John Kropf's Unknown Sands, a Turkmenistan Travelogue, Available to Qualified Reviewers

Copies of Unknown Sands: Journeys Around the World's Most Isolated Country, a nonfiction book about Turkmenistan and its people, are available for media organizations and reviewers. The author, John W. Kropf, served at the American Embassy in Turkmenistan as the Country Director for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and is currently the Director of International Privacy Issues at the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Kropf is available for interviews, appearances, and speaking engagements.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) December 24, 2006 -- Due to the current and changing circumstances in the country of Turkmenistan with the death of President Saparmurat Niyazov, Dusty Spark Publishing is making review copies of John Kropf's book, Unknown Sands: Journeys Around the World's Most Isolated Country, available to qualified reviewers.

John W. Kropf served at the American Embassy in Turkmenistan as the Country Director for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Because of his work with the Embassy, he was able to travel extensively throughout the country. Unknown Sands tells a personal story that blends two years of adventure with Turkmenistan's tumultuous history to present an intriguing profile of the country and its people. This former Soviet territory offers a target-rich environment including a surreal cult of Presidential personality, ancient ruins of the Silk Road, and a unique, mystical brand of Islam and Unknown Sands is an effective and accessible way to gain a better understanding of Turkmenistan.

About Unknown Sands:
Turkmenistan was once the world's most feared territory. Since the time of the Mongols, the nomadic tribes of its vast desert wastes were deemed ungovernable. Russians and Persians were captured as slaves and carried off by the fierce Turkmen. Even now, as an independent country located between the hot spots of Afghanistan and Iran, with one of the planet's largest natural gas reserves, Turkmenistan remains virtually unknown to the outside world.

"Kropf's peek at this isolated corner of a shrinking world is a fascinating narrative bound to hook adventurers." --Publishers Weekly

ISBN: 0-9763565-1-1
BINDING: Hardcover 6" x 9"
Publication Date: February 20th, 2006
Retail Price: $26.00

John Kropf is available for interviews, appearances, and speaking engagements. To receive a review copy of Unknown Sands: Journeys Around the World's Most Isolated Country or information on scheduling the author, please contact:

http://www.dustyspark.com
Dusty Spark Publishing
15821 FM 529 Suite #181
Houston, TX 77095
Telephone: (832) 615-9132
Fax: (832) 364-6686

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