Randy Ford Author- I’M NOT DEAD YET, a new novel, 40th installment

Our waiter brought us all wine. He took our menus and our orders. “I’m surprise they serve wine. In deference to Muslims, I thought they wouldn’t,” Nick said.

“One of the reasons I come here is because they cater to Western tourists. I used to observe all of the dietary restrictions of my neighbors and stayed away from pork. I observe all of their holidays and give my employees the time off. They’re also able to be with their families for Christmas and Easter. I don’t discriminate. That’s why I’m tolerated. Now let me hear about you all.”

Nick bit his lip and then said, “You know I’m all about change…in the way we view each other, in the way we think…and I’m always focused on tomorrow, and optimistic that the world will change for the better.”

Tom didn’t respond, and then Nick said to Tom, “I suppose you’re satisfied with the way things are.”

We enjoyed our prawn meal. Afterwards, Tom excused himself and then walked a ways away from us, where he lit a cigarette. Tom said it was a nasty habit that he enjoyed very much…enjoyed all his vices from smoking to drinking. “But I can modify my behavior,” he added with a smile. “Over time I’ve learned to do that. You might say I’ve learned to adapt my behavior to the customs of the people around me. Happily I can afford a private life and all of my vices once and while.” When we said goodnight to Cecelia and Tom, they were heading to a room in the hotel, but they weren’t in a hurry.

In front of the hotel, pedicabs vied for our business, but instead we chose to walk along the waterfront, where there were warehouses filled copra. When we came to the main wharf, we decided to stroll to the end of it.

“This is where we’ll board our ship to Jolo and ports beyond, but it’s not here yet.” Nick then pointed out the ferry to Basilian, which was docked for the night. “Actually there was one thing I wanted to say to our American friend,” he continued. “You see I regret that I didn’t tell him about my relationship with Elaine; in any case, it’s not the same as his relationship with Cecilia, but when he talked about her being the boss, I could see that happening to me.”

At that moment, Nick looked forlorn and torn and slightly angry with himself, but whenever he mentioned Elaine he seemed to perk up. Until he met Elaine, he never envisioned himself dating an American, and the fact that she was the daughter of a Navy Commander “amused” him. Since then he said he hoped his standing, as a radical hadn’t diminished. If anything, according to him, it had increased.

I asked Nick how he really felt about dropping by Tom’s house for dinner.

“I must admit that the thought of it disturbs me, but a speed boat ending sounds exciting,” he said. “Inconsistency, I guess, has been my hallmark. As long as I make contact with the rebels, I’ll be happy.” After Mawari, he had no preconceived idea about how they would receive him, he added, but he thought that they would have many things in common. “To catch the ferry, we’ll have to get an early start,” he said, as we stood in front of the ticket stand. “Actually I think I can hold my own, and I have the credentials…that should impress them. I know we’ll have our differences.” From there, he launched into a history lesson. It started with the brutal Christianizing of Manila by the Spaniards. “With the defeat of the Rajah Sulayman, Legazpi moved all of the Muslims outside of the European-styled walled city. With natives out of gun range, the Chinese then became the Spaniards’ major worry. Educate Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them adjacent to Manila, where there was considerable density of population… Demographically, since then, Christianity has been moving steadily southward. Even today, there are more Catholics in the metropolitan Manila region than in …. Spanish colonization has been painted as an attempt to spread Christianity while downplaying the angle that Christianization was only a tool… By Christianizing the Filipinos, the Spanish Catholic …. to run the government in Manila, the main city, and to continue Christianization…” Nick obviously knew his Philippine history and often had used his knowledge to drive home a point. After a moment, Nick said, “So you see, we’re brothers.”

When we got back to our hotel across from the plaza, we said “good night” to Nick.

