"Dear Diary"
Can you write a memoir from your diary?
"Dear Diary"
Guest blog post: Welcome author Joanna Kafarowski!
I am pleased to have Joanna Kafarowski on my blog today, talking about what inspired her to write her biography: The Polar Adventures of a Rich American Dame: A Life of Louise Arner Boyd. Welcome, Joanna!
I’ve had a passion for the Arctic for as long as I can remember. But life took me
down several different paths- publishing, working for women’s organizations and
freelance writing before I did anything about it. Entering my PhD program in my
forties, I focused on gender and natural resource management in the North and
spent happy times working with Inuit women in Arctic Quebec. As an avid reader,
I sought books about women and exploration and soon encountered the name
“Louise Arner Boyd.”
I was immediately intrigued. Initial
research revealed that she was a wealthy California
socialite and philanthropist who lead an mysterious double life. Louise Arner
Boyd (1887-1972) was active in community affairs in the San
Francisco area but she was also known on the international stage as
an intrepid explorer who, between 1926-1955 lead seven hazardous expeditions by
sea far above the Arctic Circle. She was
showered with awards and honours from several countries and was highly regarded
by her peers. Yet, less than fifty years after her death, her extraordinary
life and scientific accomplishments have been largely forgotten.
I wanted to know more but found, to my
dismay, that no comprehensive biography had ever been written about this
formidable woman. For the past ten years, tracing the life of Louise Arner Boyd
has been my joy and my obsession. I have tracked her movements across Scandinavia
and North America. I’ve stood on the tip of Bonavista Peninsula
in Newfoundland gazing out to sea where her
beloved ship the Veslekari was sunk;
swept out the Boyd family crypt at the Mount
Tamalpais Cemetery
in California
and stayed in the same Norwegian hotels she frequented before she left on her
expeditions. I’ve acquired a small library of treasured books that were from
her own library as well as one of her suitcases and even a lingerie bag with
her initials. It has been a labour of love! Even now, on the eve of the
publication of my biography, “The Polar Adventures of a Rich American Dame A
Life of Louise Arner Boyd,” I still find her a fascinating individual!
About Joanna:
Joanna
has a PhD in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, a Master's degree in
Geography, a Bachelors degree in English and a Professional Specialization
Certificate in Heritage Conservation Planning. Joanna was a university lecturer
and consultant for many years. Her edited volume, “Gender, Culture and Northern
Fisheries’” was published in 2009 by the University of Alberta. Joanna participated in a Last Degree North
Pole Expedition which gave her a unique insight into the inner life of her
biographical subject. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Geographers, a
Member of the Society of Woman Geographers and an Affiliate Member of the
American Geographical Society.
Joanna's book will be published by Dundurn Press in Canada on November 4th and in the United States on November 28th. You can pre-order on Amazon:
You can connect with Joanna here:
Lowe House Project Publishing Options Panel Discussion October 11, 2018
I had the pleasure on serving on a panel to discuss publishing
options yesterday. What a fun experience! Although we had a small
attendance, the group still entertained a lively discussion about the
alternatives in the publishing industry including self-publishing, publishing with a small press, and using Literary Agent representation.Panel members besides myself included:
Claire Gerus, Literary Agent
Carol St. John, Author
Pat Dolan, Author
Special thanks to Bill Stephenson and Nancy Valentine for coordinating this event at the historic Lowe House, in Tubac, Arizona!
My guest post on The Editing Pen: Writing a relatable memoir
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)