Please join us with authors Julie Gianelloni-Connor, Edward M. Lerner, and Tammy Gross.
Julie Gianelloni-Connor, author of “Savoring the Camino de Santiago: It’s the Pilgrimage, Not the Hike” – an award-winning book by author Julie Gianelloni Connor. The book focus on the Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimage trail that began around 820 AD. A resurrection of interest in the Camino since the 1970s has meant that more than 300,000 individuals are nowadays undertaking the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela each year. The author made the pilgrimage in 2016 via the French route from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, a journey of some 500 miles. Her book incorporates a blog and travel journal she kept during that pilgrimage. The book is also a memoir, with Ms. Connor explaining how and why she decided to make the pilgrimage. Savoring the Camino is also a practical guide to the Camino for those interested in it. While the prevailing culture of the Camino is to walk the route, Ms. Connor believes that walking is not the only way to undertake the Camino. Taking buses, taxis, or even driving are also valid ways to experience the Camino, in her opinion. She advocates for pilgrims to slow down and savor the pilgrimage by stopping in churches, cathedrals, museums, and interesting towns and cities along the route. Not everyone experiences spiritual or personal growth through the act of walking; Ms. Connor urges pilgrims to take the trip in the manner that will most connect them with their spiritual, religious, and transcendent wellsprings. After completing the pilgrimage, the author journeyed to Madrid and Toledo, and there are chapters in the book covering those visits. Ms. Connor also recounts activities following the journey related to the Camino, such as writing an open letter to relevant governmental authorities in Spain and hosting a thank-you dinner in Houston for those who helped her plan and organized her pilgrimage. The book also includes a useful chapter on resources as well as an index.
Edward Lerner, author of “The Best of Edward M. Lerner” – While you probably know Ed from his SF novels, including the InterstellarNet series and the epic Fleet of Worlds series with Larry Niven—Ed is also a prolific author of acclaimed short fiction. This collection showcases his finest and favorite shorter works. Faced with the common question of which of his books should someone read first, he has carefully selected these stories to cover his wide range. Now he can answer, “This one!” Alternate history. Parallel worlds. Future crime. Alien invasion. Alien castaways. Time travel. Quantum intelligence (just don’t call him artificial). A (sort of) haunted robot. Deco punk. In this book, you’ll find these—and more—together with Ed’s reminiscences about each selection and its relationship to other stories, novels, and even series that span his writing career. These are the best, as determined by awards, award nominations, and the selective tastes of eight top editors and choosy Analog readers. Each excellent story stands alone—you won’t need to have read anything prior—but you’ll surely want to read more of Ed’s books afterwards.
Tammy Gross, author of “The Treasure Galleons: Prequel to the Golden Age of Pyracy Series” – In the Age of Sail, a captain’s son is left to confront pirates, cannibals and an angry king after a hurricane devastates his family and their fleet carrying $400 million in treasure. The true story of 1715 Spanish shipwrecks that gave Florida its “Treasure Coast” – as told in the multi-award-winning screenplay.Full-color illustrations.