tag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:/blogs/latest-news?p=3Mark Binder's Story A Week2024-10-28T09:00:00-04:00Copyright 2023 by Mark Binder and Light Publications. All Rights ReservedWorld-renowned author and storyteller Mark Binder has been writing and telling stories for all generations for more than three decades. His remarkable stories are fun, interesting, and always surprising. His mission? Transmit Joy with StoryMark Binder's Story A Week Podcast - stories for all agesMark BinderfalseMark Binderinfo@lightpublications.comtag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/73592732024-02-29T07:07:21-05:002024-03-06T14:47:02-05:00Cover Reveal - THE CRACKED POTTER!<h3>Coming on March 16… The latest book in my Izzy Abrahmson's Village Life Series…</h3><p style="text-align:center;">“…a lovely and warm story inspired by the author's experience as a pottery widower.” <i>– Ceramics Now</i></p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/154917/3246ae6a332b3dcdc5a25209d4ee81a3922bc117/original/cracked-potter-cover-front-square.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" alt="The Cracked Potter Cover" height="4167" width="4167" /><p><span>THE CRACKED POTTER is a humorous and heartwarming story about Nava Ortlieb and Shoshana Cantor, two women with different expectations, who find common ground, and seize an opportunity.</span></p><p><span>This book is a limited edition of 200, signed and numbered and NOT available on Amazon. </span></p><p><span>PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY - </span></p><div class="product-action pdf__hide"><form data-cart--salable-item-id="968600" data-cart--salable-item-type="StoreItem" data-requires-checkout="true" data-possibly-free-download="false" data-min-price="20.0" data-track-inventory="true" data-inventory="96" data-controller="inventory-form cart--salable-item" data-action="refreshInventoryForm->
inventory-form#refresh submit->inventory-form#handleSubmit cart--badge:itemsUpdated@window->cart--salable-item#onCartUpdate" autocomplete="off" action="/api/cart_items" accept-charset="UTF-8" data-remote="true" method="post"><p><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓" autocomplete="off"><input value="968600" autocomplete="off" type="hidden" name="cart_item[item_id]"><input value="StoreItem" autocomplete="off" type="hidden" name="cart_item[item_type]"><input value="2590425" autocomplete="off" type="hidden" name="cart_item[page_id]" id="cart_item_page_id"><input value="/books-and-audiobooks" autocomplete="off" type="hidden" name="cart_item[page_path]" id="cart_item_page_path"> <button name="button" type="submit" rel="nofollow" data-cart--saleable-item-target="button" data-inventory-form-target="addToCartButton">Add to cart: $20.00</button></p></form></div>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/73281862024-01-04T09:49:41-05:002024-01-04T09:49:42-05:00Cracked Pots performance in Richmond - March 23<div class="DraftEditor-paragraphElement" style='-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:"ABC Oracle Plus Variable", -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:1em 0px;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;' data-block="true" data-editor="e8csg" data-offset-key="dbcrk-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="direction:ltr;position:relative;text-align:left;white-space:pre-wrap;" data-offset-key="dbcrk-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dbcrk-0-0" data-text="true">You may know that my wife is an amazing ceramics artist… (</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://instagram.com/hbinderceramics"><span data-offset-key="dbcrk-1-0" data-text="true"><u>https://instagram.com/hbinderceramics</u></span></a><span data-offset-key="dbcrk-2-0" data-text="true">)</span>
</div></div><div class="DraftEditor-paragraphElement" style='-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:"ABC Oracle Plus Variable", -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:1em 0px;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;' data-block="true" data-editor="e8csg" data-offset-key="6ah4o-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="direction:ltr;position:relative;text-align:left;white-space:pre-wrap;" data-offset-key="6ah4o-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6ah4o-0-0" data-text="true">So, as a pottery widower, I'm going with her to the NCECA conference in Richmond. Fortunately, my good friend Gayle Turner has booked me a show, so that I have a purpose and mission in life.</span></div></div><div class="DraftEditor-paragraphElement" style='-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:"ABC Oracle Plus Variable", -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:1em 0px;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;' data-block="true" data-editor="e8csg" data-offset-key="c8p0c-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="direction:ltr;position:relative;text-align:left;white-space:pre-wrap;" data-offset-key="c8p0c-0-0"><span data-offset-key="c8p0c-0-0" data-text="true">I anticipate sharing work from my new book, THE CRACKED POTTER, and other stories.</span></div></div><div class="DraftEditor-paragraphElement" style='-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:"ABC Oracle Plus Variable", -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:1em 0px;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;' data-block="true" data-editor="e8csg" data-offset-key="6h2p9-0-0">
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<span data-offset-key="6h2p9-0-0" data-text="true">If you'd like to come - Eventbrite tix are available at </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://bit.ly/cracked-NCECA-Tix"><span data-offset-key="6h2p9-1-0" data-text="true"><u>https://bit.ly/cracked-NCECA-Tix</u></span></a>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="direction:ltr;position:relative;text-align:left;white-space:pre-wrap;" data-offset-key="6h2p9-0-0"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://bit.ly/cracked-NCECA-Tix" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><span data-offset-key="6h2p9-1-0" data-text="true"><u><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/154917/d5838c7d3820fbd174edec433cf298e8e042f275/original/hearts-afire-2024-instagram.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></u></span></a></div>
</div>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/73148502023-12-05T13:24:57-05:002023-12-05T13:28:00-05:00A Holiday Present - Stories of Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukah, Ramadan Diwali and the Solstice<p>It was the last day at the Park Avenue School in Cranston before the holiday break. <br>They'd asked, “Do you have a multicultural holiday program that will touch all the bases, but won't offend anyone?”</p><p>My answer, “Why, of course!”</p><p>The cafetorium was packed with students from K-5. Nobody was in a hurry to do anything but enjoy the stories.</p><p>And we did. I hope you will, too.<br>– Mark</p><p>P.S. The technical miracle of this recording is that there are only three edits!<br>P.P.S. <a class="no-pjax" href="/files/1205245/We%20Wish%20You%20Lyrics" target="_blank">For the Lyrics to “We Wish You”, just click here!</a></p><p><embed type="text/html" src="https://found.ee/holiday-present" width="500" height="1000"></embed></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/73071982023-11-21T16:04:33-05:002023-11-21T16:04:34-05:00My Grandfather's Fish - an Explosive Thanksgiving Disaster<p>Every year, when he was growing up, my Dad had fish for Thanksgiving dinner.</p><p>We never knew why, until one day…<br>– Mark</p><p><embed type="text/html" src="https://found.ee/turkey-story" width="500" height="1000"></embed></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/72983002023-11-04T23:00:00-04:002023-11-04T23:00:01-04:00The Olive Orchard - video for the New Mexico Jewish Storytelling Festival<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="vimeo" data-video-id="880957235" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/880957235" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div style='-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:"ABC Oracle Plus Variable", -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;'><h3><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/olive-orchard-92231687"><span data-tag="post-title">The Olive Orchard</span></a></h3></div><div class="sc-p5flmk-0 hgUaki" style='-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);display:flex;flex-direction:column-reverse;font-family:"ABC Oracle Plus Variable", -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;'><div id="cid-20"><div><div class="sc-dJjYzT iHVgLk" style="margin-bottom:-10px;margin-top:10px;"><div class="sc-1sp3zau-0 fYCOwC sc-d4f3hw-0 iATlLz" style="font-size:var(--global-fontSizes-body-md) !important;font-variation-settings:var(--global-fontVariationSettings-fontWidth-regular),var(--global-fontVariationSettings-fontWeight-regular);line-height:1.5;white-space:pre-line;"><div class="sc-1ye87qi-0 irEdXD" style="font-size:inherit;">
<p>This is a story from my book, STORIES FOR PEACE. I wrote it several years ago, and I wish it wasn't true today.</p>
<p>This performance was recorded for the New Mexico Jewish Storytelling Festival, November 4, 2023</p>
</div></div></div></div></div></div>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/72965072023-11-01T06:00:00-04:002023-11-01T06:00:01-04:00Performing Virtually Saturday 11/4 at Jewish Storytelling Festival<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:17px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"><strong>Join me in a visit to the Village!</strong></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">This weekend, I’m thrilled to be sharing stories from Izzy Abrahmson’s Village Life at the New Mexico Jewish Storytelling Festival.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Also on the bill are Peninnah Schram, Gerald Fierst and Oro Anahory-Librowicz.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">If you live in or near Albuquerque, NM, you can see both in-person and virtual performances (on a big screen, I presume…)</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">If you’re<strong> anywhere else in the world</strong>, I’ll be performing a complete set on Saturday 11/4 at 2:20pm Mountain time via Zoom and another story in the evening.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">(For those of you on the East Coast of the USA, that's 4:20 in the afternoon, but I probably won’t be doing a marijuana story… ;-)</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Ticket prices range from $18 for the day to $36 for the weekend, so it’s a real deal.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.nahalatshalom.org/storytelling-festival-2023">https://www.nahalatshalom.org/storytelling-festival-2023</a></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.nahalatshalom.org/storytelling-festival-2023" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/154917/074b5a03bc85ab3d547bcb762fde694669fdade1/original/jewish-story-logo-transparent.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a></div>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/72949792023-10-28T08:51:24-04:002023-10-28T08:51:25-04:00Live Halloween on Spotify and others<p>Whenever I prep for a Halloween gig, I go back and listen to my first live concert “album”. <strong>It Was a Dark and Stormy Night</strong> was recorded on Halloween years ago at the Knotty Oak Middle School. I had the pleasure of doing three shows back to back in a huge auditorium filled with insane hormonal teenagers. </p><p>The energy was electric. Some of the technology mentioned in the story is long out of date, but the laughs and scares are still invigorating.</p><p>I hope you'll take a few minutes to listen – and then stick around for the whole “concert.”</p><p>– Mark</p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6vFO7Ii5fXZt2tx4RvvyNN" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/154917/3a8a62d3d2b69fed3eed7d7c6002fd5900c799f3/original/dark-stormy-night-300dpi.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p><p> </p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="http://bit.ly/dark_play" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplay.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay-logo" height="50" width="170" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="http://bit.ly/amazon_dark" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/amazon.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on amazon-logo" height="50" width="128" /></a> <a href="" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/applebooks.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read it on Apple Books-logo" height="50" width="179" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6vFO7Ii5fXZt2tx4RvvyNN" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/spotify.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on spotify-logo" height="50" width="188" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="http://geni.us/dark" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/itunes.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on itunes-logo" height="50" width="138" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/markbinder8" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/cdbaby.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it from CD Baby-logo" height="50" width="196" /></a> </p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/72924292023-10-24T08:25:00-04:002023-10-24T08:30:27-04:00The Olive Orchard - a story for peace<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">
<a class="no-pjax" href="https://markbinderbooks.com/single/82903/the-olive-orchard" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/154917/1566bb8eeceb5107d9f60bda95cbbe20bd2be704/original/the-olive-orchard-story-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></a>"The Olive Orchard" a story I wish wasn't timely.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">An old woman sits in her house, listening to the sound of trees being cut down….</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://markbinderbooks.com/single/82903/the-olive-orchard">https://markbinderbooks.com/single/82903/the-olive-orchard</a></p><p>Soon coming to Spotify and many other sites. This is a free/pay what you want download.</p><p>A version of this story was originally published in the book “Stories for Peace”</p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/72825902023-10-04T13:49:12-04:002023-10-16T10:47:31-04:00Spotify Audiobooks!<p><iframe src="https://markbinderbooks.com/spotify-audiobooks"></iframe></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/72792792023-09-27T07:28:10-04:002023-10-04T13:48:52-04:00The Succah Contest - a fun story for the fall<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">
<p><i>There's a Succah Contest every year in the village of Chelm, and every year Reb Cantor the Merchant wins. Until…</i></p>
<p>Greetings!</p>
<p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://spoti.fi/452VV2q" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/154917/5ed8fb58195141103c5b1f204bf28b4141b105d3/original/the-succah-contest-smaller.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></a>While January 1is the official calendar start, school starts in September, so I hope you've had a wonderful beginning to your year. </p>
<p>As you may know, I often write and sometimes perform under the pen name of Izzy Abrahmson. My motto: “You don’t need to be Jewish to enjoy The Village Life."</p>
<p>This is one of my favorite written stories, which is rarely performed. It works for readers and listeners of all ages, which is part of the fun.</p>
<p>Sukkot is an autumn harvest festival, which begins this year on September 29. It’s traditional to eat in a temporary house called… a succah. It must sit beneath the open sky, and if it’s not raining you can see the stars.</p>
<p>Read it below, or listen <a class="no-pjax" href="https://spoti.fi/452VV2q">on Spotify - https://spoti.fi/452VV2q</a> (and some other podcast platforms - search for "The Village Life Podcast")</p>
<p>Please feel free to share this with your friends, family and community members.</p>
<p>Enjoy!<br>- Mark Binder (Izzy)<br><i>Storytelling and books for all ages at </i><a class="no-pjax" href="https://izzyabe.com" data-link-type="url"><i>izzyabe.com</i></a><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i>Succah Image By Zachi Evenor - Flickr: </i></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/zachievenor/21246640264" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i>https://www.flickr.com/photos/zachievenor/21246640264</i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i>, </i></span><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i>CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43902432</i></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align:center;"><span><u>The Succah Contest</u></span></h2>