Randy Ford

Randy Ford Author- I’M NOT DEAD YET, a new novel, 39th installment

That evening, the three of us had dinner on a hotel patio over looking the Basilian Strait, with tables right next to the water. When we arrived at the restaurant, which catered to tourist, we found a group of gypsy boys diving for coins. They were standing on the water’s edge and on the edge of small praus. A waiter steered us to a table near the water but not too far away from a bar with a nipa roof. There was a Caucasian (later identified as Tom, an American), with an attractive Filipina, sitting at a table next to ours. “Why don’t you join us!” the stranger said, standing up and indicating to the waiter to make room for us at his table. “It isn’t often that I get an opportunity to dine with fellow Americans. I know Americans when I see them. I also notice that you’re not your typical tourist. My companion and I here have just ordered. Let me recommend the prawns. They’re fresh, huge, and, as a fisherman, I know my prawns.” He pulled out a chair for Susan. Nick and I brought over a couple of chairs for us.

After introducing himself as Tom, the stranger asked us what brought us to Zamboaga, and he explained how he ran a fishing operation off of Basilian, and how it was getting more expensive and tougher to run his business. But, for an American in the Sulus, apparently, he was very successful; the way he dressed that evening anyone could’ve seen that he had money…a fact he never mentioned. His companion, also, wore clothes that showed that she had expensive taste; she hung onto his arm whenever they were just relaxing and not eating. In Nick’s opinion, he was an interloper. Accordingly, his time had passed, and, no matter how much he helped the economy or how many people he hired, he was robbing what rightfully belonged to the Philippine people. Gypsies lived and depended on those waters. They were not treated fairly by anyone. Speaking of gypsies, the naked boys were hard to ignore but were actually one of the reasons why tourist came to this place, where they earned enough money from diving for coins to make it worth their while. So Susan for a few minutes tossed coins in the water for their benefit; an easy way for them to earn some money, made possible by the crystal clear water. If they had been anywhere else, begging or selling trinkets or gum, Susan would’ve ignored them. But in the Gypsy economy, this enterprise seemed essential; thus she rewarded the divers generously. “I think they will remember you,” Nick said, smiling. “Maybe that’s something I should get into.”

“No, no,” Susan said. “I don’t think I would like to see you in your birthday suit.”

We all laughed, and then I told Tom that we were planning to go to Basilian.

Tom then invited us to stay with him. When I was about to respond and looked over in Nick’s direction, I realized that it might not be a good idea to accept Tom’s invitation. I could see Nick squirm, while I’m sure Tom missed it. Why not? You may ask. As it was, Nick felt uncomfortable. If he…he had traveled all the way from Manila to specifically spend time on Basilian…stayed with an American, he would lose his chance with the Moros; meanwhile the Moros were plotting to throw the American off their island but hadn’t gotten around to it yet. Then I had one of my conciliatory moments of inspiration and said that we had already booked our passages on a ship that would take us to Sitankai and back, which, with our schedule, left us with only one day for Basilian. And that pleased Nick. Now he could look for his rebels. Tom offered the invitation again, and added that he wasn’t home that much; his fishing required that. “Requires a virtual army, imagine that?”

Nick seemed happy now. I would’ve enjoyed staying with Tom.

“My darling here,” Tom said, looking at his companion. “Cecelia will be disappointed. You know how Filipinos are. But, after all, aren’t we all beneficiaries? With a woman such as Cecelia I ought to know. A man couldn’t be luckier. She knows my every need and is surprisingly free. I thought I knew everything about women until I met her…here in Zamboanga, Miss Cecelia. She comes along, seduces me, and begins my education. Now she runs my house. But someday she’ll run my business. Legitimacy is always an issue. The idea is for me to continue to expand. Sabah is close by; Malaysia; and here I am now; and if things go south…well, I have a speed boat.”

Tom carried on about Cecelia, about his fairy-tale life with her and not a word came from her. “Even if you can’t spend the night, you three can certainly come to dinner…that would be after the ferry has left the island for the day so it’ll be a bonus. I can bring you back to Zamboanga in my speed boat.”

Nick refused to comment.

