Greetings and welcome to my first newsletter. I don't have a lot of news this issue but wanted to begin the new year by finishing this one with a newsletter! This has been a busy year for me with my second book Sacred Wells being released in September, a trip to Wales and Ireland in October and a revision of my first book, Essays in Contemporary Paganism coming out in June. I am currently working on two additional book manuscripts with no end in sight.

I noted that I have received a review on AD for one of my articles on the potential war with Iraq which states that I am writing "only to sell books, not to inform." I understand that war is an emotional issue and that there are mancy facets that must be analysed. I want all of my readers to understand that I write entirely what I feel, I believe what I write. I may not be correct in all of my statements but I do not write these articles to simply sell my books. The subjects of my books are history, archaeology, spirituality and folklore. I have not written one on politics or war. I invite everyone to contribute to the dialogue on any of the issues I raise in my writings. Dialogue is essential to building peace through tolerance and understanding. I may not agree with you but I will not fault you for your beliefs either.

I would like to invite all of your to check out one of the web links that I find valuable. The Hunger Site (www.thehungersite.com)is a great humanitarian site that allows you to freely donate food to the hungry, mammograms to women at risk, to purchase rainforest land to protect it from destruction, to provide health care to the worlds poor children and to provide food for abused and neglected animals that reside in thousands of shelters. One click can do wonders!

Wishing you the best for the New Year,

Blessings,

Gary R. Varner