<p style="text-align:center;">by Izzy Abrahmson </p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>Every year in the village of Chelm there was a contest to see who could erect the best and most beautiful succah, and every year Reb Cantor, the merchant, won.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>It was no wonder. He was the richest man in the village. He hired workers, he hired craftsmen, he hired plumbers. Every year his succah grew larger and more impressive. At the Cantors’ Succos feast, there was room inside their succah for every man, woman and child in Chelm. And he invited the whole village. It was a meal that everyone enjoyed.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>But the Succos contest? The other villagers grew discouraged. Why should they bother, why work so hard? Let the merchant win.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>Reb Cantor decided that this was intolerable, so he offered a purse of 100 rubles to the winner.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>Now the people of Chelm were interested. They got creative. The sound of hammers filled the village from dawn until dark. Everyone was so excited. They could hardly wait for the judging, which would be held on the afternoon of the festival’s first day.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span baskerville="">On the first night of Succos, everyone enjoyed Reb and Mrs. </span><span lang="ES-TRAD" baskerville="">Cantor</span><span baskerville="">’s feast and marveled at the exquisite beauty of his succah.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>The poles were carved olive wood from the Holy Land.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>The roof, through which you could see the stars, was one giant lulav woven from Egyptian palm fronds, Lebanese myrtle, and willow branches from nearby Smyrna.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>The walls were made from white silken sheets from China, and the on floor, covering the poor dirt of Chelm, was glittering white sand from the beaches near the Sea of Galilee.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>Even the harvest bounty hanging from the ceiling beams was exotic: figs from Turkey, grapes from Italy, and oranges from Miami.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>That night, Reb Cantor had hugged his wife, Shoshanna, and bragged, “Well, it’s good that everyone is so excited about the contest. Too bad that, as usual, I am going to win.”</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span lang="IT" baskerville="">Shoshanna Cantor</span><span baskerville=""> wasn’t so sure. She had roamed the village, and watched the construction, but she patted her husband’s bald head and smiled anyway.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>A cold gray dawn rose on the first day of Succos. The autumn wind was frigid from the East, bringing unwelcome hints of an icy winter to come.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>The panel of judges, Rabbi Kibbitz, Mrs. Chaipul, and Bulga the Fisherman, walked through the streets, bundled warm in their coats, with their hands shoved deeply into their pockets.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>Each succah of Chelm seemed more magnificent than the next.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>Jacob Schlemiel, the carpenter, and his family had constructed a fabulous seven-sided booth without using a single nail.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span lang="NL" baskerville="">Reb Shikker</span><span baskerville="">, the accountant, had paper walls covered with the mystical numerology of the Kaballah.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>Reb Cohen the tailor had stitched his succah with such care and detail that it stood upright with just a single pole.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>Reb Stein, the baker had baked his succah into a pumpernickel-rye swirl. Some said that a man might feast for a year on the walls of that succah and never feel hunger.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>How could the judges pick? It was starting to get dark, so Reb Cantor suggested that the villagers all come back to his succah for another dinner before declaring a winner.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>As they sat down, the cold wind began to rise, so they ate with their coats on.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>The food was as delicious and warm as the day was raw and miserable. They started with steaming chicken soup with kreplach. Then came the warm rolls, mouthwatering noodle kuegel, and piping hot brisket with an abundance of freshly baked knishes.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>Every once in a while, Shoshanna Cantor would look up through the roof at the dark clouds gathering in the sky above, and say a prayer that the rain would hold off at least until after dessert – home made apple strudel with walnuts and honey.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>Such a feast!</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>As soon as Rabbi Kibbitz set down his fork with a contented, but audible, belch, the downpour began. It was a miracle it had held off for that long.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span baskerville="">Between flashes of lighting, </span><span lang="ES-TRAD" baskerville="">Reb Cantor</span><span baskerville="">’s wonderful succah emptied as everyone ran home and shuttered their windows tight.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>And such a storm. The wind blew with the fury of a rabid dog. Rain fell in buckets, in barrels, in bathtubs! And the thunder and lightning, sounded like a battle, as if the heavens themselves were crackling with fire.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>The children of Chelm all hid under their beds with their hands over their ears.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>The next morning, I am sad to say, every succah in the village had been blown away.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span baskerville="">Not a stitch was left of the tailor’</span><span lang="PT" baskerville="">s.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span baskerville="">Not a crumb remained of the baker’</span><span lang="PT" baskerville="">s.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>There weren’t any splinters from the carpenter’s,</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>and of the accountant’s succah there was no accounting.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>Worst of all, Reb Cantor’s magnificent palace of a such was completely gone. Demolished, destroyed, flattened like a potato pancake.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>The poor merchant was heart broken. He nearly wept. All the silk, all the wood, all the fruit...</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>“At least,” Reb Cantor sighed to Rabbi Kibbitz, “I’ve still got my hundred rubles.”</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span baskerville="">But just then little Doodle, the village orphan came running up. “</span><span lang="IT" baskerville="">Rabbi Kibbitz Rabbi Kibbitz Rabbi Kibbitz</span><span baskerville="">”</span><span> </span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span baskerville="">“What Doodle?”</span><span> </span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span baskerville="">“</span><span lang="IT" baskerville="">Rabbi Kibbitz Rabbi Kibbitz</span><span baskerville="">!”</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>“What Doodle?”</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span baskerville="">“</span><span lang="IT" baskerville="">Rabbi Kibbitz, a succah,</span><span baskerville="">” Doodle said. “The only succah remaining in Chelm!”</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>“You’re kidding,” said Reb Cantor.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>But no, Doodle was not kidding. He led a large procession through the streets of Chelm, and at last they stopped at the half-demolished house of Reb Gold the cobbler.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>“You see?” Doodle said, pointing.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>“That’s the cobbler’s house,” Reb Cantor said. “The poor man couldn’t even afford to build a succah this year. The storm really took it apart.”</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>“No, no look!” Doodle said. “In the storm last night, two of the walls fell down, and the roof was blown away. There’s nothing up top but that huge tree branch.”</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>“Yes, yes, I can see that.”</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span baskerville="">“So, according to the law,” Doodle said, proudly, “it’s not a house any more. It’</span><span lang="IT" baskerville="">s a succah! </span><span baskerville="">In fact, it’s the only one left in the village of Chelm!”</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>Hmmm…</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>The judges immediately began conferring.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>Soon Rabbi Kibbitz spoke. “This year, after careful consideration, we award the Succah prize to the Gold family.”</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>“What? That’s nonsense,” said Reb Cantor. “Why my succah was ten times bigger than this house, and ten times more beautiful. And it was a real succah, not something just thrown together by the wind...”</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>“Isaac, shush” Shoshanna Cantor said. “Listen to yourself. We had a succah, but we still have a house. They have only a succah.”</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>The merchant’s eyes opened and his heart melted. He reached into his coat and he gave the Gold family the purse filled with one hundred rubles.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>Now, Reb Gold, poor as he might be was never one to accept charity, but winning a contest, that was something different. With tears running down his face, he thanked Reb Cantor, and shook the Rabbi’s hand.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big"><span>That evening every one in the village of Chelm squeezed into Reb Gold’s contest-winning succah and ate at a delicious feast catered by Reb Cantor. The stars above had never shined so bright.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="text-big">THE END</span></p>
<p>Copyright 2020 by Mark Binder, all rights reserved.</p>
<p>Visit <a class="no-pjax" href="https://izzyabe.com/">izzyabe.com</a> for more information about Mark Binder's Village Life storytelling programs and concerts, and for info <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Izzy-Abrahmson/author/B09CCSWG65" data-link-type="url">Izzy Abrahmson's Village Life series of books</a></p>
<p>If you want to read… Start with A Village Romance or The Village Twins. Then go for the Chanukah book, Winter Blessings or the Passover book, The Village Feasts. Available on Amazon, Audible and wherever books and audiobooks are sold. - <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Izzy-Abrahmson/author/B09CCSWG65" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Amazon's author page is here</a></p>
</div>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/72752432023-09-18T17:18:19-04:002023-09-18T17:18:20-04:00Audiobook Release: The Bed Time Story Book<h3>25 years in the making… 36 of fun, funny and silly bed time stories for families and young children.<a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/27S4cu48LfQAXGcUbD9HNJ?si=1bfc868c9bbc4b6d" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/154917/185fd0239e941da0948b4b97cc350eff33ddfda1/original/bed-time-story-book-audiobook-cover-1000x1000.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a>
</h3><p>Mark Binder's <strong>Bed Time Story Book</strong> is a best seller, and now you can hear the stories read by the author – who also happens to be an Audie Award nominated professional storyteller!</p><p>“It was a fun challenge,” Binder said. “I wanted to keep the energy of storytelling, while making sure that the young folk will go to sleep, rather than jump around afterwards.”</p><p>The collection includes traditional classics like “The Three Pigs” and “Cinderella” and some favorite Mother Goose poems, plus a few revised stories and a few original tales.</p><p>“I think the trickiest were the song stories,” Binder said. “I didn't think people really wanted to hear me sing, so I made them dramatic readings! I'm fairly sure that ‘The Ants Go Marching’ will make kids laugh, and drive parents crazy.'"</p><p><strong>The Bed Time Story Book Audio Book</strong> is available everywhere audiobooks are sold… </p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.audible.com/pd/B0CFS4BWTD/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-363449&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_363449_rh_us" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/audible.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on Audible-60" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/27S4cu48LfQAXGcUbD9HNJ?si=1bfc868c9bbc4b6d" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/spotify.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on Spotify-94" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1102738162?ean=2940159232229" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/nook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on nook-62" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/the-bed-time-story-book-by-mark-binder" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/chirp.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on chirp-61" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781940060309" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/librofm.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on librofm-75" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="http://geni.us/bedtime" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/amazon.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on Amazon-64" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://bookshop.org/books/the-bed-time-story-book/9780970264251?aid=8916" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/bookshop.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on BookShop.com-64" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=XVtj4auNYeAC&PAffiliateID=1100l9TUe" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplay.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on GooglePlayBooks-85" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="http://georiot.co/1skp" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kindle.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on kindle-26" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/the-bed-time-story-book-1" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kobo.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on kobo-49" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Mark_Binder_The_Bed_Time_Story_Book?id=AQAAAEBi6S-pXM&PAffiliateID=1100l9TUe" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplayaudiobook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on GooglePlayBooks-114" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/664235104/The-Bed-Time-Story-Book" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/scribd.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on scribd-115" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/bed-time-story-book/704558" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/audiobooks.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on audiobooks-116" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/16158753" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="0" height="25" /></a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/72307312023-06-22T15:05:42-04:002023-06-22T15:05:43-04:00Two Guys Project "The F Word" gets Providence Arts Culture and Tourism Development Grant<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/154917/4b9eb49ed7da8638c39a3e3130b5f7bcbd1faa5a/original/act-logo-city-pvd.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_s justify_right border_" />The City of Providence's <strong>Department of Art, Culture and Tourism (ACT)</strong>, has awarded a development project grant to Christopher Johnson and Mark Binder a devised theater piece called, “<strong>The F-Word</strong>.”</p><p>“<strong>The F-Word</strong> is about friendship," said Mark Binder, author and founder of The American Story Theater. “<span style="color:#444444;">We live in a time of controversy and conflict. Issues that have simmered for years are surfacing, opening wounds and demanding action. Christopher and I have been grappling with the question, ‘What can ordinary people do to respond? To connect?’”</span></p><p><span style="color:#444444;"><strong>The F Word </strong>demystifies the gray areas of difference<strong> </strong>by<strong> </strong>building bridges, blending storytelling and conversation with poetry and comedy.</span></p><p><span style="color:#444444;">For more information, sign up for the newsletter at </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://americanstorytheater.org/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><span style="color:#444444;"><strong>americanstorytheater.org/</strong></span></a></p><div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="WfqX1R_1BGc" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WfqX1R_1BGc?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p><br> </p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/72191232023-06-22T14:38:57-04:002023-06-22T14:38:57-04:00The Zombie Cat is here!<h3>Spooky Fun Misadventures</h3><p>Ever been to the beach? Gone trick or treating? Heard ghost stories at summer camp? </p><p>Conducted scientific reanimation experiments in the basement? </p><p>"My friends and I just wanted to relax and have fun. We didn’t mean to get into trouble. The trouble always found us…"</p><p>Now Available on Spotify and more!</p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/73hWeLHza2bTydjan5jeVD?si=7a56762e51b24913" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/spotify.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on Spotify-94" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Mark_Binder_The_Zombie_Cat?id=AQAAAECilQrVuM" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplayaudiobook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on GooglePlayBooks-114" height="25" /></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.storytel.com/se/sv/books/4353348" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/storytel.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on storytel-116" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/the-zombie-cat-by-mark-binder" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/chirp.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on chirp-61" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/648693559/The-Zombie-Cat-Spooky-Fun-Misadventures" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/scribd.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on scribd-115" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/zombie-cat-spooky-fun-misadventures/691967" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/audiobooks.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on audiobooks-116" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/zombie-cat-the" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kobo.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on kobo-49" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781940060613" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/librofm.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on librofm-75" height="25" /></a></p><p> </p><div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="ODVdnEjQCb0" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ODVdnEjQCb0?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/72271642023-06-19T08:34:23-04:002023-06-22T14:38:51-04:00Scituate Story Project gets Humanities Grant Funding<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/154917/263c0d0079de64745e9c510c1ea52a447fdf56d5/original/rich-logomark-4c.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_right border_" />In collaboration with the Hope Library Association, the RI Council for the Humanities has awarded a $2,000 mini grant for the Scituate Story Project with Christopher Johnson and Mark Binder.</p><p>Beginning July 6, on Thursday evenings in July and August, young people ages 13-19 will learn and practice telling their own stories. The last Thursday of each month will be a public open mic swap/slam. </p><p>The program is free, and there are spaces available. For more information, contact the Hope Library in Scituate, RI - (401) 821-7910.</p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">
