Chapter 1: My Academic Roots

I didn’t always identify as an author or an editor; my background is deeply rooted in academia. Growing up with parents who were educators—my mother a music teacher and my father a psychology professor—shaped my early interests. Initially, my passion lay in the sciences, so I primarily engaged in writing research papers and reports. This experience turned out to be invaluable, even for fiction, as my experimental results often diverged from expectations!

The Start of My Writing Journey

My writing journey began while I was employed at the Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) in Barrytown, New York. I taught a course on Unification Philosophy, which inspired my first book, Contemplating Unification Thought—a compilation of articles derived from my teaching experiences. Additionally, I published a companion volume that clarified various concepts within Unification Thought. My involvement with Dr. Sang Hun Lee, the architect of Unification Thought, enriched this endeavor and included his responses to student inquiries. This experience opened my eyes to the realm of print-on-demand self-publishing.

Subsection 1.1.1: Collaborating on Biographies

I was later commissioned to write a biography of UTS's first president, Dr. David S.C. Kim, leading to the publication of three books filled with his motivational phrases and spiritual guidance: Let Us Learn from the Past, The Ideal Family: To Be or Not to Be, and Let Us Work Together for Good.

Chapter 2: Collaborations and Insights

While at UTS, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Dietrich Seidel and his family, who resided above us in the historic Massena House. Our families intertwined, with their daughter even serving as our babysitter! I began working with Dietrich on publishing a collection of his articles, but his health issues prevented the project from being completed before his passing in 2016. Afterward, his wife, Elisabeth, and I collaborated to finalize Unification Insights into Marriage and Family, a reflection of Dietrich's theological studies and their joint efforts in family counseling.

Chapter 3: Diverse Collaborations

Over the years, I've collaborated with various authors, resulting in a rich array of publications. While serving as an editor for the online New World Encyclopedia, I partnered with Dr. Mirek Karasek on topics related to economics, culminating in our co-authored work, The Crucial Challenge for International Aid: Making the Donor-Recipient Relationship Work to Prevent Catastrophe.

Another notable project was The Kalki Avatar: Tears for Nepal, which I edited for Ginger Nicholls, a UTS graduate who and her husband spent 15 years as missionaries in Nepal. Their remarkable journey is one that resonates deeply with me.

The second video, "Becoming an Author," offers inspiring perspectives on the transformative journey of writing.

Chapter 4: Embracing Fiction

Eventually, I realized that I didn’t want to be confined to academic writing, prompting me to explore the world of fiction. My initial venture into this genre is a collection of short stories titled The Catalpa Tree Fairy and Other Stories, enhanced by my husband's beautiful illustrations. These stories draw inspiration from my life in the enchanting Mid-Hudson Valley, featuring local flora and fauna that populate my backyard.

I’m currently working on my next fiction project, but my time is often consumed by ongoing non-fiction endeavors. My characters are becoming impatient for their stories to unfold—perhaps this is a sign that I have truly embraced my identity as an author, with a muse urging me to continue writing!

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