Essays – Pisgah Press https://pisgahpress.com Quality fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and illustrated young adult books. Mon, 26 Apr 2021 18:33:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://pisgahpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-pisgah-press-icon-brown-32x32.png Essays – Pisgah Press https://pisgahpress.com 32 32 Shifting Tides https://pisgahpress.com/product/shifting-tides/ Thu, 18 Jun 2020 16:47:23 +0000 http://pisgahpress.com/?post_type=product&p=1214 Written by Martin A. Keeley An autobiographical collection of essays, poems, and a play.  ]]> Martin’s most recent book is a somewhat autobiographical collection of essays, poems, and a play that reflect decades of Martin’s life, from his childhood living in a tiny flat on the top floor of “a three-story red brick Victorian house” in Cambridge, England, where he frolicked with his cocker spaniel, Kibby, in a magical back garden, to his work as a photojournalist stopped by irregular soldiers outside Benghazi, Libya, during the rise of Muammar Gaddafi.

He touches on phases of his life in Africa, Alaska, Cayman Brac, and his wide-ranging career in journalism, theater, and, most recently, founder of the Mangrove Education Project.

Martin’s poetry touches on numerous themes, private and public, personal and political, and reflects his sure touch as a master of the language.

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]]> Open for Lunch https://pisgahpress.com/product/open-for-lunch/ Tue, 23 Oct 2018 15:25:24 +0000 https://pisgahpress.com/?post_type=product&p=1232 Written by Robin Russell Gaiser Encounters with a dozen strangers in casual lunch spots from upstate New York to Asheville, North Carolina.]]> In her second book, Open for Lunch, Robin Russell Gaiser writes of her encounters with a dozen strangers in casual lunch spots from upstate New York to Asheville, North Carolina. She began these encounters almost by chance when she invited someone in line with her at a Subway restaurant to share her table. But as she pursued such encounters over the years, she gradually became “the reporter reporting on myself. Soon the stunning stories of my lunch mates took me deeply into my own narrative.”

Open for Lunch speaks from the heart, both about the moving, fascinating stories of the people she meets, but also about herself. In the words of Lois McMahon, PhD, “Gaiser is a survivor who has overcome personal tragedy and found healing and the ability to reach out to others to share her wisdom and strength. This book holds invaluable lessons for us all about pain, suffering, redemption, forgiveness, healing and love.”

“Open for Lunch is much more than the heartwarming stories of Gaiser’s lunchtime encounters with perfect strangers. It is the intimate and unflinching account of her journey to self-discovery, release from heartbreak, and the grace that comes from forgiving others and yourself.

~ Linda M. Williams, A.B., MEd, Teacher Mentor/Trainer and Professional Developer

“[A]n artfully woven memoir… Throughout the telling of her inward journey are remarkable details that take the reader immediately to “place and circumstance.” The stories will also stay with the reader—from start to finish.

~ Jan Getz, Peabody Award-winning television producer, former Asst. Professor and Broadcaster in Residence, Point Park University, Pittsburgh

“[A]n amazing story-teller. Open for Lunch sings, wails, flails and perseveres with integrity. Thank you, thank you!

~ The Rev. Dr. Margaret Ann Faeth (Episcopal)

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]]> A Freethinker’s Gospel https://pisgahpress.com/product/a-freethinkers-gospel/ Wed, 19 Sep 2018 15:04:19 +0000 https://pisgahpress.com/?post_type=product&p=1226 Essays for a Sacred Secular World written by Chris Highland A collection of 53 essays from Chris Highland’s weekly column in The Asheville Citizen-Times.]]> Essays for a Sacred Secular World

A Freethinker’s Gospel: Essays for a Sacred Secular World is a collection of 53 essays from Chris Highland’s weekly column in The Asheville Citizen-Times. The columns appear each Saturday on the Religion page and offer a humanist, nontheistic approach to questions of spirituality and belief.

Chris was a Protestant minister and interfaith chaplain for many years before becoming a humanist celebrant. His previous books include his “Meditations” series on John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman, Margaret Fuller, and John Burroughs. His is also the author of My Address Is a River, Life after Faith, the novella Jesus and John Muir, and an essay collection, Nature Is Enough.

“Soothing and stimulating at the same time, these very digestible “meditations” show how a secular writer can convey very timely and worthy messages without being quarrelsome. Kudos to Chris Highland for taking us down this pleasant path of wisdom and realism.”

~ Linda LaScola, co-founder of The Clergy Project

“This seminal work by former minister/chaplain Chris Highland is captivating, intriguing, and challenging. Each chapter is a gem in itself, and together they make for a powerful book. ”

~ John S. Compere, PhD; VP, The Clergy Project; author, Outgrowing Religion

“I was particularly struck with [the] straight to the heart and straight to the point presentation…. [A] very nice mix of well crafted, substantive columns.”

~ Laurence Cotton, historian & producer, Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America

“What I love about this book is that it truly — and intentionally — honors questions, not answers.”

~ Sara Vurek, Buddhist, board-certified Clinical Chaplain

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