<strong>Christopher Johnson</strong> is a word slinger – freelance writer, poet and an award-winning spoken word artist. Timely, relevant, honest, unapologetic, personal, and political, Christopher Johnson’s spoken word commands in a way that is uncomfortable and arresting. </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">The author of more than two-dozen award-winning books and audiobooks <strong>Mark Binder </strong>is a professional performance storyteller, and a nice guy. He tours the world, transmitting the joy of story across boundaries.</div>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/72281042023-06-19T08:33:49-04:002023-06-19T08:34:18-04:00The Shaggy Dog's Tale - a story for Father's Day<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/154917/877c7c68420c941ced58e0752998900ddd4b84db/original/the-shaggy-dogs-tale.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_right border_" />I wrote “The Shaggy Dog's Tale” when I was collecting stories for THE BED TIME STORY BOOK. It didn't take long to write, but it takes a while to tell. It's the sort of story children enjoy, and parents… well, maybe you will and maybe you won't.</p><p>Scroll down to listen to the audio here, and <a class="no-pjax" href="/files/1228984/The%20Shaggy%20Dog's%20Tale%20from%20THE%20BED%20TIME%20STORY%20BOOK" target="_blank" data-link-type="file" data-link-label="The Shaggy Dog's Tale from THE BED TIME STORY BOOK">download the story's text here</a>. The audio is from the in-progress audiobook, so make sure you sign up for the newsletter to hear about it. <a class="no-pjax" href="https://books2read.com/bed-time-story-book" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">You can buy the book and the ebook</a>. </p><p>Enjoy <br>– Mark</p><p> </p><p> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://bookshop.org/books/the-bed-time-story-book/9780970264251?aid=8916" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/bookshop.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on Bookshop-logo" height="50" width="128" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=XVtj4auNYeAC&PAffiliateID=1100l9TUe" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplay.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay-logo" height="50" width="170" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="http://geni.us/bedtime" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/amazon.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on amazon-logo" height="50" width="128" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="http://georiot.co/1skp" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kindle.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kindle-logo" height="50" width="51" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="http://georiot.co/bzY" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/applebooks.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read it on Apple Books-logo" height="50" width="179" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="http://bit.ly/bedtime_kobo_l" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kobo.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kobo-logo" height="50" width="97" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="http://bit.ly/bedtime_nook_l" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/nook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it for nook-logo" height="50" width="123" /></a> </p>2:34Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/71823752023-04-01T10:45:42-04:002023-04-05T16:14:27-04:00Bats Attack… Gulls Defend!<p><i>April 1, Providence, RI</i></p><p><span lang="EN">The afternoon skies went dark as an estimated 14,653 bats swarmed above the State Capital building in Providence, RI.</span></p><p><span lang="EN">“At first it looked cool,” said <strong>Melford Glum</strong>, a tourist visiting the Ocean State from Shrieve, UT. “The kids were laughing and pointing. Then, when the bats started dive-bombing us, it felt like the Apocalypse.”</span></p><p>Read the whole story in <a class="no-pjax" href="https://motifri.com/bats-attack-gulls-defend/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><strong>Motif Magazine</strong></a></p><p>Or, listen to the audio version below…</p><p> </p><div style="mso-element:comment-list;"><div style="mso-element:comment;"><div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_1" language="JavaScript" onmouseover="msoCommentShow('_anchor_1','_com_1')" onmouseout="msoCommentHide('_com_1')">
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<font size="4"><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/154917/91433b0ca4cb5614501789f9f631fcd156fdd518/original/friend-for-life-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></strong></font><a class="no-pjax" href="https://markbinderbooks.com/friend-for-life"><font size="4"><strong>Friend for Life</strong></font></a>
</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">- A Groston Story</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">How did Fat Charlie and I become friends?</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Fat Charlie is one of my favorite characters. This is the full-length studio version of a story that premiered February 2 at Two Guys Project with Christopher Johson. This story is family-friendly, but does have an edge.</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><p><br> </p>16:45Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/71768352023-03-23T06:00:00-04:002023-03-30T08:01:46-04:00It Ate My Sister - reviewed in AudioFile!<div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">
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<a class="no-pjax" href="http://geni.us/SzZ" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/154917/c5cb799cfa26a87a354246c7f5badfd7e5e24b4a/original/it-ate-my-sister-audiobook-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_right border_" alt="It Ate My Sister Audiobook Cover" /></strong></a><strong>Hello from Vestal, NY!</strong>
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<div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">I’m totally thrilled that <i>AudioFile </i><span>gave my latest release - the long overdue audiobook for</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5GcWrOKKkvBfMiyTCpUpY6"> <strong>IT ATE MY SISTER</strong></a><span> such a great review. </span>
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<div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div>
</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">"Author/narrator Mark Binder is a dream… Binder's own vocal sound effects, appropriate music, humor, and humanity make these stories a pleasure for all ages." <br><i>– AudioFile Magazine - </i><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/229919/it-ate-my-sister-by-mark-binder-read-by-mark-binder/">read the whole review here</a>
</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">
<strong>What's the story?</strong> <br> </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Basically, my sister Ellen and I were feuding, and as a result of a scientific experiment gone made she got eaten by a… well, read or listen to the story!</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"><strong>The story behind the story</strong></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">IT ATE MY SISTER was actually developed with funding from the US Department of Education. I was hired to tell stories that involved science to every elementary student in Providence. While there is some science in the story – specifically the description of the experimentation process and details about the <i>terrestrial gastropod mollusc – </i><span>it does ultimately go over the top into science fiction.</span>
</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">
<span>There are several live versions available all over the place on the web, and a new live version on the audiobook – as well as the complete audiobook version, which is quite different from the live performance.</span> <br> </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">
<a class="no-pjax" href="http://geni.us/SzZ">IT ATE MY SISTER</a> can be found in a bunch of places… <a class="no-pjax" href="http://geni.us/SzZ">Amazon</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.audible.com/pd/B0BLMFG4XG/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-328547&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_328547_rh_us">Audible</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=-nxEAoD2OmQC&PAffiliateID=1100l9TUe">Google</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/it-ate-my-sister-by-mark-binder">Chirpbooks</a> and of course <a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5GcWrOKKkvBfMiyTCpUpY6">Spotify</a>.</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">And you can watch a <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkMWA37Xsho">live performance on YouTube</a>
</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"><strong>Can I share this?</strong></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Oh, yes, please do. Share and tag me @markbinderbooks #storythursdays #storyaweek</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Invite friends, neighbors, family and enemies to sign up at <a class="no-pjax" href="htps://markbinderbooks.com">htps://markbinderbooks.com</a>
</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"><div class="" style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Signing off…</strong></div></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Let me know what you think, and have an excellent week</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">– Mark Binder</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><p><a class="no-pjax" href="http://geni.us/SzZ" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/amazon.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on Amazon-64" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://bookshop.org/books/it-ate-my-sister/9780970264244?aid=8916" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/bookshop.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on BookShop.com-64" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=-nxEAoD2OmQC&PAffiliateID=1100l9TUe" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplay.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on GooglePlayBooks-85" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="http://amzn.to/it_ate" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kindle.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on kindle-26" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="http://bit.ly/sister_kobo_l" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kobo.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on kobo-49" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="http://bit.ly/sister_nook_l" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/nook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on nook-62" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.indiebound.org/9780970264244" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/shopindie.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on shopindie-62" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5GcWrOKKkvBfMiyTCpUpY6" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/spotify.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on Spotify-94" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/582415389/It-Ate-My-Sister" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/scribd.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on scribd-115" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://shop.authors-direct.com/collections/audio-from-mark-binder-and-izzy-abrahmson/products/it-ate-my-sister" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/authorsdirect.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Audiobook on Authors Direct-86" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/it-ate-my-sister-2" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kobo.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on kobo-49" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/it-ate-my-sister-by-mark-binder" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/chirp.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on chirp-61" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Mark_Binder_It_Ate_My_Sister?id=AQAAAEAC_xK_AM" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplayaudiobook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on GooglePlayBooks-114" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.storytel.com/se/sv/books/3321228" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/storytel.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on storytel-116" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781940060606" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/librofm.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on librofm-75" height="25" /></a> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.audible.com/pd/B0BLMFG4XG/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-328547&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_328547_rh_us" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/audible.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on Audible-60" height="25" /></a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/71727482023-03-16T13:00:51-04:002023-03-22T19:53:57-04:00Audio Story - Spring Breaks Up - Story A Week / Story Thursday Kickoff - <div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Hello from Cincinnati!</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Welcome to my new project <strong>Story A Week / Story Thursdays / S-A-W</strong>
</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">I’m out on tour, but thats not going to stop me… (fingers crossed)</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Every Thursday, I’m going to “drop” a story of some kind.</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/154917/688f35ac48b5a77826e8cca83203860e959134a6/original/spring-breaks-up-audio-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_right border_" alt="Spring Breaks Up - Audiostory cover" />Often, it will be on <a class="no-pjax" href="https://markbinderbooks.com/spotify/">Spotify</a>. Sometimes it’ll be text in the email.</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Sometimes it’ll be a link to a story that I wrote or recorded a while ago.</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Maybe video? Who knows? It’s a new take on what I used to do years and years ago.</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:15px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"><strong>Will there be variety?</strong></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Oh yeah. If you know me, you know that I “specialize in diversity.”</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:15px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"><strong>Can I share these?</strong></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Oh, yes, please do. Share and tag me @markbinderbooks #storythursdays #storyaweek</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Invite friends, neighbors, family and enemies to sign up at <a class="no-pjax" href="htps://markbinderbooks.com">htps://markbinderbooks.com</a>
</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:15px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"><strong>So, what’s this week’s story?</strong></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">It’s from my alter-ego, Izzy Abrahmson. </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">This story catches everything in the middle. In a few weeks, I’ll back up and explain more. </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">But, if you’ve never experienced the Village Life books or audio, I recommend starting with <strong>A Village Romance </strong>- [LINK HERE] </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"><span><strong>This Week’s Story - Spring Breaks Up</strong></span></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">- an audio story from Izzy Abrahmson Village Life Story</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">That moment when winter warms with laughter…</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Listen on Spotify: <a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/track/4cOixzKyysQZDxPW7Of0sm?si=9016fb4ab0524ef5">https://open.spotify.com/track/4cOixzKyysQZDxPW7Of0sm?si=9016fb4ab0524ef5</a>
</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Apple Podcast: <a class="no-pjax" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spring-breaks-up/id1583815252?i=1000603463862">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spring-breaks-up/id1583815252?i=1000603463862</a>
</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"><div class="" style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Signing off…</strong></div></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">Let me know what you think, and have an excellent week</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;">– Mark Binder</div>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/71515492023-02-09T18:09:41-05:002023-02-09T18:10:31-05:00April 15 - Two Guys Project at Slater Mill National Park<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/154917/8a16831f5f3ac71ce52dd54d6c7fef89bb0c452d/original/4-15-23-fresh-air-stories-wide.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><p><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Two Guys Project: </strong> Breathing Fresh Air</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">Stories and Poems for National Parks Day</span> <br><span style="color:#000000;">Starring Christopher Johnson and Mark Binder. </span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">1pm and 2pm at Slater Mill National Park, 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">Rain or Shine • All Ages • Free Admission</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">Please tag @markbinderbooks @thencredibull @americanstorytheater</span></p><h2><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>TWO GUYS PROJECT</strong></span></h2><h2>
<span style="color:#000000;"><strong>A truth-telling poet and a storytelling liar… Words will fly. </strong></span> <br><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Starring Christopher Johnson and Mark Binder</strong></span>
</h2><p><span style="color:#000000;">A chance encounter during dance rehearsals for Bill T Jones' "What Problem" brought together two of Rhode Island's best-known wordsmiths. </span> <br><span style="color:#000000;">Between story and poetry, truth and lies, <strong>Two Guys Project</strong> explores the boundaries of friendship with a breath of fresh air. </span></p><p> </p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/71480722023-02-03T07:02:06-05:002023-02-03T07:02:06-05:00The Passing of Carolyn Martino<p>Carolyn Martino died recently. <a contents="You can read her obituary here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.averyfuneralhome.com/tributes/Carolyn-Martino" target="_blank">You can read her obituary here</a>.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/106206dfb61157f4b4c94dca199c47836bd4bad2/original/carolyn.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="Carolyn Martino, Storyteller" />I didn't know about storytelling until I went to a Little Rest Storytelling swap at Carolyn Martino's house. Never had the experience. </p>
<p>At the gathering, many stories were told, but Carolyn's were always the best. She demonstrated the possibility to me that storytelling could be something beyond the ordinary. </p>
<p>She inspired me. I wouldn't have taken the path I'm on without her. </p>
<p>And once, she asked permission to tell my story, "It Ate My Sister." It was truly a weird and wonderful experience watching Carolyn tell this "true" story about her sister being eaten by a giant slug. And she told it the long way, with the baseball cleats and everything. </p>
<p>Carolyn had a rough life, and made magic with words.</p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/71371472023-01-12T16:27:32-05:002023-01-19T11:00:24-05:00Two Guys Project - Feb 2 at the Bodega<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/47d96828366cbd20e77d4d2cdf05887ef84d1510/original/two-guys-eventbrite.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" />A truth-telling poet and a storytelling liar walk into a bar… Words will fly. </span></p>
