I have GREAT NEWS! The photo below captures my joy at discovering that A Slice of Orange: loving and leaving the Osho/Rajneesh cult (Unsolicited Press, 12/8/26) is 
available for pre-order on BOOKSHOP and AMAZON ! Bookshop supports indie bookstores and Unsolicited Press supports my feisty feminist publisher (but they don’t ship abroad). Thank you book gods for making this real!
As the world falls apart I am so grateful for the moments of joy. My review of Mimi Nichter’s memoir Hostage appeared in the San Diego Reader! You are invited to come to Warwicks, La Jolla, on March 24 at 7:30 to hear us both In Conversation (I am interviewing Mimi). Her plane was hijacked by Palestinian terrorists in 1970 and this gem of a memoir is her tale of resilience and hope.
I have been visiting family and friends in Munich and South Africa. Here I am with Paul and Angelika Stebbings of The New Theatre. The most international theatre company – ever. Paul and I studied theatre together at Bristol U and I am so proud of his success which led him to receive honours from the Queen presented by (then) Prince Charles. (We call him Sir Paul now which isn’t accurate but is a lot of fun!) 
Now Slice is available for future orders I could certainly use your help. If you aren’t ready to order yet please add it to your Amazon wish list, shopping basket, or to your Goodreads “want to read list”. These algorithmic contributions make a BIG difference.
I found South Africa an extraordinarily beautiful country, although the cultural and economic divides can be hard to stomach. What seems to unite everyone is their love for their amazing plants and animals. 
South Africa has a few other things going for it (besides my family’s hospitality)! Rooibos cappuchino was available at every café! (Rooibos is also known as red bush tea it has no caffeine and lots of antioxidants). Isn’t this an amazing color? 
This week I have been in despair at the unspeakable violence and cruelty that is being perpetuated in the world. I am still in shock. The first day of the bombing in Iran Ron and I were at Escondido’s Tibetan Monastery helping high school junior Tenzin Lama make a video about his upcoming project to support education in Nepal.
Tenzin’s enthusiasm was a delight, and it was a joy to have tea with Annie Chodron and the monks who all give their lives to increasing world peace. (They told me that they keep getting public ‘namastes’ since the Peace Walk to Washington which has raised awareness about Buddhist monks and nuns.)
Witnessing the racial disparities during my travels made me appreciative of how far the US has come. Yes, honestly. Despite our current regression we have a lot that is worth fighting for. There is so much to do to support our neighbors near and far as we stand up for basic human rights, good political candidates and fair elections. Whether we are saying peace prayers or feeding the hungry let’s keep doing it – together. I am so grateful that social justice and inter-cultural understanding are values I share with my beloved husband, Ron.
And to lighten things up a bit here is a monkey I spotted on the side of the road
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I hope to see you on Instagram or Facebook or YouTube. Or even In Real Life at Warwicks on March 24.
Wishing better days ahead for all of us.
Warmly,
Nicola
