5 Questions with 5 Questions with Stephen Fender, author of Love Sex Death & Words

 

What's the book about?

Love Sex Death Words is about the wide applicability of literature to all life experiences, hence an attempt to show how many different occasions at different times

may yield literary treatments.

How it came about:

At the suggestion of our publisher, Icon Books, John Sutherland and I drew upon over 40 years of literary conversations based on our careers, backgrounds, training, and specialisms dedicated to learning and teaching about literature. The aim was to share our mutual enjoyment of literature with anyone interested in books.

Why did you choose "Love Sex Death and Words" as the title?

It suggests the comprehensive cover of our literary selections and references, as well as to echo the title of Foster Hirsch's book on the films of Woody Allen, Love, Sex, Death and the Meaning of Life.

What's the best sex tale in the book?

Probably the entry on Fanny Hill  (15 December). Here is a book without a single dirty word, judged pornographic when published and still considered so after the Lady Chatterley trial. 

Which literary figure in the book was the most interesting to write about?

There really is no choosing, as all of the entries became interesting the more we delved into them. After all fixing a literary event to every day of the year shows the many ways in which writing has been used to express the human condition, across centuries, continents and cultures. We aimed to create not just a chronicle of literary dates or people, but fascinating and individual essays on all aspects of literature – from the social, economic and political context of its production and reception, to its inner workings, the subtle ways in which it weaves together images and formal patterns to suggest meanings below the surface. 


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In HOW WE FIGHT, author and scholar Dominic Tierney investigates the way in which American society views war, identifying specific traditions that take hold of the nation at different moments in conflicts. By looking closely at American warfare from the founding to the present, Tierney shows how consensus ways of thinking about armed struggle emerged over two centuries to become accepted wisdoms. He reveals how the crusader and quagmire traditions have shaped American foreign policy time and again, encouraging military campaigns for far-reaching goals, and cultivating a national allergy toward nation-building. As we fight two wars right now and possibly prepare for a third, Americans are trying to understand this new era of terrorism and counter-insurgency. HOW WE FIGHT then, is a remarkable, necessary book that reveals how American culture and power steer popular attitudes toward conflict. And it tells us how, when that next fight comes, Americans will respond, what they will demand from their commander-in-chief--and whether they'll rally behind the cause--or ultimately come to view the war as a disastrous mistake.

5 Questions with Henry Lord, author of The Ryder Cup

 

Why do you feel this match is so important?

In an age when the world's top sports stars are increasingly seen as billion-dollar brands rather than people, it’s wonderful that an event like the Ryder Cup is still being played (mostly) in the spirit Samuel Ryder intended – with team grit, humble aspiration and solidarity; where professional golfers at the highest level come together to play not for prize money but for pride and a love of the game. Of course, it would be naïve to think there have never been branding and merchandising opportunities underpinning the event, there have. But as Bruce Critchley says in his foreword, 'winning requires huge personal commitment and exposure of nerve ... there is no such thing as a good show and a top ten finish; it is win or lose, glory or public scorn, and no fat cheque at the end to soften the blow of not quite finishing top.'


What's the most memorable Ryder Cup moment?

Everyone has their favourite. Personally, I remember as a boy going to the 1993 Ryder Cup at The Belfry and watching Seve Ballesteros and José María Olazábal charging around the course in one of their games. They played with such energy and passion, it felt like the two fiery Spaniards could take on the entire USA team by themselves!


What's a fact about the Ryder Cup a lot of people don't know?

Before every Ryder Cup, each team captain places the name of one of their players in a sealed envelope. This player will stand down from the singles matches if a member of the opposition is unable to play with just cause. Each side would then be awarded half a point in such a situation.


What's your favourite image from the book?

The iconic image of Jack Nicklaus shaking hands with Tony Jacklin in their famous 1969 match at Royal Birkdale. Nicklaus had just conceded a two-an-a-half foot putt to Jacklin on the final green, halving their game and the entire Ryder Cup match for the first time in its history. Nicklaus spoke the famous words: 'I don't think you would have missed that putt, Tony, but under the circumstances I wasn't going to give you the opportunity.' A number of the American team questioned that decision at the time, but it was and remains one of the great acts of sportsmanship.


What's next for you?

There are one or two projects in the pipeline that I'm working on with my friend and colleague, the extremely gifted golf photographer Kevin Murray. After the successful launch of our book St Andrews: The Home of Golf during The Open this summer, we felt inspired to showcase more great courses in parts of the world, such as China, that are not necessarily on most golfers’ radar. Yet.

