An inspiring account of beauty amid the destruction of Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Anne Thomas captures our collective empathy in "Letters from the Ground to the Heart."
As most of you know, during Japan’s Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011 I wrote a series of messages now called “The Dear Family and Friends Letters.” I wrote them for two reasons. One was to reassure people whom I loved that I was all right and to let them know what was happening here. The other reason was to help me create a sense of safety and stability during that time of devastation and utter confusion.
As things began to settle down somewhat (even now the work is far from over, though) friends began to suggest I make a book from the letters. One very enthusiastic and knowledgeable soul jumped at the suggestion and volunteered to do the hard work of bringing that idea into fruition. That admirable person is Brian Penry. Because of him, the letters have indeed become a book: Letters From the Ground to the Heart: Beauty Amid Destruction. And I should add that the sensitive cover photo of hope-filled cherry blossoms was taken by an Indonesian man named Zuki Harahap.
Thanks to Brian’s generosity and genuinely humanitarian spirit, all proceeds after costs from the sale of the book will go to help the survivors of the traumatic events of last year.
The book can be obtained online directly from LuLu Publishing Company here: http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/letters-from-the-ground-to-the-heart/18734922
In the very near future it will also be available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Please, if you wish, help those in need by purchasing a copy—and letting your friends know about it, too. Thank you.
By Anne Thomas
