Biography
I've been a professional writer for almost two decades, first in film, most recently as the author, with my daughter, Mia, of "Come Back: A Mother and Daughter's Journey Through Hell and Back," ReganBooks/HarperCollins April 2006. I have degrees in Design, Art History and Film, the first two allowing me to give advice (ususually unsolicited) to my husband, an art director and graphic designer referred to as Monsieur P.(usually affectionately.) He designed the book's jacket and website, claireandmia.com. When I'm not writing, cooking, traveling or inhaling art in all forms, I'm mothering my hero and inspriration, Mia, also called Little Monkey (always affectionately.)
"What do you mean, when you're not writing, cooking, traveling? You try to mother me while you do everything, mom!"
Despite the occasional foray into judgement, irritation, indignation (not always righteous,) I walk around with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and absolute delight at the beauty of, oh, just about everything. Of the world. Of what was here when we got here (the green and blue stuff, the scaly, furry and feathered) but most of all, the 'we' part. To repeat what popped out of my mouth at the BlogHer 2006 conference (my mouth has a mind of its own, for better or worse,) "I look at a crowded street and I don't see pedestrians, a throng of people waiting to cross, I see cathedrals, I see a stand of sequoias." My God, we are beautiful, all of us.
MY COMMENT POLICY
There is an Arab proverb that says there are three gatekeepers of the tongue: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
My blog is like my dinner table. I adore my guests and welcome lively discussion and spirited debate (I personally consider religion and politics fine topics for the dinner table.) Trolls,* however, are not allowed to sit with us and ruin a good meal.
*troll: someone who posts comments that are offensive, inflamatory, malicious or false, and which antagonize, damage or hurt, intentionally or not.
You've probably noticed I don't assume every reader knows blogspeak. I don't know half of it myself. Until last December I didn't even know what a blog was, and while learning I often found it frustrating when knowledge of the vernacular was assumed.