<p><strong>Starring Christopher Johnson and Mark Binder </strong></p>
<p>A chance encounter during dance rehearsals for Bill T Jones' "What Problem" brought two of Rhode Island's best-known wordsmiths together. </p>
<p>Two Guys Project explores the boundaries between truth and lies, story and poetry. Words will fly. </p>
<p>Thursday, February 2 at The Bodega on Smith, 373 Smith Street, Providence. <br>Doors open at 6. Show starts at 7. Food and drink available. This is a work-in-progress. </p>
<p>Limited Seating. Reserve your ticket at: <a contents="https://bit.ly/two-guys-tix" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bit.ly/two-guys-tix" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/two-guys-tix</a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/70581312023-01-11T00:00:00-05:002023-12-10T13:08:22-05:00It Ate My Sister - The Audiobook - Review in USA TODAY NETWORK<p>"Binder is a skilled writer and performer, and in these stories he’s as charming as ever…" <br><em>– Alan Rosenberg, USA TODAY NETWORK</em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/75399790d74fab29b8880b8a89f90e205f0140e2/original/providence-journal-it-ate-my-sister-audio-review-cropped.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><a href="http://geni.us/SzZ" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/amazon.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on Amazon-64" height="25" /></a> <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/it-ate-my-sister/9780970264244?aid=8916" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/bookshop.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on BookShop.com-64" height="25" /></a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=-nxEAoD2OmQC&PAffiliateID=1100l9TUe" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplay.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on GooglePlayBooks-85" height="25" /></a> <a href="http://amzn.to/it_ate" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kindle.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on kindle-26" height="25" /></a> <a href="http://bit.ly/sister_kobo_l" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kobo.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on kobo-49" height="25" /></a> <a href="http://bit.ly/sister_nook_l" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/nook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on nook-62" height="25" /></a> <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/9780970264244" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/shopindie.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on shopindie-62" height="25" /></a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5GcWrOKKkvBfMiyTCpUpY6" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/spotify.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on Spotify-94" height="25" /></a> <a href="https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/582415389/It-Ate-My-Sister" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/scribd.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on scribd-115" height="25" /></a> <a href="https://shop.authors-direct.com/collections/audio-from-mark-binder-and-izzy-abrahmson/products/it-ate-my-sister" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/authorsdirect.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Audiobook on Authors Direct-86" height="25" /></a> <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/it-ate-my-sister-2" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kobo.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on kobo-49" height="25" /></a> <a href="https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/it-ate-my-sister-by-mark-binder" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/chirp.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on chirp-61" height="25" /></a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Mark_Binder_It_Ate_My_Sister?id=AQAAAEAC_xK_AM" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplayaudiobook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on GooglePlayBooks-114" height="25" /></a> <a href="https://www.storytel.com/se/sv/books/3321228" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/storytel.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on storytel-116" height="25" /></a> <a href="https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781940060606" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/librofm.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on librofm-75" height="25" /></a> <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/B0BLMFG4XG/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-328547&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_328547_rh_us" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/audible.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on Audible-60" height="25" /></a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/71159972022-12-02T16:48:41-05:002022-12-02T16:48:41-05:00Broken Candles… a new audiobook short story<p style="text-align: center;">When her parents' marriage falls apart, how will Rachel Cohen adapt?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Every year I write a Hanukkah story. This one is just out.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Click the link below to find it on Spotify, iTunes and others…<br><a contents="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/markbinder/broken-candles-feat-izzy-abrahmson" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/markbinder/broken-candles-feat-izzy-abrahmson" target="_blank">https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/markbinder/broken-candles-feat-izzy-abrahmson</a></p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/markbinder/broken-candles-feat-izzy-abrahmson" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/c6b90cb5d2d4270caa588153e9d5ed29df4d6385/original/broken-candles-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="Broken Candles Cover Image" /></a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/71138572022-11-30T11:46:04-05:002022-11-30T11:47:10-05:00December Book and Storytelling Tour Dates <p>I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a warm holiday season.</p>
<h2>Book Signings and Storytelling(s?)</h2>
<p>Come out and see me this month. I'll be signing books and telling stories all over.</p>
<ul> <li>
<strong>Book Signing</strong>, Saturday, December 3 from 10am – 3pm at the Rhode Island Authors Expo, Crowne Plaza Ballroom, Warwick, RI</li> <li>
<strong>Storytelling</strong>, Saturday, December 10 at 12:30pm – A Holiday Present at Scituate's Christmas in the Village - multicultural stories and song for all ages </li> <li>
<strong>Book Signing</strong>, Saturday, December 17 from 10:00am - 4pm at Providence Artisans Market Holiday Arts Show in the WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley St, Providence, RI</li> <li>
<strong>Book Signing</strong>, Sunday, December 18 from 10:00am - 4pm at Providence Artisans Market Holiday Arts Show in the WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley St, Providence, RI</li> <li>
<strong>Storytelling</strong>, Wednesday, December 21 at 11:00am – A Holiday Present - a multicultural celebration at Revere Public Library, 179 Beach St., Revere, MA</li>
</ul>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/55c62e4a3e350871b7fb8332271daa0b94efc5b4/original/mark-binder-izzy-reaches.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/71046542022-11-17T17:34:56-05:002022-11-17T17:40:32-05:006 Free and Low-Cost Stories for Teaching<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Thanksgiving… White Cane Awareness… Identity… and more stories for discussion and pleasure.</em></p>
<h3><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/186a5a5da04e8f61809c6052a60ac9d7e4a56769/original/holiday-present-cover.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="A Holiday Present" /></h3>
<p>Even during the best residencies, I only have a few hours with students. These are stories you (and your students) can listen to and read at your own pace. I've linked to <a contents="Spotify" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://markbinderbooks.com/spotify" target="_blank">Spotify</a> because listening to the stories won't cost you anything more than your free or already paid subscription. (Please do "follow" me there.)</p>
<p><span class="font_large"><a contents="Cinderella Spinderella" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://markbinderbooks.com/cinderella-spinderella"><strong>Cinderella Spinderella</strong></a></span> a new "spin" on a classic story (ebook for grades K-4)<br>Designed so that any child can see herself or himself in the narrative. It's NOT just about a pretty dress, but about owning your identity. We're GIVING AWAY the ebook edition to teachers to use.If you'd like students to be able to take home copies <a contents="email beth" data-link-label="" data-link-type="email" href="mailto:beth@transmitjoy.com">email beth</a>.</p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong><a contents="Lo Mein and an Egg Roll" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/7Jw8tONX0yAOi1umLy4PMK" target="_blank">Lo Mein and an Egg Roll</a> </strong></span>What is it like to be blind? (Spotify audio, grades 3-12, 29 minutes.)<br>In honor of national White Cane Awareness day, I wrote and recorded this story. It's a long and immersive story, and will provoke a lively discussion. </p>
<p><a contents="My Grandfather's Fish" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6mBSpo7uC9e38ztZWUDW71?si=Ngl-ZzbsQoGYkAEs876vXQ" target="_blank"><strong><span class="font_large">My Grandfather's Fish</span></strong></a>: An Explosive Thanksgiving Disaster<br>(11 min audio on Spotify, grades 3-8) Lots of things NOT to do in this story. A fun story before the holiday.</p>
<p><a contents="Winter Blessings&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://books2read.com/winter-blessings" target="_blank"><span class="font_large"><strong>Winter Blessings</strong></span> </a>- Hanukkah Stories (book and audiobook. All grades.)<br>Whether you're Jewish or not, these stories are fun and educational. The emphasis in the book is on humor and warm relationships. Possible questions include: What's your favorite holiday food? Are Hanukkah presents a good idea? </p>
<p><strong><span class="font_large"><a contents="Jody Makes a Friend" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/track/7eEGPp4sdOayS7AkqVeE0n?si=2e78fdd64fa44d38">Jody Makes a Friend</a> • <a contents="Jody Listens" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/track/4XB2i4S2OafLtSsLduxJR2?si=5ecece95a478418d">Jody Listens</a></span></strong> Two gender-neutral short stories<br>(Spotify audio 2.5 minutes each - simple stories but with discussion for all ages)<br>Several years ago, all my stories were about boys, girls or animals. These two are deliberately non-gender specific, BUT they're not about that. Suggest that you not tell students in advance and see what their reactions are.</p>
<p><span class="font_large"><a contents="A Kwanzaa Surprise" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/track/7w5Qs64PrdXoqebuXLIEco?si=0c40d377d7a04b9a" target="_blank">A Kwanzaa Surprise</a></span> Sometimes presents aren't guaranteed…<br>(Spotify Audio 6 min. Elementary) Holidays can be challenging. You'll appreciate how this story ends.<br> </p>
<p><strong><span class="font_large">Please keep me posted!</span></strong><br>If you come up with an awesome lesson plan, will you share it with me?<br><a contents="Email to mark@markbinder.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="email" href="mailto:mark@markbinder.com">Email to mark@markbinder.com</a></p>
<p> </p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/71010592022-11-12T15:02:15-05:002022-11-17T16:15:21-05:00Lo Mein and an Egg Roll - What's it like to be blind?<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://found.ee/white-cane" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/090d7d1a7f05108cef7b11fbe00c0b215665f57c/original/lo-mein-and-an-egg-roll-smaller.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="Lo Mein and an Egg Roll" /></a></p>
<h3><a contents="Listen to the story on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, GooglePlay and more…" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://found.ee/white-cane" target="_blank">Listen to the story on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, GooglePlay and more…</a></h3>
<p>More than a decade a go, I almost went blind. I was wearing contact lenses at the beach and either grit from the sand or a batch of bad lenses abraded my eyes. </p>
<p>The doctor freaked out, and my brand new girlfriend, Heather, was forced to put goopy antibiotic into my eyes twice a day. I had to keep my eyes bandaged for several days. </p>
<p>I didn't tell anyone, because it was hard enough being terrified of going blind without having to manage the worry of my parents or kids. </p>
<p>Fortunately, within a few days the doctor gave me the ok, and I was able to squint in darkened rooms. I remember thinking how much of a difference just a little bit of vision made in navigating the world. And fortunately, my sight was completely restored. (Though I'm still not wearing contacts.) </p>
<p>Recently I was invited to tell stories for a White Cane Awareness Day event in the Garden City Plaza. </p>
<p>Organized by a number of government and non-profits that support the visually impaired and blind, it was an inspiring event. </p>
<p>I took on the challenge of creating a story for them that would work for both blind and seeing people. </p>
<p>This story is the result. I didn't end up performing the whole piece - it's just too long for a crowd on folding chairs in the middle of an outdoor shopping mall. </p>
<p>But I hope you'll enjoy it. </p>
<p>- Mark</p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/70897552022-10-27T10:33:58-04:002022-10-27T10:52:12-04:00Cinderella Spinderella - at StoryFest<p>It was a cold day in Providence. Winds were gusting at 20 mph. But the audience kept warm by laughing and listening.</p>
<p>Listen to <strong>Cinderella Spinderella</strong>, one of my personal favorites - and watch for the moment the tent nearly blows away!</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="rozcN2-cvsc" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/rozcN2-cvsc/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rozcN2-cvsc?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p> </p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/70816332022-10-14T16:15:46-04:002022-10-14T16:15:46-04:00KPFT Radio Interview - What's Your Story<p>I've enjoyed several interviews with Erik Heen for the What's Your Story radio show.</p>
<p>We discussed StoryFest, the It Ate My Sister audiobook and more. It's always interesting to capture a story that has visual effects in an audio-only medium.</p>
<p><a contents="You can listen to the latest here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.houstonstorytellers.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/kpft_220928_180000whatsmystorya.mp3" target="_blank">You can listen to the latest here</a> (The interview and stories start about 40 seconds in).</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/237ed364c4524ee1426547472937d898e3e30693/original/whatsyourstory.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/70346272022-08-10T06:23:16-04:002022-09-11T19:57:39-04:00STORYFEST 22 - October 1 - in Providence - free fun for all ages<p>Come see the amazing Bill Harley, the zany Keith Munslow, the elegant Raffini and the enthusiastic Marlon Carey - and me at STORYFEST 22</p>
<p>It's October 1 from noon until dusk in Providence. Free tickets are at <a contents="americanstorytheater.org" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://americanstorytheater.org" target="_blank">americanstorytheater.org</a></p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="The American Story Theater" data-link-type="page" href="/the-american-story-theater" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/0194e7ada271cbc00bf9ed07d25414411ad138e9/original/instagram-storyfest.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/70170692022-07-18T13:06:50-04:002022-07-18T13:07:16-04:00Winter is coming… (We wish!) …and an award!<p>It's hot outside, so perhaps reading some cool stories from #TheVillageLife will make your day.</p>
<p><strong><a contents="Winter Blessings" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://books2read.com/winter-blessings" target="_blank">Winter Blessings</a></strong> is set in the winter (gasp!). Yes, it's set around the holiday of Hanukkah. And YES, you'll enjoy reading it even now.</p>
<p>Plus, we won an Idie Book Award Silver/Finalist Medal!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/cff1b1fdde809a3181843cd55c25c964b657e2cf/original/winter-blessing-indie-book-award.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/69807092022-05-26T18:43:38-04:002022-06-24T13:57:16-04:00A few fun images from past performances<h3>WaterFire Storytelling</h3>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/0a15e4d89ae99ed86ced1bbbc42890cbbd9777b7/original/waterfire-binder-lighter.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="Mark at WaterFire" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/00c80fe36c91e1dddda464e7fa1be51c3df92520/original/waterfireall42.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/b25adf8c6cd85e784c8ac9845482e366476efd24/original/south-school-tall.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/69689332022-05-11T17:12:49-04:002022-05-24T14:47:52-04:00Awesome recommendations for School Programs<p>It's been great to get back on the road. And gratifying that my programs have been appreciated.</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="Cb_K48cZ_4w" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/Cb_K48cZ_4w/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cb_K48cZ_4w?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="fCuBlkksZNM" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/fCuBlkksZNM/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fCuBlkksZNM?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p> </p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/69106252022-03-01T13:39:33-05:002022-03-18T08:51:33-04:00Back on tour: live and in person!<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/9b8155bc97dfa8e091ce9d6d1af982e9dc4cd80d/original/writing-workshopjpg.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_thin" alt="" />Yesterday I had the pleasure to stand in front of a library full of students and share my work in person. And then I got to do it again. And again!</p>
<p>Grades? Sessions for 6-8, 3-5, K-2, and the splendid preschoolers!</p>
<p>It was wonderful being out in the world. Wonderful to rediscover the things that I know to be true:</p>
<ul> <li>Storytelling connects people of all ages.</li> <li>Storytelling transmits joy</li> <li>Storytelling inspires and delights</li>
</ul>
<p>Thank you so much for having me @StPhilipSchool in Johnston, RI</p>
