Do you know where my missing classmates are today?

Authorhouse

Paperback
294 pages
ISBN:
1-4251-0529-7
Price: £8.99

 

 

News

Book Talks

1st June 2010

Final book talk: Soroptimists International - Rugby branch

Soroptimist International is a vibrant and dynamic women’s organisation. They are committed to a world where women and girls together achieve their individual potential, realise their aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong and peaceful communities worldwide. They are the only women’s organisation affiliated to the United Nations.

I’ll be giving my final book talk about the “Odyssey” to the Rugby branch, arranged by Desiree Lambert – thank you!

More news next month on my second book – the whole seven year, 60,000 mile quest to find compassion in the strangest of places and circumstances!


14th October 2009

USA: The summary

The weather was hot & steamy, and Chris and Yodit in Washington were great hosts. They made me feel part of the family for ten days, in the midst of Yodit’s younger brother’s wedding preparations. But the turnout at the Ethiopian embassy talk was low – I was disappointed that none of my former classmates were able to attend. And the New York talks were similar.

But those that turned up were very interested and surprised by what I’d achieved, with readers in 21 countries and all the endorsements. In the Big Apple, I met Dr. Haile Seyoum and Tsion, who graduated from Nazareth School in ’86 and promised to help track down some of the ladies, thanks! Thanks to Annette Sheckler, in Washington; Fay Bennett Lord at the Community Church in New York Magda and Amie Kiros for hosting and arranging the talks. I appreciated your support.

It was much easier when it came to radio interviews. The Talk Show hosts loved the story – I was interviewed by stations right across the US, intrigued by a Brit doing something for water, especially when most of us are so fearful of what’s next for our families & companies with the global recession. My favourite host was Joey Reynolds, a caring, ethical journalist who gave me a lift back to the brownstone Indigo Arms where I was staying at 3 am (the interview had been at 2am!) It turned out the Joey lives in the neighbourhood. Another world traveler and host was Kathryn Raaker, who has a weekly show called “Let’s Just Talk” which is nationally syndicated. Click here for the 15 minute interview

Whilst in Harlem, I popped into Hue-Man, Harlem’s favourite book store. There I found my classmate Salome Yilma’s ‘‘Ethi Dolls’ on display near the front door – an amazing connection! (The dolls are beautiful, by the way – real collectors’ items).

Harlem had great, edgy energy, and I encountered nothing but kindness and friendship, just as I have everywhere. So, all the love and energy is out there, with this journey and the book. It’s now time for a return to work, and preparing a book proposal for the whole amazing 60,000 mile journey: 1995 – 2009 , with a major publisher behind it this time.

Just have the courage to Be what you Believe in!


14th September 2009

Lots of interest!

Coming to the US was really the right decision. There has been a lot of interest from Americans. The radio hosts who've read the book are all calling the Odyssey a 'must buy'. The no. 1 interview that's coming up is an in studio live interview on the Joey Reynolds late night show on WOR Talk radio on 22nd September. http://www.wor710.com/ Joey is the 'King" of late night talk shows, so a great coup to be on the show. Book talk at 4pm tomorrow at the Ethiopian Embassy, so will be preparing tomorrow. Joey's show is broadcast to 100 stations and he has 4 million loyal listeners. This looks like the media break I've wanted for 3 years now - fantastic!


7th September 2009

All set for the US:

Radio stations contacted, friends, supporters, readers and African-American community have been alerted. Everything that could be done for a good foundation in the US has been completed. Last week, I attended a Christian workshop “Restoring Prayer” at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, which had Eugene Peterson, American pastor and author of many books, as the lead speaker. He was eloquent, humorous and very moving and, as luck would have it, he sat beside me the first afternoon,so I actually got to speak to him! Prof. Alastair Magrath also gave a talk – a master orator with an incredible grasp of history, the Bible and literature in general. He and Richard Dawkins are being interviewed this week by Sir David Frost, about faith. Hope it is shown before Christmas! (May be on Al-Jazeera TV, rather than the BBC.)

Pastor Zakaya from Tanzania and me in the sunshine!


7th August 2009

Book talks & radio interviews in the US:

Next month, I will return to the US to give some more book talks. This time is different: I have readers organizing them for me, which is awesome. The first is on 15th September at the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington DC, hosted by the ambassador, H.E. Dr. Samuel Assefa, who knew my classmate, Hiruth Girma. His executive asst., Annette Sheckler, taught another classmate, Etenush Tsige!