“How about some prawns?” he asked. “They also have wine. I’ve had them order the best.”

“This is all quite nice,” Nick finally said.

Tom turned to me, and I said I would like some red wine

Randy Ford

Connie & Bob Spittler- THE DESERT ETERNAL, WORDS AND IMAGES, a book of essays

Connie Spittler’s THE DESERT ETERNAL, WORDS & IMAGES, illustrated with her husband’s Bob’s nature photographs, was one of two books chosen to compete in the environmental category of the 2008 Arizona Book Publisher Awards. Connie and Bob came in second, but didn’t feel too sad, because the winner was a large format coffee table book on the Grand Canyon published by Arizona Highways featuring a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer and internationally known writer, Charles Bowden.

Connie’s creative nonfiction piece “One November Day,” appears in HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. LINCOLN, an anthology published under the aspices of the Washington D.C. Bicentennial Committee, to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday. When Connie learned that the book was scheduled to be used as a text in the national capitol’s schools, she offered to read her work to students in the Tucson schools. Librarians from White Elementary and Miller Elementary immediately responded, with invitations to read to 4th and 5th graders. Since Connie’s story takes place two days before Lincholn wrote the Gettysburg Address, she asked the librarian if the children needed a brief background on the Civil War and Lincholn’s speech. The librarian told her that, in fact, the kindergarten children were memorizing the address. Connie was particularly pleased to read to 400 students on Lincoln’s birthday and afterward, answered their questions on writing. She gave each student a lucky Lincoln penny at the end of her program. One of the teachers emailed that when the students returned to the clessroom and had extra time to read, they asked if they could write instead. Her favorite thank you messages from the group said, “You rock…”

Taken from THE WRITE WORD, the newsletter of The Society of Southwestern Authors Vol. 38, No. 3 June-July 2009

UA BookStores- George and Martha, celebrate and read with a pair of funny hippos

George and Martha Children Books
Celebrate and read with a pair of funny hippos!
They do everything together and want to do something with you.
Join us for a story or two!
July 11, 2009, 10:30am at UA BookStores, SUMC

George and Martha: The Complete Stories of Two Best Friends
By Marshall, James
Marshall, James
Silvey, Anita
2008/09 – Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)
0618891951 – Hardcover See Other Formats
List Price 25.00
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Availability: In Stock
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In this volume, all 35 of Marshall’s beloved George and Martha stories are brought together to celebrate friendship. This collector’s edition includes an Introduction by Maurice Sendak as well as appreciations by some of today’s top children’s authors and illustrators. Full color….More

George and Martha
By Marshall, James
2007/09 – Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)
9780618963317 – Hardcover See Other Formats
List Price 15.00
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Availability: In Stock
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Readers will delight in James Marshall’s award-winning classic tales of George and Martha–two beloved, wise, and hilarious hippos! Story Number One: Split Pea Soup Oh, no! Martha made split pea soup again! How can George tell Martha that he hates split pea soup without hurting her feelings?
Story Number Two: The Flying Machine When George’s flight does not go as planned, Martha knows just the right thing to say….More

George and Martha: Round and Round
By Marshall, James
Marshall, James
2008/05 – Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)
9780618985050 – Hardcover See Other Formats
List Price 15.00
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Availability: In Stock
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Using original art and text from Marshall’s storybooks, these tales have been reformatted for beginning readers. These are the kind of deeply humorous, deeply true stories that inspire a love of reading. Full color….More

George and Martha: Round and Round
By Marshall, James
Marshall, James
2008/05 – Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)
9780618985050 – Hardcover See Other Formats
List Price 15.00
buy from Amazon.com
Availability: In Stock
[Availability & Ordering Help]
Using original art and text from Marshall’s storybooks, these tales have been reformatted for beginning readers. These are the kind of deeply humorous, deeply true stories that inspire a love of reading. Full color….More

George and Martha: The Best of Friends
By Marshall, James
Marshall, James
2008/05 – Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)
9780618984510 – Hardcover
List Price 15.00
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Availability: In Stock
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Great friends aren’t hard to find–they’re right here! Houghton Mifflin is delighted to publish two more George and Martha readers. Using original art and text from James Marshall’s storybooks, the tales are reformatted for beginning readers.
Marshall’s themes are all resonant with a reading-age child–navigating the waters of first friendships, honesty versus kindness, curiosity versus privacy. These are the kind of deeply humorous, deeply true stories that inspire a love of reading!