<p> </p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/68767802022-01-22T08:25:10-05:002022-01-22T08:26:29-05:00Cinderella Spinderella - The Story Behind the Story, Audio and Lesson Plan, Book, and more<h4>Since I can't tour widely, I wanted to share this story with you in a variety of forms…</h4>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="Cinderella Spinderella" data-link-type="page" href="/cinderella-spinderella"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/ff072968d83095627f5613054067dcf9e760c251/original/cinderella-front-cover-web-hi-res.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" style="margin: 10px;" /></a>My second summer as a storyteller, I had two important gigs: ReadBoston, which was Mayor Menino's literacy program, and Shake-A-Leg, now called Sail to Prevail, a summer camp in Newport that taught youngsters with disabilities how to sail boats. </p>
<p>At the time, I didn't have any stories that featured kids in wheelchairs…</p>
<h3>For more, please go to this page: <a contents="Cinderella Spinderella" data-link-label="Cinderella Spinderella" data-link-type="page" href="/cinderella-spinderella">Cinderella Spinderella</a>
</h3>
<p><!-- End Cinderella, Spinderella - eBook Buy Buttons --></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/68714602022-01-17T10:40:40-05:002022-02-05T20:11:49-05:00Why NOT on Amazon?<p>Back in the age of paper, when I was a kid, I used to love going into the bookstore and browsing. Shelf after shelf of possibilities. In those days there weren't so many different sections. There was nonfiction, fiction, mystery and sometimes Science Fiction.</p>
<p>While some bookstores still survive, most books in this country are sold on Amazon. While the monster company started with books, it really doesn't care about books. They'll be happy to sell you anything. Looking for a book? Buy a pair of shoes.</p>
<p>Plus, for craft publishers and authors like myself, Amazon actually prints the books in their warehouses, so not only do they make the money off the sale, but they also make money as a printer and distributor.</p>
<p>Finally, the experience of "shopping" for a book on Amazon is brutally unattractive. In an old school bookstore, you can glance at a dozen books in a moment. You can take in an entire shelf of books in a minute or two. You can look at covers, find authors, and move on. Amazon is all about click. Click. Click. Click…</p>
<p>So, while many of my books are available for sale on Amazon (See: <a contents="https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Binder/e/B001JS3S9M/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Binder/e/B001JS3S9M/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Binder/e/B001JS3S9M/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1</a> ) I take a perverse pleasure in NOT offering everything on their website. </p>
<p>The look of delight on the faces of shoppers at book signings is palpable. </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="Seagull" data-link-type="page" href="/seagull"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/095598a356be8bb48a7807da2f1b9559a0686d8e/original/cover-v1-a-seagull-a-winnebago.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_right border_none" alt="The Seagull - Cover" style="margin: 5px;" /></a>Which is why I'm NOT giving Amazon my new book, THE SEAGULL, THE NEW YORK SYSTEM, A WINNEBAGO, AND THE BIG BLUE BUGS.</p>
<h2><a contents="Get your copy today" data-link-label="Seagull" data-link-type="page" href="/seagull" style="">Get your copy today</a></h2>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/68568872022-01-01T19:47:48-05:002022-01-01T19:48:29-05:00Transmit Joy 2022 Tour (live and virtual)<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/c8f9563732d16b081de38c84bfe1b2c089ca0b2d/original/pxl-20211204-174012390-portrait.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="Live!" style="margin-right: 35px; margin-left: 35px;" />Tired of sheltering in place? Bored with video, corporate culture, and isolation?</p>
<p>When people come together in a room (both in person and "virtually") they create a unique experience that is vivid and joyful.</p>
<p>Lately I've been grateful for opportunities to perform again and share my stories.</p>
<p>I hope you'll invite me to your community, organization or refer the people who make those decisions to me or my agent, <a contents="Beth Hellman" data-link-label="" data-link-type="email" href="mailto:beth@markbinderbooks.com">Beth Hellman</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">You can check out </p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a contents="Performances" data-link-label="Performance" data-link-type="page" href="/performance">Performances</a> • <a contents="School Residencies" data-link-label="Schools" data-link-type="page" href="/schools">School Residencies</a> • <a contents="Tour Dates" data-link-label="Tour" data-link-type="page" href="/tour">Tour Dates</a>
</h3>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/50b75453d63ea50a9c200ff4a48a7d46b705b728/original/transmit-joy-logo-1.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_right border_none" alt="Transmit Joy" style="margin-right: 35px; margin-left: 35px;" /></p>
<p> </p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/66889762021-07-15T14:42:11-04:002021-07-23T09:17:34-04:00A Village Romance - now available<p><em>We've rebooted, "The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul" as <strong>A Village Romance. </strong></em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/ad426c2f74bb641a7b928e23cd866be6fde3b22c/original/a-village-romance-front-cover-medium-res.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="A Village Romance - Book Cover" style="margin: 5px;" />She owns the only restaurant. He’s the wisest man in the village. Together, they make an unlikely and lovable pair. From the Audie Award nominated author of the National Jewish Book Award Finalist, Winter Blessings. </p>
<p>“The lethal latkes is not a murder mystery.” <em>– The New York Times </em></p>
<p>“Village stories that deftly lift a curtain on a world of friendly humor and touching details of Jewish life.” –<em> Kirkus Reviews </em></p>
<p>"joyful charm… troubled congregants… warm relationships, and the power of women" – <em>Audiofile Magazine </em></p>
<p>Weddings and celebrations, stories of Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah, and Passover, and of course delicious food. It is time for a new generation of readers to discover the unorthodox wisdom of Rabbi Kibbitz and the savory sense of Mrs. Chaipul. </p>
<p>Izzy Abrahmson is an undiscovered genius of delightful fiction. Readers of all backgrounds will be captivated by his lighthearted take on Jewish village life. In interviews, he sometimes says this is his family's history, and sometimes says he made it all up "from whispers and smiles." The characters are so vivid that you'll instantly love them. Each chapter story is a gem, woven into "a novel of stories." </p>
<p>“A Village Romance will almost certainly make you laugh and might even cause you to shed a tear.” – Jewish Rhode Island </p>
<p>More good press about Izzy Abrahmson's Village Life Series </p>
<p>"Delightful and whimsical.” – <em>Jewish Herald Voice</em></p>
<p>“Wired Words/Electric Prose” – <em>Providence Phoenix</em></p>
<p>“the mix-ups are many and the potential for laughter abundant.” – <em>Jewish Book World </em><!-- Begin A Village Romance Buy Buttons --></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Purchase A VILLAGE ROMANCE Now!</strong></p><!-- Begin A Village Romance Buy Buttons -->
<p> <a href="https://smashwords.com/books/view/1094434" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/smashwords.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Get it on Smashwords-logo" height="50" width="174" /></a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=M3E4EAAAQBAJ" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplay.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay-logo" height="50" width="170" /></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B099J6VHN2?tag=markbinderboo-20" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/amazon.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on amazon-logo" height="50" width="128" /></a> <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-village-romance/id1576669744?ls=1" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/applebooks.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read it on Apple Books-logo" height="50" width="179" /></a> Don't see your favorite platform? <a contents="Click here for more options" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://books2read.com/village-romance" target="_blank">Click here for more options</a><!-- End A Village Romance Buy Buttons --></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/65931952021-04-03T13:10:46-04:002021-12-22T06:37:17-05:00Meet Izzy<p>Hello!</p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://markbinderbooks.com/izzy"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/4bc9bc14e304820e0c7e886c594427ebaecca8b3/original/izzy-headshot-3.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" /></a>I'm Izzy Abrahmson, Mark Binder's alter ego. As you may know, Mark's written books and stories about a small village for many years. We recently realized that the computers hated this fact. Yes, it's true. Computers don't like things that aren't simple. </p>
<p>So rather than try and explain everything in machine language, I got born. I'm the guy who will be writing and telling stories about what we're calling The Village. In the next few weeks, all of the existing books under Mark's name will be pulled from circulation and reissued (with a few tweaks) under mine. </p>
<p>I've also got two more novels already written…</p>
<p>Please take a moment to sign up for my own separate newsletter</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="320" scrolling="no" src="https://izzyabrahmson.substack.com/embed" style="border:1px solid #EEE; background:white;" width="480"></iframe></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/65799202021-03-20T11:09:58-04:002021-12-18T15:54:23-05:00Rebooting my newsletter…<h2>Changing the way I communicate…</h2>
<p>Over the years I've experimented with many newsletters. I began with Grinning Into The Millennium, which ran from 1998 to 2001. The past few years I've been doing mostly "fan/customer" emails. Now it's time to try something different. I'm using Substack, the controversial email system - <a contents="https://markbinderbooks.substack.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://markbinderbooks.substack.com" target="_blank">https://markbinderbooks.substack.com</a><br>Sign up to find out more. <iframe frameborder="0" height="320" scrolling="no" src="https://markbinderbooks.substack.com/embed" style="border:1px solid #EEE; background:white;" width="480"></iframe></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/65405042021-02-05T12:17:46-05:002022-05-17T21:59:37-04:00THE RACE - extended run<p>We got so many great reviews on the show that it was extended through February 7.</p>
<p>If you haven't had a chance to see it, check it <a contents="out&nbsp;https://thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html" target="_blank">https://thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html</a></p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/76816e5b37b9eca177b08f98eba45e591ea9ec3b/original/the-race-extended-handbill.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/65218052021-01-15T13:19:47-05:002021-07-31T15:36:44-04:00Opening Night Jitters (THE RACE tour diary)<p>As my first produced play in 3 decades (yowza) this isn't exactly the way I pictured it. No backstage jitters and nervous laughter with the cast. No peeking in at the audience in their seats. No celebratory drinks after the show at the theater's bar. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/d923bead53c565c4a14529781ec2e2a11b02768d/original/joseph-black-joseph-white.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" />And yet, it is a real thrill to be able to inspire and be part of the creation of a work of theater that is written specifically for this moment. </p>
<p>No, we can't gather. The only sound of someone unwrapping a hard candy will be your spouse. The communal experience will be mitigated, although the talk-backs after will help to connect the audience. </p>
<p>But that frisson as you enter the lobby. That uncertainty. The balancing act. The inexorable drawing into the narrative and lives of the characters. </p>
<p>All that is ready and waiting for you to experience. And while, yes, it's being recorded, we have no intention of releasing it for a large multinational corporation to profit from. (Unless someone wants to make an exceedingly generous financial offer, in which case, I'll refer you to my agent.) </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I hope you'll join us tonight -- or at any of the other showings of THE RACE (Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm, Sundays at 2pm (EST) through January 31.) <br><span class="font_large"><a contents="Get ticket here -&nbsp;https://www.thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html" target="_blank">Get ticket here - https://www.thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html</a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I truly appreciate the work of the actors: Rodney Eric López, Jim O'Brien and Jennifer Mischley, the director,Brien Lang, music composer Nikita Zabinski and Stage manager Allison Marchetti. </p>
<p>Thanks to Josh Short and The Wilbury Theatre Group for giving me the chance to play in the sandbox again. </p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/65064192020-12-23T15:57:12-05:002020-12-23T16:22:00-05:00Tour Dates and Og and Marsha vs. The Demons - a winter story for young and old<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/079edb88de16c0bf82d4e64cea480cda322fecbf/original/og-and-marsha-vs-demons-cover.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" /><span class="font_large">You've met Og and Marsha, haven't you?</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Well, this story is both prehistoric and contemporary.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Listen on <a contents="Spotify" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/10r2tOftE28ANRGPmXlFFM">Spotify</a>, <a contents="Apple Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/og-and-marsha-vs-the-demons-single/1545480916?uo=4">Apple Music</a>, and <a contents="Amazon" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08QYLF1Q2">Amazon</a></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">TOUR DATES</span></p>
<ul> <li><span class="font_regular"><a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6dBEN4ehfqxkfGz5r9XCXD"><strong>Chinatown for Chanukah</strong></a> on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/6dBEN4ehfqxkfGz5r9XCXD</span></li> <li><span class="font_regular">Listen to, Chinatown for Chanukah on East London Radio,'s Talking Stories program… <a href="https://www.mixcloud.com/EastLondonRadio/talking-stories-46/">https://www.mixcloud.com/EastLondonRadio/talking-stories-46/</a></span></li> <li><span class="font_regular"><strong>Virtually Live Storytelling: Holiday Tales at New England Folk Festival Online</strong><br> Sunday 12/27 at 7pm Register for free at <a href="https://bit.ly/neffa-2020">https://bit.ly/neffa-2020</a></span></li> <li><span class="font_regular"><strong>Virtually Live Storytelling: Story Blowout 2020</strong><br> An all day storytelling event starting at 10:30 am, curated by Artists Standing Strong Together. I'm on at 5pm sharp (ish) - Info and registration <a href="http://at%C2%A0https://www.artistsstandingstrongtogether.net/upcoming-events">at https://www.artistsstandingstrongtogether.net/upcoming-events</a></span></li> <li><span class="font_regular"><strong>THE RACE</strong> - an play set in the Zoom Space. Produced by The Wilbury Theater Group - New dates: Friday and Saturdays 7pm, Sundays, 2pm January 15-31 Tickets are coming, info at: <a href="https://www.thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html">https://www.thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html</a></span></li>
</ul>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/64812312020-11-19T10:39:19-05:002020-11-19T22:00:31-05:00The Race - a new play (in workshop) - December 4 and 6<p>This summer I got so frustrated watching Zoom performances that ignored reality. They weren't making a live theater. </p>
<p>I began to imagine.… THE RACE</p>
<p>Joseph Black and Joseph White are interviewing for the same position. At the same time. On Zoom. </p>
<p>I invite you to join us for The Wilbury Theater Group's world premier workshop production, directed by Brien Lang and starring Jim O'Brien, Rodney Eric López, and Jennifer Mischley.</p>
<p>For more information and tickets visit <a contents="https://www.thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html" target="_blank">https://www.thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html</a></p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.thewilburygroup.org/the-race.html" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/0e4c4b0890dfcc2606ab79b3964878ba192b83f4/original/the-race-rehearsal-screenshot.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.png" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="" /></a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/64812162020-11-19T10:27:12-05:002020-11-19T22:18:24-05:00Visit Groston, circa 2018<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://gum.co/groston" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/027ec1ce7d33d8f5b68ebc05d4f91d306ea18834/original/shop-independent-groston.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="Shop Independent" style="margin: 5px;" /></a>"When I began writing, THE GROSTON RULES was contemporary.<br>Now? I think it qualifies as historical fiction. Recent and still relevant, but perhaps a bit nostalgic. </p>
<p>Adam, Isaac, and Charlie are dealing with problems of college admissions and climate change, not Coronavirus. </p>
<p>They can hang out with different people every day, and go to an (illicit) rave with only the fear of getting caught by their parents.</p>
<p>And they have the privilege of boycotting a real-live and in person prom.</p>
<p>"Reading THE GROSTON RULES is like eating a great meal at a restaurant. Twice."<br><a contents="Learn more" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://markbinderbooks.com/groston">Learn more</a></p>
<p> <a href="https://checkout.square.site/buy/SXA7AJHPK5E3SQEIAEJVQYDB" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/squareup.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy with Square-logo" height="50" width="185" /></a> <a href="https://gumroad.com/l/groston" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/gumroad.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it on Gumroad-logo" height="50" width="161" /></a> <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1016142" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/smashwords.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Get it on Smashwords-logo" height="50" width="174" /></a> <a href="https://google.prf.hn/click/camref:1100leRRZ/pubref:Groston/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fplay.google.com%2Fstore%2Fbooks%2Fdetails%3Fid%3DISBN_9781940060408" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplay.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay-logo" height="50" width="170" /></a> <a href="https://geni.us/groston-amazon" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/amazon.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on amazon-logo" height="50" width="128" /></a> <a href="https://geni.us/groston_amazonk" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kindle.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kindle-logo" height="50" width="51" /></a> <a href="https://geni.us/groston-ibooks" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/applebooks.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read it on Apple Books-logo" height="50" width="179" /></a> <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-groston-rules" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kobo.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kobo-logo" height="50" width="97" /></a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-groston-rules-mark-binder/1137634184?ean=2940162717447" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/nook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it for nook-logo" height="50" width="123" /></a> <!-- End The Groston Rules Buy Buttons --></p>
