When I Talk to You: A Cartoonist Talks to God

Secular Times Call for Spiritual Measures: Cartoonist Michael Leunig Talks to God

In 1989, Australian-based cartoonist Michael Leunig was asked to develop a weekly cartoon, leading him to wonder whether "newspapers might carry some small spiritual message of consolation as a tiny reparation for the enormous anxiety and distress they can create." Rather than a witty or satirical look at current affairs, the result was a cartoon that delivered a spiritual message with its insightful words and whimsical yet straightforward drawings. Before long, it developed a huge, faithful following.

When I Talk to You: A Cartoonist Talks to God (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $10.95) is a collection of two of Leunig's bestselling books, The Prayer Tree and A Common Prayer, and offers inspiration in the form of more than 80 prayers with unique approaches:

We give thanks for our friends.
Our dear friends.
We anger each other.
We fail each other.
We share this sad earth,
this tender life,this precious time.
Such richness. Such wildness.

Together we are blown about.
Together we are dragged along.
All this delight.
All this suffering.
All this forgiving life.
We hold it together.
Amen.

The word "cartoon" is misleading to those not familiar with Leunig's work because it implies merely humor, satire, or parody. Instead, his message not only conveys the absurdity and silliness of life, but also the beauty and poignancy. When I Talk to You features prayers of emotional depth about such topics as the search for meaning and the need for change, as well as more everyday prayers praising hair, birds, music, and even earthworms. It will help readers deepen their awareness of their soul, their inner voice, and a non-denominational God.

About Michael Leunig

Often controversial but always appealing, Michael Leunig's weekly cartoon in the Sunday Age in Australia has made him a renowned cartoonist and illustrator both in his homeland and internationally. Michael is the author of more than 20 books, including two best-selling inspirational books abroad, The Prayer Tree and A Common Prayer. His work hangs in galleries around the world and he is considered one of Australia's national treasures.

When I Talk to You marks his debut entrance to the U.S. market.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Contact: Tammie Barker, (800) 851-8923, ext. 6921, tbarker@amuniversal.com

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