In New York, I’m giving book talks on 20th September, the first at the NY Community Church, and later that day at Piatto D’Oro, New York arranged by Aimee Kiros, owner and aunt of my friend, Magda! Other opportunities will emerge, I’m sure. Just as important, I will be doing some Talk Show radio interviews throughout my stay, and will hopefully be meeting some literary agents. There is a lot of energy in the US for this book, which is just great!


2nd April 2009

With the G20 Summit's agreement to continue helping the developing world, and my return to Addis last week, it was an appropriate time for me to visit President Girma of Ethiopia, who is the father of one of my classmates.

Meeting with President Girma

We're pictured in his office in the National Palace, formerly Emperor Haile Selassie's Jubilee Palace. We spent an hour together, a very special opportunity. Earlier that day, the book had been front page news in 'The Daily Monitor' an English language newspaper.


20th March 2009

www.ekklesia.co.uk

March 22 is World Water Day, so I wanted to mention a remarkable book by a good friend of Ekklesia (and an Ekklesia Partner) Annette Allen...

1st March 2009

www.expatwomen.com

It was Pat Vanier, a good friend of 36 years, who tipped me off about Expat Women, a website for women living and working abroad. With my mission to find those final 3 non-Ethiopian classmates, and the UN’s World Water Day on 22nd March (Mother’s Day in Britain too) it was a great opportunity to see what might develop. Andrea Martins who runs the site, was very helpful – here’s the link.

http://www.expatwomen.com/

Please forward it to anyone else in India or the US whom you think might be able to help me find Sumitra, Celina (India) and Kathy (USA.)


25th November 2008

£1,000 for WaterAid!

On 25th November, I presented a cheque for £1,000 to Alan Machin, WaterAid's National Head of Fundraising at their London headquarters. This is enough to fund lasting clean water and sanitation for 60 people - a life changing act for them.

Water Aid Presentation

It's a big milestone for the 'Odyssey', as it shows the power of dreams, and your support and purchase of the resulting book. And in October, cheques for £250 and £160 were donated to Christian Aid and the AGOHELD charity, respectively. The Christian Aid money will go direct to their work in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

I hope that there will be many more cheques in the future, although that still depends on landing a major publishing deal. (With the current global financial crisis, readers are finally ditching misery memoirs, so I'm more hopeful for progress in 2009!)

This week, I'm also being interviewed by Radio Salaam Shalom about the book,
an internet based radio station, which encourages dialogue between Jews and
Muslims: http://www.salaamshalom.org.uk/#SlideFrame_1

Finally, I have three book readings between now and the end of January, including one at work.

Perhaps 2009 will indeed be a Tipping Point for this little book?

Have a wonderful Christmas, however you celebrate it.


12th April 2008

Goa Herald
British author in search of Goan classmate...


1st December 2007

Coventry Telegraph
Dream that led Annette to write a book...

September 2007

Interviewed by Diane Bailey, UN Radio

Listen here [MP3 13MB]


12th September 2007

UN book talk highlights

The day dawned with a clear blue sky, a good omen. I got up an hour before I needed to, to go through the presentation, and to visualise feeling calm, when it was another momentous step on the journey. I needn't have worried - the Ethiopian ambassador, H.E. Negash Botora, was charming and very well briefed about the book, and made me feel at ease. There had been a short item in the UN Journal - the daily briefing sheet which all UN Missions and reporters read - which was helpful. Almost 30 people attended, representing 13 different countries. I was delighted to meet the Armenian ambassador and one of his attaches, along with attaches from the US and Egyptian missions. The rest were people who were interested in news about the UN Millennium Development Goals and Ethiopian supporters. The introduction from the ambassador was very poignant, as he read out one of the dreams I'd included in the book, as the introduction and then for the next half an hour, people listened, nodded, laughed and gasped.

Sarah Dobsevage from WaterAid America, speaks

Ambassador Botora Introducing Annette

How can I get the book

Smiles on their faces

 


10am, 12th September 2007

Conference room A, United Nations, New York

His Excellency, Negash Botora, Ethiopian ambassador to the United Nations, will be hosting a talk in conference room A at the UN Plaza, New York. Ambassadors from all the countries whose citizens helped me have been invited, along with leaders of faith groups, former classmates and the media.


