John Coyne – Page 333 – Peace Corps Worldwide

RPCV Michael Meyer Wins Whiting Award

Oct 28 2009

RPCV Michael Meyer (China 1995-97) and author of The Last Days of Old Beijing: Life in the Vanishing Backstreets of a City Transformed, published by Walker & Company in 2008 has been named a recipient of a 2009 Whiting Writers’ Award, one of ten given this year. The award, worth $50,000, is given annually to ” writers of exceptional talent and promise.” Mike, who will receive the award this evening, is leaving shortly for China to work on his next book. Whiting Writers’ Awards candidates are proposed by anonymous nominators from across the country. And the winners are chosen by a small anonymous selection committee of recognized writers, literary scholars, and editors, appointed annually by the Foundation. The Foundation accepts nominations only from the designated nominators. This year’s winners include several who have just published or will soon publish a first book. Although some were born in such far-flung places . . .

Looking For An Agent? The “M” List

Oct 28 2009

Maass, Donald Donald Maass Literary Agency 160 West 95th St., Suite 1B New York, NY 10025 Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Crime, General Fiction,Humor dmaass@maassagency.com http://www.maassagency.com Maccoby, Gina Gina Maccoby Literary Agency P.O. Box 60 Chappaqua NY 10514 General Fiction, Children’s, Reference gmaccoby@aol.com Malpas, Pamela Harold Ober Associates 425 Madison Ave. New York NY 10017 General Fiction, General Non-Fiction, History, Biography, Memoirs, Reference, Science, Health, Business/Investing/Finance, Graphic Novels, Children’s, Art, Mystery, Thriller pmalpas@haroldober.com http://www.haroldober.com Mandel, Daniel Sanford J. Greenburger Associates 55 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor New York, NY 10003 General Fiction, History, Religion/Spirituality, Business/Investing/Finance,Biography, Memoirs www.greenburger.com Mandel, Jay William Morris 1325 Ave. of the Americas, 11th Fl. New York, NY 10019 General Fiction, General Non-Fiction, Memoir, Sports, History, Politics/Current Affairs, Children’s http://www.wma.com Mann, Carol Carol Mann Agency 55 Fifth Avenue New York, NY I 0003 History/Politics/Current Affairs, Humor, Business/Investing/Finance, Religion/Spirituality,Memoirs, Advice/Relationships, Reference,Parenting, Biography, Health carol@carolmannagency.com , Manus, Janet Manus and Associates Literary Agency . . .

RPCV Lawrence Lihosit Launches Campaign To Save Peace Corps Books

Oct 27 2009

This is a letter that Larry Lihosit, who served in Honduras, is sending around to congress and the senate seeking to establish at the Library of Congress a Special Collection of Peace Corps books. He is particularly interested in books that are self-published and have limited circulation. This is a very good idea, I think. We need ‘places’ where researchers someday might turn to find out who, what, where, when and how of the Peace Corps. With the disappearance of books in our world, the Library of Congress is a good location. Or as Hemingway said, “a clear, well lighted place.” Larry wrote me: “I am taking this opportunity to continue my campaign to cajole for the creation of a Peace Corps Experience Collection at the Library of Congress. I sent the attached letter to my congressman, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, and Barack Obama. I intend to resend it . . .

Looking For An Agent? The “L” List

Oct 26 2009

Lange, Heide Sandford J. Greenburger Associates 55 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor New York, NY 10003 General Non-fiction www.greenburger.com Lansky, Vicky The Book Peddlers 15245 Minnetonka Blvd. Minnetonka, MN 55345 History, General Fiction, General Non-Fiction, Parenting, Advice/Relationships, Health, Children’s www.bookpeddlers.com Lantz, Robert The Lantz Office 247 West 87th Street – 24G New York, NY 10024-2850 General Fiction, General Non-Fiction, Art, Reference Rlantz@lantzoffice.com www.lantzoffice.com Larsen, Michael Larsen-Pomada Literary Agency 1029 Jones Street San Francisco, CA 94109 General Non-Fiction, Reference, Health larsen-pomada.com Laster, Owen William Morris 1325 Ave. of the Americas, 11th Fl. New York, NY 10019 General Fiction, General Non-Fiction, Memoir, Sports, History, Politics/Current Affairs, Children’s www.wma.com Lazear, Jonathon Lazear Agency, Inc. 431 2nd St., Suite 300 Hudson WI 54016 General Non-Fiction, Health, Religion/Spirituality,Reference, Parenting info@lazear.com www.lazear.com Lazin, Sarah Sarah Lazin Books 126 Fifth Ave., Suite 300 New York, NY 10011 Pop Culture, Health slazin@lazinbooks.com www.lazinbooks.com Leavitt, Ned Ned Leavitt Agency 70 . . .

