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The Northeast Book Tour with John-Roger and John Morton

Article imageNEW HAVEN, Connecticut

The first ever J-R and John Morton double author book event was inaugurated at the Barnes and Noble Yale Bookstore in New Haven, Connecticut on the evening of Wednesday, Sept 20 on the prestigious campus of Yale University. Now J-R has introduced John before, and John has introduced J-R before but this time both authors spoke about their own books and each other’s book to a delighted crowd of fans – some of whom had traveled from New York and one even as far as Los Angeles to be there for this momentous occasion. To this reporter, Yale is a grand campus reminiscent of Cambridge (and Oxford so I was told).

Don Levy, the Yale Bookstore Community Relations Manager, enthusiastically helped us staff roadies (Vincent & Marilyn Dupont, Doug and Angel Gibson, with the able assistance of Graham Holley and Michelle Dinsmore) to create a welcoming and easy talk environment, including having fresh coffee and cookies available to us, the speakers, and all the attendees. My kind of guy! As Graham was testing the mics, a very little blond haired girl came up and took a front row seat. She opened the “Loving Each Day” book, and went through the pages looking up and listening to Graham do a very animated routine on “The Blessings Already Are” and “Loving Each Day” books. At one point I asked the little girl if she would like Graham to continue, and she very emphatically said “Yes, she liked it.” Our little one stayed enthralled and peaceful in her seat, until her mother (who had been in search of her) finally took her away.

J-R started off talking about “Loving” and continued for almost 20 minutes with anecdotes from his life that would tie into the directions and messages of his “Loving Each Day” book. John Morton talked of the “Blessings” and his experience of finding and experiencing blessings in even the most challenging of situations. John asked for a blessing on the store, all of us and Yale. Then J-R and John talked about each other’s books, and then the buying and signing began. A total of 50 books were bought this night.

As I observed the evening, I reflected on how much the experience of “Loving” and “the Blessing of Loving” was hugely present among us. I wished I could articulate to everyone in a way they could hear or get it, how precious and rich this evening was so that hundreds could see and experience what it was. It amazed me that, during such a seemingly simple evening, so great a richness of Spirit was being poured upon us. One person arrived just as John said “Baruch Bashan”. This young woman burst into tears saying how beautiful it was – worth the 4 hours of driving – just to arrive when she did, and get a book signed.

BRAINTREE, Massachusetts (south of Boston)

On the morning of Thursday, September 21 we departed New Haven for Boston (after some of us did a taste comparison of Willoughby’s and Starbuck’s Americanos – you’ll just have to try them yourselves to see the difference). Vincent, Doug and I had just waved goodbye to J-R and John as they took off in the cab for the train onto Boston. Joining us in saying goodbye were our two bellman, Mike and Eugene, who had been little angels taking care of us since we had arrived at our hotel in New Haven. We were all so happy that the cab had made it to the hotel just in the nick of time to get J-R and John to the station. As Doug and I hugged Vincent goodbye, and turned to thank Mike and Eugene, they asked us “Who are you guys? You’re different.” I told them that we are ministers and that J-R and John were also authors and had done a booksigning event at the Yale Bookstore the night before. Then a little inner voice said to me: “Give them a book”. I looked inside my knapsack and I had two “Loving Each Day” books there, so I handed each of the men a book. They were so delighted and surprised that they hugged me and thanked us for giving them this gift. Then out of nowhere this other bellman poked his head into the twosome, and said “Me too, please I want one”. I thought to myself “Oh dear, I don’t think I have another “Loving Each Day” book, as I only recalled putting two into my bag. But I looked anyway, when to my surprise there lay a third “Loving Each Day” book at the bottom of the bag. Surprised, but happy, I reached for the book, and gave it to our third bellman, who with a radiant smile cried “Thank you” and asked if it is a Christian book – and I said “Yes” at the very heart of it. He said “Bless you sister” as he pumped my hand up and down. And Doug and I pulled off wreathed in the warmth of thanks, and still wondering where did that third “Loving Each Day” book come from – another blessing of the Loving.

