Women's Focus - February 2008 - (Page 32)

focus on F r I e N D S “What I do love Is takIng long Walks WIth my golden retrIever. I can’t resIst hot fudge sundaes, and I love clothes.” FORGET me NOT Sara ParetSky Growing up outside of Lawrence, Kansas, Sara Paretsky once dreamed of being a ballerina, but that was not to be. “At 11, my brother gave me Dracula to read. I was terrified of vampires,” she admits. “One night I was scared by black creatures that came in the yard. They turned out to be the neighbors’ cows. i n d u l g e y o u r s e l f • Wo m e n s F o c u s . c o m • F E B R U A RY 2 0 0 8 Sara says she is in awe of Nelson Mandela; that he could spend years in solitary confinement and yet emerge compassionate and politically savvy. She admires her husband for his brilliance and decency, and writer Marilyn Robinson for her wonderful books. In January, Sara visited Watermark Books & Café, where she read and signed Bleeding Kansas, her latest novel which takes place in a farm community in the Kaw River Valley. Sara is the founder of Sisters In Crime, an organization for women mystery writers. She is a recipient of the prestigious Diamond Dagger award for lifetime achievement from the British Crime Writers’ Association. She gives back to the community through foundations and scholarships at KU, where her father once taught. She also mentors students in Chicago’s inner-city schools. “Our lady of perpetual responsibility follows us around. If I could get away with it, I’d like to ignore my obligations and go hang out in Barcelona,” she says with a laugh. In 1982 she published the first book in her mystery series featuring V.I. Warshawski, who lives on the south side of Chicago where the closed steel plants echo the area’s disarray, sadness and poverty. One night, ten women stayed after a reading to talk with her. They were wives of unemployed steel workers. Although many of them hadn’t read for enjoyment since high school, when they heard that V.I. came from their neighborhood, they made time for Paretsky’s books. “I feel honored that I wrote something that might give comfort to people dealing with dire issues.” For more than 25 years Sara has written novels, essays and short stories that deal with contemporary problems and social justice. One of the hardest things for her to remember is that small changes do make a difference. “I get frustrated because I want big change,” she says. ~B.D. Tharp 32 http://www.womensfocus.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Women's Focus - February 2008

Women's Focus - February 2008 Contents Ask Dick & Jane Romance Versus Reality Valentine’s Day—A Single Girl’s Survival Guide Habitat For Humanity—Women Build 2008 Body Beautiful Knightley Reading 12 Months of Shoes Sierra’s Stars City Culture Day Tripping: Hesston, Kansas In Her Shoes—Dr. David Rosen Tokens of Affection for Him & Her Making a Difference in the Community Forget-Me-Not—Sara Paretsky For the Love of Dance—Miss Diane Gann Wichita’s Next Top Model Contest Love Gardening? Join the Club! Indulge Yourself Yoga for Two Workout Journals When “No” Means NO! Something to Smile About A Romantic Valentine’s Dinner for Four Crafts: Bee Mine Valentine Social Circle Save the Date

Women's Focus - February 2008

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