In these two stories, George and Martha are still riding round and round on their delightful whirlwind of friendship.
Story Number One: The Attic Martha wants to tell George a scary story but scares herself before she can even tell it.
Story Number Two: The Surprise Martha learns to forgive George, but she does not forget….

Pan Left Production- Fights Injustice through the production of videos

Support Pan Left, Fight Injustice

June 25, 2009

Dear Randy,

Pan Left became part of my life in February 2000. Little did I know that it would become such a huge part of my life and create a new family that I never thought could exist. I had just graduated from the University of Arizona and while all my classmates ran to the west coast to make it big in tinsel town I stayed here, in Tucson, my hometown.

I could have left with the rest of them, but it felt wrong. Why work so hard for so little in a town full of people that were fighting for things I did not want or feel made a difference? I had a feeling there were many injustices in the world, but I hadn’t figured out what to do about it.

I was unemployed and looking for life to point me in an interesting and adventurous direction, then I met Jeff Imig. He told me about a video project that Derechos Humanos had proposed to him; the thing was, he needed someone to do it. I knew little about the US/Mexico border but was ready and willing to be educated. Jeff Imig became my guide to Tucson’s activist community and helped me to figure out what the video project would turn out to be: Border Crossings was my first Pan Left video. It was made because of a need identified by a grass roots community organization; it allowed me, using the tool of the media, to fight back against injustice.
I went on to make three more documentaries with the aid of Pan Left. Had it not been for the equipment resources and support of members I would not have been able to successfully finish my videos.

Pan Left does more than produce videos. Pan Left provides a service that cannot be bought anywhere: It offers a safe place for people to express their views and feelings, for people to express the injustice they see through their own eyes. Through Pan Left, I found that there were people who felt like I did and had both big and small ideas of changing the world.
In 2000, there were only a few people actively involved with Pan Left. I can say with pride that there are now dozens of committed people who spend their time and energy making sure that Pan Left makes difference. Over the last nine years I have seen educational and inspirational documentaries, thought provoking experimental videos , and heartwarming narratives produced by Pan Left members. I have marveled at the time and energy people are willing to give to good causes.
Many people have asked me why I continue to dedicate so much time to Pan Left. I do so because it would feel wrong not to, like part of my family was missing.

It is with pride that I remember my past nine years with Pan Left and I look forward to many many more to come. I hope you can take the time to show your support for Pan Left and help us to have another fabulous fifteen years.

In Solidarity, Heather Lares

Randy Ford Author- I’M NOT DEAD YET, a new novel, 38th installment

The next day we got an early start. First we drank fresh pomegranate juice and ate breakfast: Susan and I ordered scrambled eggs; I added onions and tomatoes and tried fried fish. Nick relished his lumpia, loganessa, fried eggs and fried fish and from time to time said something about the food. He seemed nervous. After we finished our meal, Susan and I ordered coffee, and our friend excused himself and went back to his room.

“What’s wrong with Nick?” Susan asked.

“I don’t know,” I said, with concern. “Sometimes I feel like we’re intruding. I know that it is true with…”

“With me.”

I smiled. “Now be honest. We all sometimes find ourselves wanting to go our own way.”

“Would you have preferred to have gone on this trip without me?” she asked.

