FEAST OR FAMINE

The International New York Times published an article on December 28, 2015, in its Science section, with the headline: ‘A Lion Expert Who Isn’t Inclined to Turn Tail.’ What does ‘turn tail’ mean? According to Oxford Dictionaries, ‘turn tail’ is an informal term meaning ‘turn around and run away.’ It also means to flee or to run away in fright. Hence there is usually an element of shock, fright, or something that is scarey, causing a person to quickly leave, to dash away, to suddenly depart. The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms indicates that the term originated in the mid-1500s, referring to an animal turning its back in flight – in other words, turning around, showing its tail, and running away. Hence to ‘turn tail’ is showing your tail, or back, or rear end, as you run away. The article headline suggests that there is a lion expert who does not turn tail – does not turn away in fright. The article starts with a story by ‘one of the world’s forem...

My new book on Mongolia, The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament, has been released. My work in Mongolia in 2010 inspired the writing of the novel. THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE: A MONGOLIAN LAMENT   is about the longest, bleakest winter on record. It is 2010 and a flu epidemic affects the capital, Ulaanbaatar, and most of the country. Hospitals are overcrowded, vaccine supplies are depleted, and healthcare workers are pushed to their limits. Crops, cattle, children, and the elderly are dying. Amid accusations of sabotage, corruption, and misappropriation, health expert, Jorja Himmermann, finds peace from her apartment window, watching Brik the dog, the unmoving mastiff, and Bruce the naked man, the graceful wrestler. She finds advice in the prophecies of her colleague’s message cards and ancient Mongolian proverbs. Published by Archway Publishing, the novel is available through the publisher or at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Hardcover, 6x9 in, 310 pages, ISBN...