John Smelcer

Thomas Merton has been called "An American Prophet" and "The Conscience of America." Throughout the tumultuous 1960s, Merton was a vocal advocate for the civil rights and peace movements. Merton was the first major religious figure in America to come out against the Vietnam War. He convinced Martin Luther King, Jr. to add his voice to the cause. In the fall of 1968, Merton left the safety of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani monastery in Kentucky to go on what would be known as his Asian Journey. He could not have known at the time that he would never leaveSoutheast Asia alive. Or did he? Judiciously researched and revealed by the man who discovered Merton's worldly possessions-removed from the abbey on orders of the abbot after Merton's death and safeguarded by a fellow monk and a nun who had been Merton's friend and acolyte. Half a century since her friend and teacher died, the nun revealed Merton's secret. Here is her incredible story about Merton's daring plan that might have saved tens of thousands of lives.

This is a collection of wise sayings and words of wisdom culled from the works of men and women from around the world and from various religious and wisdom traditions. The author, John Smelcer, has added to these timeless gems some of his own hard-earned pearls of wisdom and advice. The objective is to help others come to grips with their own trials and tribulations and find peace and happiness in their lives. The small size of the book allows readers to keep the book handy, in pocket or purse, for quick reference.

Praise for John Smelcer: "Smelcer's anger about these stolen children is apparent but controlled, and he provides a well-judged balance of horror and hope, with the friendship among his protagonists giving the book heart." --Horn Book"A poignant story of colonization and assimilation, something I know a little bit about. A masterpiece." --Chinua Achebe"Smooth, cadenced telling. . . . The four protagonists are accessibly teen, which gives their plight an immediacy." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Smelcer's prose is lyrical, straightforward, and brilliant . . . authentic Native Alaskan storytelling at its best." --School Library Journal starred review"A spare tale of courage, love and terrible obstacles." --Wall Street Journal"A thought-provoking and moving coming-of-age story." --Publishers Weekly"Heart-tugging moments of clarity and poignancy that recall Jean Craighead George's Julie of the Wolves." --Booklist"This writer speaks from the land, and for the land, and the people who belong to it." --Ursula K. Le GuinKiska's home in the Aleutian Islands is a peaceful paradise until Japan invades in 1942. Soon after, a US naval ship arrives to evacuate everyone in her village to an internment camp almost 2,000 miles away--where they are forgotten. Informed by true events, this is the story of a teenage girl who steps up when her people need a hero. John Smelcer is the author of over forty books, including essays, story collections, poetry, adult novels, and six YA novels. See commentary by John Smelcer on NPR's Code Switch, Feb. 21, 2017, in which the author discusses the Aleut evacuation and its context and effects.

"In a world where the media relentlessly enflames fear and hatred, here is a quiet voice espousing the triumph of love and peace." --Archbishop Desmond Tutu"This book shows the many similarities between Buddhism and Christianity, such as the practices of compassion, love, contemplation, and tolerance." --The Dalai Lama"This may be exactly the way it happened. A tour de force." --Tom O'Horgan, director of Jesus Christ Superstar"May this book bring a lot of benefit to people who read it." --Thich Nhat Hanh, Love in Action"A book that reminds us again and again of Jesus' gospel of love." --Saul Bellow2,000 years ago, an itinerant Jewish preacher was condemned to crucifixion. A man named Simon, from Cyrene, was compelled to help Jesus carry the heavy cross. What did he and Jesus talk about? Eager to learn more about this "rabbi," Simon returned to Jerusalem the next day. What he learned changed his life, and gave his descendants an incredible secret. John Smelcer is the author of over fifty books, many translated and published worldwide. With Russian Orthodox Archbishop Benjamin, John contributed to the revised map of global Christianity in the tenth edition of Living Religions (Mary Pat Fisher, Ed.), and with the Dalai Lama, he coauthored a poem on compassion. Dr. Smelcer's education includes postdoctoral studies at Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard, where he studied Buddhism, Islam and Sufism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity, including the historical Jesus of Nazareth.

"Smelcer clearly knows his way around Alaskan mountains."--David Roberts, author of The Mountain of My FearPraise for Edge of Nowhere: "A survival story, but one with a strong heart."--ForeWord Reviews"A thought-provoking and moving coming-of-age story."--Publishers Weekly"Another gripping literary triumph for Smelcer."--Midwest Book ReviewPraise for Lone Wolves: "A beautiful and moving story of courage and love."--Ray Bradbury"An engaging tale of survival, love, and courage."--School Library Journal" Smelcer] promises to further solidify his status as 'Alaska's modern day Jack London.'"--Suzanne Steinert, Mushing"Powerful, eloquent, and fascinating, showcasing a vanishing way of life in rich detail."--Kirkus"Combines good old-fashioned adventure . . . with heart-tugging moments of clarity and poignancy that recall Julie of the Wolves."--Booklist"A compassionate and inspiring tale . . . highlights the importance of family, community, and heritage."--Midwest Book ReviewBrothers Sebastian and James Savage decide to climb one of the highest Alaskan mountains to prove themselves to their father. Inspired by true events, Savage Mountain is not a story of father-son reconciliation, but a touching story of two brothers who test their limits and learn that no matter how different they might be, the strongest bond of all is brotherhood. John Smelcer is poetry editor of Rosebud and the author of more than forty books. He is an Alaskan native of the Ahtna tribe, and a skilled mountaineer. He divides his time between Talkeetna, Alaska, and Kirksville, Missouri, where he teaches in the department of communications studies at Truman State University.

When his stubborn grandfather goes out to check his traps in the Alaskan wilderness during a storm and doesn't come back, Johnny must decide whether to trust his experienced grandfather's instincts or go out on the hunt to find him in the midst of deadly weather. Reprint.