About the author
I was born and raised in the north Seattle area and have lived in Washington state all my life (well, except when I escape the rain and snow for a bit and venture into the desert of Joshua Tree). I have two grown sons who were united with me as preschoolers from Bulgarian orphanages. In rapid succession I experienced the death of my father, my aunt, and then my mother.
Most recently I cared for my domestic partner of 33 years, through a long stretch of suffering and finally death, as a result of exposure to Agent Orange when he was a Medic in the Vietnam War. I now live in a small house, with my dog Luna Luckdragon, on a clear lake near the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in western Washington state.
I have a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Washington in Psychology and a degree from Shoreline College in Nursing, which led me to an adventurous career for 25 years in psychiatry and pediatrics. Presently I volunteer for “Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption”, a non-profit support group for families who have adopted children internationally. I am fortunate to have found a wonderfully supportive group of creatives in my town of Duvall, where we participate in woman’s writing groups, Art Salons, artistic projects, music, gatherings and general fun.
I have always enjoyed playing with words and writing, especially poetry. I also enjoy experiencing new adventures, collecting dragons, singing and listening to music of all kinds, hand-building in clay (especially dragons), creating things out of recycled materials, and other assemblage-type arts. I am sometimes known as the “Dragon Lady of Duvall”.
PUBLISHED WORKS
“Luna Luckdragon” is a children’s book from Luna’s point of view as she is rescued from a flood and comes to live with her human pack.
“Journal of an Old Hippie Chick in the Desert; with wonder dog Luna Luckdragon; a memoir of poetry, free verse, journaling, and indigenous tales” is a collection of poetry, journaling, native stories, and information collected during my extended “sabbaticals” in the Joshua Tree desert.
“Just Waiting for My Family” is a children’s book about a child who lives in an orphanage in Eastern Europe. It takes the reader through emotions and confusion as a child waits for their family to come. The story is taken from the true stories of my own sons.
Three of my poems were published in “Cross Currents”, Volume XII, 1970, edited by D. Bird, published by University of Puget Sound. Four of my poems were published in the “Velvet Crescendo; a collection of modern poetry”, edited by Louisa Persing, Palomar Publishing Co., 1973.
I made written word contributions to “Women’s Words; I am From…”, Volumes I and II, published by the Duvall School of Creative Writing, Nina Ostrovsky, as well as various Chap Books published by Nina Ostrovsky, including “i am from the smells of the seasons”, “lake Margaret February”, “i’m from…”, “cut hair”, “circular chocolate kiss gestalt”
As a preceptor for the In-Patient Psychiatric Unit at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital I wrote the “Orientation Manual” for new staff in 1993.
For the Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption organization I have written and had published various directories and articles, including “Navigating Attachment Issues”, “Dyadic Developmental Attachment”, “Executive Function”, “Dual Citizenship with FRUA INC Countries”, “The Adoption Symbol”, “Proving U.S. Citizenship for Adopted Children”, “Validation of Adoption (Re-Adoption) in the USA”, “Renouncing Russian Citizenship”, “If My Russian Adoptee Son Travels to Russia – Will He Be Drafted Into the Military?”, “Russian Passports”, “Searching for Birth-Family”, “Travel to Russia by Russian Adoptees”, “Embracing Heritage”, “Neurofeedback”, “DBT”, “Mindfulness”, “Finding the Right Fit – Therapists and Treatment Modalities”, “Post-Institutionalization”, “Directory of Resources Related to Internationally Adopted Adolescents and Young Adults; “Transitioning to Adulthood”, “Directory of Attachment Related Resources”, “Directory of Executive Function Related Resources”, “Directory of In-Utero Exposure to Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco and Toxins Related Resources”, “Directory of Resources Related to Embracing Heritage in Families Touched by International Adoption”, “Teachable Moment Guide: Crisis in Ukraine”, “Teachable Moment Guide: The Trauma of School and Mass Shootings”, and various articles on countries and cultures of ex-Soviet Bloc Countries and Republics.
I am in the process of writing the following books: “Going to the Sea for Rabbits; Our American Family Built Through Adoption from Bulgaria”, “Music, Trains, Writing, Pots and Singing Dragons; a Diary of Grief”, and “That’s Her Way; a biography of Mildred Huehn Schwagerman Mandeville”.