22nd March 2007

The Book Depository
Interview...


January 2007

InspireMagazine.org
Book on Ethiopia inspired by dream


19th October 2006

Buckingham Advertiser
20,000-mile hunt for old friends...


27th October 2006

Ethiopian Herald
Ethiopia: British Author Publishes Book Entitled "An Ethiopian Odyssey"...


October 2006

WaterAid Coverage
An Ethiopian Odyssey


February 2004

Authentic Business Article
An Ethiopian Odyssey


 

Book Talks

News

7pm, 31st October 2007

Women’s Institute, Thornborough, Buckinghamshire.

Tea was being brewed as I walked into the Women's Institute meeting in Thornborough village hall on Hallowe'en Home made biscuits were carefully laid on plates: gingerbread, macaroons, flapjacks, shortbreads, and Viennese fingers. All looked delicious and my tummy rumbled, as I'd had to rush back from work to give the talk. When the hall was full to bursting - almost 60 members from all over north Buckinghamshire - the meeting was declared open and we stood to sing "Jerusalem", that wonderful hymn with lyrics by William Blake, with which the BBC Proms finishes each year. A complete contrast to the giggling witches, goblins, ghouls and Frankensteins knocking on doors and running from house to house, trick or treating!

The focus for this audience was the local angle: how people in Britain had helped in the search for missing classmates. There were sharp intakes of breath when I revealed that through the 'Buckingham Advertiser' I'd found Jack Atamian, the second cousin of one of my classmates, and the support of my church, SS Peter & Paul. I told them about the talk at the United Nations and the letter from Gordon Brown, which made many sit up. But best of all were the questions - "Why were your classmates so elite?" "How did you manage to fund your journey?" "In what way is your life different today?" I told them of the joy I felt, knowing that I was finally on the right track, and the ability to discover and appreciate the connections across the world, as I continued the quest to reunite all my missing classmates for book 2. Over a third of the audience queued up afterwards to buy a copy, including some for early Christmas presents.


26th October 2006

Addis Ababa launch: Nazareth School for Girls


Addis was experiencing unseasonal rain during my stay in Ethiopia last week, but Thursday 26th October dawned bright and sunny. Nazareth School’s library was the venue for the book launch there – a promise I’d kept to Sister Weynemariam, the head, and Marta Asrat, my former classmate and school secretary, who sadly died in March 2005.

Addis book display

A rapturous welcome

Over 40 people were there, along with a TV crew and the local news agency! President Girma received a rapturous welcome from the school – it was the first time they were honoured with a visit from him. Bernd Dreesmann had made a special trip from Cologne – Hiruth Girma, my classmate and the President’s daughter, had worked for him for a year in 1974. Sister Weynemariam welcomed him and the guests, before handing over to me. I succeeded in keeping my talk short – 30 minutes – and afterwards there was time for book signings and a few sales.

Sister Weynemariam welcomes the guests

Answering questions

There was a poignant moment when Addisalem (New World) stood up, the youngest of Marta’s daughters, who’s now in the ninth grade there. I gave her a special signed copy in memory of her mother, and donated three books to the library, so students can enjoy the story. All the school turned out for my departure – an amazing and wonderful moment. I could get used to the cheers!

Discussing the book with President Girma and Bernd Dreesmann

A proud moment for the school

Very good media coverage:

The following day, the book made the front page of The Ethiopian Herald – the English language newspaper, and it was on TV. Many people are interested in buying a copy, but I need to find a good local printer so it’s affordable for Ethiopians.

And now it’s time to promote the book in the UK. More news soon!

22nd October 2006

An Ethiopian Odyssey signing at SS Peter and Paul


A signing at my church, SS Peter and Paul, in Buckingham. There was a real buzz amongst the congregation that morning, as many had followed my journey from March 2004.

“And that lady there is Fanaye, my classmate”

20th October 2006

An Ethiopian Odyssey London Book Launch


The London book launch took place at the Globe Theatre and was a great success:

A proud moment, standing by the directional sign at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

Ken, my former boss, with Fanaye, my classmate from Cologne and I

20th October 2006

Former pupil posts to 'The Door'


Linda, one of the attendees at the launch sent me this link later that day, from the website of the Door, the Oxford diocese magazine. How amazing that a former pupil should post it the day of the launch!

 

© Annette Allen 2007 - Website Design & Hosting by Byte Sized Solutions