

1. You can be satisfied intellectually. Let’s say you learn something new – how wonderful to finally get it! Maybe you’re challenged on a long-held belief. The arguments and discussion from a different point of view, brings new clarity to an old conviction. Satisfaction, is the reward stemming from the amazing intelligence we’re given. OK, in my case, maybe my own intelligence isn’t all that amazing. Still, I’m impressed that I can think and reason.