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5 Questions with Stephen K. DeSilva, Author of Money & The Prosperous Soul

 

1. What's the key message of this book?

This book is unlike any financial message you’ve ever read.
Rather than proscribe a list of rules and mandates, it views
money as a handle for the deeper issues of a person’s soul.
The truth is that money is power, and power exaggerates
whatever is in your heart.

Many Christians are perplexed by money itself, how the
Bible instructs its use, and what their role is in the landscape
of riches or the lack thereof. Largely, the Church has seen
abuse on both sides of the debate. However, this book
clearly explains and prescribes the path to freedom from a
poverty spirit, the spirit of Mammon, and the development a
prosperous soul.

This book is a step-by-step financial deliverance for
Christians who have struggled with destructive patterns
that wreak havoc in their financial lives. Some recognize
generational cycles that are destructive, while others admit
outright self-sabotage. Money and the Prosperous Soul
leads the reader out of the dark and into the light of Biblical
promise.

2. Do a lot of people relate being poor to being spiritual?

Being poor is not spiritual; it is just living in lack. Christians
know from scripture and experience that poverty and
Mammon are both evil. But a problem arises when we
perceive ourselves as standing between these two extremes,
rather than moving beyond them and into a prosperous soul.

We learn to hate the two evils unequally. We perceive the
first to be especially evil over the second, causing us to
back away from the former directly into the latter. The devil
likes to send evil in pairs, keeping us busy measuring our
placement between the two, rather than navigating free.

Take Mammon for example. Because of Luke 16, most
Christians understand Christ’s warning and back away as
far as possible from riches and wealth. Misunderstanding
Mammon as riches or money, they back directly into realm
of poverty. The closer they get to poverty, the farther they
move away from Mammon. They spend their lives as close
to poverty as possible, living just outside its snapping jaws
of crisis and weakness because they hate the two evils
unequally.

But we are called to navigate away from both poverty and
Mammon, into the abundant life Christ spoke of in John 10.

3. What's a good way to be more prosperous and feel more
prosperous instantly?

Prosperity is an inside job…but it doesn’t stop there.
Prosperity, as Jesus would describe, would constitute true
riches. Examples would be peace of mind, living with
purpose and helping others. Becoming a person of influence
and strength will often require money, but money is merely a
tool of prosperity.

I’ve seen prosperous people in Africa who own nothing my
American standards; likewise, I’ve seen impoverished people
in America with six-digit incomes. At the same time, I’ve
seen wealthy Americans overjoyed with their ability to live
generously. This is because prosperity is not about money.

First, if you want to feel more prosperous instantly, I would
recommend a heavy dose of the Cross of Christ. Meditate
on the fact that the Cross restored you to significance. Many
Christians have no trouble understanding who God is; their
problem comes in misunderstanding who they are. If you
want to feel more prosperous, get a long glimpse of yourself
in Christ.

Second, return to your dream. Many Christians have allowed
their dreams to be shut down, either because they are afraid
of the dream or because they have been worn down by
troubles. Your dream enables you to see further than your
circumstances. We are designed to carry hope and to believe
that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

4. What's the most exciting part of the process of putting a book
like this together?

For me, the most exciting part of this process has been living
out the message first hand. The writing of this book has put
to words a deep and personal process in God. I describe it
to friends as the difference between being awake and being
upright. When I gave my heart to Christ, I came awake. But
when my soul began to prosper, I stood from my bed and
began to run.

Learning to hear the voice of God, to lead and co-labor with
Christ in strength, is our portion as Christians. Becoming a
bond-servant of Christ was my salvation; becoming an heir to
His kingdom made me a significant son.

5. What's next for you?

My next project is to write a follow up to this book
entitled “An Exaggerated Heart. This develops the original

thesis that money is power and power exaggerates whatever
is in your heart. I believe God designed money to be so
powerful, and when our hearts are filled with Him and our
souls prosper, we will allow money to exaggerate…Him!

The world is again facing Pharaoh’s nightmare. And though
the soothsayers and magicians are madly interpreting the
dream, the king awaits the voice of God through Joseph. This
time, however, God will speak through thousands, perhaps
millions, of Josephs as the Body of Christ steps into its
role as prosperous souls. Our ability to lead as supernatural
stewards will rescue cities, states and nations in the name of
the Christ.