Braintree is a suburb of Boston, located near Quincey Home (I should say burial place) of John Quincy Adams. Our book event this evening was at the Braintree Borders Bookstore and our fun event coordinator was Beth Cahill. From a first reading of J-R and John’s books, Beth had wanted to get both of them in her store. She had told me that she liked J-R and John’s messages and she wanted the world to know about them. With that kind of support and enthusiasm we were in good hands from the start. By the time J-R and John appeared at the store an inviting podium awaited them, complete with fall-colored flowers arranged on both sides of the authors’ table. Not only had Beth ordered the “Blessings” and the “Loving Each Day” books, but she also had stocked John-Roger’s “Forgiveness” and “Spiritual Warrior” books. The group that filled the chairs were mostly from the Boston area, some had come from Cape Cod, and our trusty Los Angelena – Olga Schmal – came again.

Our dynamic duo, J-R and John, continued to expand their repertoire as they talked to this new audience about their respective books, and commented on each other’s books. True to the Spirit, the content of this evening seemed to reflect the consciousness of this particular group, so there were different anecdotes and sharings that again brought more Loving and Blessings forward. By this point in the evening, I’m wondering how I can get the word out to all the Soul Awareness Discourse subscribers and their families that something more than just a bookevent is happening in these bookstores – that these bookstores are in fact becoming like temples of the Spirit with loving, honoring and blessings. I watch nearby book shoppers craning their necks and heads to listen, albeit unobtrusively, to what J-R and John are saying. One of these quiet listeners finally takes a seat, and later I see them in line with a book to be signed. Some of the most touching moments at these events come for me during the booksigning part. I watch J-R and John share with each person as they sign a book. In the looks and touches there are many heartfelt exchanges that sometimes take my breath away or bring a spontaneous tear to my eye. By the end of this evening, 68 books had been sold, and we happily headed over to Joe’s Grill for some dinner and fellowshipping before heading back to the hotel, to re-pack for the next segment of our journey – this time to Cape Cod where we were soon to be joined by Laura Donnelley-Morton, Claire and Zane Morton, Paulina Haddad and Jesus Garcia..

CAPE COD, Massachusetts

This little peninsula that sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean is a lovely part of our country. With its lighthouses, quaint towns, and fishing ships against the back drop of blue, blue water and sawgrasses on sand this area was enchanting and just plain lovely to look at. Our bookevent was on Saturday afternoon, Sep 23, at the Armchair bookstore in Dennis. Lisa Boone, the MSIA Representative for Massachusetts/New Hampshire/Rhode Island, works at the Armchair bookstore and is an ardent promoter of both J-R and John’s books. She is in charge of the “inspiration” section of the bookstore and was ecstatic when J-R and John accepted the Armchair’s invitation for them to do a bookevent there. Lisa had made sure that the store had on hand not only J-R’s “Loving Each Day” and John’s “The Blessings Already Are”, but also “Spiritual Warrior”, “Forgiveness”, “The Spiritual Promise” and the “Inner Worlds of Meditation”. With Sue, the store’s owner, and Beth Hanley, the event coordinator’s strong support and participation, this warm and cozy “more than a bookstore” cottage promoted and welcomed J-R and John.

Balloons and an out-door tent marked the entrance to the Armchair’s store event. The waiting group of listeners had gathered early, many of whom like Charlie Verge, Monica Simpson, and Peggy Oriol had come down from Boston and Maine, and our by now familiar traveling fan, Olga Schmal ,accompanied by her endearing aunt who lived close by. Greg and Corinne, staff of the Armchair bookstore, were on hand to help Doug and I set up for the event. And they were only too happy to also show us the many treasures this charming bookstore had – such as a marvelous children’s section. Doug was a one-man set up band once again manning the video and audio stations. J-R and John went beyond what I thought could be expressed as they talked to the group on Loving and Blessings in yet another unique way. With tenderness, sincerity and humor, their side comments to each other and for each other brought us into an intimacy of the family we had all become just by virtue of being with J-R and John. Gratitude and sweetness marked this day as people shared blessings and loving right back to J-R and John as part of the booksigning and wishing J-R a “Happy Birthday” for this was also his birthday weekend. As the last book was signed, 104 books had been sold, and we had completed our New England fall book tour. But more “Loving” and “Blessings” are in store as we move back to California and look ahead to the October 26 book event at the Borders on State Street in Santa Barbara.

All I can say is do what you can to be with us at these evenings. These events are more than just book events – come get the Loving and Blessings that await you!

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