Dear friends,

An update on the most common question I get these days: How’s the book going?

Many of you have been aware I’ve been working on a book the last few years, a memoir about my first trip to Iraq. I actually started it back in 2003, not long after my return from the war. But after some months, I gave up writing to return to Iraq to establish ‘Our Home – Iraq’ and start the work with the streetkids in Baghdad. I also found writing about the situation in Iraq was emotionally taxing and decided I wanted to keep ‘living’ the story rather than write about it. That began a journey with Iraq that lasted many years. And there was also my trip to Palestine….

I was so affected by my experience in Palestine; I was determined to write about that after my return to Australia in 2005. I started on that task, but one day while looking through an old computer I found the beginnings of the Iraq book that I had begun years before. I read it and recalled the “Human Shield” experience and decided then that this story needed to come out first.

So tucked away in my monastery at Douglas Park, and after many months of blood, sweat and tears, I finally had something to send to literary agents. I was grateful that Mary Cunnane (www.cunnaneagency.com) liked the manuscript and most importantly believed the story should be published and got to work finding a publisher. This is a slow, tortuous process and I was relieved when we secured a publisher some months ago. I was happy the book would come out, but became anxious at the fast pace the publisher wanted to work, which meant rushing through the steps and skimping on the editing process to get it out before the end of the year. It felt like a fast-food “McPublishing!’ 

But….at this year’s Sydney Writer’s Festival I was listening to a session on the wonderful book “The Rug Maker of Mazar-e-sharif” by Najaf Mazari and Robert Hillman. Najaf is a refugee from Afghanistan who escaped the violence of the Taliban only to face detention centres in Australia’s desert. It’s a haunting yet beautiful book about his life in Afghanistan and his journey to Australia. A director of The Rug Maker’s publisher, Insight Publications, was on the panel at the Writer’s Festival and she explained the commitment of Insight to publish stories that matter, and do to so with care. I could hear her commitment to develop and publish stories that not only sell books, but make a difference to the world. I remember thinking: “why can’t I find a publisher like that?”

Some weeks later as a contract was being prepared with the publisher Mary had secured, I could not stop thinking about Insight. I asked Mary what she knew of them. She agreed they were committed, ethical, independent publishers with heart and agreed it was a good idea to send them the manuscript.

Soon after that my wish was granted when Insight Publications indicated they wanted to publish the “Human Shield” story (as yet unnamed). I’m over the moon that I found a publisher that believes in the importance of the story, is prepared to invest time and energy to get it right and wants to get it out there!

I recently signed a contract with Insight (www.insightpublications.com.au) and am now in the editing stage. Yes folks, it’s finally going to happen and you’ll get the first invitations to the launches!                 

At this stage, the plan is that the book will be printed next year in March, with launches in May. This is an ambitious time-line, most books take about 12 months to get to publication, so it might take longer, but I’ll definitely keep you posted on how it’s going!

Now, news about another book: 118 days: Christian Peacemaker Teams held hostage in Iraq

Many of you will recall the awful period in late 2005 to March 2006 when my friend Harmeet Sooden was held captive in Iraq with three others from the Christian Peacemaker Teams. Tom Fox was killed on March 9 and Harmeet, Norman and Jim released two weeks later. It was a deeply traumatic time for all involved and their family and friends.

118 days is an account of that time. I am one of 23 contributors who have written chapters for the book.