I am also working on two other manuals, one dealing with
practical home financial tools, and the other designed for
entrepreneurs and the market place. I hope to do some
domestic and international travel where I hope to teach on
my favorite subject: money and the prosperous soul.

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5 Questions with Dr Kevin Leman, author of "Have a New You by Friday"

 

1. What's the main message of the book?

It doesn’t take forever to change, stuck people can get un-stuck

2. What's a good start to changing your life in 5 days? Something you can do right now?

Pinpoint one area of your life you want to change. Don’t be overwhelmed by many things you think you need to change, start with one.

3. What's a big lie that people tell themselves which undermines their confidence?

That other people are more successful than they are.

4. Why is accepting the truth about yourself key?

If you don’t tell yourself truth, you’ll never have any degree of happiness. All of us have positive and negative parts to who we are. Accepting the bad with the good is important.

5. What's the best reason why people should get the book?

The best reason is that you really can become the person you want to be in a very short time.

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5 Questions with Cynthia Gold, author of Culinary Tea

 

Do you think your book has opened up some eyes on how much
you can do with tea?

I certainly hope so. That is without question my goal, only I tend
to think of it as “ how much TEA can do, not how much I can do.”

What was the best part of writing the book?

That really connects back to your first question. I am
passionate about the concepts of Culinary Tea. There is so much
incredible culinary potential to fine teas that has yet to be fully
acknowledged, let alone explored and embraced. I get a real high
out of guiding people towards this end, and particularly enjoy
when after teaching a class, demo or seminar people express to me
how they look at tea in a new way and are eager to start to taste
and play on their own. I’ d say the best part of writing the book
was that as I worked on the book, I kept thinking about how many
more people might soon have the opportunity to learn about how
fascinating, flexible and fun a botanical tea is. Tea, true tea,
Camellia Sinensis is deserving of so much more respect and use,
and I hope this book is helping people take a step in that direction.

Which recipe is the one you've used the most?


That’ s hard to say, but there are definitely a short list of
pivotal recipes. The Jasmine cured salmon has shown up as
Afternoon Tea finger sandwiches, in variations on Eggs Benedict,
within canapés, served as part of salad or starter courses and more.
It is incredibly easy to make, flexible and if I say so myself, quite
tasty! I often include it in demos or with my culinary students.
I’ ve had people tell me that they normally don’ t like salmon, but
they love it in this recipe.

Besides the salmon, the tea and spice rubbed pork tenderloin

shows up time and again on various menus, demos and the like. It
too is very popular, easy and incredibly flexible.

The slow cooked Masala Chai base is another incredibly
flexible item that is the base for the Park Plaza Holiday TeaNog,
and a Chai Martini but has also been used to replace some of the
dairy in ice cream, crème brulee, French toast, crème anglaise and
a variety of other items, besides of course making a fabulous Chai!

The last staple that comes to mind is some variation of a ground
tea shortbread. They are again, really easy to make and always
very popular. My favorite is probably the Matcha Tea Leaves
perhaps because the leaves are fun and surprisingly easy to cut
by hand and then make a lovely presentation, but in all of its
variations the tea shortbreads seem to be crowd pleasers.

What is your go-to tea when you need a boost of energy?

I’ m very fickle. I probably turn to a good oolong when I
have the time to savor its’ beautiful complex layered flavors and
spectacular aromatics. If I need more of a lift though, a good,
earthy full bodied Keemun, low grown Sri Lankan tea or Nilgiri
are probably the ‘ most common go-to’ for me.

What's next for you?

I’ m hoping to continue to promote the concepts of Culinary
Tea and it’ s always a pleasure and a privilege to be given the
opportunity to share these concepts with varied audiences. On
a more specific nature however, the next book I’ m working on
is focused more directly on Tea Cocktails. There will be food
involved as well, but more in a support role to pair up with the
cocktails. I’ ve been reaching out to talented bartenders around the
world and couldn’ t be more thrilled with the response. Not that it
takes an award winning bartender to create a great Tea Cocktail,
tea is an easy to use and quite natural botanical behind the bar.

Having star studded additions to the book however, not only will
help give credibility to the concepts which may cause people to
start experimenting who otherwise might not have, but also give
more diversity of style to the recipes. I’ m a chef, and as much as
I enjoy creating Tea Cocktails, and hope that everyone will enjoy
them as well, these bartenders bring their experience into play in
exciting ways that I would never have thought of. In fact, Culinary
Tea is about 85% my recipes and 15% guest chef and bartender
recipes, but I’ m hoping that the new book will be predominantly
guest bartenders and chefs to really put tea through its’ paces!