“No, no,” I said. “I always prefer to be with you.” I smiled again, a fake smile, and she recognized it. There was a form of communication Susan and I had that didn’t involve words (most married people have it), but with us there was very little malice, since we really, truly cared for each other and enjoyed each others company. This meant that I was glad she hadn’t stayed home (in spite of needing a break from each other from time to time), and so, possibly, my faked smile came from habit…or, indeed from practice. As for other ways of communicating… which for us had never been restrained…it sometimes ended up with one of us getting angry. Susan later said that for her the reason she traipsed halfway around the world…if it hadn’t been for the draft…was because it had been my dream, which strangely enough disappointed me.

“My dear Ted,” she said, “I have gone along with your adventurousness to my astonishment because I didn’t want to lose you to Vietnam and I feel that thus far the personal investment has been worth it. Having friends in both the American and Filipino communities has helped. We’ll take this a day at time. I never agreed to always follow you. Undoubtedly you’re more adventurous than I am, and undoubtedly at some point I’ll say I’ve had enough. Of course, children will change everything, and we’ve said we’ve wanted children, at least, in time for us to enjoy grandchildren, but I hope by then we’ll know more about where we want to end up. I think children deserve roots.”

And then I said, “People are not trees…never underestimate children’s ability to adjust…when parents provide them with attention and love; if we’re able to nurture them and give them the basics, they’ll turn out all right. Think of the kids you’re teaching now, and I think you’ll agree that the pluses in their lives overshadow the minus!”

When Nick returned I commented that that didn’t take him long, and he said “daily cleansing” was a beautiful thing, and then asked if we were ready to go. Susan had to excuse herself first.

The plan was that we would go for a day over to Basilan, unless there had been a kidnapping, a bombing, or some other form of violence over there. Nick’s father, who as you remember had been a Huk, always stressed the importance of paying attention and the use of common sense, but he had also been a risk taker. Nick wasn’t afraid of being kidnapped, wasn’t afraid of being killed, and wasn’t particularly afraid of anything, while one could see he was nervous, having arrived at one of our destinations. Nick also thought he could talk himself out of any danger because he was sure he had the radical credentials that would guarantee our safety…though his experience in Marawi didn’t reassure him. His attempt at making connections there had been foiled because, as it happened, Christians from Central Luzon had displaced Moros. Now Nick was determined to sell himself as a “brother” and not emphasize his religion and simply go there with the idea of learning as much as he could. Fortunately, they had a common enemy or enemies. The timing seemed right, with all the demonstrations on campus and the unrest in the south. “But I have to remember that they have been struggling longer than we have, which may mean they’re in a different place,” Nick told me. “We’ll have to see.” Nick had had Moro students in his classroom, and they had treated him with respect, and so that was one more thing he had to fall back on. Mao (as a model), whose revolution had changed the course of history, hadn’t impressed the Moros that much and hadn’t caused them to change the tactics they had used for more than three centuries. “I have no allusions,” Nick said, ‘but I think we’ll be okay.” Nick hadn’t come all this way to be deterred. When Susan came back, we were all set.

Randy Ford

The Society of Southwestern Authors- July 2009 Forum, FAST PITCH POINTERS, Carol Costa & Panel

The Society of Southwestern Authors’ July 2009 Forum, FAST PITCH POINTERS features Carol Costa with a panel.

Join the Society of Southwestern Authors for FAST PITCH POINTERS on Sunday, July 19. With the Wrangling with Writing Conference just around the corner in September, those personal appointments with an agent, editor, publisher or producer look mightly tempting. But maybe you’re nervous about how to effectively present your ideas and manuscripts; afraid you’ll say too little…or too much? Don”t worry, be snappy! Our panel of pitching pros…including multiple agented, oft-published Carol Costa…will help you perfect your delivery with a pitching clinic of information you’ll practice on your table mates.

Call 546-9382 or email forums@ssa-az.org by Wednesday, July 15, 2009.

Forums are held at Four Points Sheraton Speedway and Campbell Tucson, Arizona 11:30- 2:00 p.m., third Sunday of the month.

$25 paid at the door includes lunch and Speaker

No Credit Cards…processing fees are too high

Underground Parking beneath hotel