<p> </p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/64673822020-10-31T09:59:19-04:002021-05-07T03:36:42-04:00It was a dark and stormy night… (VIDEO)<p>Happy Halloween!</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="vimeo" data-video-id="474134446" data-video-thumb-url="https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/985759176_295x166.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/474134446" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320"></iframe></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/64545452020-10-19T10:10:00-04:002020-10-19T10:20:04-04:00Trick or Treat Alternatives<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/c24b6898f88b94b57c9bf274f9a508ac5f6b60be/original/fat-charlie-and-the-witch-live-cover-web2.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" />I'm as disappointed as you that Halloween is cancelled. Yes, parents of some children will arrange for limited contact trick-or-treating, but we're not, as some people suggest, going to be putting out a bowl full of candy! </p>
<p>That reminds me too much of my story, "Fat Charlie and the Witch." Every year, the witch puts a big bowl of candy on her front porch with a sign, "Take whatever you want. But eat whatever you take."</p>
<p>One year, my best friend Charlie (I had a lot of best friends in those days) dumped the whole bowl into his bag with disastrous results.</p>
<p>I invite you to read that story in the book, <b>THE ZOMBIE CAT</b> and share it with your family. It's appropriate for all ages, though a bit on the revolting side. </p>
<p>There are also audio versions floating around on the web, as well as a forthcoming live version that should hit Spotify in the next few days. Links will go here when they come in.</p>
<p>I also invite you to become a Patron. If you were a patron, you would have already received access to the live Fat Charlie story and more. Patrons help support the work – and get rewards for doing so. It's sort of like a beneficent fan club. Or a way of feeling like royalty, but without having to worry about being thrown into The Tower. </p>
<h4>Anyone who becomes a patron between now and Halloween will get a free ebook edition of THE ZOMBIE CAT!</h4>
<p>Click on one of the links below to get THE ZOMBIE CAT, or to become a patron.</p>
<p><a href="http://patreon.com/markbinderbooks/" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/patreon.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Become my patron-logo" height="50" width="273" /></a> <!-- Begin The Zombie Cat Buy Buttons --> <a href="https://gumroad.com/l/zombiecat" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/gumroad.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it on Gumroad-logo" height="50" width="161" /></a> <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/the-zombie-cat-spooky-fun-misadventures/9781940060224?aid=8916" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/bookshop.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on Bookshop-logo" height="50" width="128" /></a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Mark_Binder_The_Zombie_Cat?id=8gFqDgAAQBAJ" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplay.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay-logo" height="50" width="170" /></a> <a href="http://geni.us/zombieamazon" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/amazon.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on amazon-logo" height="50" width="128" /></a> <a href="http://geni.us/zombiekindle" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kindle.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kindle-logo" height="50" width="51" /></a> " target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/applebooks.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read it on Apple Books-logo" height="50" width="179" /> <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781940060224" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/shopindie.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it on Indiebound-logo" height="50" width="123" /></a> <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-zombie-cat" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kobo.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kobo-logo" height="50" width="97" /></a> <a href="https://www.follettlearning.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/follett.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it from Follett-logo" height="50" width="175" /></a> <!-- End The Zombie Cat Buy Buttons --></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/64484462020-10-03T12:13:16-04:002020-10-03T17:55:05-04:00Are We There Yet? (Part One) a serialized audiobook short<h2>A multi-part serialization (in progress)</h2>
<p>This is the first installment of a serial.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/0e537f5faa34c1bf5a37d2a5ed51570ea75dd6c6/original/are-we-there-yet-cover-part-one-rebound.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>#audiobook #audiobookshort #serial #serialization #LifeDuringCovid #fatherandson #family #yoga #parenting #onlineschool #virtualschool </p>10:06Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/64418752020-09-24T11:53:18-04:002020-09-24T11:53:18-04:00Live with Simon Brooks<p>Last Friday I had the pleasure of being a guest on Simon Brooks' "Friday with Friends" show.</p>
<p>Simon's an awesome storyteller and worth checking out at <a contents="https://www.diamondscree.com/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.diamondscree.com/" target="_blank">https://www.diamondscree.com/</a>. Here's the video</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="SeVhiiIIJoY" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/SeVhiiIIJoY/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SeVhiiIIJoY?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/64312412020-09-23T00:10:00-04:002022-05-17T22:02:56-04:00Coming November 8… THE GROSTON RULES<h2><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/f4c1c8b4c332a0bb845086f7faae3b9ffe2a36f4/original/groston-rules-front-cover-border.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="The Groston Rules Book Cover" />What happens when they shut down your school?</h2>
<p>Isaac, Adam, Helen, Charlie, Sean, Jésus and Rover had planned on coasting through their final semester at Ashby Bryson High. They called themselves Team Bomb Shelter, and their plan was simple, get stoned, play video games, get into college, and get the hell out of Groston. </p>
<p>Instead, they get caught up in chaos.</p>
<p>The last straw is when Ashby Bryson High School is suddenly shut down, and they’re bussed to Fectville Regional, which sucks. </p>
<p>But every time Team Bomb Shelter gets knocked down, they get up again, come together, and solve their problems. They throw the rules out the window and make up their own. </p>
<p>THE GROSTON RULES is like a humorous buddy war movie, with high school as the battlefield. Everyone in Team Bomb Shelter has their own challenges, but by working together, they overcome and ultimately triumph. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><a contents="PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://squareup.com/store/markbinderbooks/item/the-groston-rules-a-ya-novel" target="_blank">PREORDER YOUR SIGNED COPY TODAY</a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Advance Praise for THE GROSTON RULES: </strong></p>
<p>“A group of high schoolers deals with mishaps and disasters six months before graduation in this coming-of-age novel.... Immensely likable characters on an enthralling and entertaining journey.”<br><em>– Kirkus Reviews</em></p>
<h4>Written in 2018 • The first novel to be serialized on Spotify • (NO it's not Covid!)<br><strong>382 Pages with 40 Bookplates</strong>
</h4>
<p>><!-- Begin The Groston Rules Buy Buttons --></p>
<p> <a href="https://squareup.com/store/markbinderbooks/item/the-groston-rules-a-ya-novel" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/squareup.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy with Square-logo" height="50" width="185" /></a> <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1016142" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/smashwords.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Get it on Smashwords-logo" height="50" width="174" /></a> <a href="https://geni.us/groston_amazonk" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kindle.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kindle-logo" height="50" width="51" /></a> <a href="" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/applebooks.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read it on Apple Books-logo" height="50" width="179" /></a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=V-_cDwAAQBAJ" target="_blank"><img src="https://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplay.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay-logo" height="50" width="170" /></a> <!-- End The Groston Rules Buy Buttons --></p>5:10Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/64350222020-09-16T11:45:01-04:002021-08-14T04:06:47-04:00How the Bagel Got Its Name - an audiobook short<p style="text-align: center;">I had a dream that Julie Andrews was making a television show about my bagel story…<br>But I hadn't written one yet. So when I woke up…</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/aec69ffe61c9ea0ec5a0926b7a5d1ccb7797c27b/original/how-the-bagel-cover-image-web.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>#audiobook #audibookshort #roshhashanah #yomkippur #jewishholidays #bagel #bread #chelm</p>
<p> </p>8:31Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/64338662020-09-15T04:40:41-04:002020-10-21T01:10:27-04:00Premier: The World's First Zoom eBook @ Digital Book World 2020<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.digitalbookworld.com/"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/65a0a5c1ec2049da5767f26939cba4334d841c1a/original/dbw-2020-logo-1.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="Digital Book World 2020" style="margin: 5px;" /></a>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</p>
<p>At 3pm Central time, author, storyteller, playwright and craft publisher Mark Binder will perform the world's first Zoom eBook at Digital Book World. The whimsical autobiographical talk will spiral around the subject of "How technology and distribution spark creativity".</p>
<p>"It's going to be an informative and (hopefully) entertaining whirlwind," Mark explained. "Changing technology has always influenced my process: from my first Mac 512 and MacPaint through <em>The Brothers Schlemiel</em> and <em>Cinderella Spinderella</em> to forthcoming release of <em>The Groston Rules."</em></p>
<p>For information and to register, visit <a contents="https://www.digitalbookworld.com/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.digitalbookworld.com/" target="_blank">https://www.digitalbookworld.com/</a></p>0:43Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/63724752020-07-01T12:29:32-04:002020-08-11T07:49:39-04:00Just Released - Limited Edition - Story Concert for Your Home.<h2>
<strong>Just released!<br>Mark Binder 2020</strong>, a live "story concert" for the whole family.</h2>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/76802c20a751398ee6c54c11cc33a3e0fbaffa49/original/summer-2020-cover.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" />Every summer, Mark tells stories. This is the ONLY way you can hear him perform live. A 45 minute program the whole family will enjoy.</p>
<h3><a contents="Enjoy Summer 2020 Today" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://Enjoy%20Summer%202020%20Today" target="_blank">Enjoy Summer 2020 Today</a></h3>
<p>Includes a BONUS companion book</p>
<h3>Review from <em>The Providence Journal</em>
</h3>
<blockquote>
<p>During a normal summer, Rhode Island storyteller Mark Binder would be out doing his usual shows at camps, summer schools and community centers. But this pandemic summer is different. </p>
<p>So Binder has issued a collection of five original stories, recorded over the years in various venues. The ones where you can’t tell there’s an audience sound the most professional — but the ones with that “live” feeling have a wonderful charm, with children shouting answers and singing at key moments, prompted by Binder. </p>
<p>The stories themselves are eclectic: a Cinderella who uses a wheelchair (glass slippers aren’t practical for dancing, after all, but they’re perfect if you’re sitting); a version of “Stone Soup” set at Valley Forge; and the true story of Binder’s son Max, who hated pizza. </p>
<p>And then there’s the tall tale of Erika P. Spunk (the “p” stands for prudence, of which she had none), a circus performer with a sturdy and useful umbrella; and Binder’s cousin Adam, who survives a tsunami at Scarborough Beach with admirable style. </p>
<p>It’s all a lot of fun. Binder is a masterful performer, his voice swooping and diving, his characters coming alive. </p>
<p>And if you’d like to see and read them, purchasers of the book can email for a bonus 99-page e-book with the same stories; the “Cinderella Spinderella” tale is nicely illustrated by Steve Mardo. You can get both books at<a contents=" https://gum.co/summer2020" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://gum.co/summer2020" target="_blank"> https://gum.co/summer2020</a></p>
</blockquote>1:49Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/62704592020-04-03T10:59:57-04:002021-08-11T06:21:43-04:00Storytelling and the Pause<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/247a88738e8eb1051379018745a38213cb1df277/original/mark-binder-and-a-danish-gargoyle-web.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="Mark Binder and the Danish Gargoyle" style="margin: 5px;" />As you know, professional live face to face storytelling has stopped. </p>
<p>I was fortunate enough to get through 2/3 of a world tour before the shutdown.</p>
<p>This is an article was just published in the UK storytelling Magazine Facts and Fiction. You can subscribe here: <a contents="https://petecastle.co.uk/fandf/enter" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://petecastle.co.uk/fandf/enter/" target="_blank">https://petecastle.co.uk/fandf/enter/ </a></p>
<h3>Storytelling and The Pause </h3>
<p><em>by Mark Binder </em></p>
<p><span class="font_large">On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, I received word that my live storytelling career had been put into a medically induced coma.</span> </p>
<p>I was in Copenhagen on tour, and had just finished a lovely dinner with my son, when news came that the government of Denmark was closing everything. The school workshops I had planned were cancelled. An evening performance at a small spoken-word venue was cancelled. The money that would have covered that part of the trip evaporated. </p>
<p>All day Thursday, I wandered around Copenhagen, trying not to feel sorry for myself. The Viking Museum was closed. My son was busy dealing with the cancellation of his study abroad program. It was windy and cold. I wanted to want to get drunk, but didn’t. By Friday we were both headed home, hoping not to catch the virus on the airplane. </p>
<p>Storytelling, the way I’ve practiced, it isn’t just another word for making a film or writing a book or selling you a product. It’s a live and in-person experience that’s distinct from theatrical monologue, solo performance art, or comedy. </p>
<p>I stand at the front of a room. I look out at the audience, and pick from a list of about 200 stories in my head, the best and most appropriate tale for that moment. </p>
<p>It’s magical. The audience vanishes. I vanish. All that exists is the story, created with words and imagination. </p>
<p>That whole experience is, for the forseeable future, dead and gone. </p>
<p>I’ve heard the siren song that whispers, “video streaming…” and “Instagram… Zoom… Facebook Live.” </p>
<p>But it’s a crock. While I’m sure that there are nimble and facile tellers out there who will adopt this new form and make it breathe – and perhaps I will even figure out a way to join them — it’s just not the same. </p>
<p>If I’m honest, one of the reasons my storytelling worked was because there was no competition. In the moment of telling, I’M THE ONE IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM. People would come to see me. Or at least to see storytelling. </p>
<p>And I rewarded them by being engaging and entertaining. I’m not a traditional teller. I didn’t grow up in an oral culture. Although my stories could be educational, I usually don’t have an agenda, or even a moral. </p>
<p>It wasn’t high art. Occasionally, it was deep, but honestly… my mission was to Transmit Joy with words. </p>
<p>I told “Three pigs” to preschoolers, “The Zombie Cat” at summer camps, and “Goldilocks and the Three Bubbes” to senior citizens. I frequently convinced ninth graders that a giant slug ate my sister. </p>
<p>Once, at a “true stories” event, an audience of adults gasped when they heard me confess to murdering my on father with a nail gun. (Then, they were furious, when they realized that the “true” part was the frame at the very beginning when I had said, “My therapist told me to kill my father, so I wrote this story…”) </p>
<p>For me, the juice was in that moment of suspension when the crowd of young and old, black and white and yellow and brown and red, rich and poor all become enmeshed in the story. The bonus was that storytelling brought diverse audiences of all ages together in a shared experience that was indescribable. </p>
<p>But it was live. Face-to-face. And intimate. </p>
<p>Not a bunch of people in different rooms staring through their screens at my head. </p>
<p>The virus has put the whole thing on pause. Maybe it’s finished. </p>
<p>No, of course storytelling won’t die. If everything falls apart, I guarantee that those of us who survive will be telling stories (and singing songs) around campfires. </p>
<p>Honestly, I can’t believe that I’ve managed to get paid for the past twenty years of speaking. They call that “imposter” syndrome. But recently, I realized that my children all grew up knowing that their father was a writer and “professional storyteller.” So it must be true. </p>
<p>But mass gatherings? Audiences that pay to be in an enclosed space with strangers? Before The Pause, our society was already heavily invested in home entertainment. We spent thousands on video screens, laptops, tablets and hundreds a month to pay for phone and internet services, games, and streaming subscriptions. We spent more time “connecting” on social media and less time reading. We already spent days binge watching on the couch. </p>