Does The Peace Corps Really Matter?

Oct 26 2009

I like this question–Does the Peace Corps Really Matter?– and the conversations and discussions that it provokes. It brings the idea of the agency back to mind. I have been hearing people since the Nixon years trashing the Peace Corps, all of us were ‘draft dodgers” Tricky Dick said. Eisenhower called us a “juvenile experiment,” and the Daughters of the American Revolution warned of a “yearly drain” of “brains and brawn…for the benefit of “backward, underdeveloped countries.” (A year after all of these “wise” pronouncements, Time magazine declared in a cover story that the Peace Corps was “the greatest single success the Kennedy administration had produced.”) It is good for the agency when the whole idea of ‘The Peace Corps” is in the public currency. The problem today is that while the agency is ‘Mom’s apple pie’ in the minds of most Americans, the next question most Americans ask is: ‘Does the Peace Corps still . . .

First National Advisory Council To The Peace Corps

Oct 23 2009

[Jim Sheahan (Sierra Leone 1963-65) was kind enough to send me this list of the first National Advisory Council to the Peace Corps. I thought you’d like to see who what was where when.] NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL Honorary Chairman The Honorable William O. Douglas, Associate Justice I Supreme Court, United States Chairman The Honorable Lyndon B. Johnson, Vice President, United States Vice Chairman Dr. Mary Bunting, President, Radcliffe College David E. Lilienthal, Chairman, Development and Resources Corp. Rev. James Robinson, Director, Operation Crossroads Africa Thomas J. Watson, Jr., President, IBM Corp. Members Dr. Leona Baumgartner, Comm. of Health, New York City Joseph Beirne, President, Communications Workers of America Harry Belafonte, New York City Rev. William Sloan Coffin, Chaplain, Yale University LeRoy Collins, President, Natl. Assn. of Broadcasters Rev. John J. Considine, M.M., Director, Latin America Bureau National Catholic Welfare Conference Colonel Henry Crown, General Dynamics Corp. Dr. Albert Dent, President. . . .

Looking For An Agent? The “K” List

Oct 22 2009

Kaliski, Michael Omniquest Entertainment 1416 N. La Brae Ave. Hollywood CA 90028 Reference, Art, Business/Investing/Finance mk@omniquestmedia.com www.omniquestmedia.com Karchmar, Dorian William Morris Agency 1325 Ave. of the Americas New York, NY 10019 Memoir, Parenting (212)903-1100 dkar@wma.com http://www.wma.com Kartsev, Vladimir P. Fort Ross, Inc. Russian-American Publishing Projects 26 Arthur Place Yonkers NY 10701-1703 General Fiction, Reference fort.ross@verizon.net www.fortross.net Kier, Mary Alice Cine/Lit P.O. Box 802918 Santa Clarita, CA 91380 Reference, Art, Narrative Fiction, History cinelit@msn.com Kirkland, Linda Samuel French, Inc. 45 West 25th Street New York, NY 10010 General Fiction, General Non-Fiction, Art, Lifestyle, Narrative Fiction, Religion/Spirituality, Business/Investing/Finance www.samuelfrench.com Klinger, Harvey Harvey Klinger, Inc. 301 West 53rd Street New York, NY 10017 Mystery/Crime Klingerinc@aol.com Knappman, Edward New English Publishing Associates P.O. Box 5 Chester, CT 06412 General Non-Fiction, Biography, Memoirs, Reference, Business/Investing/Finance www.nepa.com Knight, Deidre The Knight Agency P.O. Box 550648 Atlanta, GA 30355 Religion/Spirituality, Women’s/Romance, Children’s, Inspirational, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Advice/Relationships http://www.knightagency.net Knowlton, . . .

