2017

Dr. Hilliard (far right) returned June 20th from a successful book launch in Ireland. Pictured here are editor Rosemary Hilliard and literary agents Marianne Moloney and Kevin O'Brien, the latter two being the namesakes for the new Moloney-O'Brien Publications division of The Hilliard Institute. 

The Crow's Enchanted Dance was met with rave and warm reviews by the Irish, who were enchanted themselves by their country's inclusion in the book and by the southern accent of author Dr. K. Mark Hilliard. "After reading a portion of my book before a signing, I would often apologize for not being the best reader, but the Irish would comment that they loved hearing me talk." 

Featured in many online, radio, and print articles during his visit, Hilliard says he is incredibly pleased by the reception of his latest publication. "Now that we've returned to America, we've started preparing for various talks, signings, and events, including collaborations with accomplished Irish musician Éilís Crean." 

Click here and here to read articles from June editions of the Leinster Express, and head to our blog for more details about Hilliard's trip. 

Castle Durrow of Durrow, Laois, Ireland, will be hosting a book signing and talk by Dr. K. Mark Hilliard on the 7th of June from 3-4pm. 

Castle Durrow is a true Irish Country Mansion built in 1716. The House is surrounded by acres of manicured gardens and fine river walks. Dr. Hilliard will be releasing his latest book, The Crow's Enchanted Dance: The Phenomenology of Sacred Place and Sacred Space, in Ireland this June, and this book signing and talk is one of his many stops in the Emerald Isle. 

During the event, Dr. Hilliard will discuss his years of research on the topic of sacred place and sacred space. This book is a collection of material derived from his personal journals while working and studying in England, throughout Ireland, in the Great Smoky Mountains, and on the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian Reservation, as well as from his intensive research at the Bodleian Library at Oxford University.

Dr. Hilliard will discuss the Cherokee dreamcatcher; mystery, enchantment, and the imagination; sacred place and space. He will share how his twenty-year study began with a dancing crow on the Cherokee Indian Reservation.

The Hilliard Institute is delighted that Castle Durrow is hosting this Hilliard Press event. 

Both Dr. Hilliard and Jessa Sexton are working on their next books, but 2017 has still started off with an important philanthropic success. 

While at a special presentation, Sexton heard speaker and non-profit founder Tara Moseley express a need for $1,000 to build a kitchen for a school in Uganda. Inspired by two of her favorite things—food and education—she felt specifically called to meet this need. However, the funds had to be raised in a mere week.

Sexton began a social media campaign:

It's time to raise some funds for a new organization. Over the next week, I'm giving 95% of the sales of a handful of items to help build a kitchen for The World Changers Academy in Sala Village, Uganda. It's the first school in this area and is attended by at-risk and vulnerable children. 80% of these kids go 2-3 days with 1 meal. The lack of food affects not only their health but their ability to think and function in the classroom. This kitchen will help the school serve 80+ students breakfast and lunch, the only meals they can depend on. The nonprofit that runs the school projects that, by the end of the year, they will have over 200 students, and they are building the kitchen with that incredible growth in mind! 

Dr. Hilliard, Sexton, and illustrator Rehanna Mae Grant decided to forgo collecting any royalties from book sales during this week.

Details for supporting this campaign were shared within the first days: 

There are two ways to support the efforts to raise $1,000 for the kitchen needed by The World Changers Academy of Uganda. 1. You can purchase the books and jewelry listed in this post. (Prices, information, and more are all listed with the photos.) Remember, 95% of the purchase will go to the charity! 2. If you want simply to give a tax-deductible donation, click on this link: http://www.hilliardinstitute.com/how/ . You'll be giving to the Hilliard Institute: a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Our company will be cutting the $1,000 check in a week. I believe we can do this. Thanks for your help!

The need had to be filled rapidly; the responses were rapid; the funds were raised just in time. Now these students, who used to get 2-3 meals a week, can get 2 a day. Now that they aren’t hungry for food, they can focus more on their hunger for education, and for Him!

The Hilliard Institute wishes to thank all who helped with your prayers, monetary donations, and purchases. We were able to give 100%, instead of just 95%, of sales to this cause, so if you bought something, know all your money made a difference.