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Ecotastrophe
by J Erwine
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 ECOTASTROPHE is a collection of short stories and poetry that examines futures we could face if we continue to damage Earth’s ecology.
The oceans are dying and .. |
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Writer since 1972, author of four nonfiction books, artist, married woman. Love my husband and my dog.
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Background
Information
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My life has been one of artistic discovery. Early on I wondered if I could paint, write, photograph, sculpt and act. My husband, Bert Garrison, supported me in these pursuits, which started out with a class at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, then a year at Arizona State, more night classes, two babies, and graduation from Phoenix College. I didn’t want to leave the educational milieu. There were more classes I wanted to take — photography, oil painting and sculpture, so I continued my education. Then it was on to Glendale College because its art department had an excellent reputation. I wanted to see if it were true. It was.
After moving to Cave Creek to work on the New Dick Van Dyke Show, which was my favorite job, I founded Desert Artists, Inc., a cooperative gallery, in the Carefree/Cave Creek area. Bert and I were active members for 16 years.
During this time I started a writing career by freelancing an article to Arizona Magazine, a Sunday supplement to The Arizona Republic. After reading several of my stories, the editor of Carefree Enterprise Magazine offered me a job as feature articles writer. That job lasted 20 years, all the while juggling the gallery responsibilities, being very active in community theater, writing several books, and continuing to freelance.
Then, probably in need of adventure, Bert and I decided to move to Sedona. In a scenic town where there are approximately 50 art galleries, artists tend to give art lessons. I found the experimental, abstract, expressionistic art that I relate to and took intensive five-day workshops at th Sedona Arts Center. Learning never stops. My latest educational involvement was a Yavapai College Arts and Technology course titled Digital Storytelling, which involves the melding of photography, writing, narration and music. I couldn’t have planned it any better if I had tried. In Sedona I joined the Society of Layerists in Multi-Media(an art group), The International Society of Experimental Artists, the Sedona Camera Club, and the Professional Writers of Prescott.
Two of my books were published by traditional publishers, "From Thunder to Breakfast" and "Widowhood Happens." After they reached out-of-print status, I discovered print-on-demand, and got them back into circulation through Xlibris.com. The next writing project happened because I had photographed javelinas in Cave Creek, so I wrote text to go with the photos — and had a children’s nonfiction book about wildlife on the desert. My latest endeavor is a book published by Lulu.com, titled "There’s Something About CAVE CREEK (It’s The People)." I had written more than 550 magazine articles on a variety of subjects, but the people I wrote about in the 1970s and 80s remained clumped together in my mind. I knew I was writing recent history at the time, and in 2006 it all came together. The book is about lifestyles, a gentle Western —intimate conversations with cowboys, prospectors, strong women, pioneers, and just people doing what they had to do to get along. It’s a peek into the kinds of lives that we might have been living if we had arrived 75 years earlier.
I write because I can't help it, and I write only what grabs my mind and won't let go. It ends up being mostly about the Southwestern U.S. Strong personalities and individualists get my full attention.
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Birth Place
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Clayton, DE U.S.A.
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Accomplishments
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On my office wall hangs a plaque acknowledging 20 years service as Historian for the Desert Foothills Theater, a graduation certificate from the New York Institute of Photography, a thank-you poster from Desert Artists, and that's about it for achievements. Oops! I almost forgot my inclusion in Who's Who in America, Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who in American Art, and Who's Who in the World.
I'm a member of the Professional Writers of Prescott(AZ), the Sedona Camera Club and the I have four books on the market: "From Thunder to Breakfast," "Widowhood Happens," "Javelina! Have-uh WHAT?" and "There's Something About Cave Creek (It's the People)." It's full of strong individualists in charming little old Cave Creek, Arizona.
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Additional Information
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ART — It's also an important part of my life. I majored in that subject at Arizona State, Phoenix College, Glendale College, and have participated in workshops and shows in Arizona. I went through the basics — drawing, life drawing, watercolor, oils, sculpture, ceramics, art history, photography, cinematography, and digital storytelling. I founded an Desert Artists in the Cave Creek/Carefree area and my husband and I were active in it for 16 years.
Although I was inspired by Jackson Pollack early on, I have drifted in that direction more in recent years. I'm excited about my work.
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Favorite Links
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Google
I had a website for several years, but canceled it early this year because I couldn't see that it did anything for me. Perhaps that's because I never updated it. I'm depending on authorsden.com/ggarrison,
Google Gene K. Garrison, lulu.com/ggarrison and xlibris.com to make it easy for readers to buy my books.
Page One Lit
This is an interview.
Sedona Camera Club
Meetings last Monday of each month at Sedona Arts Center, Sedona, AZ. Slide and print competitions, print shows annually at Sedona and Cottonwood Libraries, occasional photographic trips.
Authors Coalition
Participated in LA Times/UCLA book festival in April 2007 and the Hollywood book festival in September 2007. Excellent authors' organization founded by Carolyn Howard-Johnson.
In October 2008 will have Hube Yates' and my book "From Thunder to Breakfast"
in the International Book Festival in
Frankfort, Germany.
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