<p>Even before The Pause, those of us who told stories saw our audiences dwindle. </p>
<p>I have been so fortunate. Thousands of performances for hundreds of thousands of listeners around the world, sneaking most a final world tour in under the wire. </p>
<p>At the time I didn’t know it, but my last event before it all stopped was an open mic in London called, “Tales in Tooting.” </p>
<p>Hosted by Niall Mooranji it was a small gathering of listeners with a few tellers, many from the Discover Children’s Story Centre. Over several fine pints of real ale I was treated to stories of Britain, fairy tales in a way Americans just don’t get, and adventures from around the world. Niall told a draft excerpt of a piece on “The Uprising” in India. </p>
<p>When I stood (because, let’s face it, give me an opportunity and I’m going to take it) I said that I felt overwhelmed by the variety and physicality of their stories. </p>
<p>I launched into, “The Two Monks and the Gross Slimy Monster.” It’s a humorous take on the Zen Bones story about two monks and a woman. </p>
<p>As I sat down to write this piece, I realized that this was the very first story I ever told to a group of professional storytellers at Sharing the Fire way back in 2001. </p>
<p>“Grasshopper,” the master says at the end, “I left that monster on the other side of the river. You have been carrying her with you this whole way.” </p>
<p>The stages and nightclubs, classrooms, libraries, concert halls, auditoriums, even the parks are closed. </p>
<p>I’m going to miss it. We all are. In the coming months we will write (and webcast) and record new material appropriate to the zeitgeist. </p>
<p>Live, face to face storytelling… </p>
<p>Pause. Reset. Begin. </p>
<p><em>“After the time of distancing, people came together. They were reluctant to come close, to hug or kiss. <br>“Then someone said, ‘Let me tell you a story…’ And the world was reborn.” </em></p>
<p>This article is copyright 2020 by Mark Binder, all rights reserved.</p>
<h4><a contents="Here's "Storytelling and the Pause," the article I wrote about losing my livelihood." data-link-label="storytelling-and-the-pause-f-f.pdf" data-link-type="file" href="/files/1042301/storytelling-and-the-pause-f-f.pdf" target="_blank">Read the PDF "Storytelling and the Pause"</a></h4>
<p>This article was published in the British storytelling magazine Facts and Fiction. Brilliantly edited by Pete Castle, I highly recommend you subscribe.<br><strong>Subscribe here: <a contents="https://petecastle.co.uk/fandf/enter/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://petecastle.co.uk/fandf/enter/" target="_blank">https://petecastle.co.uk/fandf/enter/</a></strong></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/62552642020-03-19T17:10:28-04:002020-03-19T17:10:28-04:00The Chicken Soup Bucket Brigade - an audiobook short<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/8c407d3e9159a335240ca7f0db79718491ef28d2/original/cover-chicken-soup-bucket-brigade.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="The Chicken Soup Bucket Brigade - an audio book short" />As it says in the introduction, a good friend asked me to write a humorous story about the coronavirus.<br>It's too soon. But… I remembered that I'd written this story a decade ago. </p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
<p>- Mark Binder</p>29:49Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/62343242020-03-02T18:35:00-05:002020-09-15T01:00:50-04:00#Chelm2020 Tour begins!<h3>If the stories we tell create our future, why are we choosing to tell these? </h3>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/be6ee508acf2fcccf512bca2b0b9f671546a9ca7/original/chelm2020logo.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="#Chelm2020" style="margin: 5px;" />Ever beat yourself up? For years I've been my own worst enemy/best critic. I rip everything I do to shreds. No sooner am I done with a project than I find its flaws. Even worse, I doubt the value of the project in the world. Instantly I become certain that no one will want to listen. No one cares. </p>
<p>On a purely practical level, it's true. No one cares as much about your work as you do. And by being pre-emptively critical, you might prod yourself to do better. </p>
<p>More likely, self-whispering sabotages any possibility of that project flying high and free and taking flight on its own. </p>
<p>(Pssst. Democratic Party candidates, officials and voters, I'm talking to you. Start celebrating your greatness instead of playing the pundit's games.) </p>
<p>So I'm going to take a moment and celebrate with you: </p>
<ul> <li>Last week I finished the first draft of what is likely to be the concluding volume of my "Life in Chelm" series. </li> <li>I had been thinking of this as the "final" volume, but the fact is that there are at least two other story collections and another novel that are locked and loaded. </li> <li><strong>For me, the Village of Chelm is a place where the fears and disasters of the world may be present, but unravel with joy and humor.</strong></li> <li>So far I've published four "Life in Chelm" books -- which you are welcome to read in any order -- they all overlap in time and space. </li> <li>This afternoon I'm flying to Europe for my first world tour since 2016. </li> <li>Stops include: Vienna, London, Copenhagen and Providence! </li> <li>These are going to be awesome events! Tell your friends and come to the shows in those areas. </li> <li>I'm keeping a tour journal, but I invite you to follow it on social medias at #Chelm2020. </li>
</ul>
<p>Thank you as always for your support.</p>
<p><a contents="https://jewishbookweek.com/event/misadventures-in-chelm-and-other-stories/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://jewishbookweek.com/event/misadventures-in-chelm-and-other-stories/">https://jewishbookweek.com/event/misadventures-in-chelm-and-other-stories/</a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/62312562020-02-28T11:48:30-05:002021-07-28T16:56:27-04:00Chelm2020 World Tour starts Monday!<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/5fe26bd078ef6ca58397bfcd7029db7386320c46/original/chelm-logo.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_right border_" />Now that the White House's Pet Mime is in charge of the Coronavirus, I'm not worried at all about travel…</em></p>
<p>On Monday, I jet off to Vienna for the First stop of my #Chelm2020 world tour.</p>
<p>If you know anyone in Vienna, come on and say hi.</p>
<p>7:30 PM Wednesday, 3/4/2020: The Misadventures in of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul - Story Talk and Book Signing at Shakespeare & Co, Sterngasse 2, 1010 Vienna,</p>
<p>6:30pm Sunday, 3/8/2020: Misadventures in Chelm (and other stories) at Jewish Book Week - KINGS PLACE 90 York Way, London N1 9AG (<a contents="https://jewishbookweek.com/event/misadventures-in-chelm-and-other-stories/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://jewishbookweek.com/event/misadventures-in-chelm-and-other-stories/">https://jewishbookweek.com/event/misadventures-in-chelm-and-other-stories/</a>)</p>
<p>6pm Thursday, 3/12/2020: Misadventures in Chelm at Words Festival - BestTellers, Krusågade 25-27 kld., 1719 Copenhagen V,</p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/62143602020-02-21T17:10:00-05:002020-02-21T17:10:20-05:00Homecoming Show - Spoken Story Saturdays - March 21<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/80de478d6557d111591b800db8fbfa469c432c34/original/spoken-march-square.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="Mark Binder back at the Parlour Saturday, March 21 at 2pm" style="margin: 5px;" />I'll be back in Rhode Island for the finale of this season's Spoken Story Saturdays.</p>
<p>Come on down. We're planning on doing some live video. The theme? Homecoming and of course Springtime (It's the Equinox)</p>
<p>Two sets: Family fare at 2pm, 14 and up at 3pm </p>
<p>Admission: $10, $5 for students, seniors, under-employed </p>
<p>The Parlour Pub is located at 1119 North Main Street, Providence.</p>
<p>Details at <a contents="https://facebook.com/spokenstorysaturdays/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://facebook.com/spokenstorysaturdays/">https://facebook.com/spokenstorysaturdays/</a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/62143592020-02-13T17:07:17-05:002020-02-13T17:07:17-05:00Life in Chelm World Tour 2020<p>I'm pleased to announce that I'm going on my <strong>Life in Chelm 2020 World Tour!</strong></p>
<h4><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/57b6f435008416300cd73b1e53f1946850999224/original/tw-jbw-2020-profile-400x40016-1.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" style="margin: 5px;" />EUROPE (and UK) </h4>
<ul> <li>
<strong>Vienna</strong>: March 4, 7:30 PM: The Misadventures in of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul - Story Talk and Book Signing at Shakespeare & Co, Sterngasse 2, 1010 Vienna, Austria </li> <li>
<strong>London</strong>: Sunday, March 8, 6:30pm: Misadventures in Chelm (and other stories) at London Jewish Book Week, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG, UK </li> <li>
<strong>Copenhagen</strong>: Thursday, March 12, 6pm,: Misadventures in Chelm at Words Festival - BestTellers, Krusågade 25-27 kld., 1719 Copenhagen V, Denmark</li>
</ul>
<h4>RI MINI TOUR </h4>
<ul> <li>Saturday, Feb 15 2pm - Spoken Story Saturdays hosting Marlon Carey and Raffini at the Parlour Pub, 1119 North Main St, Providence. Theme: Sweet… </li> <li>Sunday, Feb 23, Book Signing and Talk at Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street, Providence, RI </li> <li>Sunday, March 15, 2pm - Book Signing and Talk at Barrington Books Cranston, 176 Hillside Road, Cranston </li> <li>Saturday, March 21, 2pm Spoken Story Saturdays "Springtime - Homecoming" Season Finale at The Parlour, 1119 N Main St, Providence, RI </li> <li>Sunday, March 22, 2pm Book Signing and Talk at Barrington Books, 184 County Rd., Barrington, </li>
</ul>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/60504142020-01-02T14:20:00-05:002021-09-14T12:48:16-04:00Spoken Stories Saturdays - Spring Season<h3>A new season of <strong>Spoken Story Saturdays at the Parlour Pub!<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/39eb239e4c682e6814e036d0ebc122b7f60f5045/original/darkness-parlour-spoken-story-saturday-spring-season.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" style="margin: 10px;" /></strong>
</h3>
<ul> <li>January 18 - Beginnings </li> <li>February 15 - Sweet…</li> <li>March 21 - Springtime!</li>
</ul>
<p>Two sets: Family fare at 2pm, 14 and up at 3pm</p>
<p>Admission: $10, $5 for students, seniors, under-employed </p>
<p>The Parlour Pub is located at 1119 North Main Street, Providence.</p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/60039352019-12-15T07:00:00-05:002019-12-15T07:11:52-05:00Last Live Show of the Year - December 21<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/e043a39a9ceb8fe345966ee05b1c9c1d01e93985/original/darkness-parlour-spoken-story-saturday-12-21-192.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="Come to the Parlour Pub December 21 at 2pm" style="margin: 10px;" /></p>
<h2>Darkness, Light and the New Year - a pop-up showcase</h2>
<p>Come to the Parlour Pub on Saturday, December 21 for the first Spoken Story Saturday.</p>
<p>Two sets: one for families and one for 14 and up</p>
<p>Featured performers include: Mark Binder, Jay Walker, Damon Combs (and possibly others).</p>
<p>Admission: $10, $5 for students, seniors, under-employed</p>
<p>The Parlour is located at 1119 North Main Street, Providence.</p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/60039372019-12-11T12:01:57-05:002020-09-11T04:25:46-04:00Last Chance for Signed Copies - December 14 at the Farmer's Market<h1><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/412b8ed102f814292aa7c2222f73bc6625912c61/original/farmer-market.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="Book Signing December 14 at the Farmer's Market in Pawtucket" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-left: 10px;" />Holiday Book Signing: December 14 </h1>
<p><strong>I will be signing copies</strong> of THE MISADVENTURES and most of my other books at the FarmFreshRI Winter Farmer's Market in Pawtucket, RI. If you already purchased a copy, bring it and I'll sign it. (Please feel free to buy more.) If you haven't, now's your chance! You'll also have a chance to see and buy some beautiful functional ceramic wares created by my lovely bride, Heather.<br><strong>When and Where? </strong>Saturday, December 17 and December 14, 9am to 1pm, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI (Hope Artiste Village)</p>
<h1>The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul</h1>
<h2>"Binder, one of Rhode Island’s leading storytellers, is back with a set of gentle tales about an elderly rabbi and the woman who runs the village restaurant and steals his heart."<br><i>–Alan Rosenberg, Providence Journal</i>
</h2>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/1e1b03b2753425f9f4b4092b1c29d7c85fe2385d/original/audio-cover-misadventures.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_right border_none" alt="" style="margin: 5px;" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/b41ee096e8d97a3d1ce6f0fb3eef108651133017/original/misadventures-cover-quotes.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" style="margin: 5px;" />"The Feel-Good Book of the Season!" <em>– Kate Nagle, GoLocalProv</em></p>
<p>"great fun and full of humour." – <em>Facts and Fiction Magazine, UK</em></p>
<p>"The Wise Men of Chelm’ reimagined… Mark Binder’s “The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul” will almost certainly make you laugh – and might even cause you to shed a tear." – <em>James Rosenberg, Jewish Rhode Island Newspaper</em></p>
<p>“Village stories that deftly lift a curtain on a world of friendly humor and touching details of Jewish life.” <em>– Kirkus Reviews</em> </p>
<p>"The Lethal Latkes is not a murder mystery. It concerns some awful-tasting latkes (potato pancakes) and what you might call another Hanukkah miracle: love.” <em>– The New York Times</em></p>
<h3>Available in stores and…</h3>
<p><!-- Begin The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul Buy Buttons --><a href="https://geni.us/misadventures-amazon1" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/amazon.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on amazon-logo" height="50" width="128" /></a> <a href="https://geni.us/Widm" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kindle.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kindle-logo" height="50" width="51" /></a> <a href="https://geni.us/misadventures-ibook" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/ibooks.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read it on iBooks-logo" height="50" width="138" /></a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Mark_Binder_The_Misadventures_of_Rabbi_Kibbitz_and?id=d_SnDwAAQBAJ" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplay.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay-logo" height="50" width="170" /></a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Mark_Binder_The_Misadventures_of_Rabbi_Kibbitz_and?id=AQAAAECsNmV22M" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplayaudiobook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay audiobook-logo" height="50" width="228" /></a> <a href="https://gum.co/misadventures/" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/gumroad.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it on Gumroad-logo" height="50" width="161" /></a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-misadventures-of-rabbi-kibbitz-and-mrs-chaipul-mark-binder/1132883587" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/barnes.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it on Barnes & Noble-logo" height="50" width="76" /></a> <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-misadventures-of-rabbi-kibbitz-and-mrs-chaipul" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kobo.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kobo-logo" height="50" width="97" /></a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-misadventures-of-rabbi-kibbitz-and-mrs-chaipul-mark-binder/1132883587?ean=2940161245873" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/nook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it for nook-logo" height="50" width="123" /></a> <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Misadventures-of-Rabbi-Kibbitz-and-Mrs-Chaipul-Audiobook/B07ZKVXYD4" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/audible.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on Audible-logo" height="50" width="120" /></a> <!-- End The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul Buy Buttons --></p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="vimeo" data-video-id="369457537" data-video-thumb-url="https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/826410585_295x166.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/369457537" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/59712972019-11-24T11:00:43-05:002021-08-23T17:44:43-04:00Thanksgiving from Chelm • "The Feel Good Book of the Season"<h1>A word about Thanksgiving…</h1>
<p>Thanksgiving has always been a quintessential American holiday: families gather together and over-eat. Often there is football, and recently pre-game shopping. Occasionally conversation veers toward politics, or flaw-finding in the celebration of a history based on conquest. Sometimes we tell stories.</p>
<p>What I love about Thanksgiving is something that I think is at the heart of my Life in Chelm series -- the idea that community holds the heart of the individual, even when the individual is lost.</p>
<p>As we tuck in our napkins and pick up our forks and knives, I hope we can be grateful for the people in our lives.</p>
<p>And for anyone who feels alone or isolated, please come and visit Chelm. Then, when you're done reading, take a moment to find another person and reach out to give them a hug.<br>– Mark Binder, November 24, 2019</p>
<h1>The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul</h1>
<h2>"Binder, one of Rhode Island’s leading storytellers, is back with a set of gentle tales about an elderly rabbi and the woman who runs the village restaurant and steals his heart."<br><i>–Alan Rosenberg, Providence Journal</i>
</h2>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/1e1b03b2753425f9f4b4092b1c29d7c85fe2385d/original/audio-cover-misadventures.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_right border_none" alt="" style="margin: 5px;" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/b41ee096e8d97a3d1ce6f0fb3eef108651133017/original/misadventures-cover-quotes.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" style="margin: 5px;" />"The Feel-Good Book of the Season!" <em>– Kate Nagle, GoLocalProv</em></p>
<p>"great fun and full of humour." – <em>Facts and Fiction Magazine, UK</em></p>
<p>"The Wise Men of Chelm’ reimagined… Mark Binder’s “The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul” will almost certainly make you laugh – and might even cause you to shed a tear." – <em>James Rosenberg, Jewish Rhode Island Newspaper</em></p>
<p>“Village stories that deftly lift a curtain on a world of friendly humor and touching details of Jewish life.” <em>– Kirkus Reviews</em> </p>
