The above quote comes from a novel by French writer Henri Bosco, which foreshadows deep sea and desert explorer Philippe Diolé’s experience in his classic “Le Plus Beau Desert du Monde (The Most Beautiful Desert in the World)” (1959). In his journal, Diolé says that each new contact with the cosmos renews our inner being, and that every new cosmos is open to us when we have freed ourselves from the ties of a former sensitivity.

Diolé, famous for his deep-sea explorations, perceived a sublime kinship between the ocean’s silent depth and the desert’s spatial vastness. The explorer says that "to go down on the water, or to wander in the desert, is to change space," and by changing space, by leaving the space of one's usual sensibilities, one enters into communication with a space that is psychically innovating.

"Neither in the desert nor the bottom of the sea does one's spirit remain sealed and indivisible. I once wrote that a man who was familiar with the deep sea [or the desert life] could never be like other men again," Diolé says.

On that note, we’re happy to share a few milestones and highlights for our book project. The biggest surprise came on May 20^th when the Nautilus Book Awards selected ENTER SPACE: Stories from the High Desert as the Grand Winner of the year, beating close to a thousand entries, in addition to winning the Memoirs & Personal Journey category.

Two weeks later, at the FOREWORD INDIES, the largest book competition in the independent bookstore and publishing world in North America, ENTER SPACE was selected as a finalist in the Memoir & Personal Journal, as well as the Photography—Coffee Table Book categories. In that contest, the book captured a Silver Award in the photography category, adding to its Grand Winner status.

The summer kicked off on high gear. First, Bill was interviewed on an ABC Talk News radio affiliate in Southern California, Moments with Marianne Pestana, a direct result of the Nautilus Book Award, which resulted in a 45-minute interview edited down to 15 minutes about the stories in the book.

Shortly thereafter, in July, Ben Ferguson, editor-in-chief of Reed Magazine, the alumni publication of Reed College, interviewed Bill (Class of ’65) about ENTER SPACE as an art piece project and the inspiration that led to its decades-old gestation and ultimate publication. The interview is slated to appear in the print (and online) magazine in the Winter 2025-26 issue.

Autumn brought more opportunities to promote the book. ENTER SPACE was chosen as a showcase entry at the Iowa City Book Festival, a weeklong celebration from Sunday, Oct. 6^th through the 12^th. Iowa City was the 1^st American city to earn the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) designation as a City of Literature (2008).

And while the city earned the distinction in no small part due to its world-famous Iowa Writers’ Workshop, it’s rich literary history and vibrant cultural life secured its designation. Bill’s book appeared in the Book Fair on the closing day of the festival as people shopped for unique and compelling books for the holidays.

It is worth noting that at the time Iowa City submitted its application to the UNESCO City of Literature program, city officials mailed a beautiful, boxed volume of handmade paper and original calligraphy, designed and created by the University of Iowa Center for the Book.

That reminds us that if you’re looking for a special gift for friends, family or yourself, don’t forget that ENTER SPACE now belongs to Iowa City’s literary family—featuring its own elegant, boxed volume that makes its 27 stories and 108 desert photographs an inspiring gift.

From all of us, we wish you and your family blessings, peace and harmony during this Holiday Season.