The Chronicles of Lady Ethereal
 A Writer's Literary Quarterly
 Editor-in-Chief, 2014-2016

      
Can you hear the faerie bells ringing in the wind?  Their melodies call to us like a pied piper luring us into the depth of a another realm.  I have come to that point in my life when I must spend a good part of each day listening to the faeries, letting them guide me through their miniscule world of wonder, their tiny universe where the miracles of life transform: the sun reflecting off a dew drop...the bumblebee humming his love-song to a flower...the jay breaking off branches to build her nest.  For I know it is here where I will find the secrets, the ones I have been seeking but never found while thrashing around in the cacophony of confusion that mankind creates."

A work of love, the Chronicles provided an escape to another realm through prose, poetry, stunning photographs, and impish artwork.  Each twenty-five page themed issue contained guest and travel articles, Lady Ethereal features, stories, and poetry.   Working on this beautiful project for two years was truly an ethereal experience! 

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NWWW's Book...
The Wind Moves the Porch Swing,
A Collection of Women's Wisdom
Executive Director,  2012-2014      
Editing Team, Lay Out Team Leader,  Contributor  

With so much incredible talent within Northwest Women
Writers, and so many heartwarming tales to tell, sharing their personal stories was a must.  Centered around the theme "stories your mother never told you," we fashioned 
a beautiful book.   After sorting through scores of submissions,
numerous rounds of editing, and developing the background
information needed for publication, we produced NWWW's 
beautiful lyrical tome, The Wind Moves the Porch Swing.     

As Executive Director, I acted as liaison between the writers,
our huge production staff, and the organizational membership. 
Additionally on the Editing Team, plus leading the Lay Out Team, 
I contributed eight stories and poems and the introduction.  After 
I spent a summer knitting the stories together, my combined two
years of work on this major project helped create a beautiful
heart-felt book that was both unique and life-changing.     
                                     

 
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 Northwest Women Writers (NWWW)
Founder and Coordinator, 2009-20014

After founding Northwest Women Writers (NWWW) in 2009, it grew steadily into a five county regional organization of 115  female and male writers, many who were nationally recognized.   Emphasizing professional education, networking, promotional and social events for our members, information and opportunities were provided through our website, the
weekly updates, monthly newsletter, classes, workshops,
 luncheons, advertising, networking opportunities, and our book 
marketing forums.

This hugely successful group provided what writers needed most:
bonding, encouragement, technical support, and a place to call
home, their tribe.

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Daughters of Norway, 2003-2009

Thelma Lodge:    Cultural Director, Scribe to Dotre av Norge  
Ingeborg Lodge:  Newsletter, Scribe to Dotre av Norge   
Guest Editor:       Dotre av Norge, DON national newspaper
Short Story:         Krumkake 911, Dotre av Norge 

  
It wasn't always easy being a Swede is a sea of  Norwegians.  Affectionately nicknamed  "Swedish Meatball,"  bearing the  brunt of their humor, I was the one who was handed the square rolling pin  when it came time to make lefse, sending them all into peals of laughter.  Their mistake: electing me to be in charge of their newsletters, their cultural programs, then to be their columnist for the Daughter's bi-monthly national newspaper, The Dotre av Norge.  Ya!  Revenge is everlasting in print!

It was during my membership in the Daughters when I developed my creative writing skills.  Here is where I learned to stretch a tale, to sandwich a good story with lots of fun baloney, then slide easily into an "Ivar and  Leva" routine, complete with accent:  Vell, by Yiminy, dats vhat dey vanted to hear.  Und dats vhat dey got!  As my skills improved I was asked to do some editing for their national paper, additionally submitting a story for publication.

It was a fun journey meeting many wonderful Scandinavian women as we shared our cultures and learned old-country skills, plus a delightful introduction for me into the writing world.