Women’s Eye Reflections For The New Year

 

As 2011 begins, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on some of the ideas and words of wisdom from our EYE Interviews and the women who were kind enough to share their views during the past months.    You may find inspiration or food for thought here for the New Year…

Vendela Vida—

“After we left the realm of school, we missed the constant conversations about literature.  Starting ‘The Believer’ was a way to continue to have those conversations—both with each other, and with our writers and readers—about books old and new, and about artists and thinkers…”  

Sally Dominguez—

“I never set out intentionally to be an inventor, but I have a constant curiosity about why things are the way they are.  I’m always seeing unconventional solutions to everyday problems…The excitement and ability to change ways people live inspires me.”

Sandy Foster—

“It’s a balm for the spirit to have a place where I’m free to do what I want, like a tree house you run to as a kid and pull up the ladder once inside. Any able-bodied person can build their own sanctuary, providing they have the location, money, time, and tools to do it.”

Shannon Hayes—

“I remember one bright, clear August day, standing on a ladder painting the top of someone’s pergola, marveling that I was a newly minted ‘Dr. Hayes,’ and while my grad school peers were settling into their new offices, I was out under a cloudless blue sky, painting for $10/hr.  I  decided that I had the better deal.”

Cynthia Aquilar—

“‘KEEP PADDLIN’ !!!  Never stop!  When things are going bad,  there’s something good to come.  It’s all about how you handle it.  That’s what makes you.”

More reflections to come another day…

Interview: Vendela Vida On Her Riveting New Novel About A Journey To Self Discovery

Photo by Chloe Aftel

Journalist, author, and editor Vendela Vida has recently published the third in a trilogy of books that have a theme of violence and rage.   In “The Lovers” she chronicles an American widow’s  quest to  heal herself.   Described as a “masterful meditation on grief and love,” the book  is the tale of  a woman who returns to the place in Turkey where she once honeymooned and the internal and external  chaos that visit causes.

Vendela's Book

Vendela is a co-founder of the literary magazine  “The Believer.”   She’s also the co-founder of 826 Valencia, a non-profit tutoring center in San Francisco that teaches writing to children and teens.

I saw Vendela talk about her new book and wanted to know more about “The Lovers” and her desire to write…