April 2025 – Peace Corps Worldwide

A Cup of Stars, Stories by Joseph Monninger (Burkina Faso 1975-77)

Apr 22 2025

A Cup of Stars, Stories by Joseph Monninger (Burkina-Faso 1975-77) Available on Amazon ($10.99); 458 pages; ISBN 979-8649356534 Reviewed by Eugénie de Rosier (Philippines 2006-08) A Cup of Stars, Stories by Joseph Monniger, invites through oral lore and historic anecdotes and contemporary writing in this long book. Two fantasies about supernatural women—are re-spun tales inspired by an Irish myth and an Arctic fable. Kathleen’s Celtic spirit entangles with an injured WWI soldier healing in rural Maine. He walks across the state to claim and rebuild an inheritance, a ramshackle farm, and his life takes on paranormal shifts. Sedna, hemmed in by patriarchy, is forced into a bad marriage to a brutish “evil witch-man,” who changed shapes. Inspired by Inuit folklore, she flees her husband across a lifetime and around the globe, adopting metaphysical abilities to breathe in water, take to winged flight, and gallop with herds, until she confronts him for his cruelty. . . .

Ah, Where the Light Shines Through, by Patricia Waak (Brazil 1966-68)

Apr 18 2025

Review This self- published book of poetry by former Peace Corps Volunteer, Patricia Waak, will appeal to those who wish to commune with nature through words. It begins with the hope of changing seasons and ends with thoughts on growing old. The author, in lyrical phrasing, writes about the weather, plants, insects, and wildlife of the countryside of Colorado, where she is content in her natural world. Many of the 68 poems depict weather in changing seasons, and how light, wind, and snow affect the author’s spirit. “Crystal” is used frequently and found in trees, grass, and clouds. Besides insects such as moths and dragonflies, animals like coyotes, dogs, birds, chickens, and a lizard appear sometimes in rhyme, sometimes not. The most memorable and relatable pieces are about the inevitability of aging. This work is recommended for city-dwellers who long to recall the natural world of wide-open spaces, and for . . .

Eyes of Iris, by Joshua A.H. Harris (Mali 1996-98)

Apr 11 2025

Eyes of Iris, by Joshua A.H. Harris Book Description What did Iris see? Was it an accurate vision of the future or merely a drug-induced hallucination? Iris, a twenty-year-old genius, stumbles into the ER after participating in an Ayahuasca ceremony, claiming to have traveled to the future. Dr. Kairos–the hospital psychiatrist on call that day–surreptitiously hits record on his iPhone as she begins recounting her time-travel tale. Iris’s vivid descriptions of Earth circa 2300, its bizarre inhabitants, and her harrowing escape are far more detailed and imaginative than any delusional story Dr. Kairos has ever encountered. By the end of the interview, he believes he’s captured one of the most important delusional accounts ever told. But little does he know, her story–and his role within it–may, in the end, alter the fate of humanity. Inspired by H.G. Wells’s The Time Machine, Eyes of Iris challenges our perceptions of reality and . . .

Peace Corps Writers Keep on Writing

Apr 10 2025

Since the founding of the Peace Corps in 1961, our incredible network of Volunteers, returned Volunteers, former staff, and host country nationals has made lasting impacts—not only through service but through their voices as writers. Together, they have contributed to a staggering collection of no less than 3,600 books, spanning fiction and non-fiction, and capturing the essence of global engagement, personal growth, and cultural exchange. In this edition, we are thrilled to spotlight a remarkable group of 566 Peace Corps writers who have each authored at least two books. This list celebrates their creativity, dedication, and ability to share compelling narratives with the world. This remarkable achievement has been made possible thanks to the longstanding dedication of John Coyne (Ethiopia 1962-64) and Marian Beil (Ethiopia 1962-64), who founded Peace Corps Worldwide and Peace Corps Writers. Their initiatives have provided invaluable resources, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring writers, fostering a vibrant literary tradition . . .

African Travels 1967-2010, by John McWilliam (Sierra Leone 1967-69) and Joanna McWilliam

Apr 08 2025

African Travels 1967-2010, by John McWilliam and Joanna McWilliam Description The McWilliams have written a treasure trove of stories about their experiences living and working in Africa. On motor bikes, crowded lorries, and river ferries, they carry the reader across highways, dirt roads, and rivers into cities, towns and villages from Sierra Leone to Nigeria to Kenya. The Africans with whom they live and work welcome them, providing insights into cross-cultural and historical facts that few outsiders are able to know. This book provides that knowledge through captivating descriptions, unique adventures, and humor. Publisher : ‎ Moore Media, Inc. (2023) Language ‏ : ‎ English Paperback ‏ : ‎ 266 pages ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8985278934 Also available on Amazon.com About the authors John McWilliam served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Sierra Leone from 1967 – 1969. After graduate school studying demography and development sociology, he returned to the . . .

Beloved Reconciliation, By Margaret Maxwell McLaughlin (Senegal 1972-73 & Jamaica 1977-79)

Apr 03 2025

Beloved Reconciliation Book 1: (1820-1916) Beloved Reconciliation Book 2: (1917-1923) By Margaret Maxwell McLaughlin (Senegal 1972-73 & Jamaica 1977-79) Description This is a story not only about the strength of Irish women, but of women throughout the world who stand up right next to their male colleagues for justice and equality. They are inspired for the sake of their children, and their children’s children, to reconcile differences and bring peace to their families and homelands. In everyone’s life, whether we admit or not, there is an “Una”–be it a magical spirit or human mentor. In this historical fiction, Beloved Reconciliation Book 1: 1820-1916, Una is a radiant spirit who appears in ever-shifting form to five Irish women, reassuring them that they have the power to play crucial roles in their country’s struggle for independence. From the Great Famine to the Easter Rising, she and the five women invite us to . . .

Archive - April 2025