5 Questions with Gay Hendricks, author of Five Wishes

 

What's the best piece of advice from this book?

The best piece of advice from Five Wishes is to ask yourself the big question

that's detailed in the book. Briefly summarized, the question takes you in your

imagination to the end of your life looking back. If your life was a success, what

is the ONE BIG THING that made it so? By asking the question over and over, I

compiled my Five Wishes for my life. If you know what your biggest wishes are,

you can go about making them come true. The book shows you how.

You have a chapter "savoring life", is this a lost skill for many?

"Savoring" is indeed a lost art, and one that can be revived easily with the right intention. I once rushed through life so much that I missed a lot of the good stuff. Be sure to read the story in Five Wishes of my daughter's Halloween costume. When I made my Five Wishes, one of them was to savor life. The 'minestrone story' in the book is a good example; since the book was published I've had people wherever I go to speak come up to me and talk to me about minestrone! Apparently a lot of people are catching on to the power of 'savoring.'

How do you define success?

I define success as 'having everything you most deeply want, and savoring everything that you have.' I've met lots of people who had immense material wealth but didn't enjoy a minute of it. Indeed, I've counseled multimillionaire couples who fought over the cost of peanut butter and toilet paper. Use Five Wishes to create both kinds of wealth: having everything you want and enjoying everything you have.

What has the response to the book been like?

Five Wishes has gotten the biggest response from readers of any book of mind since Conscious Loving. I get email almost every day with stories from people who have used the tools and techniques to make big changes in their lives. It's very satisfying from an author's perspective. There's hardly anything better than hearing from people you've helped to create more love and abundance in their lives.

What's next for you

One big project I'm working on this year is a trilogy of mystery novels featuring a character I've created named Tenzing Norbu (nickname 'Ten'.) He's L.A.'s first and only Tibetan Buddhist private detective.I've finished two of the novels and am plotting out the third.  Be on the lookout for those about a year from now. I'm also working on a new relationship project with my wife, Kathlyn. She and I have co-authored ten books together over the thirty years we've been together. We just launched the first phase of the project, a new online course called The Relationship Catalyst. Learn more at www.relationshipcatalyst.tv

5 Questions with Peter Baxter, author of Best Views from the Boundary

 

What’s the book about?

Cricket has always attracted celebrity fans and indeed participants.    Thirty years ago, as the producer of the BBC’s radio cricket commentaries, ‘Test Match Special’, I started a lunch interval feature to plunder this treasure trove, by finding interesting celebrities to talk to about their love of the game – and other things.     This book is a mixed collection of some of the best of those.

What’s the most interesting interview?

Well, I’m going to cheat by claiming two.  

In cricketing terms, I think the playwright, Ben Travers, was fascinating.    He was well into his nineties when he came to us in 1980 and remembered with great clarity seeing W.G. Grace play.

From a human interest point of view the story of Ian Richter takes some beating.  He was incarcerated by Saddam Hussain in Iraq just before the first Gulf War started, sustaining himself in the total isolation of a dark cell with making up fantasy cricket teams.

What’s the most special thing about cricket?

Its ability to exercise and entertain the mind of someone like Ian Richter would have to be an element.   It is a game which highlights character and several different skills.   Its aesthetic qualities have inspired possibly more art and literature than any other game and I cannot think of another which can rival it for the drawn out drama of a Test Match.

Will the game ever catch on in North America?

The first international cricket match in history was between America and Canada, but I agree it is not huge in the States.    If it does take off it will probably be inspired by the ex-pat Indian community, which has already sparked a vigorous club cricket league in Southern California.    If anything is to inspire its popularity, it will probably be Twenty/20 cricket, because I fear Americans may not have the patience for a five day Test Match that might end in a draw.    It’s their loss.

What’s next for you?

I spent over a quarter of a century touring the cricketing world for the BBC, including, for instance, eight tours of India.   I always kept a diary on those tours and so I’ve started to compile the many traveller’s tales and the sometimes desperate measures to get ‘Test Match Special’ on the air in adversity.

Meanwhile I’m doing regular podcasts from Australia on www.testmatchextra.com, blogging on aftertms@blogspot.com and doing a bit of after dinner speaking.