There could scarcely be a more urgent time for this uniquely 're-humanizing' book, as the new McCarthyism tries to take hold in America,

and this time it's those damn Muzzzlems.

 

Earlier this year I self-organized and self-funded my own speaking tour of the US, on the theme of 're-humanization' of the relationship

between America and the Muslim world.

 

It was 41 events in 39 cities, driving 13,934 miles in a hybrid car.  And I arranged it all myself.

 

http://www.unimagined.org/ustour.html

 

The acclaim was wonderful: http://www.unimagined.org/testimonials.html

 

I wasn't preaching Islam or even defending it in any way -- I was reminding us all of our common humanity, in a compelling and

spellbinding way, using personal stories and weaving them into the context of geo-politics etc.  People said to me that they

could have listened for hours.  Some said I should have been a stand-up comedian.

 

So extraordinary was this tour, I even succeeded in getting the BBC to cover it:

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7964497.stm  (They re-wrote this one in their own style -- their use of past tense is a bit clumsy).

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8067052.stm  (I wrote this, and they left it as it was).

 

 

I had contacted mainly Unitarian churches, knowing that they would have suitable venues and were more likely to be receptive.  

But the events were not Unitarian or in any way religious -- they were public and open-to-all.

 

After the first BBC News story was published -- whilst I was still on the road -- I received countless e-mails from people all over America,

asking if I could speak at their venues (high schools, colleges, churches), and some berating me for missing out their city on my tour!  

(The tour plan was on my website.)

 

Even as I was undertaking that tour, I knew that I would have to do it again, but the next time even more comprehensively across the US,

and to the widest possible general audiences.  But I also knew that the opportunities would come to me next time, if the tour was

advertised well in advance and the American public were invited to offer venues.

 

 

This is the proposal:

 

- An American publisher publishes Unimagined in the US. (UK export to US was very limited and has now ceased; US manuscript is ready;

US rights are with me.)

 

- I publish the 're-humanization' speaking tour schedule on the unimagined.org website.  It covers 75 cities over 90 days.  

(Start date to be agreed.)  It is emphasized as a 'speaking tour' rather than a 'book tour'.  I have shown it below.  Blank spaces indicate

that various cities in that state can be considered.  People are invited to offer venues compatible with the schedule.

 

- The acclaim from the previous tour will be clearly visible and will drive interest in this tour.

 

- Organizations are invited to contact my coordinator to offer speaking venues on the tour route.  Confirmed venues will become

visible on-line.

 

- The possibilities are endless: high schools, colleges, churches, libraries, town halls, multi-faith organizations, book clubs.  Any

venue can be considered, but it must be an event open to the general public.  We would generally avoid using bookstores as venues,

but a local bookstore can set-up at each event to sell books.

 

- The publisher, using various channels, will promote interest in this 're-humanization' speaking tour and drive people to the website

to view the tour schedule and consider offering a venue in their city.

 

- There will be significant media interest (ie local radio), once this plan is underway, and such interviews would also be accommodated.

 

- This can easily be developed into an on-going 'news' item. A documentary film maker is already interested.

 

 

Cost Sharing:

 

- I will cover hotel costs, gasoline, meals and my flights to/from Chicago.

 

- The publisher will provide the use of an environmentally-responsible car (possibly a Toyota Prius from Hertz), use of a US cell phone,

and some part-time admin/publicity support.

 

- The publisher will promote the story and will drive traffic to the website.

 

 

I have already demonstrated 'proof of concept' with my earlier tour, and I did that all by myself -- with only about seven weeks' lead time.  

Imagine what I could achieve with a little professional help and six months of preparation.  Wherever I went, people enthused that

I should be on: 'Oprah'; 'The Daily Show'; 'The Colbert Report'.  I think 'The Colbert Report' is most realistic, and you will see that my

tour plan allows for one week in the NYC area.

 

Such was the good reputation I acquired from my previous US tour, that the British Consul-General in Australia hosted me to give

a talk in Sydney in August. http://www.unimagined.org/australia.html   That was when I was on my way to the Byron Bay Writers Festival,

where Unimagined became the Number One Bestseller.

 

This is the ultimate book club and general discussion book for America, right now.  It's already treated as English Literature at

high school and university level in the UK, so it has true mass market potential.  Unimagined is the vehicle by which I can do what

I truly love -- talk to people, make them laugh, and help them to see things from a different perspective, a 're-humanized' one.

 

Unimagined in Indonesian was launched at Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2009, and then I had a speaking tour of Indonesia.  

I told my audiences that Abu Ghraib does not represent the American people.  They seemed inclined to believe me.

 

The time is right for this book.  People want change -- they are tired of demonization and having to be afraid.  And Unimagined

delivers this in a unique, insightful, intelligent, entertaining and funny way.

 

Best regards,

 

Imran Ahmad

 

www.unimagined.org

 

author@unimagined.co.uk

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

"I loved your book!  I gave it to my mother, and she loved it.  Then my sister read it and she loved it.  Now my other sister

is reading it. ... Of course you can have a late checkout."

 

Mary Sitkowski -- Manager of Chicago O'Hare Garden Hotel

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

"Imran, you bastard!  I'm supposed to be revising for my Congress exam, and picked up your book for "just a bit."

Now I've read the whole damn thing! … We have so much in common, I might be your twin."

 

Email from Lieut Greg Bowling -- Texas National Guard

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

My grandson (just turned 16) is not going through adolescence very gracefully so far and just spent 2 weeks in juvenile

detention.  (We hope this "wake-up call" will turn his life around with a heavy dose of support and encouragement from all

available family members....)  While he was in detention, we were able to take him books, so I ordered a copy of "Unimagined"

for him, and he really, really enjoyed it.

 

Email from Louise J -- Boise, Idaho

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

"This [Unimagined] could be really successful in the US, if launched properly."

 

John Berendt -- Author of 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil'

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

"Imran's book is so refreshing."

 

James McBride -- Author of 'The Color of Water'

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unimagined

Proposal to a US Publisher

 

See www.unimagined.org for all information about Unimagined - click here

 

Unimagined US Speaking Tour

 

Proposed Schedule (dates shown are for illustrative purposes only)

 

Actual start date to be confirmed

See www.unimagined.org for all information about Unimagined - click here