The disciple goes to the Buddha

For first time, Alle reads from “As Far as You Can Go”

This Sunday, Sept. 18th, I read publicly for the first time from As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.

This year, The Montana Book Festival wanted, in the words of the director, John Samuel Brown: “to allow an even more expansive idea of both how to enjoy the written word and maybe even ways (readers) can be a part of it.”

Thus, The Festival held an open call for its inaugural Short Works Reading Series. Fifteen short works will be read by the author directly preceding a panel discussion, as a way to frame the conversation. What an honor!

In Missoula this weekend?

I read at 1pm, introducing the panel, Trauma as Backbone; Strengthening Communities of Adversity with Creative Writing.

I will be reading a section of a short story that I excerpted from As Far as You Can Go, as well as an essay that closes with: a disciple goes to the Buddha, seeking the secret to happiness. The Buddha asks, “Did you eat today?”

“Yes.”

“Did you wash your bowl?”

“Yes.”

“Did you do a good job?”