Looking For An Agent? The “J” List

Oct 21 2009

Jackson, Jennifer Dondld Maass Literary Agency 160 West 95th St., Suite 1B New York, NY 10025 Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Women’s/Romance, Graphic Novel, jjackson@maassagency.com http://www.maassagency.com Jacobson, Emilie Curtis Brown Ltd. 10 Astor Place New York, NY 10003 General Fiction, Reference, Parenting, Children’s, History, Politics/Current Affairs, Sci-Fi/Fantasy EJj@CBltd.com www.curtisbrown.com Johnson, Greg Wordserve Literary Group 10152 S. Knoll Circle Highlands Ranch CO 80130 Memoir, Religion/Spirituality, Inspirational, Parenting, Advice/Relationships, Anthology, Narrative Non-Fiction greg@wordserveliterary.com www.wordserveliterary.com

An Idea For The 50th Anniversary Of The Peace Corps

Oct 21 2009

Over the last year we have had a number of meetings taking place within the Peace Corps regarding the 50th Anniversary, meetings organized by the old administration and now with the new director, Aaron Williams. Some of these proposals for what to do on the Anniversary are on the Peace Corps website. Take a look. Representatives of the NPCA have been asked to attend the Peace Corps meetings, but unfortunately they have not been able to bring much influence or many ideas to the table. While the NPCA has a limited membership (maybe 4k) they have a good database of recent RPCVs. The Peace Corps’ lists are longer and more accurate, however. The Peace Corps didn’t track RPCVs until RPCV Carol Bellamy came into the office in 1993. She put together a data base then of about 90,000 names and addresses of RPCVs. The NPCA (since the 25th Reunion in 1986) has had reunions, but not since Kevin Quigley, the CEO and President . . .

Looking For An Agent? The “H” List

Oct 20 2009

Hagan, Peter The Gersh Agency 130 W. 42nd St. New York, NY 10036 Pop Culture, Art, Business/Investing/Finance, General Non-Fiction phagan@gershny.com www.gershagency.com Hamlin, Faith Sanford J. Greenburger Associates 55 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor New York, NY 10003 Health, science, children’s books, illustrated/art, sports, mystery/crime, Memoirs www.greenburger.com Harding, Elizabeth Curtis Brown Ltd. 10 Astor Place New York, NY 10003 General Fiction, Reference, Parenting, Children’s, History, Politics/Current Affairs, Sci-Fi/Fantasy eharding@CBltd.com http://www.curtisbrown.com Harris, Joy Joy Harris Literary Agency, Inc. 156 Fifth Avenue, Suite 617 New York, NY 10010 Women’s/Romance, History/Politics/Current Affairs, Children’s, Business/Investing/Finance, General Fiction gen.office@jhlitagent.com www.globallit.com Harty, Pamela The Knight Agency P.O. Box 550648 Atlanta, GA 30355 Women’s/Rromance, Children’s www.knightagency.net Hawkins, Anne John Hawkins and Associates, Inc. 71 West 23rd St., Suite 1600 New York, NY 10010 General Fiction, General Non-Fiction, Health, Religion/Spirituality, Science, Reference, Children’s anniehawk@aol.com History www.jhaliterary.com Hawkins, Anne John Hawkins and Associates, Inc. 71 West 23rd St., Suite 1600 . . .

Looking For An Agent? The “G” List

Oct 19 2009

Galen, Russell Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency 276 Fifth Ave, Suite 708 New York, NY 10001 Thriller, Science, Mystery/Crime, Children’s, History/Politics/Current Affairs, Sci-Fi/Fantasy russellgalen@sgglit.com www.sgglit.com Geiger, Ellen Frances Goldin Literary Agency 57 E. 11th St., Suite 5b New York, NY 10003 Religion/Spirituality, Children’s, Pop Culture, History/Politics/Current Affairs, Biography eg@goldinlit.com www.goldinlit.com Gelfman, Jane Gelfman Schneider Literary Agents, Inc. 250 West 57th St., Ste. 2515 New York, NY 10107 General Fiction, Reference, Mystery/Crime, Thriller, Health jane@gelfmanschneider.com Gerecke, Jeff Gina Maccoby Literary Agency P.O. Box 60 Chappaqua, NY 10514 True Crime. Mystery/Crime, History/Politics/Current Affairs, Sports, jeff.gerecke@verizon.net Gerwin, Karen The Creative Culture 47 E. 19th St., Third Floor New York, NY 10003 Memoirs, Humor kgerwin@thecreativeculture.com Ghosh, Anna Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency 276 Fifth Ave, Suite 708 New York, NY 10001 Memoirs, History/Politics/Current Affairs, Science, Health, Sci-Fi/Fantasy annaghosh@sgglit.com www.sgglit.com Gillies, Paige Publishers Graphics 231 Judd Road Easton, CT 06612 General Non-Fiction, Reference, Art . . .

