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I posted the news yesterday that Don Miller’s next book will be out in early 2008 and will be titled Let Story Guide You. For a while now we were all under the impression that A Map of Eden, a story about his activist friend Adam Bybee, would be his next published work.

“Let Story Guide You” is actually the name of a lecture that Don has been giving over the past year. You can purchase it here i think, if you want to listen to it. ($9 is a bit steep in my opinion, though)

I followed that post up today with a quick little mini-interview with Don regarding his new book that we did over the email internetweb thing. here it is if you’re interested:

Bryan: Do you have an official release date yet for Let Story Guide You?

Don: Yeah, we are hoping to have it on the shelves on January 8th, which is of course very soon, so I am working pretty hard trying to wrap it up. It’s consuming my time right now. But it is a fun project, so that helps.

Bryan: Does the release of Let Story Guide You affect the future release of A Map of Eden at all?

Don: It does. I completed A Map of Eden and decided not to publish it. There were more than a few reasons, but in the end I did not feel like the book was ready. It needed another rewrite, which can take six months. I decided to put the next book on the front burner. I think that was good decision. A Map of Eden, though, will not see daylight for another few years. That was hard for me, but it was the right decision.

Bryan: Is it true that you originally wanted to call the book “A Story is Worth 1,000 Doctrinal Statements” but the idea was shot down by the publisher?

Don: Pure rumor. Actually, this is not a Christian book, as they say. It’s just a straight book about life and for people who want to live better lives. It is interesting writing a book that isn’t spiritual or religious in nature and I am greatly enjoying the experience. It’s increasing my faith in many ways because I feel like I am writing a book about the life God created, not unlike a botanist writing about plants. I find it a refreshing change for a moment.

Bryan: At what point did you realize that the “Let Story Guide You” lecture should be a book, or was it a book idea before it was a lecture?

Don: I was on a plane out of Portland and had the idea, then opened my computer and had the outline completed by the time I got to Washington D.C. I’ve never outlined a book before. Writers will understand when I say “this book was given to me.” And I feel that way when I am writing it, too. It just feels like the book is being given to me each day, and, well, I will take it.

Much thanks to Don for the timely responses. I’m excited to get my hands on this one. Who knows, maybe i can even finagle a pre-release copy??

today is our last day at the beach. i’m spending it inside because i’ve managed to avoid getting crispy to this point and don’t want to chance it. nice tans are for march, not september.

over the past two days i read John Le Carre’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. It was a very quick and enjoyable read. I’d rather have a few well-developed characters and a complicated plot than too many characters and a shallow storyline. This novel delivered on both counts. The ending was satisfying, but not gratifying; reasonable without being too predictable. Both the story, and the telling of the story, were top notch.

our week at the beach is almost done. we head home tomorrow evening. like all good vacations, this one went by too fast. and yet, like most other times, i am certainly ready to resume life. my finger is doing better everyday, i have been eating like a pig, and i have alot of work waiting for me next week.

I read Common Grounds over the past few days. It was a good read. I thought that the dialogue was a bit “clunky” at times, though i hesitate to use that word because it makes it seem as if the dialogue got in the way, which it didn’t. only that i think the characters were often not talking like real folks do, but it a sense it helped move the conversations along and kept the book from being 700 pages. I got the sense that every dialogue, character trait, and piece of information had a point, and that kept me turning the pages. I was interested and involved from cover to cover, and actually walked away from the book having felt like i learned a little. So in the end i am very happy that i read it. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a different angle on sharing their faith, defending their faith, or exploring faith.

i can’t tell you how excited i am for the NFL to start tonight…well, i guess i just did. bring it on.

my picks for week 1 will be coming soon…

bry

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Glenn, i was hoping to go from 192 to 185 in 31 days. on August 1st i was 192. On August 10th i was 189. Not bad, 3 pounds in 10 days. On August 20th, i was 187. So i had 10 days left, and 2 more pounds to go. I havent been as zealous in my diet, but i’ve still been eating light lunches, not gorging myself at dinner, and eating lighter snacks in the evening. i should come close…one week left.
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i was thinking about making next month a running month. lose 7 pounds in august, run thrice a week in september. sounds like a good idea. the finger is in decent enough shape to run now, so i’ll think about it
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speaking of the digit, the wound is healing well. its closed and scabbed over now. i’m starting to bend my finger just a little. i go back next friday (the day before the outer banks trip). hopefully i will get clearance for swimming. golfing will be a tough call. if i’m going to go and suck (more than normal) then it might not be worth it. but with my luck, a mangled finger might improve my game.
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might be making a purchase this week of some books for my outer banks trip. i was thinking of getting these two books: Positively Fifth Street, which is supposedly the best book about poker ever written (storywise, not strategywise) and Common Grounds, which looks interesting not because the author has commented on my blog, but because this seems like it centers on the stuff i have been thinking a lot about lately. Maybe if i throw in the new Copeland EP,In Motion, i can get free shipping too.
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The Storm Runner at HersheyPark is the best ride I have ever been on in my life. 0-72 MPH in 2 seconds thanks to a hydraulic takeoff like nothing i’ve ever seen before. and if that launch isn’t enough, you’re hurled right into a 180 foot, 90 degree drop. incredible ride. truly worth the price of admission.
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Big Brother 6 thoughts: james is definitely crafty, and as long as he keeps flying under the radar and winning vetos, he’s safe. Maggie is the only person really gunning for him because she’s the only one who’s kept things from getting personal for the most part. Look at the rest of Maggie’s team, they all have personal vendettas. April wants Howie gone, Ivette hates Rachel, and Beau hates Janelle. kudos to Beau for nominating Howie and Rachel though. was he trying to back door Janelle, break up Howie and Rachel, or just trying to prove that he’s going strategy over personal?…i think Howie might be headed home this week, they’ve got to sense that Rachel wants out and will equate that to her being weaker. Plus they migth want to repay Howie for his Hurricane antics…if Howie goes, i think James becomes a major target for Maggie and April, while Ivette and Beau would focus on Janelle. If Rachel/Howie or Janelle win HoH next, i think they should ignore April and focus on outing Maggie or breaking up Ivette/Beau…For James, i think if Howie stays he should not win HoH yet. If Howie is gone he should try to win it. If he does then he will need to finally declare a side. If he put up one from each side, he would piss off both and they might come to their senses about getting rid of him. As long as Ivette/Beau are in the house, he’s smart to stay on their good side. So his best bet would be to put up Rachel and Janelle with April as his replacement in case of Veto…If James can play his cards right, i wonder if he can rise above April on Ivette’s pecking order. There are some things brewing between those two that will probably erupt soon. If Maggie can keep that from happening, then she has done a great job of keeping her tribe together…what about the other safes, when are they getting opened? any more secrets left, Julie Chen?