<p>"The Lethal Latkes is not a murder mystery. It concerns some awful-tasting latkes (potato pancakes) and what you might call another Hanukkah miracle: love.” <em>– The New York Times</em></p>
<h3>Available in stores and…</h3>
<p><!-- Begin The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul Buy Buttons --><a href="https://geni.us/misadventures-amazon1" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/amazon.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on amazon-logo" height="50" width="128" /></a> <a href="https://geni.us/Widm" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kindle.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kindle-logo" height="50" width="51" /></a> <a href="https://geni.us/misadventures-ibook" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/ibooks.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read it on iBooks-logo" height="50" width="138" /></a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Mark_Binder_The_Misadventures_of_Rabbi_Kibbitz_and?id=d_SnDwAAQBAJ" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplay.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay-logo" height="50" width="170" /></a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Mark_Binder_The_Misadventures_of_Rabbi_Kibbitz_and?id=AQAAAECsNmV22M" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplayaudiobook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay audiobook-logo" height="50" width="228" /></a> <a href="https://gum.co/misadventures/" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/gumroad.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it on Gumroad-logo" height="50" width="161" /></a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-misadventures-of-rabbi-kibbitz-and-mrs-chaipul-mark-binder/1132883587" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/barnes.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it on Barnes & Noble-logo" height="50" width="76" /></a> <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-misadventures-of-rabbi-kibbitz-and-mrs-chaipul" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kobo.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kobo-logo" height="50" width="97" /></a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-misadventures-of-rabbi-kibbitz-and-mrs-chaipul-mark-binder/1132883587?ean=2940161245873" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/nook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it for nook-logo" height="50" width="123" /></a> <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Misadventures-of-Rabbi-Kibbitz-and-Mrs-Chaipul-Audiobook/B07ZKVXYD4" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/audible.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on Audible-logo" height="50" width="120" /></a> <!-- End The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul Buy Buttons --></p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="vimeo" data-video-id="369457537" data-video-thumb-url="https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/826410585_295x166.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/369457537" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/59560962019-11-10T19:44:44-05:002019-11-10T19:44:44-05:00Reviews are in! "The Feel-Good Book of the Season"<h1>The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul</h1>
<h2>"Binder, one of Rhode Island’s leading storytellers, is back with a set of gentle tales about an elderly rabbi and the woman who runs the village restaurant and steals his heart."<br><i>–Alan Rosenberg, Providence Journal</i>
</h2>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/1e1b03b2753425f9f4b4092b1c29d7c85fe2385d/original/audio-cover-misadventures.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_right border_none" alt="" style="margin: 5px;" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/b41ee096e8d97a3d1ce6f0fb3eef108651133017/original/misadventures-cover-quotes.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" style="margin: 5px;" />"The Feel-Good Book of the Season!" <em>– Kate Nagle, GoLocalProv</em></p>
<p>"great fun and full of humour." – <em>Facts and Fiction Magazine, UK</em></p>
<p>"The Wise Men of Chelm’ reimagined… Mark Binder’s “The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul” will almost certainly make you laugh – and might even cause you to shed a tear." – <em>James Rosenberg, Jewish Rhode Island Newspaper</em></p>
<p>“Village stories that deftly lift a curtain on a world of friendly humor and touching details of Jewish life.” <em>– Kirkus Reviews</em> </p>
<p>"The Lethal Latkes is not a murder mystery. It concerns some awful-tasting latkes (potato pancakes) and what you might call another Hanukkah miracle: love.” <em>– The New York Times</em></p>
<h3>Available in stores and…</h3>
<p><!-- Begin The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul Buy Buttons --><a href="https://geni.us/misadventures-amazon1" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/amazon.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on amazon-logo" height="50" width="128" /></a> <a href="https://geni.us/Widm" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kindle.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kindle-logo" height="50" width="51" /></a> <a href="https://geni.us/misadventures-ibook" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/ibooks.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read it on iBooks-logo" height="50" width="138" /></a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Mark_Binder_The_Misadventures_of_Rabbi_Kibbitz_and?id=d_SnDwAAQBAJ" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplay.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay-logo" height="50" width="170" /></a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Mark_Binder_The_Misadventures_of_Rabbi_Kibbitz_and?id=AQAAAECsNmV22M" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplayaudiobook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay audiobook-logo" height="50" width="228" /></a> <a href="https://gum.co/misadventures/" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/gumroad.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it on Gumroad-logo" height="50" width="161" /></a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-misadventures-of-rabbi-kibbitz-and-mrs-chaipul-mark-binder/1132883587" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/barnes.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it on Barnes & Noble-logo" height="50" width="76" /></a> <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-misadventures-of-rabbi-kibbitz-and-mrs-chaipul" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kobo.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kobo-logo" height="50" width="97" /></a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-misadventures-of-rabbi-kibbitz-and-mrs-chaipul-mark-binder/1132883587?ean=2940161245873" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/nook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it for nook-logo" height="50" width="123" /></a> <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Misadventures-of-Rabbi-Kibbitz-and-Mrs-Chaipul-Audiobook/B07ZKVXYD4" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/audible.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on Audible-logo" height="50" width="120" /></a> <!-- End The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul Buy Buttons --></p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="vimeo" data-video-id="369457537" data-video-thumb-url="https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/826410585_295x166.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/369457537" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/59418562019-10-29T00:05:00-04:002020-09-23T07:30:12-04:00Just released! THE MISADVENTURES OF RABBI KIBBITZ AND MRS. CHAIPUL <p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/2df027039c2ddca03f11e21c93c7f56265ac37dc/original/misadventures-ebook-cover-bigtype.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul - by Mark Binder" style="margin: 5px;" /><strong>A brief novel for adults, with no politics, and a lot of smiles.</strong> You’ll enjoy reading it, and giving it as a gift. Hardcover, softcover, eBook, audiobook…</p>
<p>“Village stories that deftly lift a curtain on a world of friendly humor and touching details of Jewish life.” <em>– Kirkus Reviews</em> </p>
<p>"The Lethal Latkes is not a murder mystery. It concerns some awful-tasting latkes (potato pancakes) and what you might call another Hanukkah miracle: love.” <em>– The New York Times</em></p>
<h3>Available in stores and…</h3>
<p><!-- Begin The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul Buy Buttons --><a href="https://geni.us/misadventures-amazon1" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/amazon.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on amazon-logo" height="50" width="128" /></a> <a href="https://geni.us/Widm" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kindle.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kindle-logo" height="50" width="51" /></a> <a href="https://geni.us/misadventures-ibook" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/ibooks.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read it on iBooks-logo" height="50" width="138" /></a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Mark_Binder_The_Misadventures_of_Rabbi_Kibbitz_and?id=d_SnDwAAQBAJ" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplay.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay-logo" height="50" width="170" /></a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Mark_Binder_The_Misadventures_of_Rabbi_Kibbitz_and?id=AQAAAECsNmV22M" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplayaudiobook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay audiobook-logo" height="50" width="228" /></a> <a href="https://gum.co/misadventures/" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/gumroad.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it on Gumroad-logo" height="50" width="161" /></a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-misadventures-of-rabbi-kibbitz-and-mrs-chaipul-mark-binder/1132883587" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/barnes.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it on Barnes & Noble-logo" height="50" width="76" /></a> <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-misadventures-of-rabbi-kibbitz-and-mrs-chaipul" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kobo.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kobo-logo" height="50" width="97" /></a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-misadventures-of-rabbi-kibbitz-and-mrs-chaipul-mark-binder/1132883587?ean=2940161245873" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/nook.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it for nook-logo" height="50" width="123" /></a> <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Misadventures-of-Rabbi-Kibbitz-and-Mrs-Chaipul-Audiobook/B07ZKVXYD4" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/audible.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Listen on Audible-logo" height="50" width="120" /></a> <!-- End The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul Buy Buttons --></p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="vimeo" data-video-id="369457537" data-video-thumb-url="https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/826410585_295x166.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/369457537" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/59391572019-10-25T17:25:33-04:002019-10-25T17:25:33-04:00Misadventures Launch Day - October 29!<h2>
<a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://geni.us/misadventures-amazon1" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/154917/2df027039c2ddca03f11e21c93c7f56265ac37dc/original/misadventures-ebook-cover-bigtype.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul" style="margin: 5px;" /></a><a contents="Buy it on Amazon.com and help us become a best seller today" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://geni.us/misadventures-amazon1" target="_blank">Get it on Amazon.com for yourself, and your friends, school, shul, church, mosque…<br>and help it become a best seller today</a>
</h2>
<p>Also available at some </p>
<p>(If you want it, but don't want to get it on Amazon, then you can <a contents="order a copy here" data-link-label="Store" data-link-type="page" href="/store">order a copy here</a>)</p><!-- Begin The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul Buy Buttons -->
<p> <a href="https://geni.us/misadventures-amazon1" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/amazon.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Purchase on amazon-logo" height="50" width="128" /></a> <a href="https://geni.us/Widm" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kindle.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kindle-logo" height="50" width="51" /></a><a href="https://geni.us/misadventures-ibook" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/ibooks.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read it on iBooks-logo" height="50" width="138" /></a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Mark_Binder_The_Misadventures_of_Rabbi_Kibbitz_and?id=d_SnDwAAQBAJ" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/googleplay.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Check it out on googleplay-logo" height="50" width="170" /></a> <a href="https://gum.co/misadventures/" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/gumroad.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it on Gumroad-logo" height="50" width="161" /></a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-misadventures-of-rabbi-kibbitz-and-mrs-chaipul-mark-binder/1132883587" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/barnes.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="get it on Barnes & Noble-logo" height="50" width="76" /></a> <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-misadventures-of-rabbi-kibbitz-and-mrs-chaipul" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.markbinder.com/shop-thumbs/kobo.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Read on a kobo-logo" height="50" width="97" /></a> <!-- End The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul Buy Buttons --></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/58291982019-04-11T17:32:32-04:002019-07-18T20:49:26-04:00Book News, Tour Dates and PassoverBOOK NEWS: For the past year and a quarter, I’ve been working on The Bark Minder Project, a collection of edgy work for adults. As part of that, I created a novel that was initially serialized on Spotify. Last week, I finished the umpteenth draft and began sending queries to agents. I’ll keep you posted as … <p class="link-more"><a href="https://markbinder.com/book-news-tour-dates-and-passover/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "Book News, Tour Dates and Passover"</span></a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/58291992019-03-23T10:30:12-04:002020-06-06T07:33:21-04:00Who ate the first clam?I often wonder about the origin of human interests. Who was the first scientist? Usually, I find that it begins with Og, the caveman. Og is a hapless protagonist who makes a lot of mistakes. In this story, Og stumbles on the secret to a happy marriage, and finds a new source of protein. Feel … <p class="link-more"><a href="https://markbinder.com/who-ate-the-first-clam/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "Who ate the first clam?"</span></a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/58292002019-03-21T08:51:21-04:002019-07-18T20:49:26-04:00It’s Quahog WeekWhat are the Vampire Clams of Narragansett Bay? Who ate the first clam? Find out This Saturday from 9:30 to 1:30 pm at 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI (second Floor) Or purchase here now. Loading The Vampire Clams of Narragansett Bay…Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/58292012019-03-05T14:54:00-05:002021-08-05T14:11:30-04:00Gala Audie Awards 2019If I am nominated, I will show up… My visit to the 2019 Audie AwardsMark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/58292022019-03-04T12:58:43-05:002019-07-18T20:49:26-04:00Watch the Audies Tonight!It’s tonight! Starting around 7:30! See if Loki Ragnarok is the big winner for Original work! Or will it be Magus Elgar? or Splat! A Quirky Cat Audio Book? Or someone else? Watch the #audies2019 and see who wins. CSPAN will be broadcasting the whole thing! https://www.c-span.org/video/?458126-1/2019-audie-awards … follow this to get a heads up when … <p class="link-more"><a href="https://markbinder.com/watch-the-audies-tonight/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "Watch the Audies Tonight!"</span></a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/58292032019-02-20T07:29:25-05:002019-07-18T20:49:26-04:00Stop Playing the Reality Election Game ShowAlmost every day during the winter, someone would look at the sticker on my puffy down parka and say, “I voted for Bernie.” or “Still hanging on, huh?” I’d slapped it on a billion “news cycles” ago, because I supported Bernie over Hillary. Over and over back then, people would tell me, “He can’t win. … <p class="link-more"><a href="https://markbinder.com/stop-playing-reality-election-game/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "Stop Playing the Reality Election Game Show"</span></a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/58291972019-02-04T12:20:22-05:002019-07-18T20:49:26-04:00Award News! LOKI RAGNAROK Nominated for 2019 Audie AwardFebruary 4, 2019. New YorkLOKI RAGNAROK, written and narrated by Mark Binder has been nominated for a 2019 Audie Award for Best Original Work! The audiobook was published by Light Publications, and is available on Audible, GooglePlayAudioBooks, Scribd, and many other platforms. Considered the audiobook Oscars, the Audie Award ceremony is presented by the Audio…Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/58292042018-12-19T08:39:29-05:002021-09-04T05:50:30-04:00Bark Minder Project Novel Draft 18 Complete!Some of you know that for the past year I’ve been working on a novel under the nom de plume of “The Bark Minder Project.” I created this alter-ego as a way of developing new material that might be edgy or “inappropriate” for children. (Don’t worry, I’m still doing work for families and young people!) … <p class="link-more"><a href="https://markbinder.com/novel-draft-18-complete/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "Bark Minder Project Novel Draft 18 Complete!"</span></a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/58292052018-12-07T07:47:43-05:002019-07-18T20:49:26-04:00Life in Chelm (live at Limmud)“The Challah that Ate Chelm” is one of my oldest and most favorite stories… Friday is #challahday — and I’ve been baking for years. But when I started, it was a disaster. “The Challah that Ate Chelm” is a story that grew from an early baking disaster. Last Sunday, I had the honor of being … <p class="link-more"><a href="https://markbinder.com/life-in-chelm-live-at-limmud/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "Life in Chelm (live at Limmud)"</span></a></p>Mark Bindertag:markbinderbooks.com,2005:Post/58292062018-12-01T10:25:34-05:002019-07-18T20:49:26-04:00The Last Hanukkah CandleWill this be Rabbi Kibbitz's last Chanukah?
It seems unimaginable, but I've been writing Hanukkah stories for more than 20 years. This year's tale is somewhat wistful.Mark Binder