Fastest Man In Fort Stewart: General Stanley A. McChrystal

Oct 18 2009

I am not sure how many of you had the opportunity to read “His Long War” by Dexter Filkins in the magazine section of the New York Times today, Sunday, October 18, 2009. Filkins, who first reported from Afghanistan and Pakistan more than a decade ago, is a staff writer for the NYTIMES and the author of The Forever War. He writes about our General Stanley A. McChrystal who has been actively lobbying for a dramatic increase of troops to ‘get the job done’ in Afghanistan. There is a photograph of McChrystal on the magazine cover. He looks gaunt, tired and pathetic, as if he had just run the Boston Marathon, or is playing an extra in one of Stephen King’s Movies, say The Dead Zone! It is a long article and must be read until the very last line, which has the real kicker to the piece. Filkins spent a lot . . .

And The Winner Of The Best Memoir From Latin America Is!

Oct 18 2009

While the Peace Corps writers from Africa have produced many memoirs from their experiences overseas, RPCV writers from Latin America are sadly far behind. Nevertheless, some great memoirs were written by Latin American Vols. While I have to eliminate Green Fires: Assault on Eden, A Novel of the Ecuadorian Rain-Forest, written by Marnie Mueller (Ecuador 1963-65), I would have to say there is a lot of memories of her tour are in this novel. Another very fine book, and a memoir, and one of the very first books on the Peace Corps by PCVs, was The Barrios of Manta: A Personal Account of the Peace Corps in Ecuador published in 1965 and written by Rhoda & Earle Brooke (Ecuador 1962-64). Early PCV, Paul Cowen (Ecuador 1966-67), did write his memoir The Making Of An Un-American: A Dialogue with Experience. It was published in 1970. There is some claim to being a Peace Corps Memoir in Craig . . .

RPCV Arsenault Novel Reviewed In NYTIMES

Oct 17 2009

Emily Arsenault (South Africa 2004-06) first novel received a short but glowing review in the New York Times Book Review section on Sunday, November 18. In the Crime column, Marilyn Stasio writes “In her author’s bio we learn that Emily Arsenault wrote this first novel to pass the long, quiet nights in the South African village where she worked as a Peace Corps volunteer. The comfort she took from words–funny words, strange words, words that should have been strangled at birth–is palpable in her oddly endearing coming-of-age story about a recent college graduate who lands a job as an apprentice lexicographer and discovers clues to an unsolved murder embedded in the citation files.”

Looking For An Agent? The “F” List

Oct 16 2009

Finch, Diana Diana Finch Literary Agency 116 W. 23rd St., Suite 500 New York NY 10011 Memoir, General Non-Fiction diana.finch@verizon.net Flannery, Jennifer Flannery Literary Agency 155 S. Washington St., Suite 202 Naperville IL 60540 General Fiction, Reference FlanLit@aol.com Fleishman, Samuel Literary Artists Representatives 575 West End Avenue New York NY 10024 General Fiction, Reference, Narrative Fiction LitArtists@aol.com Fletcher, Christy Fletcher & Parry 78 Fifth Avenue 3rd Floor New York, NY 10001 History/Politics/Current Affairs, Mystery/Crime, Business/Investing/Finance christy@fletcherparry.com Fogelman, Evan The Fogelman Literary Agency 7515 Greenville Avenue, Suite 712 Dallas, TX 75231 General Non-Fiction, Reference evan@fogelman.com Frazier, Warren John Hawkins & Associates 71 West 23rd St., Suite 1600 New York NY 10010 General Fiction, General Non-Fiction, Health, Religion/Spirituality, Science, Reference, Children’s jha@jhalit.com History www.jhaliterary.com Frederick, Dawn Sebastian Literary Agency 2160 Kenwood Way Wayzata, MN 55391 Business/Investing/Finance, Advice/Relationships, Health awn@sebastianagency.com Fredericks, Jeanne Jeanne Fredericks Literary Agency 221 Benedict Hill Road New Canaan, CT 06840 . . .

Author - John Coyne