If the Rains Don't Cleanse

A week ago, I received this email:


Hi there,

My name is Ben Patrick Johnson. I'm a novelist. 

In 2009, my book IF THE RAINS DON'T CLEANSE was published. It's a fictionalized retelling of my parents experiences as schoolteacher missionaries in Congo in the 1950s. I had the advantage of considerable source material to draw from -- interviews, news reports from the time, telegrams and cables, personal letters. I wrote first-person from the perspective of a young woman based on my mother.

The book has done reasonably well commercially and I'm working on a screenplay adaptation. As I was seeking additional source material dealing with rainy seasons, etc., a Google search landed me at your blog. I am struck by similarities between your real-life entries and some of the fictional letters and and journal entries I was writing for my protagonist Eva and almost the same time you were there in Africa. 

I'd like to share the book with you! I wonder if you'll find the same amusement/surprise. If you'll provide me a mailing address, I'll put a copy in the mail to you.

Sincerely,
Ben Patrick Johnson

Executive Director, The Ben Patrick Johnson Foundation
Board Member, Equality California Institute

Board Member, The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles

Board Member, NOH8 Campaign

My response to him was equally as enthusiastic:

Hi Ben,

I'd love to receive a copy of your book - glad  you gave a voice to your mother's experiences.  Living in Congo is indeed an incredible adventure.

Incidentally, I will be going back to the DRC in mid October 2011 to do some election monitoring so my experiences will come full circle as I get ready to witness the second "real elections" since 2005.

My address is XXX.

Thank you for thinking of me.

Here's the website for the book , and some very positive feedback on Amazon.  I'm excited to read it soon!

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